The link below will lead you to a magazine article (Library Science Student Helps Bible School in Niger) that was recently published by one of the denominations with whom we work. We thought you might be interested in learning more about our library ministry. Under the heading "Librarians--this call is for you!" there is another link "Learn more". If you click on it, it will bring you to our ministry -- Strengthening Libraries in Christian Institutions. Our goal is to create a pool of Christian librarians who are willing to volunteer some of their time helping develop theological and other mission libraries internationally.

http://www.rca.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=3887&srcid=3894

Micronesia

April finds us back in Microniesia at PIBC. Following are some pictures of students etc.


This is one form of a lawnmower. Watch out for flying rocks!!
Not only do the students have lawn and cleanup duties, they also need to have time to study. The library is always pretty busy.
When we arrived for our first day of work there was a sign on the library door welcoming us back.


Stella, one of the students we have supported, is doing some garden work in the library gardens. Behind her is our car. It has been in several accidents and has had lots of body parts replaced. Most of the car has been painted red with a paint brush by students and faculty. When you turn a corner either the driver or passenger get a foot wash from the air conditioner which leaks into the car. At least as a passenger you can keep your feet out of the way. The driver isn't so lucky as he/she has to keep one foot on the gas pedal. It is actually pretty funny!!

Trip to Russia

March was a very busy month for us. Ten days after we returned from consulting in Mexico we headed for two weeks of consulting in Russia (Moscow). We had a very informative and productive trip. Consulted at RACU during the week and then on the weekends we did a bit of sightseeing.

While we were in Russia I, Barbara, was able to attend a puppet show at a very famous puppet theatre. In fact, I am told it is known all over Europe. Following is a brief description from their website:

Obraztsov Puppet Theater

History of the Theater

The Obraztsov Theatre is the largest puppet theater and puppetry teaching center in Russia. The center houses the theater as well as the Russian State Museum of Theatrical Puppets (containing over 3,000 puppets from over 50 countries, making it one of the largest puppet museums in the world), a library entirely devoted to the art of puppetry, and various manuscripts and documents related to puppetry in the center's pedagogical department.

The theater is named after Sergei Vladimirovich Obraztsov (1901-1992), the great Russian puppet master who established puppetry as an art form in the Soviet Union and who is considered to be one of the greatest puppeteers of the 20th century. Obraztsov was born in Moscow in 1901, the son of a schoolteacher and a railroad engineer, and began a life filled with fascination for art and performance. He studied painting at Moscow's Higher Art and Technical Studios and later became an actor and worked at the famous Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre (1922-30) and then at the avant garde Moscow Art Theatre (1930-31). Throughout his acting career he pursued a personal interest in puppetry and gave regular independent vaudeville-style puppet shows. In 1931 he was chosen by the Soviet government to be the first director of the State Central Puppet Theatre in Moscow and developed the theater's productions and performances over a period of some 60 years.

Puppetry has been a popular form of entertainment for centuries in Europe. During the 16th and 17th centuries puppet shows became popular amongst the European aristocracy and puppets were used extensively as vehicles for caricature and satire. It was only in the 19th century that puppets began to be used as a means of entertaining and amusing children in parks and theaters.

Repertoire

The theater presents shows for both children and adults, with matinee performances full of humor and ideal for children and evening shows more likely to be silent or mimed. The theater's repertoire consists of more than 10 productions for children and 5 for adults, and includes An Unusual Concert, Schtok's Divine Comedy, Livanov-Bardin's Don Juan, Pushkin's The Queen of Spades and The Tale of Tsar Saltan, Hoffmann's The Nutcracker, Gernet's Aladdin's Magic Lamp, and Mowgli based on Kipling's magical The Jungle Book.

Following are our Russia pictures:

View from our 12th floor apartment in Moscow. With stayed with an American family while there.
Allison and Betsy cooked us dinner one night. It was delicious!!!!!
Ray, Barbara and Anastasia (she was a student at RACU who took us around to the sights). This is a canon in the Kremlin. The canon balls supposedly weigh 1,000 pounds each.
Painted plate

Matrushka doll (enamel) Comes in many sizes, colors, etc.
RACU temporary facility
Orthodox church in Moscow

Orthodox church in the Kremlin


Ray and Cody (Cody is the dog! :-o) Cody is a puppy and was relentless

Betsy (where we stayed) studying and playing a game at the same time

MacDonald's at Mega Mall, Moscow, Russia

MacDonald's - they had over 40 ordering stations at this MacDonald's
Enjoying goodies at McCafe in Moscow

St. Basil's (Ray, Barbara and John)

GUM department complex in Red Square

Orthodox church in Red Square

Metropol Hotel where James Bond movie (From Russia with Love) was filmed

Bolshoy Theatre in Moscow


New RACU building with apartment building (white) behind it


Front entrance/atrium at the new university site


Ray, Galina and Alex at the new construction site








Barbara with Galina at the new construction site for RACU

Ray with Galina (RACU interim librarian) in the "old" library

Russian American Christian University "old" library

Grandpa Ray and Grandma Barb

This is a post from our friends website. We are presently on the Island of Guam in Micronesia.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Grandpa Ray and Grandma Barb

We spent a wonderful evening with Ray and Barb tonight when they came over for dinner. Ray and Barb visit PIBC every spring. He is our librarian and helps to open and maintain Christian libraries all over the world. They recently took trips to Russia and Kenya for that very purpose. Amelia and Joel LOVE Ray and Barb. Although we miss our own parents very much, we thrill at the fact that our kids have MANY SETS OF GRANDPARENTS IN THE LORD. You can see the wonder in Amelia's and Joel's eyes. That is a HUGE blessing for our family.

Posted by Farnsworth Forum at 6:45 AM