Sunny Day – Tue, May 1

After all the snow yesterday, it was sunny today and cold! The kids were still on a holiday and had been inside for the past several days. We continued to play inside in a small play room on the first floor. The kids enjoyed the obstacle course I set up and ran them through! They started with doing situps!

When we arrived at the Orphanage this morning, there was a young couple there from America to adopt a two year old. This was their second trip and they were there to pick up the child! It was an exciting thing for them. It was also interesting as when one of our main translators, Natasha walked in the room, they knew each other from the first trip! They also knew Sasha from the Transition Home!

Later that morning there were 11 Russian volunteers that had come to the Orphanage from St. Petersburg to spend the day with the school-age kids. They were making cards for people in pensioner’s homes (nursing home) to remember them on May 9th, Victory Day in Russia. This is a major holiday where Russians remember their victory over the Nazi’s in WWII. The kids were drawing planes, tanks, and showing the defeat of the Nazi’s. So, the kids were tied up with them until about 4pm when we could begin our activities. It is typical that there are a host of other things that go on in an Orphanage during our week that we just need to adjust to as servants of Christ.

It was a busy day and the kids had a lot of people to play with. However, life in an Orphanage is still rough. Today I ran upstairs to get something and one of the girls named “Ksusia” came out of a room with a bloody nose and crying. I took her and held her head back as I walked her quickly to the bathroom. Several other kids were around helping me and helping her. We got the bloody nose stopped and the house mom took her to clean her shirt and have her lay down for a little while. Later I found out that one of the boys had hit her for some reason and this caused the bloody nose. Life in an Orphanage is hard.

After all the other volunteers left, we began the craft activity called “Caterpillar Pencils”. This week as a theme we will talk to the kids about the transformation of Caterpillars into Butterflies” as Christ transforms us into new creatures once we believe in Him! The nametags we had them make also had caterpillars and butterflies on them along with the word in Russian which is “Transformation” as a reminder to them throughout the week.

When we were leaving today, there was still a lot of snow on the ground. The kids were outside as the house mom’s wanted them to get some fresh air. Of course the kids could not resist to making a snow ball and hitting the big target in the green coat! I couldn’t resist either and just had to pick up my own snow balls as well! There were “several” against one and the kids loved it! My hands were cold as I didn’t have any gloves! I don’t think the kids did either! Again, they enjoyed the play and loving contact!

That evening we went and ate at a small café near the Day Center. Sergey and I took a Marchucka (small city bus) back to our apartment after doing some grocery shopping for the next day. As we were standing at the bus stop, Sergey overheard two older women discussing the Bible and which book of the Bible that should be read first. Sergey translated a little of the conversation while we were standing. I silently prayed for that lady who was sharing with the other lady. I didn’t want to interrupt the conversation or join in. It probably would have been a disruption to her as she was trying to share. However, I wanted to encourage her. When we got on the bus and I passed her where she had just sat down, I simply touched her shoulder and said, “Bog Em”, which is Russian for “God Bless You”. She looked up in surprise and then went on with her conversation.

My hope is that more conversations like this will occur in Sosnovo that will lead to knowing the Lord better there.