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, and many of the church members were eager to help with all of the luggage upon arrival. Following dinner the team was invited to join the church group in worship, singing praise to God together for the first time.

Today the CBU team will begin their ministry here in the city of Novgorod. They will spend the beginning of the day walking the city and praying over it, and will head to the orphanage later on to meet the kids for the first time.

Each of the team members is excited to get started with their ministry here in Novgorod, and each of them would like to share just a small bit about the trip so far to finish out the update!

I am so excited to finally be in Novgorod! Arriving here yesterday was, by far, my favorite part of the trip so far. The people of the church where we are staying welcomed us so warmly, and made us feel right at home. It was such a blessing to be a part of their worship service last night. We serve a God that is greater than any language barrier, and it was so beautiful to be able to worship as the body of Christ, even on the other side of the world! I can’t wait to finally meet the kids this afternoon. Please continue praying that their hearts would be open to the love of Jesus, and that we would be faithful to share His love with them. Shout out to mom and dad! Love you and miss you guys!  -Sammy

Arriving in Novgorod last night was such a blessing! We got the warmest, most loving welcome and it was just so great!! Just like Sammy said, the worship service last night was absolutely amazing also! We have been incredibly blessed so far, and I am really looking forward to meeting the little kiddos today! Thank you for your support and prayers! Love you and miss you mom, dad, Keith, and the bros!! 🙂  -Mirranda

Novgorod has been wonderful! The people we met have been incredible and so hospitable. It is such a blessing to be reminded that the body of Christ is present and unified around the world. It’s a wonderful feeling to be taken care of in such a way that it feels like home when you can barely even understand what is being said. We have something in common with the people we’ve encountered in Novgorod and St. Petersburg and that is a servant hood to a mighty, saving Creator and the common goal of his commands being carried out. What more do you need to build a friendship? Prayer for renewed spirits every morning and continued team unity as well as safety and health are needed. Thank you for all the prayer and support! Be encouraged that there are laborers in Russia and they are beautiful people committed to our Lord. To my family: I love you guys and miss you so much! Muah! I’ll be home before you know it.  -Alyssa

Everything we have encountered has been so beautiful, but none more beautiful than the people we have met.  We were welcomed into Novgorod as if we were old friends reuniting.  It even felt a little like home when the church cat slept at my feet all night.  The Lord has truly blessed our team and I can’t wait to see what more he has planned for us.  To my mommy and daddy:  I love and miss you very much and I hope you had a great mother’s day.  Say hi to Kirk, Koji, and Calli for me!  -Lindsey

Finally here! We’ve arrived in Novgorod and we were welcomed with open arms. Everyone here is super nice and they make it seem like home. So far we have been to Germany, St. Petersburg, and now in Novgorod. My favorite things so far have been: seeing the Hermitage (Winter Palace), touring Germany, and finally reaching Novgorod. I’m really excited for today; we finally get to run our camps for the children! All of our preparation for this trip is going to start coming together. Can’t wait to see even more amazing opportunities and experiences the Lord is going to bring to my life. To my Family, Neighborhood Family, and Friends: I miss you all and I can’t wait to come back and tell you all about it! Love you! To Michael: Miss you and love you so much! I’m singing to you every night!

Love Always, – Kayla

I have had a great time touring the city! It has been fun to take the metro and to see the beautiful museums and Cathedrals. We got to Novgorod last night and the people were so welcoming it made me so joyful and excited to be here. We have been learning some Russian and it has been a challenge for me to remember, but it is so worth it to be able to communicate with them. I am excited to meet the kids today! Thank you for praying for me, my allergies have been bad and I completely lost my voice one on one of the first days but I am feeling so much better and I have had enough energy for the whole day while I have been here. Please keep praying for my health. Also for the kids and that God will work in them so they will be willing to learn from us. I love you mama I hope you had a great Mothers day! To all my family and friends reading this: I can’t wait to see you all I am having a great time. Love you all and miss you!! -Jhasamin <3

Hey everyone! Thank you for all your support and prayers for the team! Being here is such a blessing. God is definitely at work in the lives of these people and of our team! I have had so much fun exploring St. Petersburg and learning to ride the metro. It has been so great to get to know our field workers and become united as one team. I am excited to begin camp with the kids today and meet them all! Please pray that everything will go smoothly and that we will make a great first impression with the kids. Pray that they will see our genuine love and compassion for them; that we may be able to impact their lives in a positive way. That they may know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is a Savior who loves them intimately and will never change even when life seems out of control! To my family and friends: I love you all and will see you soon! ~Amanda 🙂

Thank you all for the amazing encouragement and support for me and my team!  The past few days have been absolutely amazing and quite overwhelming.  Traveling through St. Petersburg was amazing; we were able to see many churches and cathedrals, travel by metro, explore different foods, and tour the Hermitage… I might have danced in the ballroom like Anastasia 🙂 We arrived in Novgorod last night and it was definitely the best moment of the trip so far.  The people here in this church are so welcoming and kind, and made us all feel right at home.  Our team of eleven girls are sleeping on blankets and pillows in one room, and it is so fun…like a 2-week slumber party!  Today begins our ministry, and I am so excited to see what is to come.  This is everything that we have been working towards for the past six months, and I cannot wait to meet these kids!  Mom, dad, and Mitch: I love you and miss you dearly, but know that everything is good and I will be back before you know it.  Happy Mama’s Day 🙂 Revivers: I love and miss you all like crazy, and I am encouraged by knowing that you are loving me from afar.  With love, Meg 🙂

Hello from Russia! We made it safely and we have all been having an amazing time. The first three days spent in St. Petersburg was incredible, we traveled by metro and got to spend a lot of time in different cathedrals and also the Hermitage museum (Winter Palace) which was so beautiful. We arrived in Novgorod last night, we were greeted with open arms and suddenly we felt like we were home. Everything about where we are staying is very homey and comforting. I am very excited to start working with the kids later this afternoon. Please continue your prayers, they are appreciated! To my mom, dad, Chris, Beth, and Leah I miss you guys a lot! I will be home before you know it! Love you!  -Rachel

Novgorod is amazing! Everyone at the church we are staying in is so kind and welcoming.  It has a nice home feeling to it.  There is also a cat named Moosha here who reminds us all of our family pets at home.  It is such a blessing to be here and we are all so excited to meet the kids today!  -Michele

I second everything that the girls have already said and I will just add that I am so proud of each and every one of them and how they are encountering and engaging with the Russian culture in all of its many facets from housing and food to language and customs. We have so enjoyed seeing the sights and getting to know a little bit of the Russian landscape, now we are looking forward to interacting with the Russian children. Please pray for continued good health for everyone particularly because the allergy season is now beginning in this area and for endurance to work with the children every day, as well as for good communication as two cultures work together to put on a successful experience for the children to encounter the love of God. Much love to my sister and all those praying for us!  -Robyn

That’s all! Please continue to keep the team in prayer as they go out and begin ministering. It is an exciting time, and we can’t wait to see what God will do with these two weeks!