Home from the Dachas

Since we arrived in June, we have commented on how few children we saw.   Already feeling grandchild-deprived, we sorely missed the chatter and scampering of little ones.   All of that changed last week as they all came back.  It seems that most Moscovites spend as much of their summer days at their summer cottages, their dachas (rhymes with gotcha) as they possibly can.  Although some dachas are spacious and many are being converted into year round homes, the typical dacha is less than 250 sq. ft., usually without running water or electicity.  They can be hours away or across the street but they are bits of hard working paradise.  Crops are grown, fruit trees are tended, families work and play together.  They love the long nights with the cool Russian breeze.

One of our Russian friends told us the story of his family's conversion to the gospel and their quandry about returning from their dacha on Saturday night for church on Sunday.  Their dacha neighbors predicted that their crops would be lost and, because everyone depended on the food to get them through the year, it would be a difficult time.  This family determined that they would trust the Lord and do the best they could.  Not only did their garden flourish but they bounteous harvest blessed these once skeptical neighbors. 

The first day of school is the Day of Knowledge.  I love that.  The children wear best clothes or uniforms and bring flowers to the teacher.  We had so much fun watching them arrive, excited and nervous, just like our own grandchildren in America.