Church in Moscow

I didn’t post last night because bedtime went so badly that I was just too upset to say anything nice. The whole day I was kind of sick of being ignored and blamed for every wrong thing, and then bedtime turned into a power struggle and of course I was the bad one and Brent was the one to run to for comfort. I kind of lost my patience and stormed into the other room. Every evening, though I seem to run across a verse or a quote that makes me feel better and refills me. And that’s what happened last night. After surfing my favorite laugh site, I was able to go to bed with everyone else and not sleep in the other room. In the morning I was able to say good morning and kiss him on the head and restart the day - even though he was extra grumpy.

So today was Sunday. We didn’t make it to church last Sunday so I said we were going to go today. Yesterday Dima told us he was busy though, and couldn’t take us (another thing that added to the bad day). So I got up and found the metro station and how to get there and told Brent we were going. Then Dima called and said the other family overslept and he was able to take us to church. Which was extra good because it wasn’t where I thought and we surely would have gotten lost.

We went to Good News church, of which the pastor is a friend of a friend. The church was held in a theater - not sure if they owned it or not. We went into the main sanctuary and saw an announcement saying that if you needed English translation, sit in this certain section. So we moved over there and each got little headsets. Then worship started but it was super loud and Andrei was covering his ears. I saw that they had a children’s program so the two of us went off to find it. There was an English speaking parent there which helped me get him signed in and the worker lady tried to convince Andrei to join the other children but he was wary. There were leather couches to the sides so we sat on them and he watched from a distance. I think the whole place made him nervous, and then seeing a bunch of kids without their parents I think made him really edgy. He stuck to me pretty solidly. Then the singing started down there and it was too loud for him there too (I’m kind of wondering how he’ll do at our church - we might just have to come late for a while). So we went back to the adult service.
We sat outside the room until it seemed like the loud worship was over, then we went back in to find Brent.
Andrei was okay during the service. He was fidgety and talked a lot - probably like any 6 year old who has a hard time sitting still and had never been to church before. But we made it through. Then at the end they served communion, and we passed the plates over Andrei’s head but the server offered it to him and we didn’t stop him. He ate the bread right away, and spilled half the cup onto the seat in front of him. D’oh! At least the seats were red. And that Andrei’s sweatshirt was red, because he used his sleeve to clean up (rub in) the spill, and then proudly show papa what a good job he did, grinding grape juice into the cushion. And that was Andrei’s memorable first communion.
Afterward someone invited us to ‘international fellowship’ but it was clear that Andrei was ready to go, so we went to find Dima and left. We had hoped to talk to the pastor and tell him hello from our friend, but maybe next week. Dima took us to the grocery store and kindly kept Andrei in the van with him so Brent and I could rush through. Then we went home.
The rest of the day was normal. Andrei’s favorite new movie is Jungle Book. The cleaning lady gave it to him. She must have found it somewhere in the apartment because it didn’t have a case and was kind of beat up. But it still plays all the way through and even though it’s in English, Andrei shushes us and watches it with much interest. He’s had to have seen it before. In fact, during the beginning credits, I think he recited the whole story to us.

Andrei’s food issues are getting better. At first today he was really angry that I held the ‘food bowl’ and would only give him one piece of fruit at a time, but he got over it. He also learned “thank you” in English and says that about half the time instead of in Russian. Also, I make him tell me how many pieces of whatever he wants, and we count in English - I think he can recite to ten now. The only annoying thing is having to get up and follow him to the kitchen every half hour. But now he tries to hid behind the fridge and we try to scare each other, so it’s a little fun to be playing with him instead of arguing.
He still hides food a bit, but we’re more careful to watch him and we point out that he has to eat that before he can get more.
I’m not sure if I should be proud or horrified to say that today he ate an entire medium sized jar of sweet pickles, and even drank some of the juice. I don’t know how this kid doesn’t have the hugest gut ache. Blech.
I did find the magic food that he can not resist - Gummi Bears. I got almost a whole bagful of kisses and he always goes and shows papa the handful he’s accumulated. He even sat by me during the movie for a bit tonight, and he gave me a goodnight kiss - no candy required. :) It made my day. :)

Now I’m done. Tonight, Marina left for Chuvashia to escort another couple to court, and also to pick up Andrei’s paperwork so we can go home! Yay!