Mission team at Kirzhach Orphanage

The 2007 Kirzhach mission team has returned after a very successful mission trip. Your prayers were responsible for ensuring a fantastic trip. The orphans had tremendous fun at the “Beach Party” Vacation Bible School and we had many activities around that theme. They also participated in some thought-provoking discussions during the Bible lessons. What a great experience it was for both the orphans and our travelers!

When the North Spring team arrived at the orphanage, the kids were anxiously awaiting the American team’s arrival. However, they were reserved since they didn’t know what to expect due to the language barrier. Children’s HopeChest provided four translators that stayed with the North Spring team day and night for the week. Through the translators, the team and the kids had many interesting and poignant conversations.

Don’t worry that it does not look like the kids are smiling. It is the culture in Russia for people to appear stoic in front of the camera. They don’t understand “cheese”! However, we got some candid shots of the kids having fun.

Kolya in the Hula Relay Race

The kids enjoyed a limbo contest, a hula relay race, hula-hooping contest, beach volleyball and many other activities. They also had a picnic in the woods and frolicking on the beach and in the waters of a shallow river. There they enjoyed hotdogs and s’mores.

The food on the trip was an interesting cultural exchange as well. The orphanage provided the team with lunch and dinner each day and it was a delicious mixture of soups and various rice dishes. Many of the soups were potato based and filled with exquisite spices and sausages. The team also brought over peanut butter and jelly for the kids, Jell-O and Gold Fish Crackers. Most of the kids had never had these foods before and they thought the foods were very funny.

The kids asked the team to dance with them on "Disco Night". They danced to rap and Russian pop music. They covered the windows with blankets to make it dark.

Maxim M and Zhenya dance a goofy dance at the Disco Party. As you can see, they can smile.

Here Vika tries to win the Limbo contest, but no one can beat Kolya.

The kids enjoy competing in any kind of game or contest. They get the hang of it real quick.

As the week progressed, the kids were freer with their conversations and their smiles. Both the team and the kids sadly counted down the days to the inevitable last day of the trip, which progressed far too quickly. Maxim K asked how much it cost to fly to America, and once he understood the price, he said that he would just parachute over. When asked why he wanted to come to America so bad, he said to visit his new friends of course. Kolya got into the van with the team as they were leaving on the last day and refused to get out. He so badly wanted to stay with the team.

Mother Teresa spoke many words that inspire us in our service for God and our mission work here and abroad. We reflected on these words while serving in Russia.

“Love cannot remain by itself -- it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service.”

“Once we take our eyes away from ourselves, from our interests, from our own rights, privileges, ambitions - then our eyes will become clear to see Jesus around us.”

“Speak tenderly to them. Let there be kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile, in the warmth of your greeting. Always have a cheerful smile. Don't only give your care, but give your heart as well.”

Our hearts have been given to these kids all right. As the van pulled away, there were a lot of tears. All vowed to each other that they would return next year. This is a world that is much smaller than they previously thought and so responsive to shared love.

Please remember these kids in your prayers. They are so very hungry for our love since they have lost the love of their parents.