We made it home...

Boy, what a fast trip! Seems like we just left...

The journey back was a trip in itself, though-- almost 30 hours (and for me, that was after only about 2 hours of sleep)! The last 3 from Newark to Dallas were there the longest, it seemed. We arrived back at DFW at about 6:30pm on Tuesday.

We didn't lose anyone (I don't think...did we?) and I think all the travellers got a good dose of Russia (sights and culture).

Thanks for keeping an eye on our progress. Now it's time to put this blog to sleep until it's needed again...

Пока!

E.B.

Heathrow...coffee...

Thank God! It's 11am in Russia, 8am here, 2am in Texas.

Прощай, Россия!

We are at the Domodedovo airport in Moscow (the new one on the south side of the city), waiting for the flight to London. We left our hotel at 2am-- most of the kids didn't sleep, sot hey're pitiful. I got about 2-3 hours before we left, but I'm hopped up on cappucinos...

Everyone's ready to head home, I think. It's been a good trip (now, if we can just get through Newark unscathed...), but the tourist thing is tiring.

I tried to upload a picture or two this morning, but the current provider won't let me. Maybe from Heathrow in London while we're sitting around for 3 hours between flights.

Anyway. We're all safe and sound and homeward bound.

Circus

No, this is in the hotel AFTER a visit to the Moscow service (sometimes it's hard to tell, especially at the morning melee they call a breakfast buffet here). Yesterday after dinner, the group went to the circus; the guy on the left is Zach, one of mine, the green-haired girl is from the Hughes City (TX) bunch.

Today (Mon.) is a free day to wander, so at 10am I'm leading an expedition to the open-air shopping market at Izmailovsky Park, then we'll probably haunt Red Square before returning for dinner. We have to leave for the airport very early in the morning (1:30-2:30am) for the journey home.

Time sure has gone by quickly!

First Russia preaching experience!

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed being a part of this afternoon's worship service and looking out into the faces and seeing some of my students (and one parent) among them. It was great to be part of things, but it was also a great feeling to have some of the group from Mansfield there for moral (spiritual, too, I hope!) support...

St. Cyril and Methodius Ev. Lutheran Parish in Moscow

This is the sister congregation of my congregation in Arlington, TX. As some of you already know, I am a pastor intern in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. My friend Aleksei is the pastor of this congregation in Moscow, and not only was I fortunate enough to be able to a) attend a worship service here in Russia on this trip, b) bring a few of my students and one of my student's parents along to experience a Protestant service in the Russian language, but c) I was able to give the sermon and participate in the service. It was a very memorable experience! I have led worship services at my church in Texas since January, but this is the first time I have given a sermon in Russian to Russians in Russia!