First week of ministry is almost done and God has been doing amazing things through both teams from CBU! Here is an update from the team working in St Petersburg:
Priviet (Hello) Family and Friends! We are almost halfway through our journey here in Russia and it has been quite the experience! We had our first day of ministry at the transit center on Monday and have found out that flexibility with plans is the key to success here. The look on the team’s face was priceless as the youngest children at the center came into the room and we met them for the first time. We tried (and mostly failed) to pronounce their names correctly, but smiles were abundant as they saw us struggle with the Russian language.
A typical day for us looks like this: devotions in the morning, packing our lunch, walking to the transit center, taking the youngest children to the park to play, lunch break, and then the afternoon is spent with the middle school and high school aged teens here at the transit center. We then have dinner and debrief what has happened that day while preparing our lessons for the next day as well as a time of worship and prayer.
Yesterday (Wednesday) we got to go on an excursion with the older kids to a museum that had miniature replicas of different regions of Russia. 
It was unlike anything we had ever seen! The kids were really enthralled by it and enjoyed getting some fresh air and spending time with us, and the team definitely felt the same way. Tomorrow we plan on taking some of the younger ones to a Winnie the Pooh play and having a “Discoteca” with the teens in the afternoon.
Our team is doing extremely well, but we do have some prayer requests:
– Team unity: that we would continue to work well together to share Truth to these kids
– Emotional health: we are getting very attached to these kids and are having a hard time thinking about leaving them at the end of our time here
– Physical health/Energy: that we would be disciplined in resting when we have the time and that we would not get sick
– Boldness: that we would sense the urgency of our purpose here and take advantage of every opportunity we are given to share God’s Truth
– Focus: that we would not get distracted from the reason we are here
We miss you all so much and are thankful for your prayers! We can’t wait to tell you about all of the amazing things that God is doing here in Russia and the Transit Center specifically.
In Him, Courtney
Hi A Team! I love seeing the photos you’re posting here because it makes me feel even more connected to the story you are writing over there. I am praying for each of you, and particularly your leadership and translators as you do take every opportunity to show, not an annonymous love, but the Love of God to the children in truth and sincerity.
Do not grow weary in doing good! Lean into this next week with energy and excitement for each new moment you have with the children–you will never have it again. You are all there for such a time as this, and I am excited to hear all that is done through you.
A special little hello and encouragement to my girls Courtney and Mayra and Hayley! And to Kerri, I am praying for your patience, wisdom and strength as you lead alongside the fieldworkers. Cheers! Robyn