Saturday, July 29, 2006

Under the summer sun...

It is late at night and I am weary, but determined. It has been a long time since I’ve updated my journal and things are happening fast and furious. I feel out of touch with many of you and I am sure you feel the same with me.

Aaron and I returned to Russia following our visit with my sister and family. Before long we were off to celebrate Aaron’s brother’s wedding in Slovakia. We spent a wonderful 10 days celebrating with friends and family – taking a side trip to Prague and Vienna. So much rich culture and history in these ancient cities! Prague was breathtakingly beautiful with its cobblestone streets and towering cathedrals. Massive thundershowers dumped periodic bucket-loads of rain on hot tourists and shop keepers alike, while gargoyles spewed the rain off steep roofs onto passersby below. Vienna was prim and proper, with its streets laid out in perfect order with neatly trimmed gardens and lovely lily pad draped fountains. The lilting tones of Mozart and other famous composers could be heard piped into the gardens near the town center. Dear Abby and Tim were dragged from one amazing site to the next. Tim walked for miles with little complaining, eager to take in the new sites, sounds, and tastes of the world around him.

Back in Slovakia we stalked the halls of an ancient castle where the Hungarian kings once held sway over vast tracts of land. And we ate, and ate, and ate some more. Our Slovakian hosts (Danka’s Parents) fed us till we couldn’t move. I tried, probably for the first and last time in my life, Absinthe liqueur, one of the highest proof alcohols sold. Tasted like bitter mint mouthwash with a major kick. Two sips was enough! 

Beautiful memories made with beautiful friends, a time we will never forget. Our prayer for John and Danka as we left them was that they would find the beauty and love of a Christ centered marriage as wonderful as Aaron and I have.

Back in Russia Aaron is busy hitting the road, traveling from one side of the city to the other, looking for potential sites for the new business he is working on starting. Kelly and he are meeting three times a week in Sestroretks, a 1.5 to 2 hour commute for Aaron. He comes home weary and ready to sleep standing up. They continue to look for major investors so they can open up the first Fast Lube Service Center in Russia. Please pray for them, that God will open the storehouses of heaven, and bless them in this endeavor. It is hard living on faith that this is what God wants us to do, as our savings slowly dwindle away. God is faithful, however, and we put our trust in him daily.

I continue to work at the clinic 2 times a week for 4 hours a day. Recently, Tim spent 3 days there in intensive care during a severe asthmatic attack with underlying bronchitis. They could not get him off oxygen without his oxygen levels dropping dangerously low and his heart rate trying to compensate by going much too fast. After 3 days of antibiotic therapy to get his bronchitis under control, as well as inhalation therapy and massage to get the secretions moving, he was finally released into my care at home with nebulizer treatments 3 times a day, and a host of other medications. I spent 2 days and 3 nights of almost no sleep by his side until he was out of danger. It’s terrible watching your child struggle for every breath. It pains me to think of it now.

My sister Rachel is visiting with us now and will be with us for the next 3 weeks. We have had some wonderful conversations and times of prayer together. She has been a huge encouragement to me.

It is now 2am and far past my bedtime. Love to all of you, and know that we miss you and hold you close to our hearts.

Aaron and Ramona

3 comments:

Aaron Bogott said...

Thank you honey! I love your blog. You tell our life story like no other. Keep up the great work! XOXO :-)

Anonymous said...

Great memories of summer. I remember Aaron's bro- saw pics in YWAM - I think. How old is he? He looks young- well maybe as young as my 22 year old sister!
Looks like you had a GREAT time!


Take care!

Anonymous said...

That was Betsy by the way!