Soltsi Mission Team Blog: Home again

We made it back safely from Russia yesterday afternoon. I apologize for not posting more blog entries, but we quickly discovered that doing VBS with only 5 adults was quite a challenge. There was not much time in the evenings for posting! As has been the case with the last two trips to Russia, I think I can say for the entire team that we were blessed beyond measure. It was extremely hard to leave the kids and friends that we made while we were there. Please pray that God will continue to work in the hearts of the people in Soltsi and Vibity. God is just so amazing and we were able to see Him working while we were there. I would like to ask everyone to pray especially for the kids who are staying at the orphanage right now. It is not being used as an orphanage now, but as a camp where kids can stay for a couple of weeks. We had one older boy, Sergei, who came to VBS from the other camp and was really searching for some answers. Please pray that God will continue to work in his heart and that someone will be able to follow up with him. We gave him a Bible to take with him and encouraged him to read it and study what God has in store for him.

We made two new friends from Novgorod, Katya and Masha, who came and helped us with the singing. We never could have accomplished what we were able to do without them as well as our translators, Sonya and Olga, and Leo who drove us wherever we needed to go. I can't speak for everyone on the team, but for myself, I am so thankful that God put it on my heart to help serve the people in Soltsi and Vibity. It is an honor and a privilege to work with the people there and to cement the relationships that have been started. I can't imagine not having those we have met and become friends with in my life. I am not very good with expressing everything that is in my heart, but I just thank God each and every day for giving me a heart for Russia missions and I am so thrilled that I was able to share this experience with my daughter this year. She made some wonderful friends and everyone was so welcoming. She is anxious to return again!!!! Here are some pictures from VBS. Please continue to pray for the church in Soltsi as well as the children and the men at the rehab center in Vibity. Our God is so amazing!!!