S says HI Everybody

Hi All. Well our faciliator manage to hook us up to the internet in our apt. Dial up. Boy the things we take for granted until we don't have them. I don't know where to start. the last week has felt like a year. Wow how things are different. We have hot water if the pressure in the building is high enough for the insta hot to function. And then it is only hot, we cannot shift to part cold or the water will turn to all cold. We fill the tub halfway with very hot water, then fill the rest with cold.
We have a washing machine, but no dryer. I have been taught that is what the radiator heaters are for. Very few people own their own cars. Most use taxi's or busses. We have used both. It gets light about 5:00am and by 7:30pm it is pitch black, and I mean pitch black. there are no, i mean absolutely no street lights or outdoor lighting of any kind.
The whole city looks just like an old USSR army movie. It is very surreal. There is what we would consider as poverty everywhere. Crime does not seem to be a problem here though, at least not unless you are in the roughest area of town.
In some ways they are very advanced...they have cable t.v., all hot water comes from insta hots. They dress everyday at the height of fashion. Even in the mud. I have seen more boots in the last week than ever in my life. Not rain or snow boots either. Stilletto heels on even old ladies...what we would consider m-tv dress or clubbing dress is very acceptable here at all hours of the day. Boots past the knee, boots to the knee, ankle boots...all with very high heels. Red, black, aquamarine, gold, snakeskin, leopardprint. All in our daily excursions. I am going to find out how to ask if I may photo their shoes in russian. It is amazing among all this mud. And there is mud and puddles everywhere. It has rained everyday since we got here. Not all day, but on and off all day.
So far we have seen the social worker, Big K, our facilitator, has spoken with the judges person, and we have been to see the orphanage director.
We have met wonderful friends in K and his wife O and their son N. We have gone to church with them twice now..they have on Sundays and Wednesdays. It is a small store front born again church. We are sharing alot, and I believe have made friends for life. K does such good things for God here, I am so glad and thankful that we were led to him. D & I both know we will be back to do missionary work with him. He is helping build an orphanage for babies in his city. We will be going to see the progress soon.

I will write more in depth later about various things. the driving is way different, we went to a circus...russian style...even the grocery store is an adventure.

Girls..K & H we love you very much and we miss you and we are so very proud and thankful to you two.

Love you all..just please keep praying we have favor with every person/official who comes in contact with our paperwork.