::A Trip to the Mall::

"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered." ::G.K. Chesterton::

Here's a little video Jordan and I made on a recent trip to Karavan, the closest mall here in Kharkov. We go to the supermarket there fairly often, where we can find many familiar or similar things to what we have in the states. There's even a McDonald's.

-ej

::June 2011::

"‎Say to those who are fearful-hearted, 'Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.'" 
::Isaiah 35:4::

I realized yesterday that I have failed to post my most recent newsletters on my blog! I apologize for this and will strive to keep them posted from now on. So without any further delay I present my June 2011 Newsletter coming to you in your choice of high or low resolution.

Just follow the links:

High Res Newsletter

Low Res Newsletter

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In the service of an AWESOME God.

-ej

::The White House::

"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." ::From the movie Casablanca::

The other day during Russian class we learned how to ask and answer the question "where?" We have learned how to say we live "in" a city, for example: Я живу в Харькове (I live in Kharkov), pronounced something like "Ya zhvoo vHarkovye." In previous classes we've discussed where we've been, what state certain cities are in, and which US cities have metros. We've talked about the capitals of countries, including of the US. 

So when our teacher asked in Russian something that sounded a lot like "Gdey (where) Casa Blanca?" I immediately answered, "In Washintgton," thinking that "Casa Blanca" meant "White House." Which it does; in Spanish! However, if you recall your geography (as I did not), Casablanca is also the largest city of Morocco! My teacher just looked at me and shook her said saying, "No, no, no." I also was very confused, because of course the White House is in Washington! It took me a few moments, but it finally dawned on me that I was trying to understand two different languages! My silly mind didn't even realize the difference.

Often when I am trying to speak in Russian, my mind finds Spanish words more easily than Russian, but that is changing the more I learn Russian. Spanish has given me a helpful framework to learn a new language. I seek to understand Russian grammar compared to Spanish, not English. And even though it can be difficult at times to not immediately go to Spanish in my mind (which is easier for me), it has been exponentially more helpful to have studied Spanish and some French first. I better understand how languages fit together, and for that I am grateful as I struggle through a much more difficult language to learn.

Russian is my focus right now, and I can see so many benefits of speaking to people in their own language. It is important to show people that we want to be here and that we care about them. We are not outsiders, but equals. It shows a respect for the culture and who they are. As I am able to put more and more sentences together, I look forward to when I can better communicate in conversation.

-ej

::Caught in the Rain::

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow." 
::G.K. Chesterton::

Today a group of us headed via metro from English worship assembly at one home to the Russian assembly across town, and when we surfaced, we were caught in a downpour! We called ahead and decided to wait out the rain, at least until it had lessened. We joined the crowd of Ukrainians around the metro exit, and I took a couple short videos of us for your enjoyment :).

Waiting in the Metro:

Walking in the Rain:

Thank you to each and every one of you who spend a few moments of your time on my little blog :). Feel free to say hello!

-ej

::Я говорю по-русски немного::

"A different language is a different vision of life." 
::Federico Fellini::

For the last month we have been in Russian classes almost 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. It's a very intensive way to learn Russian, and we still have homework every day. The five of us on my AIM team all are in class together at a university in the center of Kharkov. The university is Kharkov National Automobile and Highway University (ХНАДУ). Our teacher changes every 2 weeks because it is summer break, so we have just started with our 3rd teacher.

While it can be truly exhausting mentally, I have furthered realized how much I love languages. After studying Spanish and French, I can say Russian is much more difficult to learn. It has been a struggle to be patient, but a rewarding one. Looking back over this month, I am so much more willing and eager to start a conversation in Russian as limited as it may be. I am not afraid to walk into a store or up to a stand and ask for things in Russian. I have seen how much can be understood without knowing what was even said.

Our main focus for these 3 months is language, but I can already see what a blessing it will be. It means a lot to people when you try to speak their language, whether fellow Christians at our assembly or the girl at McDonald's yesterday who struggled not to laugh at my bad grammar but was as nice as could be. I have bought fruit, vegetables, even a backpack at a market, which is so much easier now that I understand numbers and can describe what I want.

I know I won't become fluent in Russian in just a year and a half. I may not ever understand everything in conversations. However, I want people to know at the end of these 18 months that I was willing to give it my all to communicate Jesus' love to them whether simply through actions, in my English or through a truly heartfelt attempt to communicate in their own language.

We ride the Metro every day to and from school,
and nearly everywhere else.

Most mornings we meet here with our coordinator.

The main entrance to our University. Our class meets in a building across an inner courtyard.

Ukrainian coat of arms, flag and national anthem on a poster.

Russian lesson

my desk during break

self-portrait of me surviving another day of Russian class :)

In His Service.

-ej