leavin' on a jet plane!

Today we fly to Germany. Tomorrow we arrive in America! Monday we visit graves.

Ya loobloo tebya, moy Sashenka!

Evelyn

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" (Ps. 133:1)

"Indeed in nothing is the power of the Dark Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all those who still oppose him."
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

JN 17:11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

JN 17:20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

RO 15:5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Visit to Moscow

I made it back safe and sound from Moscow. It was really worthwhile. The reason I was there was for an Army conference on preparing projects to be funded through IHQ. It gave me a much better understanding of the possibilities for funding specific programs in Estonia, and how to do it right. The days were long and tiring and we didn't leave the grounds of the hotel much, but we did have the chance to leave twice, once to visit an Army children's center and another time to visit a homeless feeding program. This is our group outside of the entrance to the children's center, which looked more like a prison from this view but was nice inside. But the neighborhood is rough so this is their solution.

After leaving the children's center, a small group of us were able to go on a two-hour tour of some of the highlights of Moscow. Where I am standing was once the center of the Russian Empire. There is a star on the ground where you are supposed to stand and then throw a coin over your shoulder for good luck. Poor people gather around the circle and snap up the coin, often before it even hits the ground.

Our group at the center of the Russian Empire: Sasha, Margo, me, Oxana and Marie.

The gateway that leads into Red Square.

When you first enter it, Red Square looks immense. And it was so amazing to see the historic structures that I have only seen in pictures or on film before.

As a kid, I never would have imagined one day standing in Red Square in Moscow. This is the place where the military parades with the tanks and missles and goose-steping soldiers took place. We were always told it represented all that was evil. On a warm, sunny day, I was overtaken by its beauty.

Lennin's tomb looms over the square, a stark monument amidst the colors and forms surrounding it.

St. Basil's is the iconic image of Moscow and was really breathtaking to look at (we didn't go inside, though).

A building that runs the length of Red Square and now serves as a shopping mall. I was told that in Soviet times it was the place where those in positions of privilege could get Snickers bars and other forbidden goodies.

One of the ornate Orthodox churches on Red Square.

The tomb of the unknown soldier near the Kremlin.

By a fountain neare the Kremlin.

The hotel where we stayed was a large old house that was probably 100 years old. It was nice in an old fashoned sort of way.

The best thing about the hotel was that it had a huge garden area; it was like a nature preserve in the middle of the city! So although we barely had a chance to leave the hotel, at least in our spare time we could enjoy the beauty.

Another view of the hotel grounds.

On the way to the airport I passed this Russian Ikea, and the sign just struck me funny. To see all of the pictures I took while in Moscow, click here.

my mother's birthday

Today is my mother's birthday, and I'm surprised that it weighs so heavily on me. Maybe because we are travelling to America this weekend?

She was born 67 years ago today. Even that age seems too young to die, and yet our trip to America for her funeral was over two years ago.

Evelyn

safely home!

Tim made it home safely, in the middle of the night -- but at least home!

We're all exhausted, and have a busy week ahead of us. It is the last week of the program year, so lots of parties and last things. We also have special guests this weekend (TC) and next (Chief of the Staff!). And of course we have to pack and get ready to go to America for three and a half weeks!

So ... extra prayer support would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Evelyn

"Indefinite Delay"

Boeing 737-400 Prague Czech Airlines OK 876 23:40 2007-05-18 Indefinite Delay

:-(

Tim has been in Moscow all week, and we are waiting for him to come home. But he is stuck in an airport in Prague!

Fortunately, a friend of ours from Tartu is there with him. (Tim ran into him at the airport.)

Please pray for him, and for us!

Evelyn

Peace and Non-violence

http://peaceandnonviolence.blogspot.com/2007/03/meditation-from-catonsville-dan.html

Margie Hawes, where are you?

E-mail me at evelynclark@juno.com! I want to see you when we're in Maine! Can you come to the Portland Corps when we're doing the meeting there on Sun. 17 June?

We'll always be sisters!

Love,
Evelyn

picture on Chris's blog

click here

Teletubbies and Big Comfy Couch Potatoes

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18539759/

listen

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10026864&ft=1&f=1001

Elizabeth Pantley's No-Cry Sleep Solution

No-Cry Sleep Solution