October 26, Friday Rest Time, Tea Time

October 26, Friday Rest Time, Tea Time

Today was our first day with no Bible school, no English class, and no lunches in Vladivostok. We needed the break. Alexi’s boss had offered to take us to the north of Primorsky Krai and fish for three days, but we politely declined. Alexi got off work at noon, so after he came home and we had some lunch, we took off for the Sea of Japan. You cannot imagine how challenging the roads are in the normal course of travel. No traffic lights or stop signs. Potholes, ungraded roads, utility cuts, unmarked roads, etc. The cost to upgrade the infrastructure and clean the environment to US standards is unimaginable. Yet when we arrived at the sea we found no waves. We eventually ended up at resort which was north of Vladivostok. We had a $ 1.00 cup of very good “chai” in a beautiful but empty café (only one other patron). I had offered to pay and Alexi had warned me it was very expensive. He was certain it would be 500 rubles apiece. It was only 30 rubles each. He likes to kid.

One bonus of the trip is to have the time with Pastor Steve Graham and Alexi (Losha). I think we men are quite inferior to women at building and keeping healthy Christian friendships. So our time together has really buoyed our spirits. Steve, Alexi, and I have had a joyful, edifying time together for three weeks. We keep each other laughing; Alexi’s mom Luda thinks we act like a bunch of goofy teenagers with our practical jokes. Four weeks with four of us together in a 2 bedroom apartment with one bathroom requires consideration and a healthy sense of humor. I have never lived with others in such a close sense of proximity. Every meal is shared together after Losha’s invitation: “Welcome to the kitchen!” We pray with six hands joined – sometimes in English, sometimes in Russian. Tea time is not a custom enjoyed in isolation; every cup of “chai” is enjoyed with elbows touching.

Tonight we took Luda out for dinner to a nice Chinese place in Artem. She has faithfully cooked, cleaned, ironed, and washed for three crazy men for three weeks now. She deserved a night out. Not surprisingly, she ordered “riba” or fish.