We saw a plow-like truck go by on the main road this morning and walked (carefully) out the front courtyard and across the street to the little grocery store this morning after breakfast.I wouldn't call the street clean, but it is passable. (Where, oh where, is Uncle Kevin with his real plow?) A good number of people had already walked the same route across the front of the hotel, so it wasn't too bad. Now we have ham and cheese (stored on our frigid windowsill) along with some chips and coke light... just in case.
Victor called and told us that Sasha would be able to drive today, but our translator, Nastiya, was ill, so we were totally on our own to communicate during our visit. V seemed to understand why we weren’t there yesterday. It is supposed to be colder still tomorrow and we told her we would see her again tomorrow “if it was safe.” She smiled and nodded, but based on the response we got when we arrived today, we know she’d prefer to see us each day. (That’s our preference, too!) It was just the three of us and we, of course, played Uno. She is doing well counting in English, at least up to seven, and knows the four colors. We are working on larger numbers when adding points at the end of each round and general English words and phrases.
Interesting tidbit… I’m not sure I have mentioned it, but everyday while we are at the orphanage the playroom gets colder and colder, to the point where Victor put his coat on inside one day. The girls’ room is immediately adjacent and, although it has a large space heater, we’d noticed it was chilly as well. When we arrive each day there is not anyone like a receptionist or front desk that greets us. We simply walk in the front door, up a tall flight of stairs and go to the playroom. Today the playroom door was locked, but the boys’ room next to it was open. They were all tucked in their beds but greeted us enthusiastically as we peeked in the door. We intended to sneak through their room to the girls’ room, but when we opened the girls’ door were shocked to see only 2 of the 5 beds… and no girls! The boys said a whole lot of stuff we didn’t understand and pointed upstairs… then two of them jumped out of bed and led us up another flight of stairs to find the girls. We asked V about why her bed moved and deduced from her responses it was too cold in the room. I must say the caregivers may not seem “motherly,” but are definitely attentive and keep track of details.
The drive to and from the orphanage was an adventure of its own. Let’s just say in the old Disney system, this was a 2-E class ticket ride. Sasha is a great driver and certainly experienced at driving in the snow. We, however, expected all the roads to be as clear as the one in front of the hotel. Apparently, we are staying on Main Street. The other roads were passable as long you drove slowly and stayed in the lane created by previous vehicles. At one point, we had to pass a stopped/broken down car that was in the travel lane. We followed another car and a city bus into the oncoming lane and then had to cross back over through the accumulated snow to our side. Thankfully, the lonnnnng driveway to the orphanage was mostly plowed. We only had to walk the last 50 yards and there was a shoveled path for that. We kept our visit fairly short to ensure that we got back to the hotel before dark. It was just dusk and Sasha was attempting to make the last corner when we got stuck in the snow. Our turn was not a major road, so the passing plows had created of a bank for us to cross. Dan volunteered to push and tried for a few minutes, but no progress. I volunteered, too, I think a bit to Sasha’s dismay, but still no luck. Sasha, as all good drivers here should, keeps a shovel in his trunk. He expertly shoveled around the front of the car and then tried again with Dan and I pushing. The car zipped right out of the bank and down the little hill. I grabbed the shovel and we slid (on our feet, no injuries) down as well and hopped back in the car. Dinner was at the restaurant just across the courtyard. There is value in location!
We are now back in our room for the evening. Thanks again for all the prayers. God is certainly ordering our steps and keeping us in his care.
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