CBU – Novgorod: Half way through the first week of camp!

Greetings from Novgorod! Today is our 3rd full day here and what a blessing it has been! All the girls were extremely excited to get here and now, after many months of intensive training, we finally made it and the camps have begun! The purpose for our trip to Novgorod, Russia, is to do ministry through summer camps. Our camps are 2 weeks long and the camp theme is “The Olympics” — a great choice being that the Olympics are taking place this summer. While running the camps, we as a team will do ministry work through games, stories, crafts, … Continue reading

CBU – St Petersburg: First day of camp!

An update from St Petersburg team, Russia A, team leader: Yesterday was our first day working at the transit center and it exceeded our expectations! We arrived at 12:30 pm and the staff was so friendly and welcoming. It was nice to find out that our time here not only ministers to the kids, but it gives the staff members and teachers a welcomed break. We were aware of the fact that the kids might be shy the first day, but we found just the opposite! We had around 20 kids participating and they were fully engaged in the skits, … Continue reading

CBU-Novgorod: An update from each team member!

Greetings from the Novgorod CBU team! Today is an exciting day for the team! After spending several days in St. Petersburg learning about Russian history and culture, seeing sights around the city, and learning to find their way through the city on their own, Russia team B departed yesterday evening for the city of Novgorod, where they will begin their two week camp ministry. When the team arrived in Novgorod last night, the people of the church at which the team will be staying had prepared a very warm welcome for them. There was a hot meal ready and waiting, … Continue reading

CBU St-Petersburg: a note from the team leader

We have just finished our 3rd day here at St. Petersburg.  It is 11:00 pm, still light outside and we just finished our preparations for tomorrow’s first day in the orphanage.  The team seems to be doing fine and excited to begin work tomorrow.

We have spent the past days learning the Russian language, culture, and  history and have had the chance to visit the Hermitage, the Cathedral of Spilled Blood, and other historical landmarks of St. Petersburg.

The team is very good at using the unerderground metro system and have had the chance to taste several noted Russian dishes.

Lennie (Russia A Team Leader)

CBU: Training is over

Well, the training is over and tomorrow the teams start their first day of camp with the kids! The day started with the final seminar on Orthodoxy and Russian Culture. After visiting a nearby Orthodox church as a group, the team was given some more background on the church and the many differences with the Protestants. After lunch, the teams were divided into groups of 2 or 3 and given assignments to go and find one of the local Orthodox churches and find out the history of that specific church.  Don’t worry everyone, each small group were thoroughly checked to … Continue reading