Lifebuilder Orphanage Gift

The name of our Sunday School class is the Lifebuilders, hence the title of this post. Last spring we hit up our class for donations and they really came through for us and the children of Russia. Wendy's brother Rob also got some items for us to take over and was the first to contribute. This picture might look like a bunch of bags, which it is, but inside the bags are clothes and items for the orphanage we'll be visiting. It's a LOT of stuff! Too much for me to count! We managed to pack most of it into the green bag on the far right, believe it or not. We didn't get it all in there, so we'll have to take the rest on the second trip. We've been blessed by our friends as they responded to the command to "remember the orphans in their distress" (James 1).

We hope to learn about some specific needs at the orphanage during our first trip. Based on what those needs are, we'll hit up the Sunday school again. It's been long enough since we did it the first time... har har...

So, as you probably guessed from that picture, we are starting to get packed. In addition to the orphangage gift bag, we hope to only take one checked bag and a carry-on.

Things are moving along with two weeks to go. We are working through the items that need to be done before we go. Getting the visa is the most critical unresolved step. The application was FedEx'd to the Russian consulate in Houston last Wednesday. That should mean two visas should be arriving at our doorstep in the next couple days.

Yesterday a local channel played a horrible, terrible, agonizingly boring movie called "Midnight in St. Petersburg." Ugh...what a lame movie, but the scenery was great. Most of it was set in St. Petersburg -- duhh -- but a good portion was set in Moscow. One of the characters was a ballerina so there were good shots of the Bolshoi, which we plan to attend while we are in Moscow.

One review I read after the movie was done said it right. The best way to enjoy the movie was with the SOUND OFF. It starred Michael Cain as some British spy dude. Sean Connery's son Jason was in it. I'm no film critic, but this was a stinker. If you see it, STOP! What are you thinking? Only if you are planning to go to Russia should you see this movie. Go watch a real movie like Dumb & Dumber or The Three Stooges Meet Hercules.

That's all for now...