SPU: We went on the boat with the kids in Novgorod!

The past couple of days have been filled with fun adventures and awesome memories continuing to be made. Yesterday, our team began the day with a skit about “How to Cope” – one of the most serious and important topics we’ve talked about with the kids yet. It is encouraging to see them continue to react to what we’re trying to teach them, and even the smallest ones have input to give and stories to share. After making journals with the kids, we left the TB center early yesterday because of the fact that we hadn’t showered in five days! We walked to a “banya” not too far away, and were greeted with traditional Russian song and dance as the banya celebrated its grand re-opening. Feeling bold, our entire team decided to get up in front of a crowd to demonstrate our own version of Russian dancing—and were filmed by TV cameras! It was a fun way to experience more Russian culture, and funny enough, we ended up on the local news last night!

Today, though not yet over, has already been full of fun activities. Our team left an hour early this morning so we could take the kids to a children’s art gallery, but when we walked outside it began raining! So, we played some indoor games until the sun came back out, and walked to the gallery afterward. It’s always so much fun to spend time with the kids outside of the Center; it seems to make them open up even more to us, and allows us to hang out with all the kids, instead of just some. In the art gallery, we learned about the history of Novgorod through paintings, drawings, and clay sculptures. The kids all really seemed to enjoy it, and we did too! Afterward we were all treated to a boat ride along the river that winds through Novgorod. Today was such a beautiful day for it, and it’s so fun to get a different perspective on this city we’ve all come to know and love. It’s been such a great week and we’re looking forward to spending one more with the children before it’s time to say dasvidaniya!

Russia Team from Novgorod! Written by Jess.

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Here’s a little something from each team member:

Jess: Hello again friends and family! Oh, this past week has been so incredible. I began the week in kind of a slump, not sure of exactly why I’m here or what God is teaching me. I found myself discouraged and unsure about what to do or how to feel, and prayed hard that God would reveal himself to me. And that, He did! In the past three days alone, I’ve learned more about myself and how God is using me than I have yet this whole trip. Just last night, I truly realized just how much I’ve fallen in love with these kids, and found it hard to imagine leaving them in nine days. The bonds I’ve made with some of them are unforgettable and the memories will stick with me forever. My continued prayer is that, when we leave next weekend, God will continue to watch over and protect each and every single child with whom we’ve come into contact. I also pray for continued faith in His will, and knowledge that he has a reason for everything. Love and miss you all!  Jess   P.S. Happy birthday four days early Alex! I’ll say it again if I get the chance but I love you and YOU’RE FINALLY AN ADULT! 🙂

Tanisha: Privet my dearest friends and family! I miss everyone so much but I am not quite ready for this trip to be over. Every day as I learn more and more about these beautiful children, I fall deeper in love with them. They have been through so very much yet they continue to laugh and find joy. I started the trip thinking I would work with the younger children but after the first day we were at the TB Center I felt unexpectedly drawn to the older teenagers and have been working with them ever since. These teens have taught me so much about myself and my relationship with God. Their willingness to trust us with their stories and care about us without question makes me realize how much I am called by God to do the same. This entire trip has been an experience of a lifetime. I continue to pray that God just fills me up so that I can pour out even more love to these children. They deserve everything I have to give and more. I am excited for the weekend and to have more time to explore Novgorod with my team but I can’t wait until Monday and I can run into the kids arms again and hug them tight. Thank you to everyone for their continued prayers. I love you Momma, Keith and the puppies more than you know.

Alli: Hi Family and Friends! Here I am sitting in Novgorod; I sometimes still have to remind myself that I am in Russia. I love it here so much. We have been with the kids in the TB center for two weeks now. I have been working with the teenagers; we split up the guys and girls for our daily discussions. The girls have been opening up to us more and more. They have been through so much in their lives; however, they are still full of smiles and laughter. Every morning when we get to the TB center they greet us with big hugs and ready to sing and play! The weather here has been really hot, we are constantly sweating. But, the weather doesn’t stop us from playing soccer, Frisbee, and random games. This weekend is going to bring some rest, which is always very much needed. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. I love you all!  P.S. Amy and Mel- I finished Hunger Games…so good!!! Mom and Dad- I can’t wait to see you in Chelan in two weeks. Sammi- I want chipotle! And I hope the apartment is super cute! Max- I can’t wait to see you! Thanks for all the letters! 🙂

Savannah: Hello to my family and droogs! I can’t even begin to describe how amazing my trip has been so far. I am falling in love with these kids more each day. We have only known them for two weeks and I honestly feel like they have been my droogs my whole life. Every kid at the TB center is so special and I can see God working through their lives. If I have a rough night because my back hurts really bad or I am just feeling down, as soon as I get to the center everything is better, all the kids embrace us with hugs and I just feel so blessed to see their smiles every day. The weekends are actually hard for the team because we hate not seeing them for two days; we aren’t even thinking about what it will be like when we leave. God has really opened my heart and I have truly fallen in love with every single child at the TB center. He has shown me how wonderful He is and getting so close to these kids and my team has been such a blessing. I miss you all so much but I thank God every day that I am in this beautiful country! Thank you for keeping me in your prayers and supporting me through this process, I love you all! Oh also mama and dad, my back is feeling a lot better, so no need to worry anymore 🙂 Hosh and Johnny- your sis misses you both like crazy, Joshy stay out of trouble 🙂 love you

Adrienne: Hey family and friends! I miss you all so much, but it is hard to accept that we only have a week left with the kids at the TB center! I love it here so much, and although it is quite warm during the days, it is nothing we can’t handle. I can honestly say I have fallen in love with Novgorod and Russia as a whole. I can’t even really put into words how wonderful these past two weeks with them have been. I love every single one of them, and I literally can’t wait to see each of them every morning and be greeted by their hugs and smiles. It is so encouraging to see that despite all of the difficulties these children and teens have faced in their lives, they are willing to open up to us and love us regardless of the amount of time we have known them. Each day the teens are opening up more and more, and even though I am mostly working with the little kids, I still have been able to hang out with the older kids, which has been so great. God has been teaching me so much on this trip, and working in my life in ways I did not expect. I am excited to share it with you all when I return. Although there have been struggles and difficulties along the way, God is bigger and has allowed the struggles to bring us closer to Him both individually and as a team. I love you all so much, and I hope all is well. Mom, Dad, and Blair: I miss and love you all, and want you all to know I am doing well! Get ready for some crazy stories and pictures. 🙂

Samantha: Hi family and friends! We have already been here in Novgorod for two weeks. I feel like I have been here forever and yet the time has flown. These kids have completely stolen my heart, I think of them constantly with their smiling faces and laughter. This is the best experience of my life and I really can’t imagine going home right now. But even though I know this experience must come to an end I will keep every memory in my mind (and my journal). Your prayers are so appreciated; I can see God working in many of the kids. I shared part of my story yesterday and I was so nervous but God spoke through me and I think was able to affect some of the kids at the center.  I have been able to spend more time with the older kids lately and it is so fulfilling seeing them open up and smile and spend time with us. I have never been happier. Ma and Holly- I want you to know that I am so happy and safe; no worrying about me! I am excited to share stories and pictures and I know you can’t wait to hear and see them. HP is waiting for us when I get back! I love you and hope you are doing well too!

Tim: What’s up family and friends?! Novgorod, Russia has been good and is still good! Every day has been a blessing. Just playing with the kids and seeing their smiles every day just makes me really happy. The past couple of days have been good. Two days ago, we went to a Russian banya to take a shower, and to our surprise it is celebrating its grand reopening. There were a few local TV stations filming and we were filmed dancing and being goofy. I was also interviewed and it was a little bit intimidating. Who would have thought my debut on Television would be in Russia?! And today, we went to a Children’s museum and rode a boat. The relationship of the kids and the team are coming along great. A lot of the teens who were closed off for the first week were open to us and we were sharing laughs on the boat. It has been great and I am hoping that this last week is going to be even better than the past two weeks. It is going to be bittersweet, but it will be great. Mom and Tiff—I’m safe and happy here. There have been no problems at all. The food has been good. I’ll be home soon enough. Love you guys.

Aryn: Hi to all my family and friends!  This whole experience has been a whirlwind of emotions.  I have learned so much about myself, and most importantly about God.  He has been evident all throughout this trip and I can’t wait to bring everything I am learning back to the states and share it with everyone.  Every day as we make our way to the center I just pray that God will open the kids’ hearts so that we will be able to communicate the love we have that stems from God.  So far God has been answering those prayers.  The relationships that we are building are only growing every day.  I feel so fortunate to have heard the stories of some of the teenagers, especially the girls.  These girls are so strong and for all of us to open up to one another has been an amazing thing to witness.  My favorite moment thus far in the trip was when two of the girls and I just walked around the building at the center with an English to Russian dictionary struggling our way through a conversation.  I cannot put into words how we were able to just be around each other. Even when there were no words being spoken, we just smiled and knew we accepted each other just the way we were.  It is hard to believe that we only have a week left, but if you all can be praying for these kids even more, especially for the love to be communicated, would be a blessing!  Thank you all for the support! (PS. Dad I am glad your surgery went well.  I love and miss you guys and hope everything is going well! Xoxoxo)