Day 4: Friday, July 11 - From Edna

We were all feeling especially tired today, so our sightseeing was limited to The Kremlin. My sister and I used to think that The Kremlin was one building, like the White House. But it is actually a walled fortress that encloses many government buildings, cathedrals, and palaces. Many of the buildings are closed to the public because they are active government buildings or used only for special occasions. For me the highlight of The Kremlin was viewing the inside of The Cathedral of the Assumption. It was remarkably painted with icons from floor to ceiling and had beautiful columns that were also painted. Photography wasn't allowed in there, and it's one of those places where postcards can't begin to give you the feeling of majesty that being there does.

The funny moment of the day was when Zachary wanted to take a picture of all of us on the Red Staircase of the Faceted Palace. A group of Japanese men and women saw him and crowded around behind him so they could see the screen of his camera and view his picture. Emmy took a picture of this happening and we'll post it later. Then the Japanese group all wanted to get pictures with Zachary because they found him so adorable. Emmy says that Zachary is either going to be an actor or the president.

Jacob continues to show us his remarkably wonderful heart by finding the good in everything and everyone we meet.

Just outside The Kremlin we found a street vendor selling kvas and tried some. It is a traditional, nonalcoholic Russian drink that is made from barley and rye. None of us cared for it, but we were so glad to have a chance to try it.

Later in the day Davide Canterella, the Moscow Director of European Nazarene College, came by and he and Charles talked a bit. We also met Michelle, Dean of Students from EuNC, who is here for a few days from the main campus in Bussingen. Tomorrow Jacob and Zachary will present the money that was raised from NSCN's VBS offering to Linda Russell, the VBS coordinator in Moscow. It is such great timing because she is running two VBS programs in the next few weeks and really needs money for it!

Our sightseeing time is almost done and then it's time to get to work. On Sunday Charles will preach at First Church of the Nazarene in Moscow, and then we'll all travel about two hours south to the Education Center in Chekhov where Charles will teach the class to twelve pastoral candidates. It is a dorm-type setting, and the Russian people call it a dacha, which means a summer or country home. While there, Emmy, Jacob, Zachary, and I will help with meal preparation and cleaning. It will be a much different experience that the bustle of Moscow!