Colorful onion-shaped domes of St. Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin will be on the list of sights to see when City Director Scott Jones and his family move to Moscow in August. The Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg will be a top spot to visit also.
Jones has traveled extensively throughout Europe, but this will be the first time to Russia.
He and his family will move to Moscow, a city of 12 million people, where Jones will teach at Hinkson Christian Academy. "Twelve million people, I'm still trying to wrap my head around that one," Jones said.
It will be an opportunity to get back into teaching what he loves full-time, he said. And that's teaching history, economics and government.
Founded 25 years ago, Hinkson Christian Academy offers kindergarten through 12th-grade classes. Enrollment for the 2012-2013 school year was 165 students, according to the school website. It has 65 faculty and staff and 30 classroom teachers.
Before deciding to teach in Moscow, Jones had been looking online for opportunities to teach in Europe when he found out about this opportunity in January.
He will teach at the school for a minimum of two years, but he'd like to be there for at least four years.
The Joneses plan to return home to Siloam Springs in the summers. Jones said he will be able to help at the family business: Fratelli's Wood-Fired Pizzeria.
Jones' brother-in-law, Tom Leadabrand, will run the business while Jones is in Russia. The plan is that Jones will retain ownership in the business with Leadabrand.
"Tom will keep it open," Jones said.
Jones' last meeting as city director will be Aug. 3 before the big move.
He will have served on the city board for a little more than three years -- almost a full term.
"Being on the board is something I would highly recommend," Jones said. "It's a good thing to be a part of a city's government.
Jones taught government for 12 years before running for city board.
In his election campaign, he said he enjoyed walking the neighborhoods, going door-to-door and meeting people.
This helped in his business because when he made deliveries he knew where homes were he didn't know before.
Though the family will move in August, they have been getting ready and selling items in garage sales.
Jones' wife, Tasha, said the family of four will each be able to bring two large suitcases.
They will have to let go of about 90 percent of their belongings. Some items will be stored at a family's house.
Preparing to move has been an exercise in getting rid of things and trusting in God, Tasha said.
"We're leaving people that we love," she said.
Scott said the people of Siloam Springs are what he'll miss the most.
While moving isn't new to him, it's been a while since he did. He said he moved a lot as a child; however, he's lived in Siloam Springs for 17 years and was a student for four years at John Brown University.
"This is home," he said. "We're going to miss Siloam."
Scott, who is an adjunct professor for John Brown University, wants to continue to teach online classes while in Russia.
This summer, the family will start to learn Russian. Not only will they use computer software to help them learn it, but they also have friends who've been to Russia and know the language.
"The scariest part for me is learning a new language," Tasha said. "I want to be able to communicate with people."
Scott shared the sentiment. He said he wants to at least learn enough Russian to get from the airport to their apartment.
"When Aug. 16 rolls around and I wake up in Russia," Scott said, "like Dorothy, I'm not in Kansas anymore."
Scott and Tasha's children, Aidan, who's 14, and Carys, who's 10, will attend the school in Russia. Tasha looks to work at the school.
"It's exciting and scary at the same time," Tasha said about the big move. "It's another adventure. It's going to be very different."
To be added to their prayer letter or to stay in touch with the family, email them at [email protected].
"We love to have people praying for us," Scott said.
Community on 06/29/2016