Leaving...

on a jet plane. Or as my dear brothers would say, I'm sailing soon. Friday, the 18th, to be exact. It will be good because He is. It's been good to be at home, and I'm blessed to have friends and family, near and far, that love me so much. Now it's time to go. My friends that now live in places unseen have numerous stories to tell, and I hope to join them soon with stories of my own...of language and navigation debacles and numerous instances of grace. Until then...

The Train...

My camels have been momentarily detained.

I'm still here...

That's right, friends. While I was supposed to leave April 18th, I'm still residing in Rome, GA with the 'rents. It's a gamut of emotions. I'm ready to leave...really. I'm so anxious to get to Ivanovo and begin my life there. Yet, I'm getting more comfortable at home... yet, I'm so ready to go. Did I say that I'm ready to go? =) It's hard to wait on things that are out of your hands...but maybe that is why He makes us wait sometimes, to remind us that we aren't in control...He is. While there are several of us playing the waiting game, I have watched many of my new family leave, and as they go to the ends of the earth, I feel like a little part of my heart has traveled with them. So I remain before the Father, pleading on their behalf. I know it will be hard, but I also know that His grace is sufficient and His power perfected in our weakness...so may we boast in our weakness and see His power in its stead.
That said... I've been listening to a song lately that really speaks to my heart. It's from Sandra McCracken's The Builder and the Architect cd.

Rock of Ages, when the day seems long
From this labor and this heartache I have come
The skies will wear out, but You remain the same
Rock of Ages, I praise Your name.

Rock of Ages, You have brought me near
You have poured out Your life-blood, Your love, Your tears
To make this stone heart come alive again
Rock of Ages, forgive my sin

Rock of Ages, when in want or rest
My desperate need for such a Savior I confess
Pull these idols out from my heart embrace
Rock of Ages, I need Your grace

Rock of Ages, broken, scorned for me
Who am I that You would die to make me free?
To give me glory, You took the death and pain
Rock of Ages, my offering

Rock of Ages, "It is done," You cried
The curtain's torn and I see justice satisfied
Now write Your mercy here on my heart and hands
Rock of Ages, in faith I stand

Rock of Ages, my great hope secure
Your promise holds just like an anchor to my soul
Bind your children with cords of love and grace
Rock of Ages, we give You praise

Chorus:
Rock of Ages, Rock of Ages
Bind your children til' your kingdom comes
Rock of Ages, Your will be done

Words...

I'm not sure there are words to describe the emotions that I feel. It is a bittersweet dichotomy...relieved and reluctant to leave, excited and overwhelmed at what is to come, happy to see the world at our fingertips and sad to leave my new brothers and sisters. The body amazes and comforts me. Thanks dear friends. It was good.

New Friends...

Things here are going well. We are rather busy but surviving. I'll update more later but here are a few pictures. These are my new friends, and I love them...

Well, it has begun...

and no, this is not just a messy room. It is my attempt at packing!! I am packing for two months in Virginia. I leave this Sunday, February 4. I know it's the Superbowl, but we'll have to listen to it on the radio and finish it up in our hotel room. As to my emotions, name one...I probably have it.

Also, how do you pack for two months while also packing for two years? I really think I need Shannon to come home and help me pack. She's a pro at doing this.

One more thing: I thought you might all find this interesting. The high for tomorrow in Ivanovo is 0 degrees and the low is... a whopping -11 degrees. So who's coming to visit me next winter? =)

18 More Days...

...until I depart for orientation. I can't believe it! I never knew time could move so quickly...and slowly at the same time. I keep thinking that I am not sure that I am ready for this, but then, I know I am because I know this is God's call on my life.

Orientation is designed to help us live overseas. It will prepare me for the job that I will be doing once in Russia. On April 18, I will fly from Atlanta, GA to Moscow, Russia, where I will then travel 4 and 1/2 hours northeast to Ivanovo. At that point, I will begin my language training and start my work doing community development. The goal is for me to know Russian fairly well at the end of the first 8 weeks. Yikes!! This information is particularly encouraging:

According to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, Russian is classified as a level III language in terms of learning difficulty for native English speakers,[3] requiring approximately 780 hours of immersion instruction to achieve intermediate fluency.

Good thing that I'll be immersed for longer than 780 hours. =)

I also wanted to introduce everyone to my friend, Alys. Alys and I will be living together in Ivanovo, and I absolutely adore her!! I am so thankful God has placed us together for the next two years!

I hope she doesn't kill me for posting this. However, this is a great picture of her! She was on a criuse with her friends who so graciously provided her a tiara for the evening.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Merry Christmas (a little late) and Happy New Year. Well, my last Christmas in the States for the next two year has come ... and gone. We went to Mississippi this year for Christmas, and it was wonderful. Despite the fact that my ENTIRE (dad, mom, and me) family caught a 24 hour stomach bug, the rest of the days were filled with hanging out with the family and eating tons of yummy food. I also got to spend time with my cousins and the newest addition to the Darville clan, Ada Grace. She is eight months old, and I am soooo thankful for technology, which will enable me to see her while I am in Russia. I also got an video ipod for Christmas...WOO HOO! Stephen had to fly out on Christmas. The team had to report in Tampa on Christmas night. It was okay though...we got to eat our meal and open presents a day early. Perfect!! Well, in a couple of days we'll head to Tampa... the first day of 2007 will hold UT beating Penn State. =)

Good Ole' Rocky Top...

Rocky Top Tennessee!


That's right, boys and girls, we are going to the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. On January 1, 2007, the Vols will beat the Penn State Lions.

The good news: I get to go! My parents said that this would be the first and last bowl game that I would be able to see my brother, Stephen, dress...so, it's a family affair. Yay!

This is a picture of my family and me before a game. What can I say? We love our Volunteers...

A New Phase...

Well, the announcement you have all been waiting for has arrived: I have decided to move to Ivanovo, Russia for two years! Ivanovo is about 186 miles northeast of Moscow. I am really excited and nervous all at the same time. I have been asking everyone to pray for clarity, and that is exactly what God gave me. He is so good. I'll leave for Russia around mid-April 2007. Stay tuned for more updates!!

Waiting...

I will run when I cannot walk
I will sing when there is no song
I will pray when there is no prayer
I will listen when I cannot hear

Sitting in the waiting room of silence
Waiting for that still soft voice i know
Offering my words up to the rooftop to Your heart
Trusting that this closet's where You are

Lord i know if I change my mind
You will change my heart in time
Sovereign Lord this time's from You
So I sit in the waiting room of silence
Cause its all about You

I will fight when I cannot feel
I will trust when You dont seem real
I will tell when I cannot speak
I will step when I cannot see

-Shane Barnard, Waiting Room

Family time

Here are a couple of pictures of my family:

Hollis, my cousin, thinks he needs "his" reading glasses like my Nannie does

This is me (Aunt Sarah) and Ada Grace, my cousin Courtney's baby

я люблю Россию ...

or in English, I love Russia.
I thought I'd post a few pictures from my last trip to Russia. I had a blast and I can't wait to return soon.



The picture above is of my friend, Emily, and me in front of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. As you can, see were being silly. The Russians and tourists around us were quite perplexed by our actions.






These are some of my Russian friends (Dennis, Jenya, Vadim, and Vova). We had gone to a campfire, or what they call a kosteur, and had roasted hotdogs on sticks. They, of course, drank Vodka, the Russian "tradition."

Isn't it great ...

to have a loving family and to have the type of childhood where all you can remember is love? I know many people don't, so I feel amazingly blessed. Here is a conversation I had with my cousin, Hollis. He will be four this month.

Hollis: Where did my Momma go?
Me: She is coming back--she likes you too much to leave you.
Hollis: mmm hhmm. Nannie likes me too...you too.
Me: We sure do.
Hollis: Everybody loves me.

Needless to say, he is very confident. It's funny and endearing. That's my family...we've always felt loved.

Suzdal

This is a landscape view of Suzdal, Russia. 

My first...

This seems to be all the rage...so I guess I'll try it. Expect exciting things soon...