Spring in the air

5 o'clock tea
last chance to skate on the canal

Back in January a few people told me that there was another girl from Russia one Sunday at the service. Next Sunday I made sure I met her. Elena is from Neryungri (Sakha), which is pretty close to Ulan-Ude. It is amazing how God brought her to that same church I go to. Here is a picture of her. We went skating about a week ago. It was the last day the canal was open. The ice was poor, melting.

This past weekend I've been to a retreat with a group of young people from the church. It was very refreshing to get out of routine for a couple of days.

I have just two months and 3 days left and I am going back home. Looking forward to it but I know I will miss Logan and people I met here. Very thankful to the Lord for the time here.

The title of this post is about spring - it's still pretty chilly but it is going to get warmer by Thursday - rain.

skating on the Rideau canal - the world's largest skating rink

starting at 0 point


Beavertale tradition (+hot apple cider)

We made it until this end

a few pics from yesterday's skating

no expectations...

Yesterday after skating on the canal with a friend of mine I went to the O-train station. I had to buy a ticket from that "box" - ticket machine. It says it costs $2.25 (Canadian $) and it doesn't give you a change. So I put $2 coin in but it didnt' accept c25. I thought "well, it should accept c25 because it says it is $2.25". I was staying in front of that thingie persistently putting c25 again and again trying to figure out how come it's not working. And a boy came up to me and said he has coins. Being a foreigner you never know for sure how everything works in another country. I thought maybe he has some special coin or something I didn't know about. And here he gives me $1 coin. I thanked him and said that I actually have, it's just that I was wondering how come it doesn't accept c25 when it should.. Finally I gave up and put $1 in and got my ticket. And what do you think? I was still hoping to receive change! :) Not that I desparately needed this c75, it just couldn't fit into my mind how come they say it is $2.25 and there is no way but pay $3. Tricky. :) O well... But I was told later that probably the problem was with the ticket-machine, and usually it does accept 25c coins.
But I thanked this boy for his willingness to help me. We chatted all the way until he had to get off. In our conversation I mentioned the church I go to here hoping he might remember the name of it and come. But I just pray for his salvation. What an example for me!
So, I was thinking - we as christians being taught to do good deeds often do it as sort of a duty. It made me think how much I have to learn so that it will be natural for me to be helpful, to do something good with no expectations of praise or a prize and not pleasing people but God only who only is Worthy of praise and worship. (Col.3:23)
And it is not the first time someone's helping me. It is really an encouragement. And it is people who even do not know me and perhaps will never see me again.

Trip to British Columbia (21-31 Dec)

Some pics of Vancouver

Not in chronological order

There are 4 people in our family here (in this house) and 3 of them have Birthdays in Feb - myself, Logan and uncle Ed. Poor Marina had to think of presents and dinners for us. I got a pair of skates. Never had one before. So I am learning skating! Logan I think liked a candle (1) more than his chocolate cake that he even was allowed to eat. He smashed a piece of cake in his hand, spread it all over his face but didn't like it much. Good for him. Uncle Ed got for his 45th B-Day a race-track (not sure how it's called in English) and had a special dinner at a restaurant with Marina.

Here are some pics. Just realized we didn't take a picture of uncle Ed...That what happens when you go out to have special dinner.

Snow Camp (Galilee Bible Camp)

Garbage bag for sliding down the hill. You can see cabins they use in summer camps.
Pretty much like ours at Baikal, eh? Except for windows. Should've taken a look inside.

Broomball. I liked this game very much. I think it is a cool idea. Possible to play with no special equipment. I think we should play it in Ulan-Ude too. Same rules as in hockey but no skates, no sticks, just broom-stikcs and a ball. What do you think? Possible?

Girls are playing hockey too. Cool!
Pick-up hockey
This past weekend I've been to snow camp that the church usually has at this time of a year. I went as a kitchen helper. We didn't have much free time still for me it was a good rest in being away from routine. But I did have time to participate in some activities like playing broomball (for the first time in my life) or sliding down the hill on a big tube with bunch of people. I've never heard about broomball before. It was a lot of fun! We played at night (and went sliding at night too, early morning to be precise, about 1-2am).

I enjoyed the camp. Some people asked me: are you enjoying yourself? That was a strange question for me. If I translate it literally into Russian it sounds a bit weird. Am I suppose to enjoy myself? I am enjoying the weather, working in the kitchen, playing games, chatting to people, talking to the Father etc.. Perhaps it is enjoying myself. It's just that it sounded a bit strange to me but no offence. :) Just something new.

Here are some pictures. Enjoy yourself! :)

The first (hope not the last) post in February

The reason I haven't sent a link to this blog to you all earlier is that I didn't really get how it works. Funny.. But that's true. I haven't spent much time trying to figure it out though. Postponed it until later but routine caught me up. And then I forgot my password. :)

About the pics. Rideau canal. Eating "beavertale" and drinking hot apple cider. This is my aunt and my cousin Logan.