Blogs from Prague, Czech Republic, Europe - page 185

We met Marina last spring when she was here for a conference and she was here again this week, attending a conference on Anabaptist history. Last spring while work in the library I noticed this woman, reading, studying and taking notes. When not attending one of the conference sessions she spent hours in the library. I asked someone, "Who is that lady." "She is Marina, from St. Petersburg," was the reply. "She is the living legend, walking encyclopedia on Anabaptists and their history in Russia." Marina was born in St. Petersburg almost 80 years ago. My, the changes she has seen, not just in Russia, but in the entire world. I wish I knew more of her story, more of how she survived the Second World War as well as the purges and persecutions of Christians ... read more

Yesterday and this morning we woke to a beautiful world. Both nights were foggy and the temperature was below freezing, so we had frozen fog, or rime fog. This is fog that freezes on tree limbs or pine needles forming beautiful crystals and formations. I have see this only once before. Many years ago we were at Clingman's Dome in Tennessee and there were feathers of hoar frost on the lookout concrete. ... read more

Ira has been here with her parents for a while but will stay here only this week more and will be returning home with them tomorrow. She has had a great time this week having a good time running and playing. One day she and another lovely child ran circles around the little wall in the dining room laughing and playing and then after becoming tired sitting on the bottom shelf of a section of shelving. It is fun to watch these kids ... if only I had their energy. Poor little Ira was playing this afternoon and fell hurting her hand. She looked so sad as she sat on her mother's lap, sucking her thumb for comfort. Several of us checked her hand carefully to be sure it wasn't swollen. She was very brave though ... read more

Occasionally there is a special week here at the seminary and we have just finished one such week. This is the week when as many as possible of the Ph. D. students, both those who live here and those who study and work from their home locations come to IBTS to given presentations and to have their work reviewed. Needless to say there are many group meetings and many meetings between students and their advisors. Most of these students spend what free time they have working, studying and doing research in the seminary library. The range of topics they are working on is amazing. The results of some of this research will be important throughout the Christian world since it is really groundbreaking research. This is one of those weeks when the library is open each ... read more

One of the really nice things about being in a place like IBTS is meeting new, friendly people and Sophie is a very friendly, nice, flirting young woman. Irish by heritage, a New Zealander, a real Kiwi, by birth we see her smiling face almost every day, usually in the dining room. Her parents are really a very neat young couple and it is obvious they love Sophie very much. Her dad says that "Sophie is happiest when she is outside." Maybe she will grow up to be one of those Kiwi's who love hiking through the mountains on the south island of New Zealand. Nancy- They told us since Sophie has been born they have found that many more people approach them and talk She has one of those smiles that just draws you toward ... read more