Day 8 - Pokrov Day 5

Our last day was full of emotions for everyone.  The day was wonderful and we began by finished the work on the basketball court. 

Brian taught the kids to slack line.  They were a bit timid at first, but by the end of the day, they were great. 

Our lesson of Aslan was led by Karin and JJ.  JJ portrayed Aslan and kids could ask him questions about love and forgiveness. 

We inaugurated the basketball court with a ceremony and a basketball game.  It was a lot of fun.

Our planned final dinner and sausage roast was modified so that we had to eat indoors, but that also went well and was a lot of fun with a noisy hall and many hugs. 

The day ended with revealing who our "guardian angels" were.  We had chosen names of people to whom we would do special deeds. 

In then end many kids walked back to the hotel with us where we delayed our good byes as long as we could with lots of memories of the week and hugs and crying.  The kids will come in the morning to see us off and we'll have to do much of it all over again. 

It was so wonderful to see each and every team member valued by the kids that they had bonded with over the week.

Day 7 - Pokrov Day 4

Today was a special day for us and the kids.  We were invited to a nearby camp that included horse and buggy rides, ATV rides, a cheese making operation, and a trip to a lake that has sponges for islands. 

The most interesting part was the lake with islands made up of plants that group together in the lake to form small islands.  Depending on the winds, the islands can move across the lake and back.  We walked mostly on planks set out, but we were allowed walk out onto the plants that were as sponges beneath our feet.  They were so dense that you could jump up and down on them.  The island created something similar tot he surface of a water bed, so that when you walk on it, you create a wave underneath. 

This took longer than we thought it would and so our afternoon was very short with a lesson about Edmund and how we all are like Edmund in a way.  We are all tempted and we often fall.  Sometimes because the temptation does not, at first, appear to be for something wrong.  Then we find out that we've been tricked, but we seem trapped.  There is no way out.  But Aslan provides a way of escape for Edmund. 

I also was especially blessed today.  I was hoping to get to Nadya's grave, but because we arrived back at the orphanage after the bus had left for errands, my only other option was to go Friday morning by taxi, which would have been more money than I hoped to spend.  Nastya (a curriculum director at the orphanage) offered to drive me there.  We got into her car with two others and then met a girl with whom Nadya went to college.  We went to the grave  and shared stories about Nadya.  Then we went by the college and the dormitory where Nadya had lived.  It was very moving for me. 

All in all a great next to last day.

Pokrov - Day 3

I am sorry that I'm behind.  I've been so tired.  So, Day 3 was Wednesday and It was our most "normal" day of any day in the week.  The day's lesson was about the White Witch and the way wrong can appear to us as something beautiful.  We finished watching The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe and Anna presented the lesson with a skit about King Midas.  Everyone likes gold.  In some ways it is valuable.  When you want too much to much of it and you do not put it in its place.  You give up all the other good things in life.  This is how the White Witch tempted Edmund.  Beauty, Power, and good food and drink are a part of life.  But when we crave them so much that we lie and cheat for them, then we have given up life itself. 

The main outside activity was a set of games led by the orphanage P.E. teacher.  We had several relay races. 

Don drew pictures of Colorado on several t-shirts and a couple of bags.  It was very impressive and the kids loved it. 

The days become draining as we sacrifice sleep for fellowship and ministry. 

Day 5 - Pokrov Day 2

Tuesday was our first full day at the orphanage.  The day’’s activities were primarily indoors.  The orphanage staff lesson was about positive emotions and we spent the morning doing various activities to express our positive emotions.  Each group made a poster about love and talked about how love is that greatest of emotions and that it is also the longest lasting.  Sometimes love is only seen over the long run.  We walked the halls making others happy by complimenting them.  We encouraged others by writing them nice notes.  We had fun by jumping around in an inflatable bounce house.  We also were allowed to relax in a room set aside with tools for relaxation and energizing.  Some use a foot massage machine; others lay on a bean bag chair that was like a giant headphone.  I was privileged to lie on my back on a large water bed to feel the mild movement of water on my sore back for 15 minutes with soft music playing. 

We almost finished watching The lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and had our lesson about Lucy and honesty as well as how it hurts when people are not honest with us.  One tool we used was to ask kid and adults to write down ways people make us not trust them.  Then we sent up a jenga tower and each time a card was read, someone removed a piece from the tower.  Finally the tower fell.  Sometimes people can do a few things that show us mistrust, but we can restore trust.  Sometimes when a person continues to show a lack of trust, the tower falls, and it has to be completely rebuilt.  But is it never the same tower. 

We are privileged to have been tasked with painting new lines on the new asphalt for the basketball court.  That project began today and the court will look great.  Later in the week, when it is finished we will have a small basketball tournament in celebration.  This is a great gift to the orphanage, not just for basketball players, but for any activity that requires a large paved surface.  It is the only substantial large paved surface on the property. 

We began making t-shirts and  playing ultimate Frisbee and soccer.  It seems as if there are more soccer players here this year, so perhaps we’ll get a good game going on Wednesday.

Today was also spa day and Julie had the privilege of painting the Executive Director’s nail.  The Executive Director said, “I never have the opportunity to have my nails done.”  What a blessing for Julie.  

Pray for the team as we seem to be passing a cold around to one another.

The mosquitoes are big, but God is bigger.