Thomas Umstattd Jr.

Adventure at Dunnottar Castle

Instead of telling you about the computer work I did in Scotland, let me tell you about the adventure I had at Dunnottar Castle. It began when Jessica Heaton, an old friend from Belton, offered to take me on a Castle tour. She purchased a car the day before and this was her first day to drive on the backward Scottish roads. Instead of driving up to the castle we drove to Stonehaven where we could...

What I Learned in Russia

Natasha Thomas & Olga Cantrell playing with weird camera poses. Russian is one of the hardest languages to learn in the world. Never under any circumstances walk in a Russian home with your shoes on. Even if they say you can don’t. Russian homes are warmer than my house in Belton. All that talk about how cold it is here is hype. Russian buildings are heated by warm water that flows through...

Photos from Russia

Here I am in front of a 3000 year old Sphinx. This statue sits on the site of a road and gets frosty in the winter. Those Egyptians knew how to build things to last! Lucy, Philly, Ana and Olga admire a wall painting at the Winter Palace. Here is a great example of the majestic beauty of St. Petersburg. The lady standing at the base of the right statue lived with us in the States for several months....

So, what is MIR anyway?

Two Russian orphans. The biggest question I have received about my trip to Russia is “What is MIR?” No one has heard of it. To help answer that question I have put together the following video. While in Russia I helped: Setup a several new computers Setup a new secure email system Demoed the XO Laptop to orphanage directors (yes yes a post on XO Laptops is coming) Secure the network. Increase...

My Russian Family

I would like to introduce you to my Russian family they are some of the friends I have made here. The first five live with me in My Russian Home. This is Mike Cantrell. He is my host and the man of the house. He directs Mir  and Stoneworks International. He is one of the hardest working people I have ever met. He is on international Skype calls late into the night and back at work early in the morning....

My Russian Home

This is the elevator that goes up to our flat. It can hold up to three people or two people and a backpack. Its great for building community. This is the entry way of our flat. Every time you enter a house you take off your coat and shoes and put on house slippers. Each Russian home providers house slippers for guests. This practice keeps the floors very clean a stark contrast to the streets which...

Safe in Russia

I have now been in Russia for four days and I love it here so far. Here are some photos from my trip to Russia here. I will try to post more photos and videos as often as possible. If you would like updates emailed to you sign up for my email newsletter. My last meal in Texas. The food here is so good I don’t miss Texas Bar B Que… Yet. This is Dr. Imad N. Shehadeh the Senior Professor...

ACW Christian Writers Conference

Last Weekend David Umstattd and I visit the American Christian Writers conference in Oklahoma City. At the conference we learned about how to write better and about the business of writing. This is an exciting to time to write because the web gives us greater access to our readers than ever before. But with that it is harder to get published than it has been in the past. Here is a quick video with...

I am Going to Russia!

Married people often tell me how they miss the freedom they had when they were single. Well I am single and I have done very little with this supposed freedom. Well no more. Russia Antioch Belton is sending me to Russia from Feb 25 through March 25. I will be working with Mir a Russian charity that serves orphans. I will be shooting a documentary, building websites, fixing computers, teaching about...