communion

August 19

Today I decided to stay home and postpone going to work at Anatoly's because I had a lot of unfinished business of my own and with the conference. Nina took me to the print-shop and the post office, which was a very interesting experience. She speaks to me so loudly and so slowly that it not only hurts my ears but actually hinders me from understanding what she's saying. She was so determined to help me out that she was “translating” for me with the print shop lady. Very good intentions, very sweet, but as she didn't know the difference between a copier and a scanner, plus the aforementioned tendencies, things were made even more confusing and I couldn't hear what the woman was trying to say to me. It was rather chaotic given that, and the fact that most of my formats didn't function with the printing computer, plus the line of people behind us also waiting to print things off...well, it was interesting.

I spend almost 200 rubles on printing, copying, scanning and stamps today, so that leaves me with 120 rubles – less than the price of a drink. My pin number has still not arrived in Madrid and the woman who promised to hold it and give it to Kim is on vacation. I can't call because I have no Skype credit and I can't add it because my Paypal is limited because I tried to pay Chris his portion of the fianza back a couple weeks ago.

Every Wednesday, a couple of Tanya's friends come over and chat and sing songs together, take communion together, pray together and have tea together. I didn't know any of the songs, but being with them and listening to the lyrics and their prayers was very calming. It was so cool to see such ordinary, genuine praise for the Lord and to take communion with believers from another country.