Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Train....duh duh duh

So, the basic question you get when you return from a trip overseas is, "How was..." "How was Portugal?" "How was the Dominican Republic?" "How was Mexico?" And the latest one I've gotten which I'm so thankful to people for asking is "How was Russia?" I don't think anyone knows just how loaded a question that is though. It's not a question that a person should ask unless they're ready to listen for at least 10 minutes if not 30. Just a minor digression on a single question at the beginning of this blog. Sorry about that. I will now try to answer the question itself. So, you ask, "How was Russia?" I think the best way for me to answer that is to break the trip up into Highs and Lows. I think I'll start with the Highs.

Highs: Above all, the best part of the trip was being able to see, taste, touch, and smell a lot of the things that the mission team that I am sending to Russia this summer will see, taste, touch and smell. In the past I've sent them without knowing but I went ahead of them and can better prepare them now. Hopefully I helped the hosts understand some of the difficulties that may arise concerning transportation and luggage that are always a problem when Americans arrive in a foreign country. I got to help plan their schedule - that was cool. Now I know what they'll be doing and where they'll be! Second highlight and would probably be a lifetime dream fulfilled, I got to go to the Hermitage in St. Petersburg which used to be the Winter Palace for the Czars. I got to walk in their throne rooms and see where they ate, slept, read. However, the coolest part of it all was that the Hermitage also houses Rembrandt paintings. I STOOD IN FRONT OF REMBRANDT'S PRODIGAL SON!! I think my jaw probably hit the floor. Ever since I was in High School I have wanted to see this painting in person and on a strange Saturday afternoon without expecting it, all of a sudden, there I was. I almost cried. That was my moment with the Lord. I'm so absolutely thankful that He has allowed me to return to him. Another high - St. Basil's Cathedral. I just got to see the outside of it but it's the cathedral that you see in every picture of Moscow. It's so colorful and lively. I didn't even go inside. I didn't have to. The outside of the building was magnificent. Like something from a dream. I loved it.
Other highs - becoming friends with the Kooznetsovs, the team's hosts for the summer. Eating some of the Russian food (this could also be a low). Going to the Opera and seeing Figaro. Spending time with the Caldwells at their flat, enjoying breakfast with them, talking about friends from home, hearing what it's like to live there, getting to hear about their passion. That was really cool!

Lows - Spending two nights on a train where I had to sleep on something not quite as wide as a church pew and definitely not as comfortable. Jet lag. Being the only American around for most of the trip. I think I would've enjoyed everything more if I could've had Marty with me or just one more person there to understand my jokes - they don't translate even if the people you're with speak English. The train - yuck, too many people in too small a space. I thought Atlanta traffic was bad, Moscow's traffic is worse. Salty fish and some sort of meet with gel on top. Olga's snoring. But I think the hardest thing about being gone was just not having enough alone time or sleep. Truth be told, the hardest thing about being home is not enough sleep - so I don't really know what I'm complaining about.

The trip was great. I met a lot of really cool people and got to see a lot of really amazing things. I forgot to mention the Kremlin earlier. That was pretty cool to see. They've got some great chocolate in Russia too. They're history will dumbfound you. The visit was a pretty great trip and I know that the team will love it. I hope they make the most out of it while they are there and pour themselves out. I hope they try harder than I did too.

I'm going to try and get my pictures put into an online photo album, once I do, maybe I'll add a link here so you can see.
Talk to you all soon,
Joy

Deliquent

So, I've been an absent blogger lately. I must apologize. I realized this past weekend that I have been gone for way too long. I am sorry. Please forgive me.

Marty and I were having a slight argument - more like a debate over who is the better blogger and now I'm wondering if all of my wonderful blogging friends could help me out. I'm not necessarily talking content - just merely frequency.

So, here's what I'm wondering. If you know both Marty and I and have an opinion concerning this topic, would you mind leaving a comment just letting me know who you think is better at keeping you updated on the happending of our lives. It doesn't have to be long - just a you or a Marty would work.

I just want to find out what the general public thinks.
Thanks,
Joy

P.S. I'll hopefully update later this week concerning my trips to Russia, Youth Worker's Conference, Savannah and VA. Beach - all of which were quite amazing. I'll make sure I break them down into bite size chunks so that they don't take up too much of your day. Until then, Grace.