Noorus

This last week we celebrated the Kyrgyz New Year called Noorus. We went down into the centre square where we saw lots of traditional Kyrgyz dances, food and games. One game in particular we thought very interesting. Men stood in a wide circle in the centre of the circle there were three rings all with money in them with a small sheep bone on top. The men paid 5 som (about 10 cents) and then they got to throw a larger sheep bone at the money. If they hit the money, they get to keep it. However we watched for quite some time and never saw anyone get anything.

Here is the few from our balcony window!



Are you jealous?

Kids

Today we went to visit some children in a village near Bishkek. We go to the orphanage every week. Today I remebered to take my camera with me. These kids are amazing, they grow thier own food and help around the home. We have fun talking with them and singing and sharing stories with them.

Janabek and his Family

Here is a family from our church. Thay are actually from a city called Narin, but they moved here to find work. Janabek knew no Russian when he moved here and only spoke Kyrgyz. Now he is understanding a lot more. If he needs help, his wife, Lola will translate for him. They have 2 children and just this sunday Janabeks father came to get some medical help here in Bishkek. He was so shocked by life here in Bishkek as he is from a small village and when we drove past the white house he ranted about how many vegatables could be grown on the land they used for thier fountains and trees. His next adventure will be this week when Lola will take him to a local mall and introduce him to an elevator. Please pray for the Lord to raise up more Kyrgyz believers to lead the church here. And also that jonathan and I would be able to learn the Kyrgyz language quickly as many people in the villages don't know Russian.

SUMMER..well at least for a british girl!

I am delighted to announce that Summer has come to Kyrgzstan..."No, no Katie!" you say, "you're mistaken , surely you mean spring!" Well for the Kyrgyz, maybe this +17 weather and constant sunshine is known as spring. But to a homegrown British girl who spent most of her adult life in Ukraine, where the snow doesn't melt until late March, who also walked to school in pouring rain almost everyday in her childhood, to whom summer meant a rainstorm almost everyday with erratic bursts of sunshine and phenominal rainbows...THIS IS SUMMER. Infact, today I was hot. My feet were hot when we were walking outside. Oh the joys of living in Kyrgyzstan.

Today we went with our youth group to help clean a place where believers feed homeless people. It was a great time and we are so encouraged to see the believers in our church grow in serving. We have a big soviet holiday today also. "Women's day" Is far bigger than Christmas (not suprising in a muslim country) but even as I speak people are all over the city, in restaurants and in parks celebrating women. The flower sellers use this day to monopolise on the love sricken boys, whilst women all over the post soviet union are enjoying this day of recognition.