WE MADE IT!

Dan here...typing on an "authentic" Russian computer. (an "acer" actually, but part of the keypad is in Russian anyway).

PRAISE THE LORD AND GLORY BE HIS NAME!

We are thankful for an uneventful trip (nearly 24 hours from doorstep to harrowing ride to the Hostel from the airport). I would like to send a shoutout to all those "large" sized people who have had to cram themselves into a seat on a plane that has the room for an "average" sized 5 year old.

We made it safe and sound and after a BIG night of sleep and are feeling well rested after crashing for 14 hours straight in our "IKEA" furnished room. We are staying in the Moscow Home Hostel (http://www.moshostel.com/) and have the "Luxury" room...good thing it is SUPER cheap because it is SUPER small. We have the only room with a private bathroom and by bathroom we mean a closet that has a tiny shower and toilet crammed inside. You actually have to crawl over the tank of the toilet to get in the shower...good thing I am so small and practially a gymnast. I can touch wall to wall and with our 3 checked bags plus two carry-ons...let's just say there is barely any room left. This is TRULY an ADVENTURE.

We took a walk last night toward downtown Moscow and ate at McDonalds for supper after some "lovely" food from the airlines. Patti had a Coke Light and I had a regular Coke...oddly enough they tasted the same. I have a new appreciation for the picture menus that McDonalds has!

This afternoon we walked down Arbat Street and turned back after getting to the "Inner Circle" (a street which runs around the inside of Moscow and has TONS of traffic. It was fun to walk in a different country with a completely different culture...needless to say, we stuck out like the tourists we are :)

Our plug adapter is not working, but thankfully we are able to use one of the two computers at the hostel. The people here are very friendly (odd for a place called a "hostel"...ha, ha, ha).

WE CONTINUE TO FEEL YOUR PRAYERS AND APPRECIATE THE LOVE AND SUPPORT FROM YOU ALL.