smoke cloud.

I am sitting in my window seat and watching a group of young boys smoking and speed racing around this factory parking lot. Every night I have been hear I hear them but now I moved rooms I can watch those crazy kids. I think kids are trying to enjoy their last few days till school, all schools in Russia start the first Monday of September. I have been sitting here thinking about so many things I heard and saw today.

Firstly I would like to announce an accomplishment I made tonight. Lydia and I for the first time were out at night and went from my teachers flat, subway, and home. I will not lie I was defiantly a little nervous because it is very different at night then day. Anyway just wanted to give my self some props.

So tonight me and Lydia went to our teachers flat and had dinner with her roommate and another lady. This lady was working in an orphanage in Romania. She is from Germany and worked in Romania for four years. Now she has just moved to St. Pets. and wants to work with the street kids here. We started talking about the orphans and street kids for awhile after that. My teachers roommate was telling me how about a year or so ago they moved hundreds of kids out of the city. They want the city to be more tourist friendly so they are taking kids out of the city to make it appear that way. I was so sad at hearing this I mean how strange for the kids to not have a home and to be moved away from what they do know. Our teachers roommate told us she could get me and Lydia into an orphanage one day. I am really excited for that but my heart is still heavy for the kids that are on the street and even the ones on the city close to st. pets. Tonight I am just praying for them and just burden by the idea of all the hurting kids.

There was one other thing I noticed today. Lydia and I went to a store today and passed an Orthodox church. When we were passing it I saw a few different people old and young, bow and do the cross thing in front of the church. One lady was like walking on a mission but once in front of the church she stopped. Even saw a little boy, like 4 or 5, stop in front of the church. I was so intrigued by this, I need need to do more research and learning on the church. I was just think all these people give reverence to a church for some kind of peace or joy. But how much more peace and joy would they have if they surrendering to God and receiving the ultimate love he has for them.

Anyway everyday I am here my mind is spinning and I am just thinking about these people and becoming more in love with them and this city.

Please remember to pray for Russia.