Intern: Getting to know the kids in Novgorod!

Hello everyone! Thank you so much for all your prayers! This past week was the beginning of many new friendships and the cultivation of old ones. I am so thankful for all of the new people God has brought into my life! I am looking forward to the time I will have with my new friends!

Last week I began my ministry at the transit center and the camp. During the day I am helping at a day camp for school kids. At camp, I do or watch whatever activities the kids are doing and have been spending the time trying to get to know them. Today at the very end of camp a girl came up to me and was asking why I was in Russia. She thought maybe I was here to teach English or to simply see the country, but I told her those weren’t the reasons. I told her I would share why I was here another day when we had more time! I am praying that I will have an opportunity to talk to her again soon and explain why I am in Russia!

In the evenings, I go to the TB center. Last week there were a lot of things already planned for the kids, so we simply joined in on what they were doing. The first day we went to the center they were having a celebration for some of the kids who had finished their medicine and were going home. I met two girls from Chechnya who were very friendly and open. I was sad to find out that that was their last day there. It was a reminder of how important it is to seize opportunities as they come.

That evening we were invited to a Discoteca party. When we arrived some kids were showing their traditional dances from the countries they came from. Some kids were from different Eastern European countries. The two girls from Chechnya showed us their traditional dance. After, they asked me if I knew how to dance and I said yes. They asked me to dance ballet for them and I knew I couldn’t refuse. It was a great opportunity to connect with them and make memories. I did a very short contemporary dance for them. Later one of the girls said she had missed my dance and wanted me to repeat it. Instead, I had her get up and dance with me. I would do a move and she would repeat it after me. It was a sweet moment! At the end of the night I was sad to have to say goodbye to my new friends from Chechnya, but I will be praying for them. The rest of the week we simply spent time with the kids watching movies or drawing and hearing about some of their stories from the teachers. I cherish my time at the TB center and am so excited to spend the rest of the month there!

This weekend was spent relaxing and continuing to build relationships with the family I am staying with and some of their friends. This week has gotten me excited for my time here in Novgorod! I am still battling a cough from when I was sick last week, so please pray that it will go away soon! Please also pray that I would have wisdom and discernment to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading as I seek out opportunities to share personally with the kids and my new friends! You can also be praying that I continue to learn and improve in my ability to speak Russian! Thank you so much for being a part of my ministry through your prayers and support!

~Amanda