The Flag of Kazakhstan was adopted in 1992, after independence from the Soviet Union. The blue stands for the great blue skies and waters of Kazakhstan. In the center of the flag is a golden sun with 32 rays, the number 32 representing the number of Kazakh tribes united under Genghis Khan.  Under the sun is a golden steppe eagle in flight. Along the left edge of the flag is a vertical band of traditional ornamentation representing the creative and artist energy of Kazakh people.

The Team! (left to right):

• Pastor John Smith and Pat Smith from PA.
• Natasha Koryakina from Kostroma, ru.
• Brooke Patterson from PA
• Yana Arkhipova from Kostroma, ru.
• President George Steiner from CO.
• Vice President Jenya P. Haps from IL.
• Cathy Eskew from CO.

The House!

A very comfortable and functional ten bedroom/ten bathroom house with a large foyer to greet our guests, a large living area to relax as a team, a dinner area with four tables with twelve chairs at each, a small serving kitchen upstairs and a commercial kitchen downstairs, where there was also a pool table/recreation room. We used it all!

Salta was our “Girl Friday” and served the team every day in many ways. She picked us up at the airport (several times in the middle of the night) and was our driver, translator, cultural instructor, guide, and enthusiastic servant. An orphan, she taught herself English and put herself through college, now working as a Physical Education teacher at a local school. She was the best!

Kazakhstan is at least 70% Muslim. We visited one of the largest mosques in Almaty. We felt warmly received by the young man who took us into their gathering room. Our ladies had prepared by bringing long skirts and head coverings. Guys just had to remove their shoes. The area  behind us is the Mihrab, the niche indicating the direction to Mecca. 

On July 4 we invited Pastor Thomas and his associate Alisher to our house for breakfast. Pastor Thomas leads Joy Church, one of the largest evangelical congregations in Almaty, founded in 1991 by American missionary John Weed. Alisher is a professor at a local university, and is working on his Ph.D in Economics. 

On July 5  we visited a home for abused or abandoned women and their children operated by Joy Church, which has four other homes for addicts, former prisoners, and the homeless. I loved the obvious love the children had in this home for Pastor Thomas. The overseer of these homes is Roman, a former addict and gang leader.

We worshiped at Joy Church on Sunday July 7. It was great singing familiar worship songs in this Russian speaking congregations. For many Kazakh people Russian is their primary language, but the use of the Kazak language is increasing.