Praise

Thank you for all your prayers yesterday. It was amazing to see everyone use their creative gifts to be a blessing at the boarding house yesterday. Macho did his games with the children which seem to translate into every culture or language we are in. The kids were very serious, timid and didn't want to participate at first. Then within three minutes almost every child was up holding hands with the team in a big circle. We were repeating funny songs and dancing around and it was a joy to see the kids feel free and fun! Then Mai with some of the team, led songs like "Deep and Wide" and we taught the kids the motions. They were loving it. Then it was time for the big play. Brock within just a short 1 hour prep time, created an amazing play of Daniel and the Lions Den. John got to play King Darius and did quite a job. I saw his VBS experience coming out. Jack and Naomi got to play the lions. :) Sergei translated while Brock narrated and the team acted out each part. It was AMAZING and I had goosebumps the entire time. I felt so far from home, sitting in the yard of this boardinghouse in rural Russia, but yet it felt like home and all the years of telling stores to the children in a small room of our church in Mission Viejo. God's stories are amazing no matter where you are telling them. After the drama, Brock told the kids that we need not fear, that God watches over us, and that we can trust in Him at all times. We then spent the rest of the time doing the kids chores along side them, painting, harvesting potatoes and of course some soccer. That seems to be a universal bonding game no matter where we go! In fact Jack has turned into quite the up and coming soccer player. :) I am so thankful for this opportunity and all that it's teaching Naomi and Jack as well. They are learning to serve others and they are learning by watching this team dive into whatever project or opportunity is laid before them. Just yesterday I saw Naomi sitting on the swing at the orphanage and some little boy her age came up and she got off, motioned for him to sit, and then proceeded to push him on the swing. This may seem small but it meant a lot to me. Naomi can't speak to these children as they all speak only Russian, but she is able to help them in little ways and she didn't have to be told by me to get off and help this boy. She just did...and minutes later I saw her run down the hill to pick potatoes with some of the girls. Then I looked over and saw Jack making up a game of throwing apples with the boys from the orphanage. This all makes my heart so happy and I felt a renewed sense of thankfullness that we are getting to be on this journey as a family.