Hello everyone! This last couple days have been very eventful for us. We have had so much fun with the kids. We have even gotten to know the director of the TB center better. She invited us to her house for pancakes or blini as they are called in Russia. 
We sat for hours drinking tea, eating watermelon and Blini, and talking about God and the kids at the center. It was an amazing conversation with an amazing woman but it was also difficult. We heard a lot of the kids’ stories; and they come from very difficult circumstances. Prayers for all our wonderful Russian children would be greatly appreciated.
Monday we said goodbye to the children at the transit center. We had a wonderful time there and got to meet so many amazing kids. We feel so blessed by all the time we got to spend at such an amazing place with amazing staff and children. Tuesday we said bye to the kids at the TB Center; the day was full of smiles, hugs, and many tears.
Saying bye is always so hard but we promised we would write and we know in our hearts that we will see a lot of our little friends again.
God has truly blessed us by putting all these children in our lives. They are all little gifts from God and hearing their stories was astonishing to us because even in horrible circumstances, they all walk around the center with huge smiles. God is blessing that center more and more everyday, even if the children have a very hard childhood they can look back and see their time at the center as a blessing and a safe haven in their childhood.
God has shown us so much this trip, He has opened our eyes to new passions and incites that we have never noticed before. We feel so blessed to have gotten to go to Russia this summer. Russia holds a special place in our hearts and we are so sad that our time here is over. 
We have gotten to know so many wonderful people here and have made relationships that will last forever. God was present during this entire trip leading us through every situation and showing Himself through every smile, hug, or kiss that was given. We could not have asked for a better trip. We came to show God’s love and were shown an over abundance of it here from the kids and our friends here.
From this trip we were shown that God’s love comes in many different shapes and sizes: from a small boy in a wheel chair that gives you kisses all day, to two girls that hug you every five seconds and make you feel like you are the most important person in their lives at that moment. God is present, God is protecting, and always God is good. Thank you so much for all your prayers and support for this trip!
Please pray for our safe travels home tomorrow, as well as every child we came in contact with here. We thank you and love you all so much.
Pak-ah for now! Shannon and Savannah