Heart For Russia invites you to join them and special guest speaker Bob Mudd, COO of Children’s HopeChest, for a cultural potluck.
Saturday, September 15
11 am – 1 pm
RRWC 107
Hear Bob share about the program overview of our ministry in Russia, get an update from the summer Russia team, and enjoy a potluck fellowship together. Bring a dish to share!
Please RSVP at heartforrussia.sponsorship@gmail.com or 719.622.1305.
It’s been a while since our Russia team returned home. They’ve had time to settle back into life and sort through photos. Here are just a few of the ones they took. To see more, visit our Facebook page. Enjoy!
Having lived and served in Russia previously over a decade ago, it has been such a privilege being back and having the opportunity to serve once again. Even though this is my first time on this trip, much of what I have observed and encountered have reminded me of how wonderful this country is and the people who inhabit it.
Today brought back many memories of my previous time in Russia. Spending part of the day with the young moms/dads reminded me of how family focused many people are in Russia. Spending the other part of the day at one of the local tech schools reminded me of some of the things that define Russia in my mind to include a balalaika performance, Grandma Yaga appearance, tea time, birch branches, some Russian food like potato and dill, pickled cucumbers, boiled potatoes, potatoes and mushrooms, blini (pancakes), and, did I mention potatoes?
While all of this felt very familiar, I’d like to share one sweet moment that I had not previously experienced in Russia. When we were in the orphanage, there was a small boy named Denis who had arrived at the orphanage about a week before we did. He latched onto me quickly and would proceed a large majority of time either at my side or within close proximity to me. One day, we took all the kids on a walk at a nearby river. The path included a rickety old bridge that would need to be crossed. As we approached the bridge, Denis was hesitant and said, “I’m afraid”. In my minimal Russian language, I assured him there was no need to be afraid and that he would be fine. As we stepped out on the bridge, I felt his small hand clench tightly onto mine. We started out slowly as he reiterated his fearful state, but we pressed on. Approaching the middle, his fear was sidetracked by the sight of cathedral domes of an old monestary nearby and by the time we neared the other side of the bridge, his grip had returned to normal and his fear had been conquered.
In that moment, I was reminded of a couple of things. One being how powerful our presence is in a child’s life to foster enough trust, even in such a short time to encounter and overcome challenges in their lives. The other being that our Heavenly Father is inviting us to offer up our fears, grip His hand and trust Him as we step out on that rickety bridge.
So, in the midst of serving Him in Russia, He is faithful to remind us of His presence whether it is in the beautiful music of a student, the love of a young parent, the grip of an orphan child, and maybe even in a plate of potatoes.
Thad
One of my favorite emotions is the pure joy of seeing a friend again after a large chunk of time has passed. Secretly, in the back of your mind you wonder if you would ever see that person again. For me, today was filled with that emotion.
As a returning member of our Russia team, I have been very anxious about seeing old friends and catching up with them on life –struggles and sorrow, laughter and happiness.
Our day started at the Ministry Center serving the women of the Young Mom’s program as well as some of the husbands/boyfriends. There were many familiar faces and several new. We talked with them about how to establish good character traits for their growing families. What qualities they want rooted in them. How they want their families to be fruitful. But I feel the biggest impact on them today was offering them a box to decorate and not just any box but a box that they can start collecting precious memory things for their children so that they can start leaving a legacy and providing some sort of promise of keeping their families strong as they are starting from scratch.
After the working with the moms and dads we moved onto the tech school, it is always an overwhelming feeling walking into the tech school. There is no holding back as the staff and teachers welcome us with open arms and smiling faces. After we did a traditional Russian welcoming of breaking bread we split the boys and girls and began our talk on the choices we make in our lives to pursue a life of purpose and how sex can get in the way of some of those dreams and goals. We asked the students to write questions anonymously on index cards about any of life’s most puzzling questions. the beautiful questions ranged anywhere from happiness and love to how can sex build and break a relationship.
After the classes were over we invited 10 of our new tech school friends to dinner at McDonalds. Did you ever know that there is a cheese sauce for your fries along with ketchup for dipping here in Russia? Who knew? It was a beautiful evening of hearing the hearts and stories of new friends.
It was a day that was joy filled of picking up right where we left off and seeing new friendships started. Just like the old saying goes, ‘Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the others gold. A circle is round it has no end, and that’s how long we shall be friends.’
Good night from Russia,
Alleigh
With fond memories, our team left Mstyora yesterday morning. There were lots of hugs and tears as we said goodbye to the kids and boarded the bus. After a 2 hour drive back to Vladimir we met up with several graduates from Mstyora and went sightseeing with them and then finished the evening by eating dinner with the grads.
It was an exhausting day emotional but felt we had showed God’s love to the orphans, their caregivers and staff in Mstyora. Now we look forward to the next portion of our trip where we will be working with older orphans that are single mom’s as well as a few families where both parents are orphans and then the tech school students.
Please pray for renewal of strength emotionally and physically for the team.
Betsy
Hello family and friends,
A little riddle for you, “A little old man sits dressed in a hundred coats. Take them off, just try ‘You’re sure to cry’!” Can you guess what this is? Well, this one might be easy but not all Russian riddles were easy to decipher during our first activity of the day, “Photo Safari.” We divided into three teams and took pictures of all the items we believed we had solved the riddles for. Believe me, there was a lot of creativity in the pictures! We also held a carnival for the children. Brandon braved the long line of boys waited to shoot the cup off his head with a water pistol. We saved the best for last with the water balloon toss. Having 30 children tossing water balloons can create chaos fast! Overall, the children had a great time and won lots of prizes.
In the evening we had a performance from all the children including singing and dancing. Needless to say, they are all very talented! This was our last full day in Mstyora and it is somewhat bittersweet. We have had a wonderful time connecting with the children and showing God’s love; however, we must leave in the morning for a new endeavor. We just pray that the short time here has been instrumental in showing how much these children are loved.
On another note, we are all hanging in there physically. The mosquitos have not won the war on us!! Please pray for our physical and mental strength as we go into the week working with the young single orphan moms and orphans at the tech school in Vladimir! Well, I will sign off for now. For those back at home, we miss you! Oh and…if you did not get the answer to the riddle…it is an onion! 🙂
God bless,
Lauren H.
As the only team member that had not left North America prior to this trip I can now say that I’ve blown up a hair dryer and drank more tea in one day than my entire life. These two experiences combined attribute to the country of Russia!
When I first got to the orphanage I was a little worried my time here would not be good. Being one of the new team members (one that had not been to Russia before) I didn’t immediately connect with the kids. After the first day…I have fallen in love with Russian children. Andrei made me a card that he wrote in English. One of our translators said he insisted it was written by him in English so that I could read it. In a place that would be seen by most as despairingly hopeless, I have met the most talented, loving, and gifted young individuals of my life.
I hope you will pray that this orphanage continues to find peace in the hope that they so desperately need and deserve. Good night from Russia!
-Laurel
This trip is one of the best experience of my life. From the emotional highs and lows, to the new adventures waiting just around the corner. Everyday brings a fresh perspective into my mind, helping me figure out what God has intended for my life.
The orphans of Mstyora bring me extreme joy and great sorrow, sometimes both in the same moment. The only thing they want is a loving friend and lots of hugs.
One of my favorite moments of the day was teaching little Maxim (maks-zeem) some English as he gave me some Russian words to pronounce. Failing miserably, we would end in fits of laughter, but happy none the less.
My heart is overflowing with love for these wonderful kids right now. It reminds me of just how much God loves His children and wants good things for us. I am very blessed to have the opportunity to be with these kids.
Please continue to pray for the Lord’s Will to be done here in Russia, both as a nation and as a people.
God Bless,
~Lauren Wester
Love. Hope. Friendship. What do these words have in common? They are a universal language that does not need to be spoken. These characteristics go beyond cultural boundaries and straight to the heart. This is the language of all people. Everybody needs a loving friend in their life and needs to feel valuable. And that is where our story picks up.
The team arrived to Mstyora mid afternoon, spending a couple hours getting to know the kids or greeting old friends. The day included a rough soccer game, playing games, talking, and just getting to know each other.
As the sun wanes on our second day in Russia, we are excited to be touching the kids with God’s unconditional love and ready to see what He has waiting for us around the corner.
It was a VERY long day of travel and we are all feeling the effects of lack of sleep but we have finally made it to Vladimir, Russia. All of our luggage made it and everyone is feeling healthy so far. Tomorrow we head to Mstyora where we will hold a 3 day program at the orphanage. We could use prayer coverage for continued good health, rest and opportunities to share God’s love with not only the kids but staff at the orphanage. Until next time…
Woodmen Global Impact 