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Minus 20

  The thing dominating our lives right now is the weather.  Right now, with temperatures reaching –25 C, the living area of our home gets down to 13.  Our water pipes have frozen in the ministry center.  And IMG_0025our heating pipes which contain water have frozen on the first floor.  (This is the first year that has happened.)  It means that at full heating capacity, we are “holding”.  There are a number of people who are watching the temperature and keeping an eye on their furnaces.  If you lose your heating, you lose your pipes and your toilets and radiators when the water freezes.  It is… not exactly convenient.  This is a photo of Marie and Elle snuggled while Marie tests her new ipod.

I just went for a walk with Elle and Clarke and discovered that in the sun, it is quite pleasant… assuming all of the appropriate body coverings are in the right places.  We are not expecting any let-up of these temps though.  Thursday night we are meant to drop to –30.IMG_0013

This time of year is normally quiet.  Any programs that we have been running pick up steam late January. 

Oh!  Sergei organized a couples bowling night last week.  It was real nice to get out with most of the couples in the church and do something together in a ritzy place.

IMG_1335Here’s a photo I snapped at the session of lectures several of us went to in Kiev recently.  The lecturer, Nikolai Skopich, was dynamic and humble – a wonderful combination.

Bruce and Deb are back in Eastern Europe, but not Ukraine.  Their kids are staying with us right now as they apply for visas again in Poland.  They’ll be back in a couple of days, Lord willing.  The ten kids are having a ball together.  As I type, they are outside again playing in the snow.

Tomorrow, I should be going into Kiev with Tom and Vlad’s wife, Vika and son, Matfey to visit Vlad.  I don’t think I’ll be able to get in to see Vlad, so will use the time to go buy a new belt for the van.  The old one broke last Friday on the way home from a dentist appointment/wood run (during these cold weeks, we are inside preparing wooden siding for inside decor on the house… as well as stairs).  We just managed to make it home before the battery gave out.  I hope we just need to replace the fan belt and not an integral part of the motor.  It seems to break every six months or so… I think because one of the bearings is a bit worn on the… yeah.  Part of the motor is nearly broked.  So for the time being, we are wheel-less.  :)

IMG_1309Pris and I went to Kiev to celebrate our 17th.  The center is sure pretty at night with all the lights up.

   

 

 

 

 

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Last Sunday after our teaching time, it seemed like all the kids and a several of the adults had “snow time” on our street.  The snow packed well and I saw several good head shots (no apologies to all those who don’t approve of “head shots”).  Alexandra (pictured with Angel and… lost waif?) and Martin have moved into a house just down the road from us.  Martin does the detailed work on icons – sometimes taking weeks over the work.  Alexandra is actually a trained massage therapist but now works with her new husband helping out.  Pris and I went to their wedding last year.  We have enjoyed getting to know them better.

 

 

 

 

 

See you next week, same time same place?