It is now our second week in Russia, and we arrived safely to Novgorod. Our week has started and will end with a VBS camp for the children and teens here at the children’s center. Yesterday was our first day and it was so much more than we expected (in a good way). We arrived to a classroom of children who were shaking in their seats with excitement to come and meet us. When their teaching session was over we were greeted with Russian songs and cheers.
Priviet from Novgorod!!! We’ve arrived safely, after an. . . interesting, and very exciting journey. We had lots of thunder and lightening on Saturday night, and it continued to rain and storm off and on during the day on Sunday, which made the drive exciting. We are staying at a church that is very close to the TB Children Center, which is a blessing. Our commute time to the sight is about 5 minutes, whereas with the HIV Baby Orphanage, it was about an hour.
After a wonderful week with our little kids at the HIV Orphanage, we are leaving for Novgorod (2.5 hours south of St Petersburg) to meet the kids where we will do a camp for two weeks. The last day with the little kids was a little different than we expected. After we arrived we found out that the kids went to the zoo! We were sad, but excited for them, since that is something they do not do very often. And it was for the best, so that the kids would not be crying when we say goodbye.
Dear friends and family, This week has been simply amazing at the HIV baby orphanage! When we first arrived at the orphanage, we were greeted with many hugs and smiles from some of the children but many took more time to warm up to our group. But we stood the test and have bonded with the children deeply, knowing they will remain in our hearts forever. Every morning, we have been chasing the children and have been blessed with seeing their smiles and hearing their laughter as they play.
For the last two days we have played with children! Each morning we run, swing, hug, laugh, smile, pull and love a group of orphaned children. These little ones will spend 18 years in an orphanage because mommy and daddy did not want them. Abandoned in the hospital, at a dumpster, or just brought to the orphanage and left in the hands of the government. Their little faces, full of smiles and laughter, do not show the pain of abandonment and pain. Not yet, at least…
