Camp 4 Day 1-2

Camp has started! We have about about 102 children. And they are so excited to be here.

My role has changed a little bit this camp. We have a very qualified team of 20 people. So less help is needed to run the programing of camp. I help out with camp whenever I'm free. However I also have been helping the staff of Hope Center in a number of administrative way.

The day before camp started I helped with all the passport documents, and practiced my Russian Numbers (they are the same, but some numbers look a little different. 1's have the top flag, and 9's look like g's).

Then on day 1 I worked on writing my testimony about Hope Center. It will be translated into Russian and then posted on the Hope Center Website for both the Russian and English version. However since the English Version isn't up and running yet. Here is what I said.

How do I even begin to tell the story of how Hope Center has impacted my Life? Do you have a few hours? No?! Well I’ll do my best to sum it up, but this can’t really do the whole story justice.

I am a teacher and have my summers free, which gives me freedom to use my summers to serve God in a unique way. In 2004, I felt God’s calling to go on a missions trip. I specifically told God that I wasn’t going to work with kids (after all, I work with them all year round), but He had another plan in mind and sent me to work at Hope Center Ukraine for one of the summer camps. I fell in love with the people and the children of Ukraine instantly, which launched me into yearly trips to Ukraine. I have now been to Hope Center, Ukraine seven times, totaling 40 weeks, and have been part of 19 camps. I have had many different roles over the years. For some camps I was simply a team member, for others I was a leader or co-leader of a team, and other times I have been an intern. God has connected me to this place. I am as much home here as where I grew up.

The more I return to Hope Center, the more I want to return. There are so many reasons, I don’t think I can write them all, but I’ll at least mention the most important. The biggest reason I return is that I’m addicted to watching God work. I know that He works all around the world, in many ways and places. But here at Hope Center, I can physically see the way He changes lives. I can see him plant seeds in peoples’ hearts and watch them grow. I have seen so many lives before they were living for God and then see the fruit grow in them, radiate from them, after giving their lives to Christ. I have seen eyes once filled with hopelessness, depression, and anger fill with hope, love, and forgiveness. I have seen people literally stunned by the love of God and how it is expressed at Hope Center in action not just words. Oh what my eyes have seen here. I have seen the most closed, cautious, angry people open, melt, and rejoice freely in their new lives. What God is doing in this place is nothing short of awe inspiring. To be able to watch God move unhindered, in amazing and miraculous ways. I have seen Him change lives in a single day or a single camp. At yet some people take longer, but because of the consistency and duration of Hope Center, I have also seen God work to change people over the course of the many years it sometimes take. However, I have not seen anyone come to Hope Center and not be changed by the love of Christ.

Who wouldn’t want to see that? Who wouldn’t want to be part of that? I can’t seem to get enough of it. And yet there is so much more that goes on at Hope Center, than just summer camps. Since 2006 it has been a dream of mine to come back during the school year and work with the other programs of Hope Center. God has not yet revealed to me His timing for this and so I wait in anticipation for the next step in my adventures with Hope Center Ukraine. Until them, I continue to support Hope Center and the people here through many prayers and praise for all God is doing!

Then in the afternoon we started working on some documents to be used for people who would like to come to Hope Center next year. To better prepare them and to give more of a job description to the different roles we have here at camp. This however is a project that I'm still working on.

Today mostly I just participated in camp. My main role is the "up front" person. The MC of camp I guess. I help get the kids attention at large group gatherings and sometimes do directions. This morning one of our signing ladies was out (because it is Sunday) so I helped with the signing the morning Bible lesson songs in Russian. And in the evening Lori and I MC'ed the Opening Ceremony: 100% in Russian and without translators! The theme was mostly make fun of Naomi for her bad Russian. At one point Lori was going to help me so she taught me to say things like, I eat toilet paper and I look like a monkey. The kids really liked it which is good. Lori and I thought it was hilarious - which usually means it will not be funny to Russian's - We dressed up in traditional Ukrainian outfits, or at least as close as we could find. I'll try to post pictures later.

Tomorrow I think I will be back to a number of administration things, pray for wisdom and guidance. And that the things with the camp run smoothly. And for God to start moving in the kids lives already.

Between Camps 3 and 4

I wish I would have wrote earlier because I really have a hard time remembering much of anything. So you will get a very brief synopsis of the 4 days between camps.

I went with Olya on a little adventure to get some errands done. She needed to exchange some money Global Action had give Hope Center to buy tickets for the train to Belarus (4 of the Ukrainian Staff are doing a mission trip to Belarus after our camps are completed). But no bank would take her old money, so I gave her money that they would exchange, and I'll take the old American money home to use in the banks that don't care how bad the bill is. On this little adventure I bought a new swimsuit and I got to see the train station and Kerch jail for the first time. In the evening I helped Olya translate some stories to put them into the Hope Center News letter (or at least I think it was this day.)

The next day after trying out my new swimsuit on the beach in the morning. I went with Babs to the market as her translator to buy her one too. Apparently when I asked the lady how much, she said 210 rpH I'm not very good with big numbers so I said it a couple of times to clarify if it was correct. Apparently she thought I was bartering, as I must not have been saying 210 at all but something less. I really have no clue, but we ended up buying the suit for 100 rpH. Apparently stupid American trying desperately to use the local language is appreciated (I think the fact that I bought my suit from the same woman the previous day for 125 rpH might have helped). In the evening I help Olya Translate some reports that needed to be sent in.

After that I again went to the sea in the morning to work on my tan. This is like the first time I have done this in ten years so 2 days in a row is weird. But being at the beach without 100+ kids to entertain is nice. In the afternoon EVERYONE seemed to leave. I worked on some computer stuff and then Tanya and Andrey invited me with their family to go for a "walk" down town. They wouldn't let me pay for anything even though I offered may times. It was their gift to me I was in tears. The evening was so relaxing, I loved it so very much. So besides just walking around here are some pictures to show you what we did.

I have seen this church (With green roof) many times before but never realized it is a church. It isn't your typical Orthodox church.

Alosha really wanted to play air hockey. But before I knew what was happening Tanya and I were playing. She beat me twice :o( Then Aundrey and Alosha played. After a while Alosha wanted to play again, so this time I got to play against him. I finally won, but not by much.

Then Alosha asked to go on a ride (that went in circles), and before I knew what was happening Aundrey was buying 3 tickets. I said "NO!!" I get sick in circles, then found out that instead they bought tickets for the Farris wheel. I figured I could wait for the family and hold Illusha, but apparently that was not an option. And Aundrey stayed behind. This Farris wheel has buckets to can turn with a wheel in the middle to look at different things. Alosha was showing us his muscles by doing it without help.

The ride gave us some beautiful view of down town and the Boardwalk.

After this we had ice cream as I watch these kids attempt to walk on water and Alosha played in this gym thing.

Later Alosha and Andrey tried some target practice. They didn't ask me, apparently it isn't a very girly thing to do, but if I'm going to try hunting someday I think I need to start practicing sooner than later.

After this we walked to Lenin Square. I'm sorry it was getting dark and I didn't take any many pictures. But we did see three people that Hope Center's Humanitarian Aid gave them each motorized wheel chairs. When they got them they were so excited because it meant that they could actually leave their homes to go to town and hang out with friends, some that wasn't possible before. It was fun seeing them do just that... and later we saw them on their way home.

After this Alosha wanted to go see the animals. I wasn't really sure what was going on, but then I have money in my hand and Alosha and I are on our way in to a mini (by min

i I mean 1 room) museum/zoo. Alosha and I had lots of fun taking many pictures. Alosha was really good at posing for picture inn front of glass cages.

And he even enjoyed taunting the Alligator or Crocodile (I have know idea which it is.)

But when it came to sticking his head in the Sharks mouth he wasn't so sure so I had to help him out, and show him how it is done.

So by this time, He has warmed up to taking pictures in front of very slow moving creatures. Even if he wasn't so sure about me picking it up and moving it so we could get a good shot with me.

But then we tried really crazy stuff and Alosha refused to take his picture with some animals. The first was this bird. I'm like don't get too close just stand by it and I'll take the picture. But he would have nothing to do with it. So I was going to show him how. Ever time I got within a foot the bird was like doing to attack me. So Alosha was the wise one. I was so scared.

So I though I would have a better picture with a monkey in the cage. I asked Alosha to stand by the cage. His eyes got huge and he said, "No, Naomi." Apparently the sign says something like this monkey will reach out of his cage and grab you. So I stayed a safe distance and asked Alosha to take a picture. He was so scare for my life it was kind of funny and a little sweet, but he finally took the picture.

And the whole time there is a random monkey running around and yelling at people...very funny.

After this we went to the top of the Metradat. To look out over Kerch at night. I was amazed to find out as late as 1995 Kerch has so little electricity that only one street had lights. And all people were given electricity for about 2 hours a day. I can't imagine this only 15 year ago.

Lastly we got to stop by Tanya and Aundrey's flat. It is very big compared to the other flats that I have seen, but it is the first home that I have been in where I have felt comfortable enough to ask if I could take pictures.

This is the double door to keep them safe. What I don't understand is they are also padded. I'm assuming for issulation, but I kind of made me feel like I was in a Psyciatric ward.

And if you turn around you would see the frig and storage area, becasue there is no other place big enought to hold them.

This is the Masterbedroom/LivingRoom/Nursey all in one.

This is Alosha's room which leads to the Patio area (a 2.4 foot by 6 foot walk way to dry clothes in and allow plants to get sun)

And this is the kitchen, and bathroom (which used to be two rooms, a bath and a toilet. I'm not sure how people get in and out of this room let alone add a wall in here to make it two.) But the tile work is absolutely beautiful!

Day 10 - The official End of Camp

Today is the official end of camp, however all we do with the kids is eat breakfast and then start our good byes. It is a very emotional day for both the team and the kids. We hate sending them back home as much as they hate going home. While the team helps hang out with the children, comforting them as they prepare to go. The interns get to help clean the buildings with the counselors. Not a very glamorous job, but one that has done huge things to bridge the gap between the cultures. Apparently Americans have a repertoire to not want to do the "dirty work" which is interpreted that we are still guests and not here to serve in the same way the Ukrainians do. Cleaning is a start to ousting that stereotype.

The Other part of this is not trying to fix the way the do things. But if it isn't going against your beliefs just join in the culture and do it your way. SO I swept a very dirty 2000+ square foot building with this...(Sorry the picture is a little blurry I took it on timer)

Which means that I spent the better part of two hours like this...

Actually getting under all the beds with this made it even more interesting. I guess to be Ukrainian means to always have a back ache. But I'm happy to learn and help out.

After cleaning we had a meeting to talk about some of the stories of the kids. I'm still working on translating this and putting it into the Hope Center News (one of my new Jobs.) I'll try to figure out how to attach it to this later.

Then I helped run the Hope Center Store; We sell Items with Hope Center's name on them: T-shirts, bandannas, money holders, notebooks, pens, postcards, buttons, stickers. All profits go to help Hope Center. It is a small way to help earn a little money to help support the programs here.

In the evening we where to have Shashlik (like kabobs, but much better).

A nice quiet meal would be nice after along camp, but this is not really allowed in Ukraine. We had to create silly games that we could play to see which team would win. Since Tanya's Day filled with a number of different things she asked me to plan all the games. I got a lot of help from Lori and then Sergey also added some of his own.

This first game consisted of eating a cup of yogurt with no hands.

Then we had to make our team flags:

The Mosquitos vs the CocaCola drinking Elephants.

Then we had to paint with only our mouths a sign of love to our opponents.

Later we had to shave a balloon. Then take turns dressing up in a clown outfit and eating chocolate with a fork and knife.

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Last we had to see how many puff things we could get stuck on our team member chest, that was filled with shaving cream.

Silly games made for a fun evening.

"Last Day" of Camp 3

Today is not officially the last day, but it is the last full day. All we do tomorrow is eat breakfast and then see the kids off.

Today Girls Morning exercise consisted of a conga line designed as a disguised water balloon fight with the boys. Out of no where did they were attacked and didn't know what hit them. Kind of funny.

It has been so hot and traveling up from the sea is hard so many kids didn't want to go. So instead we did interest groups in the morning. One option was still the sea, However they could also choose Soccer, Volleyball, Friendship bracelets, Learning English, or Face paint. After interest groups, Kim did the last Bible Lesson on the Helmet of Salvation - focusing more on what do we do now that we have it...How do we live our lives now?

In the afternoon, I made a new game up. We called it quest. The kids had a series of clues that lead them in the direction of the next clue. Also at each clue they collected one word to later unscramble them and make the correct sentence to win the prize. Most of the kids found it very interesting. I even had one boy who refused to end the game after it was all over. And yet a few people were a little upset with the clues I gave, like "Birds live in me" meaning tree, but there are hundreds of trees at Hope Center, and "Sit on me" but there are hundreds of benches and chairs. The rest of the clues were less crazy, but I though that with those two this could take hours, however 30 minutes later the first team came in and shortly after the rest of the teams.

After the game they practiced for the closing ceremony. Which was after supper, followed by the bonfire (This Camp it was 8-10 feet tall). And the slide show (I was in charge of making this for this camp - which means that I've spent the last two days on the computer).

Camp 3 - Day 5 through Day 8

Wow! I can't believe that 4 days have gone by and I haven't written, things here at camp get very busy, very quickly.

Day 5:

Today the morning lesson was on having Feet fitted with the readiness of the Gospel of Peace. Jess led the lesson with the help of David and Jenya illustrating a race with the shoes vs. without the shoes. Then at the beach they had a sandcastle building contest. The two younger wards didn't get too extravagant but the older two went all out. Of course I still think the highlight was this little naked baby (maybe a little older than 1 - and here it is culturally acceptable for toddlers to be nude) came to help out ward 3. Tanya the counselor insisted that I take a picture, but I don't think it is appropriate to post it...maybe after I crop it a little. We also saw dolphins at the beach today. Jenya and Yuri swam out to meet them and got very close, but not enough to actually touch them.

In the afternoon the team went into the city on their excursion (down town and pizza for dinner). However, because I'm an intern I didn't go. Instead I help run interest groups for the kids. I did the manicure station. But they also had the choice of Soccer, Friendship Bracelets, Ping Pong, and Mega Volleyball (Same as regular volleyball with a 4 foot ball). After this the kids practiced for the talent show, which was later in the evening.

After dinner we had the talent show. The International team sang Our God is an Awesome God, we chose the song because they also know it in Russian, although we did not attempt it in Russian. The kids did many different things. We had an Eastern Dance, Hip Hop Dance, a couple skits, a poem, and a couple songs, if I remember correctly. Performances are a big part of this culture, and even though the kids we work with do not have much, often they bring costumes or outfits specifically for a performance.

After this we did a craft, that we titled "Foam Fun with Bo" but it really was with Marianna who did the directions: However After setting up this craft soon got the title "Naked Baby's" Partially with respect to the beach incident. This craft was basically like paper dolls with craft foam, and we had to make sure each of the unclothed foam people, had a shirt, pants, shoes, and hair. About half way through the set up we realized that maybe it was important that they had a right and left shoe, and that maybe the black children shouldn't have blond hair. The set up took 3 to 4 times as long as the craft, and gave us many odd conversations like Sarah saying to me, "Naomi, give me your pants." and "This table only has shirtless kids." that taken out of context, gave us hours of laughter. (I think however that things are getting much more hilarious as camp goes on and we are more and more tired.)

Day 6:

Marianna did the bible lesson on the Shield of Faith. She did a great job and often I forget that she is only 13 (younger than some of our campers.) We attempted to fly kites at the sea. But their wasn't much wind, so it really became a bunch of kids running around with the kites, and clotheslining other children. A man on the beach who had been drinking a little too much (Yes, it is still 10 am) decided to help our kids get the kites flying. He was trying to speak to me in Russian but the kids told him "She doesn't understand because she is American." At which point he said, "Oh, it is Naomi." I think maybe I have been here too much when the random people on the beach know my name. I was a little freaked out, later Jenya and Yuri told him that he needed to leave - there was almost a fight, but by God's grace the man backed down and walked away. (Life here is never boring.)

In the afternoon we did craft because it was too hot to do much else. The kids made bead lizards. This entire camp we have had two of our oldest boys not do any of the crafts, but this one they quickly sat down and started working. I was so surprised that we actually found something that they wanted to do. After craft they played 3 rounds of Sardines. And in the evening we did a movie. The special treat with the movie was that we did it inside to stay away from the misquitos, but because it gets so hot in the dinning room, they turned the airconditioning on. (This is the first time I have ever seen the airconditioning on in the dining room - I really just think they are used only for heat in the winter.)

Day 7:

This morning we were going to do the salvation message, but we were playing a short video clip to set the stage, and this is difficult to do in the bright light of the late morning. So instead we went to the sea for the entire morning. Each ward got their normal time in the sea. And then we played some relay games on the beach and later they got more time in the water. They enjoyed the games very much, but I think Tanya the lifeguard likes them even more.

In the afternoon we played Biffer again. This is the one game kids ask to repeat again and again. Then we did the salvation message after dinner. David spoke after playing a short video, followed by prayer, and then the children had some time to talk with their counselors if they had more questions. Many of the team members also followed up with the kids during bedtime stories. My girls continued to ask a number of questions. A few have given their life to Christ in the past, but most have not. In many you can see God planting seeds and watering them so they will grow, but they haven't yet made the choice to follow Christ. Please pray that God continues to work in the live of these children and that in His precious and perfect timing His kingdom will grow.

The craft this evening was Pom Pom Creatures, in which the kids had a contest to make things out of pom poms, pipe cleaners, feathers, and google eyes. The creativity of these kids amazes me time and time again!

Day 8:

I have been helping out more and more with some of the behind the scenes things to do. I have been working on the slide show for the last day, as well as helping with the Camp Store, and helping write emails (translation - sort of; more like a grammar check) and I'm working on a testimony for the Hope Center Website. All these things take me away from the things in camp. So I don't have a lot of detail on some of the following things, but this is what I know.

It has been very hot. Tanya said that at 10am it was 42 degrees Celsius. That is 107 degrees Fahrenheit. So we went to the sea directly after breakfast to come up earlier instead of in the heat of the day. We plan on doing the same thing again tomorrow. At the sea today the kids were going to make sea creatures, but because of the switch this information wasn't clearly told to them. So I don't know to what extent this happened. Then after the sea time, Tim did the Bible lesson on the Sword of the Spirit.

In the afternoon we did interest groups again, where the kids get to chose what they want to do. And the government invited our oldest kids to a festival in the city. They picked them up after an early dinner and didn't bring them back until 9:15. I'm told it was very hot, but it was very interesting. I didn't get to go with so I'll try to get more details and let you know later. The rest of the kids did a Tic Tac Toe craft and watched a movie. (Things that are easy to do in this heat, because the kids do not get any relief from the heat as they don't have air conditioning - and heat stroke is something to be cautious of.)

Camp 3 - Day 4 Good Questions

Today's Lesson was on the Breastplate of Righteousness. In the lesson they illustrated the breastplate that we have without God. How it is full of holes and easily broken, but when we put our faith in Christ we get a new strong piece of armor.

So tonight in bedtime stories, I asked if they had questions. One girl asked why we have a breastplate with holes in it! Wow what a question. We talked about how humans are not perfect, we make mistakes and often sin. But when we give our lives to live for Christ, and believe that he takes our sins for us and God views us as righteous. He gives us this breastplate, but it is a gift. We can't work for it by being perfect, because we are not. This sort of lead into the verses we were going to talk about Matthew 11:25-30 where Jesus says give your burdens to him and he will make our yoke light. I was going to focus on prayer and giving our worries and concerns to God, but the analogy can also be about our sin. So we tied the two together. The children asked what burden's were. Some girls thought right away that it was about sin, but I also said it could be things that they are worried or concerned about. I gave examples from the stories they had already told me. (Just some of the things these 8 to 10 year old girls worry about: Masha , for the courts to settle the things for her adoption; Alisa - for her mom to stop smoking; Ksusha - for her grandma who works to support the whole family and yet has legs that don't work right; Ksusha - for her grandfather who is an alcoholic and smokes a lot; For Karina - whose mother has been sick for 7 years, For Emma - who is still too shy or has hurts too deep to share them publicly - but is bold enough to ask for prayer in general. There are more but with the rapid fire of requests I couldn't remember them all.) So we practiced giving these burdens to God in prayer.

On girl also asked for us to explain verse 27 "All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to real him." Ha take that, nothing slips by these kids. So I did my best also to explain this. I'm so thankful for inquisitive girls. Please pray for them to get there questions answered, and that they never stop asking the tough questions. Please pray for their burdens listed above, and help them to learn how to give them up, so their load is lightened.

The rest of the day wasn't nearly as exciting It was supposed to be 95 degrees out today. I don't know what it really hit but it is 10:15pm the sun went down 2 hours ago and it is still 83 degrees outside. So we went to the sea in the morning for a little relief in the water. We did craft in the afternoon. Friendship Books and then spent an hour signing them. I was dripping in sweat just sitting on the bench. It never happens, but I said it was hot. (Please pray for this as well - it is supposed to get hotter, and team members and kids are already getting sick with heat stroke.) In the evening we played Biffer. I got to once again play the jailer where I get to "whamp" kids with a foam noodle, without a translator...which is always humorous. I have limited words I can say: Sit down, two minutes (which since it is summer and I have turned my math brain off, is really like 30 seconds to 1 minute.), and Good Bye; Sometime I get adventurous and ask the kids "Why, another time?" Which sounds horrible but they get it. I don't know if it is just natural in Russian, or if they are just so used to me speaking such poor Russian that they pretty much are used to putting the pieces together. I'm not really sure how the love of God is shown in this game, but the kids love it and ask for it again and again.

Camp 3 - Day 3

Today we started the Theme on the Armor of God. It is a little tricky because the theme is based on Believers, and yet many of our kids are hear for the first time, and have never heard bible stories before. So we are trying to stick with the theme and yet have it make sense to the children, who are so new to hearing about Christian things. Today's Sarah started with talking about how the armor, is figurative - not literal. And then she talked about the Belt of Truth. Each Day David acts out a situation without the armor and then again with, to help make it more real for the children.

After this we went to the sea, where we tried to do sand tattoos. However, it was a little tricky because the sand was still a little wet from the previous day's rain. Pray that our kids would enjoy the sea. Some love it very much, but I had one little girl pray tonight that we wouldn't have to go.

This afternoon we did some relay races, and later played a game called the Persecuted Church. The kids love this second game, which basically is organized chaos of kids running around with papers designed to look like bibles and secret police trying to take them away from them. This evening we did a aquarium craft, which took longer than expected but the kids liked.

Please pray for the children's health. In my group one girl went home with a high temperature, and another isn't feeling well. Also pray for the kids to eat well, we have a few who don't eat much, and one who will not eat anything that is not his mama's food...which means he hasn't eaten much of anything yet. Also pray that the ward 1 boys (oldest boys) find their niche and enjoy themselves. They do not participate in anything except football (soccer) and basket ball. They feel that camp is "childish" Which maybe a little true as we are trying to teach a group that is 7 to 14. I asked their counselor if we should be doing something different for them, like a side program...she said no. So instead we will just pray for them to still be learning about God and enjoying themselves at least a little :o)

Camp 3 - Day 2

Today was our first full day of camp. This means we started by helping the little girls with hair, mostly we do braids and french braids. But unlike last camp we have a number of girls with short hair so this is a little more difficult. Then we did morning exercise.

For morning Bible Lesson Paul talked about the Bible. Then we gave each child a bible. (Tonight at bedtime stories we started to teach the kids how to look up verses.) The sky threatened rain early but we decided to go to the sea any way. Which was perfect because the sun showed up. However, promptly at 12:30 when everyone was back up at camp, it started to down pour. This hindered the kids getting to lunch on time (and all were very wet).

In the afternoon the kids did interest groups and then prepared for opening ceremony. During this time, Paul and I were invited to eat Dinner at Sergey's (the dentist) house. I was worried that I would have trouble eating the unknown food and in turn offend them, but God is good. We had a Tatar (Muslim) soup. Very, very tasty. It looked like stew but was thinner broth. It was cooked over open fire. It had all sorts of vegetables in it that I don’t know what they were. But I did know aboutpotatoes, carrots, red pepper. The meat was lamb. We had bread, raw red pepper, tomatoes, and parsley to accompany it. Followed by “tea” but instead they served us coffee and treats. They were very kind and I don’t think Ioffended them (except when I cut the fat off the meat, butsomething tells me it was ok.)

After dinner he showed us his coin collection. I saw a coin that dates back to 5 AD. He makes replicas, and paints, and does other metal work, and since he is a dentist he makes his own dentures and retainers. I was literally in awe of all his talents and skills, and yet I'm told there are even more that we didn't have time for like playing the guitar and making shashlik. I was speechless, which most of you know doesn't happen very often.

Then He made me sit inhis chair and was wowed by all the “work” done in my mouth. He counted and then told me special for me he would cover them with white.

Then Tanya decided she would help.

More or less they just thought it was hilarious to take funny pictures. After my turn they did the same with Paul. I think that if we didn't have to get back we would have been there all night, making silly pictures.

We got back just as the opening ceremony was starting and just in time to do our parts in our skit, of course completely unprepared for. I had to juggle, a skill that I do NOT possess. This was followed by craft and bedtime stories.

The Kids Arive - Camp 3

Today the kids came!

This camp has a very different feel for me as I'm no longer the team leader. Most all the stress melts away as I just get to pour myself into the kids. Sarah is helping the current team leader organize. Which I'm so thankful for, because I need a break. However, because God has given me the gift (and sometimes curse) of being a perfectionist. I quietly (or at least I try quietly) help her to see anything that she missed. On the other hand, because she has taken this role on, I have taken the responsibility of the craft room (Supplies Closet) off her hands. And am trying to pick up some of the other "interny" things to do. Tanya has me working on some writing, brainstorming, and soon to figure out a new way to create the newsletter. I also run the camp store.

The kids are great, I see a few faces that I remember, but many new faces. In my group only 2 girls have been here before the rest are all new. I'm excited, because this is the opposite of how it was last camp. Some kids start of very closed. Not yet sure if they are in a safe place.

Others will be a bit of a challenge as I have seen a number of "almost" fights. Arguing and pushing or just games that quickly become something more as they get just a little out of hand.

Others are already opening up. At bedtime stories the girls in my ward shared deep concerns they wanted prayer for. Ksusha's Aunt is very sick, and another girl's mother has been ill for 7 years. Pictured Below is Ksusha. (Ksusha is also part of our after school Program.)

Masha (pictured below) has lived in the children's home, but now a family wants to adopt her. However there is some problems in the courts that are causing this to be very difficult.

It is rare that these kids are this open on the first night. I'm excited to see where this will lead us in further conversations.

In the morning we just hung out with the kids, in the afternoon we played some group games to get to know them a little better. The evening we did name tags for craft and a scavenger hunt where the kids looked for the hidden team members.

This week we will be working through the armor of God. Please pray that the children learn the messages about each of these pieces of armor in a whole new way. Pray that they will take them to heart, and take them with them as they go back to there world.

Graffiti Contest & Sushi

I know the two don't really mix. They just happened on the same day.

Today we had a graffiti contest to add positive decoration to the out side of our wall.

It is part of a program designed to help prevent alcoholism. However this was mostly the introductory event. The purpose to bring in kids that would not otherwise be here. The atmosphere here at camp was very different. They were not allowed to smoke or drink inside the walls, but that just meant they went outside to do this before coming back in. A few people came for the competition, but many others came as spectators. It was very effective in drawing in a crowd not normally seen at Hope Center.

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Time will tell if they will return for other events, aimed more directly at helping them make better choices.

As for the Sushi: One of our counselor's husband wanted to thank us. So he bought all ingredients and prepared the Sushi for us. It took him over 4 hours to prepare all of it (we think over 100 pieces). I didn't want to be rude and not eat any. But I'm not a big fan of fish and the idea of eating it raw with sea weed repulses me. However after freaking out for a short time, I ate a whole piece (I'm told you have to eat it all at once.) Of course I was at the end of the table with Sergey who made it for us. So I had to work through the gag reflux and swallow, I was quite afraid that I was going to offend him a few times, and pour David would be wearing it, but I made it through - thank you Pepsi. I'm grateful for the experience, and for all Sergey's time in preparing it. However, it is an experience I hope not to repeat.