It was a slow start this
morning as Edmund and Ruslan had to meet with the landlord of the hall.
Gilles and I walked over to our local Arsen grocery store to get some
familiar foods. Anything that can be bought at YIG or Safeway can be
purchased here. Not the same brands, but the same products.
Friday was Ola's 72nd birthday. Ola is our driver Ruslan's mom.
We were invited to share her day and arrived at 2 with flowers to add to the others she had received. Whenever one buys flowers for a birthday there can never be an even number of flowers given. So never a dozen roses, rather nine or eleven, or three of one kind and five of another. We were told that an even number is given only at a funeral.
The table was set and the food was waiting for us. Borsch, fish, salad, chicken, pork, potatoes....and cabbage rolls in case we needed more.
A lot of work for the one celebrating a birthday and for any lady of 72 years of age.
I had not seen her since my last visit in 2009. She has been quite ill with several hospital stays. Hospitals are the last place a person wants to be here. They are cold, damp, and old and ill equipped. The patient's family is responsible for everything food to soap to paying for every band-aid. The one washroom is down at the end of the hall and is by no stretch of the imagination sanitary. So she was very happy to be feeling better and being at home.
She enjoyed watching us eat and kept prompting us to eat more.
After our visit we all headed home (and probably all had a nap after that huge mid day meal)
All those who could attend came to the bible study at seven. The first several verses of John chapter 20 were discussed and some questions were asked. It was a great way to spend the evening. Afterwards we had a bit of a snack and each headed our own way.
Gilles and I are fortunate in that we live within walking distance of the hall where we meet with the Christians.
Today (Saturday) is Ruslan's day off and he is spending it picking more mushrooms. So Gilles and I & Edmund and Agnes will be heading to the center of the city for a bite to eat later this afternoon. I will be packing some boxes to bring to Dobre on Monday when we go visit Maria.
Here's one look at the joker Ruslan....never gets into a picture without being funny.
Friday was Ola's 72nd birthday. Ola is our driver Ruslan's mom.
We were invited to share her day and arrived at 2 with flowers to add to the others she had received. Whenever one buys flowers for a birthday there can never be an even number of flowers given. So never a dozen roses, rather nine or eleven, or three of one kind and five of another. We were told that an even number is given only at a funeral.
The table was set and the food was waiting for us. Borsch, fish, salad, chicken, pork, potatoes....and cabbage rolls in case we needed more.
A lot of work for the one celebrating a birthday and for any lady of 72 years of age.
I had not seen her since my last visit in 2009. She has been quite ill with several hospital stays. Hospitals are the last place a person wants to be here. They are cold, damp, and old and ill equipped. The patient's family is responsible for everything food to soap to paying for every band-aid. The one washroom is down at the end of the hall and is by no stretch of the imagination sanitary. So she was very happy to be feeling better and being at home.
She enjoyed watching us eat and kept prompting us to eat more.
After our visit we all headed home (and probably all had a nap after that huge mid day meal)
All those who could attend came to the bible study at seven. The first several verses of John chapter 20 were discussed and some questions were asked. It was a great way to spend the evening. Afterwards we had a bit of a snack and each headed our own way.
Gilles and I are fortunate in that we live within walking distance of the hall where we meet with the Christians.
Today (Saturday) is Ruslan's day off and he is spending it picking more mushrooms. So Gilles and I & Edmund and Agnes will be heading to the center of the city for a bite to eat later this afternoon. I will be packing some boxes to bring to Dobre on Monday when we go visit Maria.
Here's one look at the joker Ruslan....never gets into a picture without being funny.
No comments:
Post a Comment