Extremes

Today began with the ultimate test in flexibility for our team. About 30 minutes in to our 90 minute commute to the orphanage, our bus was stopped at a traffic check point. Apparently our bus was stopped due to a tail light malfunction and during the inspection by the policeman, the driver was also fined because we weren't wearing our seat belts, along with the tail light. Good news is...we are a resourceful group, and during our wait (which ended up being 2 1/2 hours) we used our time wisely. We rehearsed for the talent show (more on that later), letters were translated to the kids, sorted some materials and even had time for a little dancing. Unfortunately when something like this happens in Russia, you are not allowed to leave until the problem is fixed. So we waited....and waited...and waited for an electrician to come assist with the repair and we were finally on our way.
By the time we arrived at the orphanage, it was past lunch time. We ate a quick lunch then left with the older kids for the bonfire. Stephanie and Marca stayed back with the younger kids who were not allowed to go. They played games, colored, did beads and practiced Russian (only Steph!). The bonfire was a blast! The setting was one of the most beautiful, peaceful places we have ever seen. It was so awesome to see how the older boys immediately began working, helping the teachers prepare the fire and coals for the shashlik (kabobs). We played tag in the forest, hiked and played soccer while the fire was warming. After playing for a while we introduced the group to s'mores!!! They LOVED them! We were handing out marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate as fast as we could.
The transformation in the older boys from year to year is obvious. After 4 years they are so much more relaxed and interactive with us. The teachers invited Rich to help with the shashlik. He had a great time putting the meat on skewers and cooking it on the coals. They even had him pose for a picture with the finished product. The meat was AMAZING! The kids loved it as much as we did. We asked if they would share the recipe to which the teachers replied...it was Gyorgy (school principal and orphanage director) who had cut the meat and that is why it was so special. We could have stayed longer, but knew we still needed to get back to the orphanage to pass out sponsor gifts and have the talent show.
The kids were foaming at the mouth to get their sponsor gifts, but we hadn't done it yet, because we were waiting to do it on bonfire day. Earlier the younger kids had been asking when they were getting them, and we had to tell them to wait until the older kids got back.
We say this every year, but it is amazing how each and every kid pulls out their letter to read your words first. There are beautiful moments when they are sitting there...read something cool, then turn to the next person and repeat it. The Kansas City themed stuff was a HUGE hit! They loved seeing your city and sports teams! One of the older boys opened up a KU gift and Autumn was explaining it was her favorite sports team, then one of the other kids said, 'What about the tigers?' We think it is hilarious about they know the MU vs. KU rivalry just from our gifts and letters.
This year we tried something we've never tried before...a talent show! We wanted to give the kids the opportunity to perform, and give us an opportunity to make them feel like our own kids do...like celebrities with paparazzi all over the room! Several of the girls did dances, Vika and Denis drew beautiful pictures and Nastya P. sang for us. Sergei P. answered Rich's challenge to a sweet roll eating contest...which is on video and had us laughing like crazy! It was a fantastic experience to cheer them on and encourage them in the gifts and talents God has given them!
This will be our last post before flying home on Monday. We leave for Moscow tomorrow (Saturday) night, and will be away from wifi for the rest of our time. We are incredibly thankful for our prayer support you've given us, and are even more thankful that we cannot post after leaving the kids for the last day. We know we will need the support of each other, and our families as we process everything this week has meant to us! It is an honor to serve this way and an even bigger honor to be a presence in our kids lives. When you have the opportunity to change a life through being in a relationship...it is an extraordinary gift from God!