Well Mom and Dad I’m alive so you can reassure Mery and Yeya. So far we’ve done 3 days of VBS and it’s been a lot of fun. Every day I get to play a goofy cowboy (not far from my character), and today I was trampled by an ox, well, hypothetically at least. The kids as always are fun to be with, so it will be sad once we have to leave. Though two things I’m really excited for is showing the Jesus film to the rehab guys, the plan is to cook hamburgers (an American Classic, Of course) for the guys… and us J Yum. The other thing is we are planning to go on a picnic with the church members right next to the Kaloshka River and we get to beat the heat by going swimming (trust me that is definitely needed) The coolest things I’ve seen is how God is really working in the hearts of these kids both in Sol’tsi and Vibiti. They come back more excited each day giving us the energy we need when we are tired. Thank you for all the prayers so far and I hope you continue to pray for us, cause that is always needed.
P.S. I’m really enjoying all the Russia food. -Ben R.
Cherrie – Hello family and friends! Russia and its people are A M A Z I N G. It has been so busy since our arrival; VBS is going really well and we are serving 40+ kids a day! They are loving the music, drama, crafts and fellowship. Tomorrow is the Salvation lesson so we’ll do the bracelet and other fun stuff! We’re going to visit a museum in Sol’tsy tomorrow and go to the river Shelon’ for a swim. Our final day here at Vibity where the rehab is and our “hotel” is on Saturday. We will be in St. Petersburg on Sunday evening after a final “dinner” with Pastor Anatoli in Novgorod. Get this…we have breakfast at 8:00 a.m. oatmeal, bread, fruit, tea, meat and cheese – then at 2:00ish we have “lunch”…meat, cheese, bread and soup & fruit; dinner is around 9 p.m. and all is repeated on a smaller scale leaving out oatmeal for breakfast. Believe it or not we have all L O S T weight. We’ve been working so hard doing VBS in 2 cities. It has also been very hot in the high 80’s everyday. God is so amazing - our interpreters have taught us so much of Russki language! Everyone here has been so hospitable and constantly want to feed us! Thank you all so much for the love, prayers and support! Abundant blessings, we’ll see you next Wednesday afternoon at some point. Xoxoxoxo!!
Montine - We are enjoying getting to know our Russian brothers and sisters in Christ. They have such a wonderful heart for the LORD and have been great partners in our mission. Richard and I traveled last night with Pastor Anatoly (from the Novgorod church) to Staray Russa, a small town about 75 miles from Soltsy. Richard spoke to the church there about missions. His talk was well-received. I was in charge of story-time today during VBS and told the Russian children about my grandchildren at home. Our story was about Joshua and the children of Israel and how the Lord told them to march around the city of Jericho and then shout and he would deliver Jericho into their hands. Our story was complete with a Jericho wall that tumbled down when we all shouted. We bought Russian bibles today (both children’s and adults) to give out to our young (and older) VBS friends. We are looking forward to surprising them with the Bibles at the end of VBS. Hugs to you all!
Stephanie – Ma…(hahah) I got my sour cream and onion chips!! =) But I have lost my voice, and it has been very entertaining. Some of the children even take joy in pretending they have lost their voices too. The games have been a big hit, and the only damage done was Mike’s shoulder that was dislocated while in competition ( that is why you do not try to steal the bacon from your wife ;) ) Lol. I think the favorite game was the water balloon toss/ dump water on Ben and Stephanie. The kids are participating in the songs and getting really into it which is awesome and so much fun! We are doing two VBS and I am absolutely loving it. One little girl came up to me grabbed my hand and said you are the sweet one. (I am not sure what it meant exactly, but it made my day) and she would not let me go for the rest of VBS. I felt special. All the children here are so excited and seem to have a yearning to learn it’s just so wonderful to see, and a blessing to be a part of it. To hear the laughter, see the smiles, and join in with them is something there are not words to easily be found to describe it. You just have to experience it, I think the best way to describe being here is a joy that wells up deep inside, and just bursts out from head to toe.
We are going to the museum today, and tonight will have a picnic on the river. Maybe swim, but sing songs, and have fellowship with the people of the Sol’tsy church. The people here are so sweet and very giving. Even if they have nothing to give they still give it anyway. The people have been a wonderful blessing to the team, and we are most grateful for them. I am just feeling very blessed and happy. Oh and Ma, I want to thank you for all you have done for me, and the way you raised me. For it has made me the person I am today. For that I am thankful to God for making me your daughter. I love you and I will see you in a few days.
Meredith - Coming back to Russia is like coming back home. It is such a joy to fellowship with all of the friends that we made last year and to make new friends. It has been such a busy time, but I love the fact that we are able to cement the relationships that we began last year for some of us. I have also enjoyed such awesome fellowship with members of the team I can't even begin to describe it. Matt, Erica, and Olivia I love you and miss you and I will see you soon.
Amanda - Hi Mom and Dad- sorry didnt tell you when I got here...my cellphone isn't working at all this year. Please pray for me..I'm feeling very tired all the time..like 1% energy...and YES MOM I am taking my vitamins AND drinking water. The other night was really awesome...remember how I was making copies of the music from the song book Elya gave me? Me and Elya sang some of them with the rehab guys, and I played guitar....I also sang to them the Russian song I made up, the prayer song... I was just so happy to share with them. So many things have happened and the days are flying by...soon we'll be finished and able to come home..I want to stay here longer. The first night we were here a bunch of us went to Borisov's house for tea..it was so WONDERFUL to see them again..Viktor and Tatiana are some of the kindest people I have ever met. Please pray for us..we have a tough lesson today in vbs to teach and I am giving the devotional today at lunch...please pray.
