I.amN.otD.eadY.et children so listen up!

Words cannot express. I’m back from Estonia. Yikes, 24 hours on three planes with three-hour layovers is exhausting. It might take me a few days to get back in the saddle; however, there are tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, and more patiently waiting to be eaten or processed. I will see how long I last today. One must make haste while the sun shines.

We were extremely busy over the past 12 days, so most of my memories are a blur. Hopefully, with some sleep, it will come back gradually, and I will continue to share my adventures. 

On Monday, August 11, our Estonian team went sightseeing somewhere. My memory is a bit hazy, though—I cannot recall what we did that day.

A couple of observations I left out in last week’s post:

• Estonian water bottle caps are affixed to the bottle and cannot be removed easily, making it impossible to lose your cap. I wonder if it makes for easier recycling?
• Singing in the Estonian language is easier than speaking the language. I’m trying to learn how to roll my “Rs.”
• Continuing with food-related memories, portion sizes in restaurants are reasonable; portions are much smaller, plates are cleaned, and there are very few take-away boxes offered at restaurants.
• I altered my medication schedule and ate more meals and snacks in the time I was gone than before my cancer diagnosis. Many meals had potatoes, cheese, and sauces. We were encouraged to try many different foods, including frog legs. I am sorry to say I lost weight rather than gained it.
• The Euro is stronger than the American dollar at the moment. But, stores prefer cards and have very little means of breaking a 50-Euro bill. Making change is like a two-person negotiation.
• Many of the women, regardless of hair color, have intense blue eyes.
• The Soviet Occupation has affected the people’s trust. If someone was seen entering a church, even if once a year for Christmas, they stood the chance of being observed by Soviet plants and could lose their job in retaliation for believing in Jesus. I was shocked and embarrassed to realize the occupation was not over until 1991. I will have to comment more about that later.
• Speaking of meals, a favorite beverage is plum juice. It tastes like my wild plum tree that was destroyed in the 2011 flood.
• Water and other beverages are served sans ice. They do float cucumbers, herbs and lemons in their water jugs set upon the tables. But NO ICE.
• Rhubarb drinks are also very popular here. I hope to make rhubarb lemonade this week. We have eaten out two to three hearty meals a day, plus ice cream. I forgot to mention that after the church service in Kambja a week ago Sunday, PB and I shared a pint of ice cream — vanilla with bits of chocolate and two spoons. An end to a perfect day.
• Everything in the buildings is designed for simplicity, beauty, and functionality. We could learn many things about conserving resources from these people.
• There is no air conditioning in the restaurants, hostel, or the hotel we stayed at, and I can’t imagine how much energy they save annually by dressing for the weather.
• Talk about fashion, there are many styles for women, from chic to peasant. These women are not afraid to mix and match patterns and colors.
• Shoes are removed upon entry into the academy, and slippers are provided for bare feet. No questions asked. I believe many homes have a similar practice. 
• The church steeples are by far the tallest spires in all of Estonia, tucked between the most modern building designs. We used the church steeples to navigate the city. There are many churches, beautiful churches, with plenty of room for worshipers. Sadly, between the occupation and COVID, many seats are empty.
• The city is clean and relatively crime-free. People walk, bike, or scooter around town.
• Again, Estonian drivers zip around like Mario Andretti, so you must be careful NOT to cross the street unless there is a designated walkway or the light is green. Roadways on the main drag do not accommodate parking, so the cars seem to go by right by your elbow.

As I gather my photographs, many shared through text messages, I will hopefully recall more and more of my week at Bible camp and hope to share more stories as August is half over and school begins again. I’m sure I can ask my team members for some help with the things I forget.

Yes, I slept until 3 a.m. Tuesday morning, because I’m confused about the time and day of the week. Too tired to do anything, not tired enough to sleep.

Time to get to work on those tomatoes and whatever I can find when the sun finally makes an appearance. It was too dark to see what the shadowy masses of leaves and (ugh) weeds hold for harvest.

I would ask for prayers today for my friend and spiritual mentor, PB. (If you know him, you know who I am talking about). He remains in Estonia for a pastor’s conference at Home of Hope. Prayers for a moving and spirit-filled conference, and a safe journey home.

I love the smell of North Dakota (without the wildfires).

PS: I hope this makes sense. I feel like I have been run over by a truck.