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.

Day of Rest

Today the team leaves. And we have a little rest. And apparently I need it. Yesterday I took a 4 hour nap and 5 hours after waking up I went to sleep again for 9 hours. I woke up ready to work, but instead I was invited to go with Olya to her Aunt's Hotel and the Black Sea. So after moving my things to a different room, to make more space for the new interns. I went with her. The black sea was very wavy, we swam in waves that were 2-4 feet in height from the valley to the top. It was exhausting and yet very fun. The hotel I saw amazed me. It is not a normal hotel for Ukraine, Olya tells me. It is more or less for people who do not have much money, but people travel very far to come here. It was very interesting.

This is the entrance:

Here is the Shower:

Here is the sink I used to clean up with the mirror that doesn't reflect much of anything, yep...no walls.

Here is another out door kitchen. There were like 3 or 4 with a hot plate, and either a sink or a refrigerator but not both.

Here is the well which apparently gives a salt water/fresh water mix. It is not fresh water but also it is not like the sea. This is the water that is served to the people here. I watched this pail being poured into the drinking water tap.

Here are the cow barns that you need to walk by to get to half of the rooms.

These are the owners of this hotel. She is going in one of the many "kitchens". The Mirror by the man is the one the guests get to use...yep it is out side.

Here are a couple of rooms. It was quaint and pretty with grapes hanging over head everywhere.

These chicken ran through the area above before starting to fight in another part of the hotel.

To give you context to the doors they are all different heights, but this size was not uncommon. I am just under 5 foot 5 inches tall, wearing flip flops. So I'm thinking this door is just under 5 foot tall. Olga says they call these chicken houses.

This is the dinning room for the guests. Again, no walls. Plastic roof with grape vines apparently holding it together. On the far right/back side of the table is the jar of juice that came out of the refrigerator, "room" temp. I was served a full cup, so I had to drink. It was without any sugar and I didn't know what kind it was. I later found out it was prune juice :o( Oh well. The "milk" sitting on the table unrefrigerated is thick like heavy whipping cream...probably from the cows here at the hotel.

Each of the rooms were covered with a simple sheet. No locked doors (in fact no doors were even closed.) Inside the room is just a bed or two, and nothing else. At least in the rooms I saw. And one woman staying here traveled all the way from Moscow to come here.

This is the upstairs of the owners house over looking the gardens. These look more like hotel rooms that we know it...but I'm not sure because I didn't get to really look in them. I did however get to go in the owner's house...even though I wasn't so bold as to take pictures. There are four rooms. 1) entry way/hall about 2.5 by 3 feet (a place to take off your shoes and figure out which way you are going to go) 2) a toilet room 3) a kitchen/Dinning Room (which also has a bed in it) and 4) a bedroom/living room where the beds double as couches and there is a refrigerator (which I'm pretty sure didn't work, so maybe it just held more stuff.)

Day 9 and 10 - Camp 2

Day 9 -

This is the last full day of camp. The morning was pretty typical. The Bible lesson was on how love protects and never fails. Shelby and I did the lesson, we used a story of Paul and Silas in jail. At the sea the kids did sand sculptures. The did a wonderful job making animals and pictures. They even figured out how to do two tones for a painted look with dry and wet sand. I was so impressed.

In the afternoon, we did a scavenger hunt were the kids had to collect phrases from the love verses (from 17 hidden people) and then put them in the correct order. Apparently Morgan hid so well the only three people to find her were the three winners. This game was followed by practice for the closing ceremony.

After supper we had closing ceremony. Since the theme of the week was on Love, Tanya and I started the ceremony with the song "Jesus, Lover of my Soul" First in Russian, then English, then both together. I can't tell you much about the rest of the ceremony because I was getting things set up. We gave a small bag of candy and glow bracelets to the kids so I had to transfer all 100+ to the stage. Then we did our skit. A spoof on the Lifeguard, which the kids loved, but I think just because I got a bucket of water dumped on my head. So after which I went to change into dry clothes, I forgot that they needed me to help pass out gifts. Apparently they screamed my name but across camp I didn't here it. Praise God for helping to remember, suddenly and I changed faster and ran back across camp.

After the ceremony we had our closing bonfire. A bonfire in Ukraine is 6 feet tall, and the kids all sit/stand/dance around as we sing all the camp songs they know. Then they pray for the team and we pray for the kids. This is than followed by a slide show of camp. The kids always enjoy seeing themselves. And although the kids like these things they also have a very hard time with it because it means it is time to leave. The tears start falling.

Day 10 -

Is the day the kids leave. We went to help with hair (one of my favorite parts of the day) and then off to breakfast. After which the team watches the kids go. A very hard time for all. We're blessed to have kids run full force into us for one last hug. A time they often hold tightly (a rarity here), and begin to cry. Going home is not easy for many of our children. Most of the children went home between breakfast and lunch. However, we had one group leave in the afternoon and another group at 11:00 pm. (To catch their midnight train.) The day is relaxing in a sense that there is nothing programing wise that we need to do, and yet highly emotionally tiring.

Please pray for our children as they go home. Pray for them to keep the hope of camp with them. Pray for them to have the strength to endure if they are returning to difficult situations, and Pray that they know were to seek help if they need to get out of that situation, temporarily or permanently.

Camp 2 -Days 6, 7, 8

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. Things during camp get hectic. A typical day starts about 6 am and goes non-stop till 11 or 12. And often for me my brain keep working on all the to do's so I would wake up frequently. (One day in camp I was able to take a 30 minute nap, but that was about it.) So For Day 6 and 7 Sleep came first. I'm sorry. Of course now this was so long ago I'm going to have a hard time remembering it all.

Day 6 - This morning Brett and Bob did the lesson on Love is Patient and Preservers. Bob told his story about how God kept working on his heart to come to Ukraine, years of perseverance and patience. At the sea the kids did sand tattoos again and we brought kites. I had taken pictures of the kids earlier in the week and needed to get them developed while the kids were at the sea, but found that many of them were blurry (great for a photographer's daughter, so I had to start all over again, then sort and then go get them developed. Which took the entire sea time. In the afternoon the Kids practiced for the talent show and the counselors ran interest groups so that the team could go out on and excursion into Kerch.

We rode the public transportation, which was a new experience for some. Although there was very light traffic of people (all the seats full and only 1 or 2 standing) so I don't think they got the full effect. We walked the "board walk" and learned about some statues. And then went souvenir shopping. Then 2 of my team members wanted to see the sight from the top of the Metradot. Those who had seen were not willing (or stupid enough) to walk up the 431 steps to the top, so I went with them. At least I can say I did it (again.) Then we went out for pizza. We asked to order it without mayo but they forgot, and some of us even tried fish pizza (I am NOT included in that group). I think almost every pizza I ate had mushrooms (which for those of you who know me is a little more than a stretch - so Bob let me take them off and he ate them...Thanks Bob!)

Then we returned just in time for the talent show. The kids did a few dances. One recited some poems. More or less serious stuff. We became a dog barking choir (That didn't know the song...maybe we should have practiced) Then it was a girls birthday, so we Roofed (well actually Goffed because that is what Russian Dog's say) the Happy Birthday Song to her. The day ended with making Kites in craft time and bed time stories.

Day 7:

This morning Morgan did the bible lesson on Love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs. She did the story of the adulterous woman whom everyone was about to stone, until Jesus stepped in and reminded them that they too are sinners. This lead into the salvation message given latter in the day. At the sea the kids flew the kites that they made the previous night in craft. In the afternoon, it was too hot to play much running games (or at least it was supposed to be at the time we had to plan it...2 hours later the clouds came and made it Bearable (Temps here are nearly 90 all the time and VERY humid.) But the new plan was already in place so we stuck with it. The children got to do interest groups again. I helped with the nail station...in which we go though a large bottle of remover in about one hour.

In the evening we did a salvation skit (It was one Morgan had learned on her trip to Peru a few years ago) It went very well. Andrey the director of the camp spoke and we later broke into groups, so the children could get more of there questions answered. There where 8 groups and we only have 3 translators in camp. So mostly we don't know what happened. I asked my girls later that day who had given their lives to Christ and all but 1 said yes. And 2 girls gave their lives to Christ for the first time! Frank said there were also at least two in his ward that gave their lives to Christ!! Praise God!!!

After this we did a tissue paper art craft and Bedtime stories, which is were I found out more of the information from the paragraph above.

Day 8-

Today Cheryl did the Morning Bible lesson on how Love Hopes and Trusts. She did a great job and is quite the story teller. At the sea we had some relay competitions. And then we couldn't come back to camp because the inspectors were here and we didn't want to draw any attention so they wouldn't questions things. They have so many rules here you wouldn't believe it if I told you. But a short while later they called and said we could return. In the afternoon we played biffer. Craft was a frame for their pictures (something I don't think they get very often because they cherish the picture so much.) this was followed by a movie, which lasted too long for us to really do bedtime stories. So we just went and prayed with the kids and said good night. Which is also what I need to say to you as it is almost midnight and I need to be up early tomorrow.

Please pray for the children as they leave, and for the team to let them go. Knowing some of the situations in which they will be going back to, it is so hard to let go. Pray that we will be able to do this and that we will trust our God to be who he says he is and Faithfully take care of them.

Day 5 - Camp 2

Today followed a very regular routine with no last minute changes. We changed exercises in the morning for girls to a dance, and I saw so many more smiles. The morning Bible Lesson was well done, set up as a game show to show that Love is not self-seeking, arrogant, or rude. After the bible lesson we went to the sea. In addition to swimming the children had a sand castle contest. Most were typical but one was a snowman with a Santa hat.

This afternoon we made signs and pom poms to cheer on our team at soccer. The competed against another local camp, and we won. The excitement ran throughout the camp (and in the evening my girls remembered to praise God for the victory.)

In the evening we played a game call bible smugglers. The kids loved it, but the game went quickly so we adjusted the rules to make it more difficult and played again. This was followed by craft: Masks or Puppets that the kids can use in the talent show tomorrow if they want.

Please pray for the children. Many are becoming irritated with each other and becoming very physical in their "out bursts" It seams everyday someone is breaking up a fight. Today a fight broke out because on person tripped an accidentally knocked some other people over in the process, those that fell down, were so made fists went flying (and this was with our 7-8 year-olds.) Overall we have very, very good kids but a few are having troubles. Please pray for them. Also pray for the salvation message that we will give in two days. I figure if I wait till tomorrow to mention it, the post won't go up in time for you to read it and pray (with the time change and all) so Start praying now. Thank you for all your prayer support!!!

Day 4 - Camp 2

This morning we once again had to make changes. We had planned to play Biffer in the morning, but because it was too muddy the kids would fall and get hurt (Last year we had a kid break an arm this way, so we are very cautious.) So instead we did stations: Boy practiced soccer because tomorrow we compete against a near by camp. We did face paint (which gets washed off about 2 hours later because kids must be completely clean in order to eat any meal). Again we made bracelets. Bob played basket ball (2 on 2 for about 2 hours) Apparently the Grandpa and a Girl Won by a very large margin against 2 boys...not sure that was do great for their ego (Is Humility an aspect of love?) And I did a dance station. It was 82 degrees with high humidity and I managed to dance for 2 hours. I thought my legs were going to fall out from under me, when they came and said lunch would be a 1/2 hour late and we should continue the stations. At the point I just started to run the sound system because I couldn't possibly dance any more :o)

The afternoon was too hot to play biffer so we did the craft (Friendship Books - Like a yearbook for signing but no pictures) in the afternoon. As we were about to set up the woman moping the floor said no you can't come in until the floor is finished and dried. Well I postponed the craft 15 minutes for her to finish, then we set up (shoeless as she requested so we wouldn't get her clean floor dirty - never mind that 104 kids, plus workers are going to be coming in 15 minutes with shoes on. My team was very kind and did just as she asked, regardless of what they thought). And then we spent the next hour signing books.

After Dinner we finally got to play Biffer. A game I won't take the time to explain in detail, but that the kids love so much they request to play it multiple times during camp. The thing I like is that it is a game that all ages can play together, and it takes about 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. The kids run nearly the entire time and are exhausted, so bed time stories go smoothly.

Speaking of I decided that I wanted to go deeper with my girls so we talked about the hard lessons of Jesus by studying Luke 6:27 - 36 Love your enemies. I guess that every time I read verse 29 to one who strikes you, turn the other cheek also. I just read over it, thinking of it figuratively. When I asked them what did they find hardest to do in these verses, that verse is what one of them said. Although it was not said, I saw the heart behind the question. "I'm supposed to let them hit me?" "And love means to put up with the abuse??" I quickly talked with them about the deeper meaning behind the words, and reassured them that abuse is never ok. They were reassured, but this is one of the few times I could see the fear these girls hold in the world.

Cheryl noticed this yesterday, she shared a story with our littlest kids. And in return she asked them to tell her stories. She expected to hear fairy tails back. Instead they told her scary stories (with guns and knives and other things Cheryl didn't care to pass on), taken back she though how could they, being so young, even think of such things. So she asked the counselor if they had seen these things on TV (Like who would let them watch such things on TV). However the response was horrifying. They were all real, many seen first hand.

Please pray for our children. Pray that God protects them from their past. Pray that they are able to escape it. That they take with them the hope and strength of Jesus Christ with them. Pray that the generations of these things happening stops with them. Pray for their safety when they go home. Just Pray!

Day 3 - Camp 2

From Yesterday’s Blog: The name of the other group is “Step Forward.”

Well today was a day of blessings and challenges. I have been so tired all the time, as have many of the team, so morning devotions was on our strength in the Lord. We prayed for this strength, and God answered in a very real and evident way.

The morning started out normal without any troubles. Morgan and Frank did the morning Bible lesson which was on How Love rejoices in truth and not evil. They had some children from ward 3 help them act out the story of Zacchaeus. And talked about his old way of life verses his new way.

We then went to the sea…Which was fine until it started pouring rain, while we were in the water. I wasn’t so worried until I heard the thunder which comes with lightning and thought may be we should get out of the water. However the trick is that the “Hill” of death is very steep and made of clay. Add even a little water and it becomes more slippery than a slip-and-slide. We headed up the hill hoping to make it before it got too bad. Some of us made it, it was like 2 steps forward then slide three steps back, but I made it with ward 2. The problem ward 1 hadn’t yet started up the hill, and the rain started pouring more (lighting struck a tree across the street from out gate, David said his ears rang for a while after that. Which is also why I’m writing this in word – we have no internet.) Eventually ward 1 had to walk a long distance down the beach to a place there are stairs and then walk back to camp through town. Everyone got back safely, but very wet.

In the afternoon we also had to change plans because the ground was too muddy to play the game we wanted. Instead we did craft (decorated clothe bags sewn for them by some women in Arizona) in the afternoon; followed by a Bible Ceremony were each child who didn’t have a bible at camp received one.

This left our evening spot open, so we filled it with a Movie, I think it was something like Planet 51 (I’m not really sure, at this point the schedule has moved around so much I needed to work on the scheduling and coming up with a plan A and B for tomorrow. Besides it is in Russian and I don’t understand that much yet.)

It started pouring again just as the kids got out of the movie, so again many got wet. The rain has helped cool it down a little. Some even say it is cold and have jeans and sweatshirts on, but I’m still hot in shorts and a tank top because it is still humid. But much cooler, Praise God.

Please pray for being able to be flexible and change plans quickly with the weather. Please pray for tomorrow, which is on Love is Kind. Please start praying for the Salvation Message that is coming up on Sunday (Remember we are 8 hours ahead of you.)Thank you for your prayers. It is so fun watching God answer them.

Day 2 of Camp 2

Today was beautiful...hot (but slightly cooler than yesterday so it was wonderful). Today was our first full day. 7:00 Devotions, 7:30 Help do Hair, 7:50 Morning Exercises (Shelby is in charge but she had never seen it before to I had to improvise and show her...I haven't led this in years - so it was a stretch...physically and mentally. A few times I just stood there looking stupid wondering what to do next. And without and interpreter when I was trying to tell them it was done by using Charades, they just continued copying my motions. )

8:15 Breakfast (Second day in a row we had hot dogs (AKA Mystery Meat) Pretty much that is a breakfast food here. 9:00 was the Bible Lesson: Today we started our Bible lessons on the theme of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. We talked about how this is how God loves us and challenged them to also show this kind of love to those around them. 10:00 Sea: We went to the sea and it was a great day for it, although the sand is so hot it burns your feet...So I stayed in the water a luxury the kids don't have, so I'm praying that they have more calluses. 12:30 lunch 1:15 Mtg then "rest" time. (A time in which I rarely have rest, but today I managed to get about a 30 minute "nap" - meaning lay down and try to sleep but be too exhausted to actually sleep (that comes when it is not supposed to - while working) 4:45 In the afternoon the kids got to choose different games to play. The most popular station was making friendship bracelets. Followed by manicures and then Soccer. 6:00 Dinner

7:00 This evening we had the opening ceremony, where each of the wards tell us their name. We have "little Barney's" (but Barney hear is a bear not a purple dinosaur); Tornado's; God's Children; and the last one I can't remember I'll tell you later. Because our theme is Love we where the Love Bugs which if we want to translate into the meaning becomes May Flies in Russian. We did the "Mosquito dance" to "Flight of the Bumble Bee" Which we basically means we just kept acting like we were in the middle of a Mosquito swarm and slapped ourselves. Funny because this year the Mosquito's are horrible here - unheard of in this part of Ukraine and all the kids know it. And they bite all day long, and the bits last days. I saw a kid today with green dots all over his legs, I asked what happened, He said Mosquito's (The green is because what they use to heal stuff looks like green paint on the skin)

8:00 Craft (We made memory verse Popsicle sticks to help them with the theme verses for the weeks.) 9:15/9:45 Bedtime stories.

Today during rest time we celebrated the birthday of one of the workers here at camp. For those of you who know him it was Jenya's Birthday...He invited nearly every adult in the camp (a huge party for Ukraine). He bought Cake, Chocolate, pop and tea for everyone.

The kids are already opening up so quickly...many running up to the team members and giving them big hugs. Last night when we said good night to each of the girls only those who had been there before gave hugs, this night all girls gave hugs. Thank you for your prayers in this area.

Please continue praying for this, as well as praise God for all ready working in this way. Pray that as we challenge kids and adults to show love in specific ways they will be about to follow through. Tomorrow's Topic is Love Rejoices in the Truth and does Not Delight in Evil. We have a few boys who tend to fight easily (in their lives this is normal because it is how they are taught to survive). Please pray that we can help them see that fighting is not the only way. And please pray for energy, for the team. We are very tired and very early in camp. Normally it takes me 4-5 days to get this tired, but not this camp. I think it may be the heat. I fall asleep nearly every time I sit down to get work done. I guess I have to figure a way to work standing up :o) Thank you for your prayers!

The Kid's Arrive

Today the kids came...are coming (we have 10 more coming in the middle of the night sometime - because they are coming from so far away.) Total we will have just under 110 kids (even more than we expected). This is my biggest camp since I started 7 years ago. Many have been here before, but I was encouraged to find out that a good portion of the girls in my ward are here for the first time. And even more amazing is the ones who have been here before are befriending them, telling how great this camp is, and even Praying for them! Wow, How much fun to see kids that we have been discipling, starting to disciple others. I just got back from bedtime stories, and normally it takes 3 or 4 days to get the children to pray aloud, but we had 4-5 girls pray aloud tonight already. I'm excited to see what will happen, this camp with the kids that are here for the first time, and I'm excited to help some of the others deepen their already founded relationship with Christ. God is so Good and is already working in amazing ways.

So as for the rest of the day: In the morning with just hung out with the kids who were arriving. Trying to learn all the names and starting to build relationship...or starting where they left off with others. Twice today I saw (And It happened more than just the time I say) children drop their bags and run into the arms of people on the international teams that have impacted their lives in previous years.

In the afternoon we played game to get to know names better and Cheryl lead each group to make a mural for the dining room walls. In the evening we played Sardines and had a Craft (making name tags and autobiography - picture books that the kids got to share at bedtime stories).

Tomorrow we start our first full day of programming. Pray that everything goes smoothly. I have the Bible lesson, an introduction on 1 Cor 13:1-4. Please pray for open minds as I challenge them to show love in each of these ways throughout the week.

Preparation Day

Today we were able to spend a little time relaxing and preparing for camp. We had meetings to discuss the plan for camp and get to know each other, and then time for set up between them. Of course we had to run to the market once or twice to get ice cream.

Please pray for the children as they arrive tomorrow.

We're Here!

We finally here! God has helped us out in numerous ways along the way. 3 flights of 10 different fights (collectively) that we took were delayed 30 minutes to 2 hours, and yet every connection was made. One 2 hour delay was apparently fixed by what looked like adhering duct tape to the top of the plane to "patch" it. Another 2 hour delay was because the plane was stuck in a hole at the gate and the tugs were unable to push us out. (I wasn't worried until the pilot told us plan A, B, and then C - which was we are working on coming up with another plan because all else have failed. At this point the plan is surrounded by workers in orange vests and some are even taking pictures of the situation.) However even with all of that, we made it to Ukraine just fine. The car ride went very smoothly except for the random cow that decided to "jump" out in front of us. However, God gave Andrey enough space to stop and Jenya enough space to swerve into the other lane and squeak by.

It has been great to reunite with friends here. I was told that the people here are so grateful when people come here to serve, but they are overwhelmed when people return. I already feel how our shear presence is a gift from God to them.

Tomorrow we have a day to settle in and prepare. Please pray for God's will to be evident in all our planing and that He helps us to build unity. Please pray for each of the team members:

Bob - Arizona

Brett - Indiana

Tim - Oklahoma

Frank - North Carolina

Shelby - Maryland

Morgan - Minnesota

Cheryl - Minnesota

Naomi - Minnesota

And the Interns who have been here all summer:

Christine - Minnesota

Sarah - Virgina

David - Illinois

Thanks you for your prayers.

We're Off!

Well almost. We leave tomorrow morning (although 2 of my team members Bob and Frank start their journey today) Because the team is coming from different locations each person will have somewhere between 3 and 6 flights to get to Simferopol Ukraine and then we have another 4 hour van ride to Kerch where we will be staying. Travel time for each of us will be at least 30 hours. Please pray for safe travels.