A few scenes from daily life

Privyet!

Here is a somewhat random assortment of pictures from my life over the past few weeks. Once again, I couldn't quite get the formating right, but I was able to get all the pictures to post.

I think one of the strangest contrasts I encounter is the difference between the glitz and glamor of life here amoung run-down buildings and a crumbling infrastructure. Our university has flat screen TVs in the halls and lobbies of various buildings that play safety videos 24/7, yet they they don't offer toilet paper in the bathrooms (and we only have continental toilets), nor do they provide soap (well, sometimes there might be a brown shrivled something next to the sink, but I'm kind of afraid to use it). Some of the clubs here are quite posh and people dress so nicely even just to go to classes, but it all looks a bit ironic as they walk to school in their two-inch heels, navigating around potholes in the sidewalk or down dirt paths between buildings.

I've become involved in a children's home ministry here through my church and that's been a lot of fun. We went for the first time this past Sunday and it went really well! I'm also planning to go the a villiage school outside Kazan this coming week to help the students with English. There are only 65 students in the whole school. I'll let you know how it goes!

How am I doing? Well, right now is probably not the best time to write about this. Yesterday my wallet was stollen and it was a little traumatic (riding around in a police van, spending a long time in a very cold police station, ...). I don't really know how I'm doing. I'll let you know later. :) Please pray for me as I process it. Most of all my God's name be glorified through it all. It was, at least, and helpful reminder to hold all things loosly and to look to Him to provide.

I love you all and I miss you!

~ Brooke