So much needs saying in this post that I do not know where to begin. My last posting appeared long ago, but to tell the whole of what happened in between would require pages of script that no one needs to suffer through. Let us see if I can summarize without too great a length:

The visa, a major component of moving overseas, always provides a variant amount of frustration depending on where you are going. In this case, the visa took quite a bit longer to receive than originally planned. Because of the hiccups I encountered (just some clerical errors, nothing overly serious), my departure date was extended from late July to early September.  The months surrounding that time frame were stressful, to say the least. All I could do was pray and be sure I had done everything I possibly could. Once I finally received my passport with the shiny new Russian visa pasted inside, my new departure date was just a week away. The relief I felt was immense, like an elephant lifted off my shoulders. (And I have ridden an elephant before, so I know how heavy they can be!) :)

My final week in the US went by far too quickly with many good-byes and tears.  Having been in the US for nine months made for a difficult farewell. I couldn’t believe I was standing in the airport hugging my parents good-bye.  Time had slipped through my fingers without my realizing.

The flight into Moscow went smoothly. A short two-hour layover in London Heathrow broke up the trip, so it was fairly straightforward. Flying into Russia, though, I worried about getting through customs. Paranoid that my visa would be incorrect or that my luggage would get lost kept me awake. However, God had it handled. An American woman who had been sitting beside me on the plane helped me get into the right Customs line, and then I was stamped and waved through. Now, I have been to Russia twice before, and I have never entered the country so quickly. Even the lady picking me up commented on how fast I had gotten through the airport. Only God could have worked that one out.

After the airport, I was taken to my new apartment, which I currently share with two Russian girls. They are sisters and incredibly nice. They don’t speak a lot of English, so our conversations have been quite interesting. The Google Translate app on our iPhones has been getting quite the workout. Still, we can laugh at the misunderstandings and move on. I’m learning random Russian words and they are learning English ones. Win win for us all.

The apartment itself is small, as most are in large cities like Moscow. There are three rooms, all of which are used as bedrooms so that there is no living room or lounge. The only gathering place is in the kitchen, where a table has been placed against the wall with small stools. There is no microwave, so all of my cooking will be on the stovetop. (I should be a professional chef by the time I leave!) The bathroom is even smaller, with the toilet separated from the sink and bathtub/shower into a tiny closet space right next door. It’s all quite functional. We have all the space we need, so it’s not as if I am lacking anything important. My room provides plenty of space for my things and me. It even has an enclosed balcony.

Since arriving, life has fallen into a tentative rhythm.  School starts at 8:30 every weekday and ends around 4. I will be teaching an English class twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays starting next week, which will add to my schedule a bit, and then other things will start adding up as time goes on. I haven’t tried going any place on my own just yet, but I know I will have to face that step eventually.

I am doing my best to adjust to the change, but I will admit that it is very hard. The language barrier is a new challenge for me. Being a social butterfly by nature, I’m having a hard time not being able to talk to people. Most teachers at the school can speak English, but it takes effort for them. Understandably, they prefer to speak in their native language, so I often keep to myself and just listen. I hope to pick up some Russian so that I can attempt to join the conversations, but that will come with time. For now, I can only take one day at a time and keep moving forward. I know this is where the Lord wants me, and He will see me through the year.

The only major prayer request I have right now is that you would pray for strength and peace as I go through this adjusting stage. It will take time acclimating to my new life in Russia, so all of your prayers would be greatly appreciated.