I was introduced to a new-to-me people group while staying in Turfan, China. And we worked with them during our visit. The Uyghur (pronounced wee-gar) peoples were/are many in this area of the world.
The rest of this region I have found to be Nominally or culturally Muslim (like some Christanity in America).
My team and I primairly worked with young and ambitious folks looking to improve their English.
And English was not their second language, but often theur 3rd or 4th.
We made genuine friendships. And on our walks and talks we got to share life and truth.
In this heavily Russian influenced culture (due to the SSR) we also had an opportunity to work with disabled, several after school programs, and we played the most soccer and basketball than I have ever played on a regular basis!
It’s very Family centric… dads and strollers. There are parks and work out equipment everywhere; every block has outdoor activities. Brake dancing is popular. Their favorite passtime is walking. It was fine for young kids to be up late at night. In general, everyone stays up later, so you can easly find food at midnight. (But nothing opens until 9 or 10am)
Meals contain lots of meat, bread and potatos.
Salad means tomatos and cucumbers.
The food was simple, oily, but out of all the countries we have spent time in thus far, most similar to our food in America.
Sheshlik – huge meat kabab
Okrutchka -Russian, yogurt based, cold soup.
Lagman – Uygar noodle dish
Monte – a large Momo or dumpling.
Bishbmak -horse meat and thick noodles, potatoes and some broth.
Borsh-beet and or cabbage soup.
Plov -Usbek rice and lamb dish
Doner wrap with chicken. Or beef the cut from a spindle with cuc, friend and tomato. Usually under a dollar. Easy, great street food.
We made such good friends and memories while practing English, playing sports, and child sitting.
We had some hosts this month, hurray!!! They were graceous and Godly examples to us and spoke so much word and wisdom into our lives.
Again, the locals were so hopsitable to us. At the end of our time we got handmade bracelets (@handmade_assel) and group photos with them.
We were so loved by our Central Asian neighbours.
Psalm 65:11-13
11 You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with abundance.
12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness.
13 The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing.
