SUPERfriends

Sorry, friends...we've been SUPER tired the past couple of nights and haven't given you any specifics, but get ready because we're about to unload on you.

The past couple of days have been fantastic, both in lesson and rotations in the afternoon. The kids are opening up in family group during discussion time, and we've learned so much about them in the last two days. We've talked about pain and conflict and plan to end on courage tomorrow.

The name of the game this week in activity has been "flexibility." Planned activities have gone a little awry, but our need for structure has taken second place to the kids having fun, which is what's most important, anyway.

Craft has gone well, and we can tell the ones they've loved because a hush falls over the room as they create. It's been silly, too, as it should be with kids--today's activity being a perfect example. We finger painted with the kids on pieces of fabric and Lindsay walked by two kids just as they were high-fiving with hands covered in paint and ended up being covered in paint herself.

We've been able to stay late almost every night, which is partly why we're so tired, but is also such a blessing. That extra time with the kids is so incredibly important for bonding. We showed sponsor videos one night, which included lots of laughter and emotion from all of the kids. It really helped them see what a huge community of supporters is behind them at Woods Chapel.The next night, we stayed to watch The Avengers and several of us got some great cuddle time in. These kids crave being held so badly, and movie night is the perfect evening for that to happen.

Tonight, we threw a birthday party for all of the kids. We decked out the room in superhero party decorations and balloons, and sang happy birthday and ate treats. We wanted the kids to feel special and since we can't be here on all of their birthdays, this was our substitute. We played Bingo as well, and Shawn entertained the kids with silly voices calling out the numbers. He wore out three translators in the process.

We also hung up the handprints poster from all of you during the party and several of the kids loved seeing your messages and your "wave" from miles away.Watching kids open your sponsor gifts was also an incredible highlight of the past couple of days. We can't stress enough what a privilege it is to all of us to be your representatives here and to help these kids feel more connected to all of you. Watching them read your letters and look at your faces in photos helps us see how genuinely they love you, and how connected they feel to each and every one of you. There's something magical that happens in those moments that is undeniably from God.

We've got a lot more planned in the next couple of days, so stay tuned!

Travel By Numbers

 








5,376 miles from home
18 superhero shirts packed...and one superman cape
38 hours of planes, trains, and automobiles
36 bags of luggage
6 different flavors of Russian chips
37.5 snorts of laughter (going up by the second)
4.5 layers of clothing per person
8 tea times in 3 days
39 degrees outside, 139 degrees inside
40 letters translated
32 bars of Bounty purchased
5 trillion beads sorted
1 team communion
7 songs performed by Tech School graduates
25 new friends made at the tech school ministry center
1 window opened and re-opened 10 times
5 shots of Nyquil
$50 spent on chocolate
7 water drinkers and one in denial
8 hearts ready to love
16 arms ready to hug
...and only 10 hours before we see the kids of Velikoretskoye

We're baaaaaack!

Stinky and exhausted quickly turned into joyous and anxious as we arrived by train at 7:30 this morning in Kirov, Russia. Stephanie had told our friend and Russia leader, Olga, she was hoping for snow when Olga replied with, 'I shall order it for you!' Then...after we'd had breakfast and showered it was snowing on our way to church! Just as ordered!

The Russian Orthodox Church service was very beautiful, and one of our observations was how invested each person was in the service. Sight, smell and sound are huge sensory components of Russia Orthodox services. They do stand on average 2 hours during the whole service...with their coats on, which astounded us because we were sweating after being there only 30 minutes. 

The most common thing we've said to eat other is, 'I'm hot,' or 'I'm sweating!' It is always hot inside, yet cold outside! 

None of us slept well on the train because it was so hot. Stephanie woke up about midnight, and was playing games on her iPod when Becky asked of she was awake. It quickly turned into an adventure as Becky found Rich in the hallway and they decided to go to the restaurant car. Melanie quickly piped up from her bed, 'Wait, I'm coming, too.' Which surprised the others who thought she was asleep!

Their adventure was cut short when a train attendant made it very clear the car was no longer open. So then they busted out snacks and dug in...since we were hungry...again...

We feel like all we've been doing so far is eat and travel! Mostly true.

This afternoon, when we finished a yummy lunch (see!?!?) in our favorite cafe, we headed to the Kirov Ministry Center to visit with some Hopechest orphans. (There were no Velikoretskoye grads there, we are hoping to see some tomorrow.) 

We were immediately greeted with a traditional Russia hospitality greeting with bread and salt. Rich and Becky were very excited for salt since they think there hasn't been enough salt on what we've been eating.

The grads were incredibly impressive, and by far the most exciting thing from our day. They had questions for us that they were curious to know what we would answer. We were touched by their maturity and honesty. Their questions ranged from 'Would you ever want to live in Russia?' to 'If you don't have a job and cannot support your family should you have kids?' and 'Is Spider-Man real?' To which Stephanie replied immediately, 'Of course!' And got a rousing applause from the boys.

They also sang and danced for us, and then started a battle of singing. They gave us topics and we had to come up with songs we could sing. We epically failed to the point that they were giving us suggestions and we didn't know all be words. 

We broke out into rotation teams to get ready for tomorrow. Melanie settled into Autumn and Stephanie's room using glue and tissue paper to make a craft demo, while Marca and Stephanie went over lesson plans for Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego tomorrow. When we broke out, Rich and Becky said to each other 'Are we good?' ' Yah we're good!' :) Gotta love the spirit of flexibility and 'Eh, we got this!' from newbies!

Becky just looked up the weather for tomorrow and it is 90% snow! It was truly beautiful walking through Kirov in the snow! And we are anxious to play snow balls with the kids. It snowed about an inch today!

...pause...

We just got off Skype with Nadezhda Crew! They are our folks at WCC that are connected to the Russia ministry. They were at their normal monthly meeting, and we are fighting to stay awake...but it was worth every second to hear their voices, say hello and be encouraged by their support the night before we go wrap our arms around all of our kids!

We are incredibly excited for tomorrow, and are honored to be representing WCC...but most of all to be representing our Savior who loves these kids a million times more than we do. So we head to bed, hoping not to wake up at 1 am unable to go back to sleep...

See ya tomorrow!