Pictures from Day 1

Pictures from Day 1 with Orphanage #2 and #19

Hi Mom! I  <3  You!

Day 1 w/kids: Camps 2 and 19

There we have it folks... day one complete. It was wonderful and difficult at the same time, just as one would expect.  It was so good to get to see children today. I just love smiling at them, tickling them, and talking with them about God's love!  We did lots of things today, many of which we will do most days this week including: a Bible story about the Good Shepherd (good job Jennifer!), volleyball, kickball, painting nails, a carnival for the youngs ones and a scavenger hunt for the older ones where they traveled "the world" to find truths about God and His love for them. We ended the day with an obstacle course and a testimony about how God took one broken life and restored it to joy and hope (way to go Christian!) Since it was our first day we had several kinks to work through; but as I was so appropriately reiminded, God not only works when things go right, He also(and sometimes more so) works when things are not as smooth as we planned (Thanks Joel!!!).

Over all it was just fantastic to see the kids smile and laugh and enjoy life. I'm not sure what their lives look like without people there visiting, but I know I love the look in their eyes while we ARE there.  :]  Today my special story is with a little girl named Vica. When I first met her I asked her what her name was and she didn't answer. I offered to help with a craft and if I remember correctly (and that's not necessiarly a guarantee after waking up around 330am and seeing some part of every hour until breakfast!) she didn't let me help her.  But later we were painting nails and I motioned to her as if to ask if she wanted her nails done and she agreed. So with no more words that "What is your name? and My name is..." in Russian we sat there together. When I was done she got up and left to go play.

After their lunch, we gathered with the kids again and to my suprise she walked right up to me, wrapped her arms around my waist and just hung on. Oh my heart... It was the sweetest thing!!  I looked around and told the team not to check my luggage when we left!!!!!

After our lunch, we returned for the rest of the days activities and I was suprised to receive another hug and another...  It is amazing to me how the love of Jesus can cross any barrier--even ones that seem so necessary to communication. I love this!
After a long day in the sun telling the kids as much about God as we can, we always get to the part where we have to leave.  We start hugging and waving and sometimes holding it togeher. I was snuck up upon by a young man who said my name (Hey!!) and also gave me a hug. Melted heart again...  I knew before I left I needed to find Vica so I looked around and I see here looking left and right and our eyes met--she came straight for me. We hugged one last time and I kissed her on her forehead, said good bye in Russian and got on the bus. 

Although I don't know why, I was suprised that I had to hold it together on day one. But let me say, I might have just brought her home with me if I could've...  <3


Our Bible verse for this morning is 1 John 2:27 where John talks about the people having an annointing from God and being bold about standing in the truth they know and acting upon it. So tonight I rest in that. Even though I wish I could do so much more and give and fix and take care of.... I know that what we are able to give and do here is exactly what God knows they need--that's why He brought us here in this foreign place and allowed us to have access to these kids and to speak freely to them about Jesus (something Paula says is unusual to say the least. But she reminds us that God can do all things, and this thing that God has allowed is definitely done so with a purpose and may produce fruit years down the road that we may never see. Amen sister!)

Thanks for all your prayers. Keep it up!
Peace in Jesus,
~Ellie

So thankful to announce that our trip was mostly uneventful! Praise God. When we got to the airport in Chicago they only charged us for 2 bags out of 19 that brought!! We met up with 6 more people in New York and flew to Helsinki and then on to St. Petersburg. There is free wi-fi at the McDonalds next to our hotel and we hope to update from here frequently.
Tomorrow we are going to be with kids from Orphanage #2 at a camp and then out to dinner with orphan graduates.  Several team members visited the children from Orphanage #2 and they are excited to reunite with them!

Kim, Chelsea and Ellie in Russia

One cart of our bags

2nd cart of bags

Bus to the hotel

Well this is it, my friends--two days and we're off!!!  I can't believe it's here already and I'm so excited to get there and get hugging kids!!!!!

Yesterday I was doing some Bible reading and I came across a verse that I am going to tuck in my <3 as a theme verse for our trip:

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived what God has
prepared for those who love Him”
2 Corinthians 2:9

This verse really hit me because of who I know God to be.  So, we have done all this planning and preparation; we have been fundraising, shopping, praying our tails off. And we will leave Friday with joyful expectation for all God has in store for us when we get there. We know we're going to get to love some kids and witness to their caretakers. We know that God is going to use us TO DO great things and going to do great things IN us.  But checkout that verse: "...no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him."  Yikes!!!   This makes me even more excited! Now, being right brained, I think I have a creative side, so I have imagined a lot of possibilities. But that verse says He has things prepared that I can't even come up with!!!  I LOVE THAT! And that's what I love about Him.  He is faithful to all His promises and His love for us is what drives that.  His love for those kids is what drives us. And I for one am so honored and humbled that He would choose me to be a vessel for that love.  Broken as we are, He still choose us to manifest His crazy love to the people around us. What kind of love is this?! Amazing....

Hold on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen... this is going to be SOME ride!! I stinking can't wait to see what He's going to do!!!

Peace in Jesus~ Ellie

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."  Ephesians 3:20-21

Pictures from Packing Party in Michigan

Everything had to be taken out of packaging and placed in plastic bags.

School Supplies!

Medicines!

So excited to be there!

Clothes - mostly socks and underwear

Trying to make a bag weigh 50 pounds!

Posing with the sunglasses for the photo booth!

49.8 lbs!!! Weight lifting exercises for the evening!

12 bags of supplies with 1 one more to put together in chicago before we leave! Thank you to everyone! It was a little crazy for a while wondering if we could take all the supplies donated but God is good and we were able to get them all!

Change in Itinerary

We just found out today that we are changing up our schedule a bit.  We will be visiting a different orphanage than originally planned.  The best news though is that we actually get to spend two nights AT the orphanage with the kids.  Yes, we will be sleeping at the orphanage!!!!!  This not only allows us to spend more time with the kids but it gives us the chance to see and feel first hand how life for them in an orphanage is.  Can't believe we will be leaving in 8 days. 

Packing Party

We had a packing "party" in Grand Rapids last night! We were overwhelmed the amount of supplies to pack - medicines, school supplies, socks and underwear...it was fabulous! We will post pictures soon of the supplies and all the bags that got packed! 9 days til we leave!!!

Only 14 days until we leave! We have a supply packing "party" in Michigan on Tuesday! So excited to tell the kids how much they are loved by Jesus and us!!