Central Eurasian Mission - week 13 - June 12 - 18, 2017

One thing that impresses me about the Kazakh people is that they are very nimble.  Only one of us has seen someone fall.  Dad saw a young girl do a faceplant on a brick sidewalk.  So far, I have only stumbled ferociously one......maybe twice....... on the threshold of a door.  Many, I say MANY, thresholds are part of aftermarket renovations. So -- there is the floor that is flat, but a partition with a door has been installed and to hold the vertical pieces together, there is a horizontal brace across the floor.  This 2-3 inch, narrow raised piece of metal, at floor level is a trip hazard - at least for Americans.  I only tripped twice on my first or second day in Astana, but since then muscle memory and brain memory causes me to lift my foot waaaaaay up as I go over a threshold.  I don't need more than two incidents to learn my lesson.



Then .......the stairways.  In the US there are building codes and all stairs (maybe some aren't up to code - like at a distant place in northern Montana) are the same height.  Not here in Kazakhstan.    You see, here, the government doesn't take care of every step you take - you're supposed to use your eyes to see potential changes in height and mostly to pretend you're on a hike where there are roots and even tree trunks crossing your path.  At the grocery store next door, there are at least ten steep stairs just to get to the entrance of the store.  And there are stairs to get to the second floor, where we need to go each time to get fruit juice.  The last step is an inch higher that the others and, yep, if you don't remember, you'll trip.  We say to each other as we ascend the stairs, "watch the last step."

The picture below is closeup of three steps on the approach to our outdoor fruit and veggie stand.
The metal angle iron that covers the edge of the step is completely loose, waiting for an unwatchful pedestrian..  I see this one coming and walk up the dirt path next to it.  I'm an American and will trip on it!




This is a fun Photo.  One way we commonly use to approach our building is along this sidewalk with three steps and a center ramp that was never quite finished - or maybe it crumbled away.  Anyway, most moms with a stroller just use the dirt path to the right and some just bump over the last step.
My mantra is, "don't slip."\



But the sidewalks are the best areas, manholes covers , and other flat outdoor spaces  with protruding metal spikes.  Here is the gallery of these litigious possibilities.





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The tripping hazards and are uncountable which is why I like to walk on the track in the early morning hours.




We received an email from the second councilor in the branch presidency that the Minister of Religions Affairs and  Civil Society, Mr. Nurlan Yermekbaev, was making an Annual Report in the KazMedia center on Friday June 16th and had invited three representatives from the church to be in attendance.  None of us had any idea what the meeting was really about, but three were selected - the branch president, the second councilor and Ray.  The meeting was to start at 11am across town on one of the hottest days of the year, requiring a 40 min bus ride and 15 minute walk (in suit and tie) as the temperature climbed to 91 deg.

The meeting hall was filled with about 250 guests representing many different faiths registered in Astana as well as interested citizens.  It was really interesting to see all of the different eccumical clothing.  As clergy, we were seated in the second row from the front.  It was also broadcast by closed-circuit links to meeting rooms in13 communities around Kazakhstan, each of which had guests assembled for the presentation.  This is the big screen showing all of the video participants.




The first hour of the presentation by the Minister was in Kazakh and Russian and was accompanied by slides and charts also in Kazakh and Russian.



During the second hour guests in attendance and from the communities in the video-linked meeting rooms had the opportunity to ask questions and clarifications about the report.  After the meeting, I'm afraid I didn't know much more than before it started.  I did bring home a copy of the report, in Kazakh and Russian, for Kim to translate in her spare time.

Afterwards, it gave me a great opportunity to wander a little through the downtown on the way back to the bus stop and get a few photos of summer decorations.  Here is the Kazakh statue in the central plaza.



Here's the American one.



Here is a display of flowers and butterflies (no, not real butterflies)



This has been a very slow week for humanitarian services.  Everyone we had contacted contacted has gone out of town.  Dad and I have reverted to playing scrabble.  We did go find an office supply store which was very exciting. We found a hole punch, paper clips, whiteboard markers, paper folders, and twine!!!  You can buy anything here, just not everything can be found as easily as at a Fred Meyer store.  We had our arms full of our goodies when the elecricity went out, and of course, cash registers don't work without energy.  It wasn't really any different than the power going at at Target, but we had just walked a mile to get there and then the trip home.

We went back to the store two days later, bought our office supplies, and thenand found this restaurant on the way home.  The sign says "Chinese Food"  -- lunch time, hunger, sounds good.



The restaurant was in the basement of this big building.



It looked a bit sketchy but we were adventurous after the office supply store.  Down the stairs.  Note on the right the ramp - I don't think it is ADA approved, so it might be for hand trucks.



and into the interior - looks Chinese...maybe Arabian....maybe Kazakh.



When the menu came, in my very best Russian (from Dialog 4, first year Russian), I asked " What do you advise us to order?"  The waitress took the menu, flipped a few pages, and pointed to two things.  Fine, we want those.  Turned out to be traditional Kazakh noodles.  Very Yummy!




We made a return visit to a previous restaurant - remember this one?  Same guy and same finger in the photo.



The shish kabobs were not available yet (come back at 8 PM) so the lady listed off what was available.  I thought I ordered lagman noodles and a salad, but got lagman soup and salad instead.

/www.google.kz/search?q=lagman+noodle&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS728US728&oq=lagman&aqs=chrome.4.69i57j0l5.5893j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

It was yummy, as we expected, but we had dill breath afterwards.



As you know Dad is the Branch Clerk and is also on the Area Audit Committee which is a couple of guys who audit church funds in a branch or ward or stake twice a year to make sure donations are being properly accounted for.

I have been made Primary President which is different.  The staff is me and the two sister missionaries, one directs the music and the other does the lesson - at least that is what we did this week.  I do Sharing Time, and starting this week, we are now singing all the songs in Russian.  The eight kids are all American expats with a Russian speaking mother so they are completely bilingual.  The child who who read the scripture did it in Russian.  This is our small attempt to try make the branch a Kazakh branch rather than an expat branch.  Next week Dad and I speak in Sacrament meeting.  I will speak in Russian with someone translating into English and Dad will do vica versa.

I have a new favorite color.  Previously, I think I said it was Kazakhstan sky blue, but my mind has been changed by this flower.  It is chicory, found alongside the track.



'Til next week.  By the way, I enjoy writing this blog for everyone to read and to keep up on our activities.  I hope you enjoy it.  We wouldn't mind getting news from any of you and letting us know your inner thoughts and sentimental feelings.