In earlier blogs, I described some of the people whom we have met here in Nizhniy Novgorod. As each day passes, we have developed stronger relationships with many of these people.
…Uri, our security guard, brought us a gift from his family to ours. Uri is 26, married, and has a daughter who is 7. Uri told us that he likes heavy metal American music. His mom was a teacher. Uri’s dad lives with him and cares for his daughter who is not in school yet. Uri has said to us that he will be sad when we leave.
…Victoria, our favorite waitress at the café, asked us to go to a movie with her and her friend, Dasha, on her day off from the café and college. So on Thursday, we will go to a movie,…yes, in English.
…Father Mario, the remarkable parish priest here in Nizhniy Novgorod. Father graduated with a medical degree in the 1970s. He then attended two years of fine art school in Madrid, Spain, where he studied paintings and icons. In the 1980s, he continued to hear the calling that was “so strong” he told us, and he attended the seminary, becoming a Catholic priest. We have been guests of Father Mario’s at the rectory and have reciprocated the generosity by taking him to dinner.
Father introduced us to a Malaysian medical student/ Justin, in his fifth year at Nizhniy. When we all went to dinner on Monday evening, Father told us that Justin may also have a vocation as a priest.
During our conversations with Father Mario, he has mentioned an Italian physics professor whom he knows that has five children, one diagnosed with Down Syndrome named Josephine. Last night after the 6:00pm Mass, we met this man, as he happened to be in town this week. Perhaps we will have further interaction with him in the next few days.
…Svetlana, or as she prefers to be called, Sveta, is a sweetheart and our lifeline here during this adoption process. She is officially our translator, but she knows the ropes of how adoptions work. Sveta has a degree in English; she’s a teacher. Here in Russia, teachers do not get paid much. Starting salary is approximately $150 USD/month. Experienced teachers may make as much as $250 or $300 if you are lucky. In light of this fact, she opts for other employment that provides more revenue.
Sveta is very savy. One would never know that she is only 27 years of age. Her maturity, sensibility, and worldliness are well beyond her years. She would like to visit the United States, however the US will not give her a visa. She’s young, attractive, female, and not married.
We trust Sveta explicitly. She has demonstrated to us that she will do everything possible to assist us in the adoption process, including saving money when and where we can. Sveta is attending Mass tonight with us. We asked her to come, as she indicated an interest earlier in the week. After Mass, we will take her out for dinner. If Sveta were in the US, she would be within my circle of friends, as she has many of the same values and beliefs that I have. Kenny has been teasing her about different things the last few days. He, too, is fond of her.
…Bill and Crystal Brady, the Catholic couple that found us last Friday, are here adopting two more Russian children. Their court date is today. We have prayed with them and for them that all goes well. By occupation, Crystal, who is 100% Italian, is a doctor. Bill, who converted to Catholicism after they married, is a computer geek like Kenny. They live in Texas and have had their share of Russian experiences. Kenny and Bill share the same birthday. Crystal said that their son, Nicholas has been bugging to go to Hersheypark. So, perhaps, we will see them soon.
We will miss them when it is time to leave, but know that most we will see on our return trip.
…Uri, our security guard, brought us a gift from his family to ours. Uri is 26, married, and has a daughter who is 7. Uri told us that he likes heavy metal American music. His mom was a teacher. Uri’s dad lives with him and cares for his daughter who is not in school yet. Uri has said to us that he will be sad when we leave.
…Victoria, our favorite waitress at the café, asked us to go to a movie with her and her friend, Dasha, on her day off from the café and college. So on Thursday, we will go to a movie,…yes, in English.
…Father Mario, the remarkable parish priest here in Nizhniy Novgorod. Father graduated with a medical degree in the 1970s. He then attended two years of fine art school in Madrid, Spain, where he studied paintings and icons. In the 1980s, he continued to hear the calling that was “so strong” he told us, and he attended the seminary, becoming a Catholic priest. We have been guests of Father Mario’s at the rectory and have reciprocated the generosity by taking him to dinner.
Father introduced us to a Malaysian medical student/ Justin, in his fifth year at Nizhniy. When we all went to dinner on Monday evening, Father told us that Justin may also have a vocation as a priest.
During our conversations with Father Mario, he has mentioned an Italian physics professor whom he knows that has five children, one diagnosed with Down Syndrome named Josephine. Last night after the 6:00pm Mass, we met this man, as he happened to be in town this week. Perhaps we will have further interaction with him in the next few days.
…Svetlana, or as she prefers to be called, Sveta, is a sweetheart and our lifeline here during this adoption process. She is officially our translator, but she knows the ropes of how adoptions work. Sveta has a degree in English; she’s a teacher. Here in Russia, teachers do not get paid much. Starting salary is approximately $150 USD/month. Experienced teachers may make as much as $250 or $300 if you are lucky. In light of this fact, she opts for other employment that provides more revenue.
Sveta is very savy. One would never know that she is only 27 years of age. Her maturity, sensibility, and worldliness are well beyond her years. She would like to visit the United States, however the US will not give her a visa. She’s young, attractive, female, and not married.
We trust Sveta explicitly. She has demonstrated to us that she will do everything possible to assist us in the adoption process, including saving money when and where we can. Sveta is attending Mass tonight with us. We asked her to come, as she indicated an interest earlier in the week. After Mass, we will take her out for dinner. If Sveta were in the US, she would be within my circle of friends, as she has many of the same values and beliefs that I have. Kenny has been teasing her about different things the last few days. He, too, is fond of her.
…Bill and Crystal Brady, the Catholic couple that found us last Friday, are here adopting two more Russian children. Their court date is today. We have prayed with them and for them that all goes well. By occupation, Crystal, who is 100% Italian, is a doctor. Bill, who converted to Catholicism after they married, is a computer geek like Kenny. They live in Texas and have had their share of Russian experiences. Kenny and Bill share the same birthday. Crystal said that their son, Nicholas has been bugging to go to Hersheypark. So, perhaps, we will see them soon.
We will miss them when it is time to leave, but know that most we will see on our return trip.