The trip is getting close

Nineteen of us are now waiting for our invitation to Russia so we can submit our visa applications.  Those should come in a week or so ahead of our trip.

Plans are moving ahead with curriculum using characters from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  We'll have lessons and skits along with the story.  We'll be viewing the movie with the kids!

Other plans involve kids at the ministry center on parenting, relationships and jobs.  We'll also talk about how to treat the opposite gender.

Keep praying and if you'd like to donate, go to www.covenant-pres.org.  Thank You!

Yoga in Pokrov

While we did far more than yoga today, that was the big hit.  Julieanna Keenan, a high school student and new member of our team,  decided to try a yoga class just for girls today.  It was our way of connecting and also encouraging the girls to exercise.  It was standing room only in the yoga room with barely enough room for all of the mats.  Tomorrow we will likely have more girls as Julieanna was a HIT.  

The day begin with our teams being set up and developing their slogans and their posters.  I was asked to write the text of our poster in English.   The kids decorated the poster in English.  The theme for the week is a positive attitude and the theme for today was do a good deed.  We were encouraged by the orphanage staff to do a good deed and to also compliment people, especially orphanage staff. 

We also played soccer and did crafts.  We didn't have time to do our lesson, but Chari thinks that she can get two skits into one lesson and combine the two themes. 

We also had an orthodox priest come to the orphanage today.  Some of our team members met with him and some kids and had an interesting time learning more about the orthodox faith.  In addition, some went to the local Grace home.  The Grace home is an apartment, supervised by Svetlana and her husband.  Five boys live in this transitional housing apartment while they adjust to their new roles in college, technical schools and universities. 

So, now we have to make plans for the talent show on Friday.  We have to provide 5 acts.  I have to find one.  ARGH.

Today in Vladimir

Today was another great day. We started by worshiping with Russian believers this morning in a small church in a converted apartment building. The church building is not like what most of us in suburban churches at all. Songs were in Russian. Americans were singing in English to songs that they knew. I sang in Russian, the best I could, but had to look up some of the Russia words. We prayed in small groups before taking communion with our newly made Russian friends. BJ and I prayed with Irina and Lena, two Russian single moms. Lena is out of work and is praying for a job by the end of summer. Many Russians are out of work.

Then we went to see the Assumption Cathedral. It was originally built in the 12th century when Vladimir was the capital city of Russia. It is one of the most famous cathedrals in Russia, perhaps the most famous outside of Moscow.

After that we headed back to the ministry center where I was pleased and surprised to see Klara B. Klara is studying veterinary sciences. She seemed well and happy. She said that she is enjoying living outside of the orphanage.

Don Shive led a session on anger and where it comes from. He also talked about forgiveness. Some of the order orphans (in their twenties) really got involved in that discussion.

After games and conversation we left for the hotel.

I'm including a few pictures from today.

We are in Vladimir Tonight

After all of the aministrative issues getting our visas, we arrived in Moscow this morning without a hitch. The big hitch came with Moscow traffic. It took over an hour to get out of Moscow and about four and half hours to get to Vladimir. We arrived at the minsitry center to over 40 orphanage graduates, many of whom we know from Pokrov.



I was able to spend a lot of time with Valya K. who is doing well in her advertising degree program at the local university. Valya turned 21 this year.



A special surprise was seeing Lilya T. She left the orphanage early, and I was not able to see her last year. I did not know where she was and I feared the worst. However, she was at the ministry center today and is in a technical school. She looked so grown up. She will be seventeen in September.



There were many others from Pokrov. I also met some of the girls in the young mothers program. These girls are single moms between the ages of 17 and 21 who receive monthly parenting and life skills training. Many of them are still enrolled in school, although they have the year off to take care of newborns. They are allowed to live in the dorms if they have no place else to go.



I meant to post pictures, but I'm down in the lobby using wifi here at the Hotel Vladimir. I left my camera in my room. So, I'll post pictures tomorrow.

Flight delayed all unknown

Well, it's been a busy day. First, I went to the bank to get cash for the trip, then I found out that the visas were not at HopeChest's office. Then I found out that they would not get there. Then I found out that they might get there. Then I found out that the woudn't.

In the mean time Delta's group travel agent steered me wrong and told me I could wait until morning to reschedule my trip once I had the visas. A HopeChest rep thought that sounded strange so he called Delta. That rep said that we did need to take some action before morning. So, now we have to wait till the morning to take next steps to find out when we are going.

One obstacle is that Delta's policy is to charge a $250 change fee plus the price change of the ticket. In this case the price change could be between $300 and $3,800. Obviously, we aren't going with the $3,800. So, we'll see what we can do and ask on bended knee for some grace.

Keep reading for more updates.