Us on the road; Jill, Tama, Harriet, Ilsa; Coffee and donuts; The Latvian Stork
Well folks, this is the last Blog for awhile. This computer will go in the work in Belarus. We had an outstanding time in Belarus. The friends their were a real encouragement to us. Anna 93, Rigina, Maria (worker), Vlada, Tanya, Nadeyshda, Slava (who now works in Moscow but came home for the weekend). Meetings on Sunday were special. We also got a tour from a man that is coming to meetings regularly. Into the cellars we went and learned a lot about the German occupation and how locals were held in this cellar before being hanged just outside where the museum is. The people of all these Baltic states suffered horrendously at the hands of the Germans. Then of course their life was no piece of cake with Stalin and the Russian control. Hitler or Stalin-What a choice. Our time was short, like in all of our other stops but every moment is precious to us. We are now back in Latvia and busing to Estonia this afternoon. We will see Dale and Martin there then go by ferry to Finland for a Wed. night bible study with Todd, Vicki and family. Thurs. Morning we catch a plane from Helsinki to Germany and home the same night. We are looking forward to being with our family before we head for CA. for convention next Monday. Whew!!!
Love in Him, Morrie and Jan

Top left: Sergei, Joyce and Alia; top right: Morrie, Jan, Alia and Sergei; Bottom left: Almaty mtg.; Bottom right: Sasha, Luba, Jan and Morrie

Almaty

Good morning all,
Actually here we are in Kegums, Latvia. Our trip down to Almaty was a good one. Joyce put us on the express train. It only takes half the time to get to Almaty, 12 hours. We were a bit crowded with our luggage. I think the train is designed more for businessmen and a computer bag. Nice to have the extra time in Almaty tho.
Our time with Ian and Chansun was special. We got to be in their class also. Two of the friends are in it, Natasha and Galina. Sunday morning was special, everyone was in town and their. Often Volodya and Sasha are out of town working. Julia, who recently professed had such a good part also. After meeting we went out to Tobak Suphos to tour the new and improved convention grounds. Wow, What nice changes. Very different from when we first started digging out the basement etc. Sasha and Luba, the owners, seem very pleased also. Chansun and others have put in alot grass, flowers, vegetables and many fruit trees.
Sadly again we had to leave dear folks behind. I can't begin to tell you how much this little added detour around this part of the world has meant to us. God's Kingdom and family truly are united in Him.
We stopped for a few hours in Istanbul, Turkey. That looks like a country that would be fun to visit. I don't think there are any workers or friends there.
Well I well try to add a few more pics to this. Keep your fingers crossed.

Erken's law of travel "just do it"

Drasvootiya Comrades,
We are happy in Karaganda. Last Friday I may not have used the word happy but today it is accurate. You remember the smooth crossing at the border on the train? Well it may have been too smooth. On the back of the migration paper it says to register within 5 days. The law appears to say if you are on a 30 tourist visa ( which we are) you don't have to register. There is also an unwritten law that seems to say " just do it". Even if the law says you don't need to do something go ahead. The next city or region or policeman or...may require it.
I spent last Friday at the migration police dept. with the head of the Kabup Eng. dept. interpreting for me. The crime - failure to register within 5 days. After almost two hours they said to bring Jan back Sat. morning to go through the same thing. Oh, they took me upstairs to the big guy that pronounces the fines. He asked how old I was and said because you are advanced in age there will be no fine ( $80 to $800 per person) this time. I lined up Sergei to interpret for Jan on Sat.
Well, after talking to Ian and going on line reading the law we decided to cancel Sergei and just move on. At lunch on Sat. we had Akmaral (teacher) and her future husband. Dumon is a customs officer at the airport. What could be better. He made a few calls and then said, "they should have stamped your card twice at the border- don't worry about it. Then during dessert his phone kept ringing. You have to register today! More calls and then he puts us in the taxi. We got to the main migration office and it is only open on Tue. and Thur. Oh, my. We went back home.
On Sunday after meeting ( which was another really nice meeting with Sergei) we told Sergei our problem. He agreed to take us on Monday to the little station I had started at (it is open all week). We arrived at 9. The officer arrived at 10:30. Lots of people waiting now. We worked our way through an interesting system including running next door for photocopies (the police don't have a copier). Jan and Sergei went with the officer, got the ok - no fine, speech and after a few more papers we were out of there. I must say that the officer had a good sense of humor and a nice smile. That is pretty typical with the Kaz. people.
I helped Sergei move some furniture from their pharmacy to their home. They are soon expanding to a second pharmacy. They work hard and Aleya seems to be a terrific business woman. They are a real help to us in many ways.
The weather is cloudy, rainy, windy cold and sunny and warm. It is Spring.
We hope all is well with you also.
Love in Him, Morrie

Tl. Aleya, Sergei, M, J TR. Vika, Aleya, Roma, Sergei BL. M, J, Vika Sergei, Aleya (Roma is the photographer BR> Lamb and Terimisu

Celebrations with Erken and Sergei

Salim comrades,
Well as you know Sunday morning meeting was great. Sergei has such a nice part and his family is so attentive. I am sending pictures of their family and the restaurant we ate at. What a feast we had. I would put this restaurant up against any we have at home. We are really enjoying our time now with Joyce.
As usual the workers bail us out when we run into simple little problems. Yesterday we went to buy train tickets for Almaty. At the window the lady said, Oh, i must have your passport, not copies. (remember we we now carrying copies after being warned that the police at the moment like to take passports and hold them for a ransom) Well Jan and I made a quick trip back to the apt. and got them. Then the lady said, Oh, you need this immigration paper stamped twice or it is no good. Go to the police office and they will take care of it. So because we had Joyce along we did. They fiddled and called someone who said to go to the police chief or someone downtown. ( I'm sure that would not be free). So Joyce smiled and told them spaceba, thanks. She then just directed us to a different window, different clerk, and the new lady just sold us tickets with no questions asked. Such is life in this part of the world. Never give up.
Well I will see if I can attach a picture to this.
Dos ve danya. Comrade Morrie

Erken says Salim (hello)

Well, Salim to you all,
I suppose that I can no longer be Ivan. How does Nursultan sound. Ray of light King. This is the President's name. He is one of the richest men on the planet. His daughter happens to own Nurbank, as in Bank. Sounds too rich for me. How about Erken. He is Kaz. and one of the students we had the other night. Today Jan and I visited her old school. Her teacher warned us to be careful of the police at the bus stop near us. Sounds like they like to do the extended passport check-as in until they get some tenge $. She said to just quickly call someone that speaks Russian, someone from her school or wherever can come and clear it up. Here I thought all that was a thing of the past. The Crisis raises its ugly head again.
We had a wonderful time up in P.F. It is always special to be with all of them. I still don't seem to have the hang of pictures, labels etc. I have been trying to send pictures of Jahyun, Anipa and Ginny. Plus our meeting of Luda, Ludmilla, Zhenya, Rema, Vova, Maxim, Oksana, missing were Marina, Paulina and Antonina. Later Bible study and tea with Antonina.
Anyway don't give up on me. We hired a car and brought Jahyun to Astana then hired another car to Karaganda. It is as cheap as the train it seems, and quicker.
We had a nice Bible study at Sergei's home. His wife Aleya and children, Vika and Roma were there. It is so nice, Even Roma can interpret for us. Of course Sergei does very well. He is the only professing person here. Sunday was another good meeting with S. and family. We had lunch here and Monday night we are going to dinner to celebrate their 15th anniversary and my b'day.
We are really enjoying our old stomping grounds. I will try for a picture with this.
Rok med (thank you ) for all your thoughts etc.
Your brother in Him, Erken, Morrie