Chuk-Chuk *edited*

We tried it! Our lessons learned in italics.
My favorite Russian dessert is Chuk-Chuk! I think that's because the honey in Kirov is soooooo good. (We never leave without a jar--this time, we took 3!)
I think I am going to try to make some for New Years. I don't think I can match what they make in Dolbiylova, but I'll let you know how it goes. Here is the recipe I am working with:

Chuk-Chuk dough:
4 eggs
3T powdered sugar (could add a bit more, but not much)
2 t butter (melted)
1/3 t salt
1/4 c milk (could easily double this!)
17 oz flour by weight (about right, but could easily skimp)

Syrup:
1 1/2 c honey
4 t sugar

1. Blend egg, butter, sugar, salt, milk, and flour and knead until dough is smooth. Add more milk if dough seems dry--don't want it to be too tough!
2. Let dough rest 30-40 minutes.
3. Heat honey and sugar in a double boiler and stir until sugar dissolves. Cook until it turns an amber color, but don't burn it!
4.Break into pieces and roll into small balls--the smaller the better. They don't have to be even!
*Some people recommend cutting small noodles or running it through a pasta maker. Your choice!
5. Heat canola oil in frying pan over medium heat, until very hot. Fry dough balls until golden brown, up to 5 minutes, and drain on a paper towel. We used a slotted spoon to place the dough into the oil without getting burned. Don't be afraid to get them really brown and a little bit crispy!
6. Mix fried dough and syrup in a big bowl.
7. Serve! Either mold and serve in some kind of shape, or serve in piles. Can garnish with nuts or powdered sugar. Good warm or cool, I found it best on the second day. A little goes a long way!

This is also called Tatar, because it is from the Tatar people. I think it would be good with chocolate, or cinnamon, or maybe some berries as garnish . . . I will let you know how this recipe turns out! Happy New Year!

Our version wasn't as delicious as in Russia, but pretty good! Thanks, Nancy, Nolan, and Georgia for being guinea pigs!

Home for the Holidays

It feels good to be back! I have been in a different world for the last few months, swimming in all kinds of wonderful things. I've been working on a trafficking prevention program for Doma International, which is pretty exciting, and working on growing my skills and expertise as a youth & child social worker. It's been wonderful, but I am thankful it is winding down and I am able to spend some more time at HOME, where I am able to just be me.

This weekend, I spent time with my big, wonderful family and made some great memories. Our choir shared a special moment Sunday singing Богородице Дево (turn up your sound to hear it!) and thanking our Precentor, who is moving on to new opportunities. And we received a surprise package from Sovietsk! We received letters, letters, letters and a copy of the full-length documentary shown on Kirov News. Tonight, I will be sorting Christmas and New Years cards sent from Sovietsk Supporters to the children at the orphanage. I have spent the last few days with people and activities which are central to me being ME, not a professional or a student, but just plain Sarah.

I've been thinking a lot lately about a special evening we spent in Sovietsk, largely thanks to you, Sovietsk Supporters. While Ben, his dad, and Mischa were boxing with the older boys, we ladies stayed back to paint faces and make bracelets. Jen and Katherine were face painting pros, and Barb was our jewelry queen. While they did their thing, I had the privelege of sharing a special moment with each of the children who were there. We called the children to a private room one at a time, and Sveta helped me present them with their special gift packets. Each child received plenty of gum, chapstick, lip gloss for the girls, hackey sacks for the guys, stationary, a special pen, and a mirror, all bundled up just for them. I wish I could share with you the look of delight each face had when they received their gifts, and the pride they had when they heard the gift was special, just for them. It wasn't so much the gifts, although they were welcome and much appreciated, but it was the thought that someone cared enough about just them to send a gift. They weren't one of 30 when I gave them your gifts. They were just themselves. It was a special night, and I saw more life in those young eyes than I had ever seen before!

Last week, we put together birthday Smile Packets for each of the children at Sovietsk. We are sending them early so each child will receive one on his or her birthday. We are sending a special picture, a memory of them which makes us smile, and wishes for the happiest birthday yet, specially made for each child. We hope this small gesture will have a big impact, and the kiddos will know they are remembered and loved on their birthdays, just for who they are.

These are tiny ways we can remind these young people of how special and important they are, just themselves. Some of them will have special moments over the holidays which help them grow in who they are, as I am so thankful to have had already this season. Some of them will go home fo the holidays. Some of them will not, and that will hurt.

If any of you would like to send a special holiday card or email to one of our children, just reminding them that they are important, remembered, and not alone, please email me. We sent many letters, but we have a few children who could use some extra love.

Thank you for all you do for these children! I wish each of you a Christmas week full of special memories and love, just because of who you are.

Happy Holidays

I love Thanksgiving. It's a great opportunity spend time with family and eat delicious food. Christmas is great for many of the same reasons, plus we get to sing some really good songs at church on Christmas Eve. And then we wake up the next morning and spend a relaxing day with family. The holidays are a always a great opportunity to spend time with the people you love. Unfortunately for our friends at Sovietsk, they don't always have this opportunity. We're asking everyone to chip in and write some holiday cards to the kids and let them know that we're thinking about them during the holidays.

The biggest holiday of the season in Russia is New Year's. (They place the same level of importance on New Year's that we place on Christmas). The Russian Orthodox church celebrates Christmas on January 7.

If you're interested in sending a card, please contact us and we'll let you know how. Happy holidays to you and yours.

From the October Newsletter

The following is from the October edition of the monthly newsletter we receive from our friends in Sovietsk. The note below was written by one of the young ladies who was relatively new to the orphanage. Over the course of our time there she developed a close bond with two of our travelers in particular.

Dear American friends,

Today it’s me who will send you all our love and I will tell you what’s new in our orphanage. So it’s already October and we all study hard. I had some very bad marks but I’ve managed to improve them. By the way, thanks to your visit my English has become better, even my teachers admit this fact.

We had much fun in September. We had a Disco. Now I also have many friends here in Grehovo and in Sovietsk. I feel at home. Though of course there were some hard things and feelings and so on…but now everything is great!!! Soon I will have my 15th birthday. I nearly can’t wait!!!!

I miss Sarah and Ben, Steve and Barb, and especially Katherine and Jennifer. We all miss you here and want you to return next year!!!

Kisses, hugs and much love from us all and me especially,
Sasha

Stay tuned for more excerpts from the October newsletter...

Bummed.

Well, we just learned that four of our kids lost their sponsors. Big bummer. We certainly understand when things get tight, especially in these times. But it's hard to think about our sweet kids losing out on these great relationships and resources.

Can you help us out? This is what we're asking:

1) Please send me an email or comment here about what could improve the sponsor program for you. I know it can get tough when you haven't met the kids and haven't heard from them, and we'd like to find some ways to make up for that.

(When I get over the homework hump this semester, I'll be blogging a lot more and sending individual info to sponsors, which I think you will enjoy.)

2) Please help us spread the word about these kids. If you know of anyone who would like to be a pen pal or a sponsor, send them our way! Or, maybe ask for it as a gift . . . I know I couldn't get a better gift this Christmas than to see all these kiddos sponsored. The pics you see are some of our kids waiting for sponsors.

3) Please keep our kids in your thoughts and prayers as the holidays approach. Send an extra note, an extra contribution, something that communicates your love and care for these sweet kids as they face the holidays with us as their family.

THANK YOU for all you do!

Vadim Petrovich

Here's a guest blog from my parents, Barb and Steve Clark. about their experience visiting Russia as a member of our team.

We enjoyed a trip to the Sovietsk Orphanage that was filled with new experiences and adventure. We met many wonderful people, both staff and children at the orphanage as well as really great folks in the local community. The interpreters were exceptional, speaking several languages in some cases. We would like to single out one individual to write about in this blog because he did something so nice for us that we will never forget. Vadim Petrovich Antsygin is the Technology Instructor for the Sovietsk Orphanage. He really, really cares about the children. He devotes a great deal of energy helping the kids learn some basic skills with tools and achieving an understanding of how to do some things that will prove useful throughout their lives. He is a craftsman, especially with wood. He teaches crafts, basic carpentry and even electrical wiring. Steve really enjoyed touring the shop and engaging in lively conversation about the things that Vadim has a passion for. The shop was so versatile with many opportunities and with tools and machines that Vadim made from whatever was available. He is very resourceful. Steve was very glad that he had spent time with Barb’s dad, Kilby Davis, who was an excellent craftsman with wood in his own right. Steve’s background is engineering, welding and metal working, but he had just enough understanding to really enjoy the time in the shop. Later in the week, Vadim appeared in Galina’s, the director’s, office with a special gift for us. He had prepared a presentation speech which he delivered with heartfelt emotion that really touched us. He gave us a beautiful piece of his own personal work – a handmade frame and handmade picture of winter snowbirds made from shaped pieces of colored bark. It is gorgeous and hangs in a very prominent place in our home. The caption has blessed and inspired us more than we can say: “For the people who give part of their good hearts to children”. We pray to live up to that statement. Thank you, our friend, Vadim!

It's a Small World, After All

So, you'll never believe what we saw in a small children's store in Sovietsk:

That's right! 6,000 miles away from Indianapolis, our home, right after we missed our favorite NFL team on opening day, Ben's lovely mother makes this discovery.

Sovietsk has a population of 20,000.

Lucas Oil Stadium (for our Russian readers, that's where the Colts play American Football) seats up to 70,000.

We talk a lot about how different life is between here and Sovietsk, but this is just more proof that we're really more alike than different.

I knew we found a good home away from home! GO COLTS!