Hello family and friends. We all made it out of the Moscow airport alive. Barely. A brief run in with a bulldozer and a moving truck almost thinned out the group.
Thank you all for the prayers as we slowly make our way to Yurievets. The purpose of this email is to please ask to respond to all emails at Yurievets@comcast.net. Please do not press the reply button. We do not receive those emails that are from a “reply.”
Keep those prayers coming!
Thanks,
Ian
In Russian that means “Good Day.” Pretty impressive, eh? Actually, there are a few of us who are taking Introduction to Russian in the local community education system, and there are others on the team who have made previous trips to Russia and have already taken this course. The teacher’s name is Adrian, his mother is from Russia and his father is from Mexico – what a combo! Adrian is a great guy, and the class should be a lot of fun.
Our Yurievets team has 4 smaller sub-teams, and we are all working hard to prepare for the trip. The Games Team has all sorts of great game ideas lined up, the Programming Team is busy preparing our schedules, the Craft Team is working to gather craft items that appeal to Russian teenagers, and the Communication Team will be especially busy while in Russia doing videos, photo shoots, blogging, and the like.
Each one of us needs to gather the names and addresses of 15 people who will pledge to pray for us as we make preparations and while we are on the trip. Any prayer warriors out there?
By all accounts, fund raising is not going as well as we would have hoped. Maybe it’s the economy, who knows … but most of us are still significantly short of our fundraising goals. Thanks to everyone who has already given support, and to all those who are waiting to bless this effort at just the right time. Also, much thanks to those who contributed by dining recently during our fundraising dinners at Sweet Tomatoes and Rubio’s; and thanks to the management at those eateries for providing a way to support this year’s mission trip to Russia. We have complete trust that God will provide all of our needs.
We experienced a tremendous blessing just in the last week. Our sponsoring organization, Children’s HopeChest, was having a little difficulty establishing a new contract to provide services in Russia. Actually, it was touch-and-go as to whether we would even be allowed to make this trip. But the Holy Spirit swooped in and saved the day, and all systems are go. Thank you, Lord!
This represents the first post for the Yurievets 2008 team! We’ve assembled a great team this year (get to know us in the team section) and are busy preparing for another amazing trip into the beautiful countryside of Russia. In preparation we’ve already met together four times and have divided up the team into four different squads: crafts/arts, recreation, program, and communication. Whew! There’s a ton of work to accomplish in just three short months… but we’re off to a fantastic start.
You may have gotten to this page because you received a support letter from someone on our team. Thank you so very much for taking the time to learn a little more about the mission God is calling us to. In a few short words, our trip to Yurievets (more on the town later) is simply a chance to love on some amazing little kids and share the miraculous grace of God with them. A vast majority of the students we’ll be working with have been abandoned or cast aside and now find themselves parent-less, struggling to grow up in a society that also places little to no value on them. However, it’s all worth it when we get to share the love of God with them and see their beautiful smiling faces, grinning from ear to ear, and witness their hearts renewed with hope each summer. Thanks for supporting this amazing endeavor through your prayer and financial gifts… we’d be sunk without your investment in this cause.
We invite you to visit this blog frequently as it’s our main avenue for updating our friends and family. There’s information on the town of Yurievets, an introduction to each team member, as well as archived posts from previous trips that will provide great insight to what God is calling us to do in 2008. Also, this blog will be updated almost daily when we’re in Russia… so check back regularly and get the scoop first hand.
Hey Gang! Sorry for the delay in the updates… we’re a few days behind, but safe and back in beautiful Moscow. Andy’s blackberry has gone missing (we suspect a deliquent bus driver!) and have lost our internet capability… that was until we stumbled upon this cyber cafe. At any rate, we’ll be home in a few short days with tales of adventure.
The last day was very bitter sweet. The kids really became emotional concerning our leaving (as did many of the team) and it was heartbreaking to hug them and wave goodbye. We’ll follow up with details when we’re state side and able to organize our mushy brains.
Here are a few prayer requests/praises that we’d love for you to pray for:
-Cat is a little under the weather tonight… she spent the night in the hotel and went to bed early. Please pray for a quick recovery.
-The team is whipped. Pray for strength and recharging sleep.
-Praise God for comfy beds and no bed bugs!
-Please pray for safe travel home on Friday for all.
-Praise God for an amazing trip to Yurievets… it was miraculous.
We’ll catch up with you in person in a few short days. Hugs and kisses to everyone!
Day 4–June 8, 2007
Today was intense! We started the day with a “free day” and each of us spent time with God and rejoined to share our hearts with team. After that, we spent a couple hours walking along the shore of the beautiful Vulga River. The walk was cut short by a rainstorm. We were soaked…but it was so good to get an extra shower without worrying about catching a foot fungus.
Then we regrouped around 3:00 to head to the orphanage for lunch and tea. Thankfully, we had a little extra time to get energized…because the kids were intense. It was as if the next two hours made up for our absence earlier in the day. The kids’ energy was more than many of us could handle, but fortunately their intense energy was met with an intense desire to be their friend (though some of our patience was tested). Thanks be to God for making us patient and intentional in our time with these kids.
Speaking of being intentional, we made an effort today to “ladder down” and spend time with the kids who don’t demand attention. We’ve done a terrific job of hitting the kids who lead the orphanage in previous days, and I feel like we did a terrific job of reaching the kids in the cracks today. Please pray for us that we reach each and every single kid. Please pray that each of them feels valued, respected and uplifted by our presence…and that they feel so because we are reflections of God in us.
Today’s message was brought to you by Zach Galanis…who may have given the most important message of the week. He talked about sin, and he talked about how we all suffer from the same disease. He talked about how sin separates us from God. At the crux of his speech, though, we were rudely interrupted. It was clear that the enemy was at work through this interruption. The interruption came through the form of a painter. Apparently, a specific painter needed our specific room at this specific time. We explained to him that we would only be here for a limited time and that we needed the room, but he didn’t budge.
On that note, let’s hit a few of the day’s highlights:
- Guess what!? Jess fell down again today…down a sandy hill and almost into the Vulga.
- After the day was over, we met and decompressed over dried, whole fish. That’s right, you heard correctly…whole fish. Pretty good actually. Doesn’t taste like chicken.
- Eric proved to make the U.S.A. a dominant force in international gaming again as he demolished the translators in a stone-skipping competition. That’s deep.
- Satan resorted to using a painter to distract our talk. It worked a little bit, but your prayers and support along with ours–we fully believe–are providing a strong fortress in Russia.
- Zach drank an unknown yellow concoction created by the ringleaders of the orophanage. We think it may have been urine. Nevertheless, Zach is doing a tremendous job of reaching these kids.
Prayer Requests:
- That EVERY SINGLE kid feel God’s love.
- That God unfold a way that we can meet and talk with each kid as an individual.
- That God prepare the hearts and logistics for Nick’s talk tomorrow. He is going to be talking about the cross and what Jesus’ death on the cross truly means. Please pray that there be no distractions for the kids as many of them are leaving early once the game begins.
- As tired as we are, we are driven by the message that Christ makes available to all those who love and follow him. Please join us and pray for the strength, stamina and ability of our translators.
- We have three more days of camp and the message is not implanted in the minds of all the children. Pray hard with us as we seek to find and preach in the best ways we know how.
Day 3–June 7
An even better day! Today was huge in every way. The highlight of the day came almost as soon as we got to the orphanage. The orphanage staff was planning a picnic for us. Little did we know that the picnic also included the orphans. For some of us on the trip, this was the best thing that could have happened.
Almost as soon as we locked our stuff up in the orphanage, we stepped outside to a sea of warm, welcoming hands that wanted to be held. This was heartbreakingly good and gave us all the chills. Some of us had great conversations with them about their lives and families. As soon as we got to the picnic location, we were greeted with yet another soccer game.
The Russian boys kicked our butts (again), but we were showing promising signs…like being able to dribble for more than four seconds before we tripped over the ball. The girls even got in on the game and they were awesome. The game was cut short by lunch.
Because we were outside the orphanage walls, we were able to eat with the orphans. This was huge–though we didn’t realize it. Usually we can’t eat with the kids, but the children were so happy to eat with us and serve us in as many ways as they could. It so warmed our hearts.
God was way good! We have dozens of perfect pictures that captured the moment..
Highlights of the day:
- Jess fell down hard…down the mountain…again.
- Team U.S.A. didn’t suck. We actually tied the game.
- EVERY SINGLE person connected with a kid today. Today was a turning point for many on the team.
- Eric led an awesome talk about the nature of God and how He cares for each child infinitely more than he does the stars that number the sky.
God moves despite our expectations. Today–being only the second day–we were anticipating God to move in the standard, second day kind of way. You know the kind of days…slowly warming up to the foreigners, humiliating yourselves just to get a few cheap grins and gain some ground.
But this WAS NOT your typical second day. We were amazed and filled from the very beginning of the day. Immediately upon our morning arrival, we were greeted with hugs and hands waiting to be held. I don’t think any of us were anticipating such a warm welcome so quickly. This warm welcome set the tone for the day in our games, crafts and even the talk.
Today also saw the debut of “Bling Bling Baby, You Make Me Crazy.” In case you’re not familiar with [we'll just call them Bling], they’re the hottest hip hop band in town right now…at least in Yurievets. Bling is the central hero to our week-long skit. The band–Nick, Ian and Cat–is planning a secret hip-hop party for the end of the week, but the World Music Police (Andy and his stooge Ian) have banned hip hop music and are imprisoning those who listen it. The kids loved it!
We perform the skit before we give our message to warm up the kids and entice them to stay. Unfortunately, as soon as Andy took the stage to start the message, a group of kids left–primarily the male leaders who also form the orphanage’s soccer team…
BUT THE KIDS DECIDED TO COME BACK. The team took that as a personal victory. To get these particular kids in the room said so much to the other kids.
Some other highlights:
- Nick has a perpetual gas problem. I mean the kid stinks. But it does help break the ice…if not just the wind.
- The Americans didn’t get their butts kicked across the soccer field…because we were able to maneuver our way out of playing.
- The kids were stoked on the journals. They loved them.
- We played the Russian Kissing Game.
- We took a team hike in the middle of a gorgeous forest. The trees talked to us.
- Brian and Zach got nailed by a plant called a “stinging nettler.”
More tomorrow!
No casualties yet! It’s been a great first day here in the orphanage. There’s great excitement among the kids as we’ve been playing games, making crafts and just getting to know each other. We scraped our first day of curriculum and large group program and instead spent about 6 hours hanging with the kids. They are amazing! There’s little Katya with her traffic stopping smile. Dema who will run circles around you with a soccer ball. Olya who just lives to be hugged and have her hand held. And tiny Hamzat who I’m pretty sure is a future male model. He’s constantly striking a pose (from laying in the grass to leaning up against a tree) wanting us to take his picture from every angle. Lookout Zoolander!
Another huge change this year… we’ve been warmly engaged by the staff and officials! Today Andy is being interview by the local newspaper about our trip. We’ve also got two different meals setup with officials. That’s unheard of in Yurievets! Our hope for these times is that they will understand our deep love for this area and our desire to partner with them and the orphanage for years to come. Please be in prayer for that.
The team is holding up extremely well. However, we’re incredibly tired and already sore. These kids live to play soccer and are handing our rears to us on the field! We’re determined by end of the week though to beat them at least once… and we’re asking God to grant us that request!
Highlights of the day:
-A fire broke out at the park! The team and kids had to quickly run and stamp it out.
-Walking up the mountain above the town and seeing the Volga River in all it’s glory.
-Tea Time!
-Andy’s encouraging meeting with the Director.
-Our translators being taken to the Police Station about the above mentioned fire (merely as witnesses).
-Worship time at the hostel.
-One word… showers.
-Okay, one more word… sleep.
More to come tomorrow!
Yea..the Amercians have landed (along with all our stuff)! After a long, uneventful plane ride, a few Ambian, and some salted peanuts… we walked into the Moscow International Airport like zombies (albeit smiling zombies). However, the downside is we’re missing a couple teammates. We were supposed to be joined by two gals from Genesis Church (a Kensington Church plant in Detroit). Unfortunately, their plane was delayed and they’ll be catching up with the Holuy team sometime tomorrow. Currently they’re in a plane somewhere over Paris.
A few highlights from the trip so far:
-Ice bergs over Iceland! Truly an amazing sight.
-Ikea in Moscow… no kidding.
-Spotting a H2 Hummer in Moscow (complete with bling bling spinners)
-Hearing American Rock and Roll in the Taxi – Limp Biscuit
-Three words: insane lane changes
-Meeting Anya, our translator
-Rejoicing that our cell phones work
We’ll continue to add more to the list in future posts… right now we’re on the road (for another 8 hours) to pick up supplies, meet a few more translators and hopefully land in Yurievets by the end of the night. In all we’ll have traveled about 25 hours none stop. For the record my posterior is way sore (can I claim that on workman’s comp?).
Please continue to pray for our safe arrival in Yurievets and for our missing teammates. If you’d like to reach us, please don’t leave any comments here as we can’t read them… instead email the team (or individuals) at yurievets@comcast.net.
Check back here every day as we’ll be adding to the blog daily.
Over and out…
(Andy for the whole team)
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Your support means everything to us…no matter how it arrives. As we get ready to take off from June 3 through June 15, we will definitely need your support in the form of prayers. Prayers for us and our health, etc., but more importantly, prayers for the orphans, their town/government and the orphanage employees. The goal of this trip is simple: to show and share the gospel to as many as possible. Especially because this may be the only chance many of these kids get to hear the most important message ever.
By the way, I must say that God has already begun to work. Indeed, he always is. When our nine-person team met for the first time in early March, we immediately started to come together in very cool ways. You can see some of this on previous blogs below.
Also, I MUST tell you the most visible way in which God has shown up. Only three weeks ago, our teams going to Russia were more than $30,000 short for the trip (over 50% short). When we received an update on May 30 (the deadline to give), guess what we had reached. We reached 100.58% of the funds needed. Is this a coincidence or something more?
Again, thank you so much for all your support. We sincerely appreciate all your thoughts, prayers and financial support. Rest assured that we will update you when we return from our trip.
Keep us in your prayers,
