its been awhile

Ok sorry to leave you all hanging. I know its been a while. I guess I haven't felt like anything I had to say wasn't worth broadcasting to the masses the last few months. So here's a quick synopsis...
I left Elliott Hamil. Well when I got home from Russia my desk was packed for me. So sweet of my coworkers and new managers to take care of that for me. It was an embarrassing event to say the least. One of my co workers tried to give me a hint but I didn't get it until weeks later. I went to work still suffering from some serious jet lag and was confused where my pictures and other personal affects were but shrugged it off and decided that I would find them later. Little did I know that they had been boxed away in the closet and my desk had been given to another employee. It all makes since now. I couldn't figure out why they were dragging their feet to buy her a desk before I left.
Since then I have been keeping myself busy with Skin Care classes and servicing my Mary Kay customers. I am enjoying the freedom I have of being my own boss and reminding myself that it takes time and hard work to build a business and it won't happen overnight or even in a month.
I survived another birthday and enjoyed the first half of the evening with some friends at the Olive Garden. It was a nice little get together thrown together at the last minuet by my friend Josh. The rest of the evening and next morning was spent at the 7th and 8th Grade Lock In from church. There were about 3 times as many kids as we expected. It was fun and crazy!
Now at the ripe ole' age of 24 I begin to ponder life. I think this was spurred on my a recent trip to New Mexico with friends. A very long story explained in short... we went, we wrecked a 4 wheeler, we suffered, and now we pay.
My tight and creative budget has cratered under the stress of inability to work much with a back injury and having to pay for repairs and hospital visits. It wasn't a life threatening event thanks to some helmets but it did make me realize how important my friends and family are and the impact I make on the world.
I realize such is life people get hurt and crap happens... watch day time TV every other comerical and situation explained on those Court shows explains that. I feel God is guiding me back to teaching. Its one of those undeniable things. Have you ever felt that? When you laugh at yourself at even beginning to ask God "are you sure?" I taught and dreamt of teaching for years. I knew I would be sacrificing a lot but I also knew it was worth it if I made a difference in the world with even just one student. Which I guess is pretty melodramatic because I did make a difference in my kids lives. I know because they tell me when I run into them at Wal Mart or they call in a crisis because I am the only adult they trust. So I guess its a matter of balance. A tree can offer shade for only so long if it doesn't get water,sunlight and nutrients itself. That tree made a difference one year to the person who needed shade or a place to lean but was rendered useless after many years of poor treatment and harsh conditions.
I have begun substitute teaching and I pray this opens my eyes to... well whatever I am supposed to see. Weather its an age group, a subject matter, a school, or whatever. Don't worry! I am continuing with the business in Mary Kay but I did extremely well when I was forced to squeeze in Mary Kay where it could fit in the evenings after work. I have no doubt God has a since of humor and he knows me so well. My first assignment right out of the gate was at the Alternative School. You know where the kids sit in cubicles with a text book and worksheets and armed police officers pace the halls.
Most people, sane people, would go home and pray they were never assigned there again. I was whirled into a world of wondering: did those kids have an Ag program or a Ms. E in their life. What if that could have made a difference? Don't get me wrong there were a few of my kids that ended up in some sort of Alternative school. They knew that I loved them and that I'd be there when they got back calling them to a higher standard and making them to toe the line. Like I said most people would shake it off and roll on. God programed me different I guess.
Stay tuned for the adventures in subbing

Independence Day has never meant so much to me as it did this year. In my many trips to Mexico I didn't feel this feeling of 'it just doesn't seem fair' like I do now. Maybe its the difference in being an adult and seeing things through different eyes, maybe its becasue I feel like the Mexicans I've worked with may not have all the luxeries I have but they have somethings I'll never understand and have like deep very close knit families and awesome customs and traditions and food.
I feel diferntly about Russians. They are so close to having a democratic society but yet they still fear the corrupt police that walk about the city in groups of 3. I don't know why 3. American police usually come in pairs. Russians do not have the.. assurances that we do like insurance (health, life, unemployment, disability) They just don't have the little things that we take so for granted that are largely becasue of our goverment both federally, state and local. Yet they are so close. By that I mean who am I that I got to be born in the US and be an American citizen when people just as deserving of the things I enjoy don't have it becasue they were born in Russia.
I am the last person to agree with a lot of the desesions are politicians make and yes there is a bit crookedness in most goverment organizations but ya'll its nothing to compare to. I useto loath my 15 to 20 minuet drive into Abilene but now I see things differntly when I understand that most of my friends travel an hour plus everyday both ways to go to work in a crowded Metro train car. Some have to walk part of the way, train part of the way and subway part of the way. Now, some Americans make this choice to live in big cities but Russian economy is different and in many cases to support your family or to get an education you have to live in Moscow. This is why the poulation of Moscow is somewhere around 25 million and the birth rate is lower than the death rate. Puts it all in perspective and makes me irritated at myself and my fellow Americans that we just don't know how good we have it.
The words of Lee Greenwood has never meant so much to me as I sat with my family in my brand new truck on the 4th of July and ate icecream and apple pie and watched fireworks.

If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.

I’d thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘ Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.

That I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

And I’m proud to be and American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

Hello Real World

Well today was my first day back at work and wow, what a day.
I was running late because in effort to overcome my jetlag and inability to sleep through the night I worked myself to exhaustion before going to bed and then overslept this morning. I picked up Krispy Cream doughnuts on my way to work from a youth group fundraiser. They are going on missions to New York. Interesting how things come full circle.
When I got to work I sat down at my desk and got to work as usual. When I noticed not only was some one else's things on my desk, my things were not on my desk. You know I have pictures all over the place. I still didn't get it, though. I thought they moved thim becasue they rearranged the office and were getting ready to paint. After I followed up with a few customers I went and talked to my manager about some families and some issues that had developed while I was gone. He then informed me I was no longer was a family service councilor. They had demoted me to a community service person which means that I still sell for the company but they don't help at all. In fact I don't get a desk or phone or computer or anything. I declined this position and so they fired me. At this point I walked back to my office and realized my coworkers had not just moved my personal belongings they had boxed them up for me. Ouch! In addition my desk I was sitting at was no longer mine. Man I felt like a fool. The embarrassing and sad thing was all my coworkers knew what happen and so when I came and got my stuff they thought I knew I didn't have a job ever since I left. I wonder what they were told was the reason for my leaving.
Its bitter sweet. I was getting to were I hated my job but I am sad that families won't be taken care of like they need to be. Three weeks in Moscow, Russia really puts everything in perspective for me though. I am sooo glad I live in a country that takes care of its people. I am so thankful that I have Mary Kay to fall back on and an education to use as well. I am so thankful I live in a country where people are fundametally helpful and want the best for other people. I am so thankful that I grew up in a country that allowed my parents to teach me about God and Jesus and that I could develop my own faith without ridicule or judgement.
Its been a rough day but I am confident in my heavenly father and his ability to be so strong in my weakness and I am thankful for all the blessings I have in this life as well.

I am soo sorry!

I didn't realize you all were so glued to this website. I didn't mean to leave ya'll hanging. We have been soo busy in our last few days In Moscow and then the 37 hours of travel.
I wish I had time to update you on everything in the last few days but a abridged version will have to do for now.
Saturday I enjoyed touring Moscow State Universtiy and seeing the olympic stadium and some other beutiful scenery with Igor. I was shocked to find out half way through dinner that this outing was in fact a date in his eyes. how awkward! I look forward to telling you more about this strange encounter. He is a very sweet man and wants to impress me with grandose promises of money, cars and houses. I hd fun and enjoyed the siteseeing with a true Moscovite and history scholar.
Sunday we enjoyed Pizza one last time before a wonderful church service during a terrenchal downpour. After services we had our Russian party which was really great and hard for a lot of reasons. Our readers showered us in gifts and classic Russian food. The team decided we needed to be careful since we were fixing to be on planes for 2 days about what we ate. The hard part was being served food then they stand back and wait for approval. I was eager to try okroshka and caviar but was very glad Sahska, a self proclaimed Obshora (Glutton) was sitting next to me. He finished off most of the food for me so I didn't look rude. We played many traditonal Russian games and learned about a little Russian history. As the party was ending Igor arrived with 2 of his friends. Keith and Ken are from New Zealand and taught Kindergarden in an English inclusion school. They were the most bubbly people I'd ever met. It was great and I really wished I'd met them earlier in the trip, especially whem they mentioned that they hadn't found a church in Moscow yet but they went to New Zealand church of Christ. Here's the really awesome part. Igor has no intrest in christianity but he is surrounding himself with Christians and continueing realtionships with them. Its funny to me becasue Igor is a very stoac serious and in control individual. He's got most details of his life planned out 3 years from now and I see God working and I am excited to see how he contnues to use our team, me and the New Zealand guys in Igor's life.
After our final team meeting withthe missionary and his family we began to pack and get ready to go. Sashka stayed with us and we as always enjoyed him. we had a great relaxing dinnner and a belinni cafe. It was really nice and I enjoyed so much haveing more time to spend with this amazing person, Sashka.
The whole team stayed up all night and Denise and I hoped int he Taxi for the ride of our lives to the airport. I have never been so glad to arrive at the airport. Then we had roughly 30 hours of delays and layovers and speed walks to the next terminal. Our luggage did not arrive in Dallas when we did, Big Shocker! So we had to make so with our carry on supplies at the hotel in Dallas and for the end meeting. We got to meet with Skip who is part of the team that is going to Moscow in October. Its good to know that our reades we have grown to love so much are in good hands. He took us to the airport and we started a 7 hour fun fest of gate changes, a thunderstorm and delays becasue our captain got lost! I was so glad to get home but my frieds had already enjoyed dinner without me and my family was fit to be tied with 4 kids running around the terminal waiting on me. IT was nice they had signs and ballons and noise makers. It was embarrasing and great!
Now I am off to get my badly needed nails nails done and then took Rising Star for Independence Day Celebration which I hope to win the Homemade Icecream contest this year. Ohh and see all my family and celebrate the 4th too. Love you guys, thanks for all your prayers and support. Stay tuned for pictures and reflections as Ireturn to the real world and work and let God lead me to my next trip.

Hank Williams - Hey Good Looking

This is the video that Sashka was trying to sing. Some people said it was hard to tell. Then he got distracted and remembered a joke about a fence.

Roses and Pizza

I am stepping out on a limb and making a very bold statement. Despite all the not so tasty food I have had here I am convinced the Russian pizza place, called the Pizza Facotry, has the best pizza I've ever had. My team says this is a very bold statement but I am holding to it. I wish I could send you all a box.
Roses, I promise you've never smelt roses like the ones here. Last night I went to a Mary Kay meeting. It was an awesome experience and my new friend Irina bought me a Columbian rose from a street vendor. Its a neat circle of Godinsedences.
Igor is D.Jay's student and thats how we met. Igor has been going to western protestant churches although he doesn't claim to be a christian. He has been doing this to practice his English for years. He feels he has a debt to us because we are "different" than the christians he has met from America before. This is why he was so nice to escort me and translate for me. His mother Irina lived in Columbia for a while because her husband is a Russian diplomat. During that time she learned a little Spanish and grew to love Columbia. We spoke through Igor and Spanish together as we discussed the differences in Mary Kay in Russia and in the US. We also talked about our goals and encouraged eachother. It was an amazing experience. This kind of stuff beats all tourism. You really learn about a culture and a city this way.
God has blessed me beyond my dreams. I was adorned with gifts at the meeting. Check out my new pin and necklace and of course the columbian rose. God started working in Russia to weave this special night for me long before I even thought about comming to Russia. I have been reading this book "Captivating, unlocking the mystery of a women's heart" In one chapter the book talks about how God romances us, by knowing what we like and delivering those special little gifts to us in a surprising way just to say I love you and this is for you. Not literally the new jewelry and flower but the entire expereince I beleive was a little gift from God to say, "You see Gynna even the best planner in the world couldn't of organized all this, just trust me, my sweet daughter, I'll take care of you". We serve an awesome God.

Two fights in one day!

I saw two fights in one day. They were halarious! The first one was when Denise and I were posting advertisement about our English lessons. As we walked up on the scene I asked Denise... why is this man laying on the ground? About that time he got up and stumbled around prompting another man to fight. He could barely stand up himself. Its funny there are some things that are cross cultural and have no language barriers and a man prompting another man to fight needs no translation. It was clear what was going on. He tried to kick the man and almost fell. I tried not to laugh as passerbys convinced him to walk away.

The other was on my second trip to the grocery store tonight. I took a second trip because during the first trip I caught a guy watching Aaron and I talk. I asked this guy if he spoke English. He did although it was very broken. Oleg, was very excited to meet us and get to read with us this week before we leave. I did not have any information with me so I told him I would come back. So when I did there was a fight begining in the liquour and beer section of the store. Again, halarious but Dennis hurried me along although I would have been glad to stand and watch.

We are taking another day off tommarrow. The first goal... to sleep in. Then we are going to eat pizza and then to a famous muesum. You can tell we are working hard when we'd rather take a leisurely day then to race around and site see.

Ohhh with all the excitement I forgot to tell you about the Russian circus... go to my teams site www.moscow2007.blogspot.com to read about the amazing circus.

So much to tell you!

My goodness! So much to tell ya'll! My team is forcing me to write about our meal... issues. I have not enjoyed or gotten enough food since we got here. The food is very bland and I am just not crazy about it. The portions are very small and we are on a very strict budget with LST. So, I have been griping just a little about being hungry all the time and that I'd realized they weren't gonna give us enough money to get good food here I might of atleast done something different. Well, Sunday Natasha noticed that I looked like I had lost weight. Which I have, my clothes are fitting a little loose. She thought I was trying to loose weight and I explained I have just been starving for two weeks. So, anyway, that day we went out to eat at a place called My My (pronounced Moo Moo) My friend Sashka (see the video below) highly recomended this place for the good food and good prices. I picked out the most expensive food and liked it the least. I was soo frustrated! I ate it but just enough to get rid of the pain in my stomach. Atleast everyday if not everymeal. I say "I don't like that" Sometimes beofre sometimes after I try something.
I think this pickyness comes from my recent weight loss. I have tried so hard to change my habits and mind set to only eat when I am hungry and there are so many things I do like... why would I eat something I don't really enjoy.
I say all that to say... Dennis MADE me try this eggplant salsa stuff called Lecho. I told him atleast 4 times "I don't want to try it I won't like it I don't like eggplant." He persisted and I finally said ok I'll try it! So I got a tiny spoonfull and put it on my plate. Like a rebelious child I put it in my mouth and prepared to tell him "See I don't like it." Ya'll... it was GOOD! Its the closest thing to Mexican Salsa I've had here.I was embarrased to get another big spoonful, but I did anyway. My team naturally made a big deal about it. "A miracle has happened Gynna liked Dinner and got full!" I even declined icecream when they guys offered to go get some after dinner, which was very surprising. They couldn't believe it but I was really full. For the first time in 2 weeks. I hope yall find this as humerous as my team thinks it is.

I had a great reading session with Olga last night. Its so interesting to hear how she grew up. She grew up during Lennon's reign and was taught Communism. When the fall of Communism happened her neighbor took her to the orthodox church and she was baptized. Its amazing to me to hear about peoples life without God. She asked me great questions and we were getting into great converstations and her phone began to ring at first she ignored it and never took her eyes from mine. After a while it continued to ring and it was her ride waiting for her, so she had to go. As soon as I let her out the door I came to the back of the apartment and prayed for her with Aaron and Dennis. Its amazing how God works. I was just thinking when she sat down she is doing well language wise but I not sure the Bible lessons are pricking her heart at all. Boy was I wrong. Our God is a trully awesome God!
On another note, one of my readers Katya took me to breakfast this morning. It was really nice. I enjoyed the time with her but as usual the food was just ok. We walked and talked to a kiosk and got belini. I enjoyed the time and I hope I am helping to open doors.

Two down, one to go

We had our second party tonight and allthough it was a lot of work, it went extreamly well. We had a great turn out from the church members and they were able really make some connections with our readers. So we all feel better about the relationships we've built over the last 2 weeks, that they church memebers will continue to cultivate these relationships.

We have a little friendly competetion going on here about whose readers love them more. I am convinced it is mine. They always bring me food and take me out on the town. Yeasterday, Katya brought me bananas and then the next hour Euginia brought me icecream and made plans to take Aaron and I out to see the city at night on Monday. Finnaly, Olga arrived with Pizza which was perfect because we wanted pizza but couldn't find a place to order or go get any, so we bought frozen pizza and had just started to eat when Olga arrived with fresh pizza from the Pizza Factory! It was sooo good. Olga has also brought me candy that I didn't like much so everyone else ate it. She is also going to take us around Moscow next Sunday. But best of all everyone had to agree my students love me most! But I love them too and I really lucked out on students too. I don't have any that are too clingy or stinky like Denise and D.jay. Ohh I just remembered I told one of my students I didn't like the milk here in Russia and she explained its because its all powdered and that you have to get it imported from Finland to have real cows milk. Soooo, she is going to bring me real cows milk this weekend from her Dacha where they have 2 milk cows! A Dacha is a country house and most everyone goes to it on the weekends here in Moscow.

D.Jay's students are even great to me! Igor is comming to pick me up on Wednesday and taking me to a Mary Kay meeting! What an experience! I can't wait! I am so excited! What a nice guy. I am so bubbling over with excitement!

Here are some pictures from our Pirates of the Carribean party.

Its stinking cold here!

It is very overcast and cold today. I could barley get out of bed and although I have been drinking hot tea and am wearing a turtle neck I am still walking around with chattering teeth. The Mosow Times says that the high today is 18 degrees celsius which is about 64 degrees F. But somehow it feels so much colder than that. I know why Moscowvites drink so much hot tea... its the only way to keep warm.
It is a very small world. One of D.Jay's readers, Igor, was talking about his family and told D.Jay that his mom sells MaryKay. Of corse D.Jay said wow, so does Gynnalyn so today when Igor came to practice his English I happened to be the one who answered the door. I talked to Igor and arranged a meeting with his mom and hopefully an American MaryKay director here in Moscow, I can't believe it. Its such a small world. I am very excited to meet these women and hear about Mary Kay in Russia. They are leaving soon to go to Dallas for Seminar! I am hoping to develop a friendship with them and maybe show them around Texas when they get there.

This is a video of Sashka singing and telling a joke. You have got to watch. This can't be missed!

We found French Fries!

We found french fries and are planning to make them with are pelmini tonight. Our new friend Sashka should be here tonight for his reading session and then he's special he will probably stay for dinner. Sashka speaks probably better English than we do. He has a great since of humor and is anxious to learn American slang. Last week when he ate with us I asked Aaron to "pass me the honey, honey" and Sasha went into naming pet names in his best country accent to make fun of me but he has a russian accent. It was halarious sounding because you wouldn't expect for him to know all those things plus with his Texas russian accent.
"sweetie, darling, sugar, huney"
Reading and our students are going well. We are making plans for the Pirates of the Carribean party. creating anything on the computer is frustrating because everything is in Russian. File and save is hard enough as it is, you should try it in when the letters look like archiac symbols.

you look wary better today

So I am recovering from jet lag but still not sleeping really well because of the differences here vs. at home. For example, different bed, city noices, 4 hours of darkenss, that sort of thing. In addtion, I know why Russians are so skinny. They walk everywhere! Sunday a few people made comments that I didn't look well. I was sure it was because I had walked 10 miles in 80% humidity and hadn't drank enough water. I didn't think much about it until one of my students who was saw me Sunday said in her broken English "You look wary better today." I said ohh thank you thinking she meant good. But she explained. "You looked terrible on Sunday when I saw you. were you sick?" YOu see when you are learning a new language tactfulness is secondary to simply communicating with words. Apparently, I was looking pretty rough and everyone noticed. The good news, I look wary better today!
Lastnight when I went to bed I decided that if I woke up in the night (which I new I would)I would make a few phone calls. I hadn't planned on calling while I was here but phone cards are not expensive at all as I had expected. I called Monte's house and talked to his mom for a little while. She told me I sounded really tired which I wasn't I just wasn't awake yet. Even though it was light outside it was only 4:30am and I was planning on going back to bed. Then I called my Mamo who worries about me living in Abilene. You can imagine her worry while I am here. This was a bad plan because although it was good to hear her voice and she was glad to hear from me. I sounded terrible, just waking up and being congested as everyone is in the morning. I am sure i just set in her worry even more. From now on I will try to make calls in the evening for me and morning for ya'll in the states. I am having a great time and I hate that I am so transparent. Everyone can tell when I am tired on the phone and in person. So far I've kept my shades on or pictures so you can't tell I am wore out in my pics... What do you think.... do I look wary better today?

Today was a day of tourism. We slept in and then went out on the town. We went to the famous red square. We visited the Saint Basel's Cathedral today. This is the famous cathedral that you see and in most pictures of Russia. We missed the time allowed to visit Lennon's tomb or go inside the Kremlin but honestly this was ok with me. It was a beautiful day outside and most places inside do not have air conditioning. This picture is in front of the Mall called "гум" pronounced "goom" It is said to be the most expensive mall in the most expensive city in the world. I wanted to buy gum in the goom but I couldn't find any so we setteled for icecream.





This picture is in the cathedral as we are walking up a stair way. This was a very narrow and creepy winding spiral stairway. As we began to go up, the walkway become more narrow and the steps were very steep. THis picture was taken as I tripped and fell up the stairs. D. Jay laughed so hard at me I thought he was gonna fall up the stairs too. The steps were as tall as my knee so it was more like a hike. We unanomously agreed that the monistary was much cooler because it was not "touristy" like the cathedral. But it was an experience.

Abilene, Texas to Moscow, Russia

Clinic visit & Texas Party

So yesterday I woke up wanting to die. I was laying in my air up mattress thinking if I had to go to work today and meet with people I would call in. I felt awful and I was certain I had an infection in my throat. I woke up, got dressed, put on a happy face and met with my eager to learn readers. In between readers I would drink hot tea to preserve my voice and lie down if there was even just a few minuets. We eventually decided I needed to go to the Doctor so Tim the missionary here researched and found a public clinic. To set the scene it looked like the 1940's military clinic or something. It was clean but very old and simple. I went in to see the Doctor who did not speak a word of English. I sat in a chair next to her desk which was facing another doctor's desk in a small room. There was a white curtian behind my back to seperate me from another patient but luckily there was no other patients at this time. Nathasha translated for me which was nice cause I felt so bad I didn't feel like explaining that I started loosing my voice and feeling sick before I left The States but 31 hours of travel and being jetlagged and working longer hours than I even do for pay has just worn my body out. It was a little weird she made me take all my clothes off from the waist up just to hear my chest. I am not sure how my bra impeaded listening to my chest with the stethascope but that part was a little awkward. The doctor's diagnosis was simple. I have an infection in my throat but not in my chest which is good. I need to take better care of myself and improve my immune system. I'm not useto all the sugar here either. There is no sich thing as sweet n low here its sugar or nothing oh and we drink tea and cookies (Chia y pachine) after every meal and with most of our guests/readers. Thats a lot of sugar for this South Beach Diet girl. Anyway, I have some great medicene and some nasty stuff to gargle. Mom- its worse than alka seltser! If you can belieive that. Everyone gets a kick out of watching me try to get it down as I dance and make faces around the kitchen. Friday was mostly spent recouperating and meeting with a few students.
Today, Saturday, we met with a few students and then began the chaos of getting ready for our Texas Party. It was a great party and our students and their friends and family responded well. We taught them the electric slide and we all danced to he boot Scootin' boogey. We taught them how to rope and make homemade icecream. We served our guests beans and cornbread, chips and salsa, fresh squeazzed lemonade, and ice cream and brownies although it was not homemaid. It was quite a production. I had not planned on serving so much food but our team worked very well together and the party went great. We had about 30 people here and got 10 new readers. The best part is that it gave our readers a chance to meet and get to know the people of the church.
After we got everything cleaned up Aaron, Djay and I rode the metro to try to find some food. Before we got there two beautiful girls stopped and asked to take a picture with D. Jay. You see he is black and they are like celebrities here. It was weird to say the least. D.jay and Aaron has said this would happen from their experiences in Russia before. We found a little kiosk and had a type of sandwich thing and an outstanding baked potatoe. I am not a big fan of baked potatoes but this was good. On our walk back to our apartment we stopped at a park. The weather is beautiful here by the way. We were swinging and laughing and an old drunk man came and invited D.Jay to come drink with him. He wasn't planning on taking no for an answer either. THe man took D.Jay's hand and led him to his park bench. I had no idea what to do. Alcohol is simply a part of their culture and not a big deal to them. I have never seen so many drunk people in my life. There are more stumbling drinks at night than their are sober people walking around. THis starts about 5:30. Anyway, this man was fascinated with D.jay and wanted to sit and talk with him. We stood there for a while then took our celbrity friend and went home.

I have some pictures from this morning...

Awesome students and scary monks

We had our first reading session yeasterday. My students are so awesome! YongMi, a Korean missionary brought me "home maid" honey for my throat. Its sooo good and excellent in tea, which we drink a lot around here. Her husband is the Olympic TaeKwonDo coach for the russian team and also a pastor of a church here. I also have a Doctor and economoist and scientist. Its kinda intimidating!
This morning we went to the Monistary a few blocks from where we are staying. It was beautiful and breath taking. We went into the temple and unfortunatly we were not able to take pictures but it was beautiful. Amazing! There was a golden casket and I asked Dennis about it and he explained it was the remains of a holy person. He said it was ok to go and see it so we stepped up and were looking into the glass covered casket. A very old man with a gold cap and long gray beard accosted us in Russian. Luckily, Dennis talked to him and explained we were just curious and didn't mean to be disresectful. I had no idea what he was saying but I did understand that he was saying this is not a museum and that we were not to step up near the holy casket. We began to walk away and younger monk like person. A deacon or "half-monk" I learned explained that the remains had a holy smell because this man lived such a holy life. He was very interested in educating us and I would have loved to of been able to tape record this entire scene. And yes I smelled the golden casket in the hole created to allow people to smell the remains and recieve grace and healing. It smelt like incense but seriously how many people can say they bent over to smell a holy person's remains throught a tiny hole in a golden casket with a half-monk holding your arm.

Day 2

Well, there is still no suit case and yes my jeans are getting a little funky. The goodnews is they have located the suitcases but no one knows where..... Ahhh! the phone just rang! They found our suit cases and are going to deliver them in the morning. Hot Dawg that made my day!
We are all fighting jet lag and there is a Alaska effect here. What I mean is there is only 4 hours of darkness at night starting around 11:30 and ending around 3 am. Today was Russian Independence Day so many people were off work and it was an unusual day in the city they tell us. We are all forgetting our English and its only the 2nd day. We had our information meeting today at a really nice hotel in Moscow. It boasts guests like President Bush, Angelina Jolee, Hugo Chavez, The Clinton's (at different times). The purpose of this meeting was to "register" our students and match them up with one of us. We do not have as many students as we'd hoped due to the newspaper not running an add this weekend. But we will continue to advertise and fill our appointment books. I have 7 students so far. The one is the picture is an economist for the Russian goverment. My cough and cold are getting better with some really nasty medicene. God also sent me a doctor. No, seriously my last reader came to register and I thought she was asking me a lot of questions about my terrible cough and symptoms and all which I thought was funny until we got to the blank for profession and found out she is a pediatrician!
I am feeling so much better and meeting my students face to face helped me to remember why I am here.

We made it to Moscow

We made it to Moscow safe and sound. I have...
1. a cold, no voice and a awful cough
2. no suitcase, should have known when the guy in Abilene couldn't pronounce the Airport name
3. a new respect for Monte's driving
4. a bit of frustration with our budgeting
5. a love for the beautiful trees and perfect weather in Moscow
6. serious need of a shower after 31 hours of traveling.

All things considered I am good. The flights were good except for the long one over the ocean that stayed around 90 degrees the whole flight. We were sqwished in like sweating sardines. But the flight to Moscow was great, It was way under booked so the crew waited on us hand and foot and we got to really sprawl out and get caught up on sleep from the previous flight. HOpefully, our luggage will arrive soon but luckily I packed with the thought in my mind... what if all I had was this carryon, what would I want. YOu wouldn't beleive the weather, its georgous! We are in Downtown Moscow and there are a lot of old big trees and old classic buildings. The train and train ride from the airport made me feel like I'd stepped back into WWII times. Pictures soon, I promise. Please email me. I miss you all already. love, Gynnalyn

This is a slide show my market manager at Elliott Hamil made. This is the kinda stuff that makes me love my job. We invited the community to a presention to honor Vetrens and celebrate Memorial Day. Grab a few kleenex, if you have any since of patriotism at all. The woman in the green shirt with the Eagle statue was presneted that statue in memory of her nephew who died in Iraq. The young boy in the black shirt also received a statue in memory of his brother who also died in Iraq. There was one other Abilene family of a fallen soldier, but they wern't able to make it. This is the family I worked with in March, you might of heard me talk about. I was able to present them their eagle statue in their livingroom with out a dry eye in the whole house. I am so blessed to have a job that I can make a difference in peoples lives everyday and also follow what God is leading me to do by going to Russia for nearly a month.
Please keep me in your prayers. I leave on Sunday.... more blogs soon.

Seroiusly!

Ok we joked about staying really busy and staying awake before leaving. It helps you to recover from jet lag by sleeping on the plane and all that. I have literally every moment of my time for the next 8 days packed so full I am even amazed. A few thoughts as the trip gets closer and closer.
What have I got myself into?

What if I forget something important?

I have accepted that I am going to say or do something fauxpa while I am there.

What if i can't "get it all" in my suitcase?

What if I run out of money?

What if I really do come home a different person? I already have a hard time being an adult and being content with the stagnentness of everyday life.

Growing up church of Christ

I know all you c of c kids can relate, the rest of you, I appoligize for the craziness.

In the giant list of to dos for Russia I have "download more Accappella to Ipod" and in the quest to mark another item off my list I asked my friends of they had the cds and surprisingly no one did. Who'd a thought sweet fellowship and traveling shoes would ever not be all good c of c people's fingertips, but alas its shifted back to somewhere on the mental list of stuff to do.

Sunday night I was hanging out with some friends at Angela's house and the phone rings. When Angela returns she tells us her friend Don was coming over and so we naturally asked who is was and if we knew him. In his list of credentials.... Cary's roommate, blondish red hair, goes to Oldham Lane, she slips in ohh and he use to sing for Accappella. I flipped around and asked for more details. She said best not to ask him about it and he was walking in the door before I could ask why.

I sat in the floor at Angela's apartment in awe as DON from Accappella walked in! Oh my goodness he's like a Church of Christ celebrity. I have seen him in concert a few times. I am pretty sure he's on the Beyond a Doubt Cd... again if i had it I would get it out and look for sure. I was in AWE! Don't worry I played it cool... no one else seemed as star struck as I. Maybe it was becuase I am a little younger than my friends or that it was a big highlight in my childhood to get to go to an Accappella concert and that was the main thing we listened to as kids and in to my teenage years. Now, here's the troubling thing. I think Don from Accappella is my age. But the Accappella guys are you know adults and bordering on old. He must have started with Accapella at age 12 or something casue I am still young. Or maybe he just looks like he's my age but he really isn't.

By the way, I still havn't asked him if he has the cds. But you know, I might see if we could maybe record him singing. I could have a rare "Accappella Unplugged" on my Ipod. Man, I could really make John, Brandon, AJ, Andrew and Aaron green with envy.

Team Blog

hello to all my loyal readers, (thanks mom).
I only have a moment but I wanted to give you a link to my teams blog and our team email.
moscow.2007@hotmail.com
www.moscow2007.blogspot.com

Please go, comment and email. We are literally scattered around the world right now. Denise and I are still in Texas but D. Jay and Aaron are headed back to Atlanta and Denis, Natasha and the kids will be leaving very soon for Russia already.
The whole team checks this email and blog so can I please encourage you to encourage my wonderful team. They have to put up with me for atleast 3 weeks, they could use the encouragement, beleive me! Love YALL!

Visas and Passports

Apparently the only coutry harder to get into than the US is Russia. Well, it might be a toss up... depends on who you ask. We filled out Visa applications a while ago but there are many stipulations. for example: your passport can't expire the same year you leave, you have to have a current photo with your visa application, they want to know your employment history your parents employment history, siblings, spouses empoyment and education history (that was easy for me) I was amazed at how much they wanted to know!!
I also have come to understand that you arrive when your visas says you will arrive and you leave when your visa says you leave, period. from what I understand the Us application process is very strenous. They want to know how much land and capital you have in your home coutry and family ties you might have in your home coutry. I guess thats to insure that you'll go home after your visit to the states. Anyone else find this slightly irronic?

The Money IS in!

With all the strss and concern... the money is in! Thank you all so much for your prayers and contributions. Many of you have asked for an update in the trip and plans and all so I am going to try my hand at this blogging thang.

To catch some of you up I will be leaving for Moscow, Russia on June 10th. I will be teaching English using the Bible through an organization called Lets Start Talking. (Affectionatly known as LST in many circles) Through this organization the entire cost of the trip , $2900, had to be paid for by April 15. I was a few days late but it was all there!

My faboulous team and I went to Arlington for training last weekend and although resented being treated like children we had a great time together. I couldn't ask for a better group of people to work with. Aaron and D. Jay are college students from Atlanta, Georgia. They have both traveled all over the world and interned at Kazakstan last summer. They will be joining Denis and Natasha in 2009 to plant churches in Yukentinburg. Denis and Natasha are from Russia and have 2 children, Karina and Arina, who will be traveling with us and staying with grandparents during most of our 3 weeks there. This couple has molded a very special place in my heart as they have helped me develop a love and passion for the Russian people and culture. My traveling buddy is Denise. She is a wife and mother of 2, very Godly woman with a great since of humor.

Denise and I will leave DFW on the 10th and meet up with D.Jay and Aaron in Miami (they're flying from Atlanta) where we will take a 8 and half hour flight to London. After a short 2 and half hour layover we will fly 4 more hours to Domodedovo airport in Russia to meet up with Denis and Natasha and the missionaries in Moscow Tim and Rebecca Brinley. We will spend three weeks in Moscow reading with Russians and connecting them with the congregation there.

6weeks 3 days til departer