Getting to Russia



About 9 years ago when I was 18 I traveled with a group from Grand Parkway to an event called One Day. This conference was lead by the likes of Louie Giglio, Beth Moore, Chris Tomlin, Watermark and more. Basically it’s “One Day” where thousands of college students and adults from around the states and world got together to sing the name of Jesus and hear His words preached. There are many stories that each of us had from the trip, that range from – it rained the entire time, to – the ride in took forever – thousands of people on a one lane road trying to get in. . . But my story is a little different because this is the exact point in time when God called me into missions. I remember standing up and having people pray over me and thinking to myself – really God – me? It took 9 years but it finally came to fruition.



Oh sure I’d been on mission trips before but it wasn’t until summer 2009 that God really began to reveal what he had for me. God changing my heartOnce it was decided that I would be able to go to Russia, and all the money was in (that was a total God thing!!!) I knew that I was going to be in for the ride of my life. God began to renew that passion in me for missions and specifically orphans that was so fervent in me 9 years prior but that I had let fade.



I began praying for the kids we were going to meet and thinking about what I could do not just once a year but year round. My prayers became more specific for those babies that are placed in mental institutions their whole lives all because they do not have the physical interaction every baby needs to develop. I also began to pray for those leaving the orphanage because they are too old and for the future that awaited them. I knew the stats that stated most didn’t live past the age of 30, that they are targeted by the mafia, that many of the girls are prostitutes even before they leave the system. It was then that God started planting the seed in my heart about maybe working in a transition home, being there to help those guys and girls as they leave the small contained system and head out into the big open world.





Language Barriers


There was nothing that could have prepared me for my time at the orphanage. For the way my heart soared when as we were stepping off the bus the kids from last year called our people by name and asked for those who were missing. For them language wasn’t an issue. Let me explain that one a bit. When we got there we started playing with the kids – soccer, basketball, you name it they play it.

Well, there weren’t near enough translators but that didn’t stop the kids. They would point, and show, and demonstrate over and over until you knew what they were trying to say and do. Also, love has no language barrier. Some of the kids were very open and loving from the word go and would love on us, and hug us, and sit as close as possible to us. So while language was an issue for sure – it wasn’t anything that a bear hug and a game of basketball couldn’t fix.

Oksana

When I was told that I would be working with the older kids – I’m not going to lie – I was a little disappointed. Didn’t God know that I wanted to be with the younger kids? But surprise surprise God knew what he was doing. The older group was made up mainly of boys and 3 – 4 girls. However, there was one girl that was there every day – her name is Oksana.

The first day it was a little awkward because while we did have a translator he was needed more in talking to and with the boys. I remember one day when the boys went out to play Oksana and I stayed inside to make paper bracelets. It was a very intricate and complicated craft and with no translator, just me and her. I showed her how to fold the paper so we sat there for about 15 min in silence as we both got busy folding. Then we began the hard part of putting all the pieces together. I would show her, she would try, I would show again, she would try. It went back and forth for a while until she finally got it. All the while I kept thinking – she’s gonna get bored and leave. I just kept waiting for it. But you know what – she never did. In fact one of the boys had to come in tell me that it was time to eat.

The next day I asked one of the interpreters to please come with me so that I could speak to her and she did. Vusala was amazing and as we sat at the table she helped guide the conversation. The craft for the day was painting a figurine, and as I was painting I looked over to Oksana and God clearly said – paint it to look like her!! And that’s what I did – down to the iconic white clips she always had in her hair. After she saw that all walls crumbled and she became like a little child wanting to show me every picture that she had, every album and magazine she had collected.


So what now

From that point on she would come sit by me or I would sit by her. No real need for a translator anymore. I knew from that point on that I wouldn’t be the same. My heart would forever be in Russia. I learned that she was leaving in August to go to trade school – that most of the kids I worked with that week were leaving and ALL were terrified. It’s like the say in the movie Shawshank Redemption – they’ve been institutionalized, and that’s when I knew that coming back to serve as a transition home for these kids is what I was going to do.

To be there for them and teach them how to live on their own, how to not only survive out in the big world but to thrive. I don’t know when I’m going back but I know that I won’t be whole until I’m there.


Post Russia

Since I’ve left I’ve been able to email back and forth to Oksana and some of the other kids at the orphanage – they miss us all and wish we were there. I tell them that the feeling is mutual. A day doesn’t go by that I don’t think about them or pray for them.


What about you

As I write this I think about how hard this trip was, and how much of myself I left. I think about the kids and how they arrived at the orphanage, some stories so horrible you couldn’t even fathom, and yet I can’t imagine not going back next year. I can’t imagine not going back and hugging every one of them, laughing with them, playing Jenga over and over and over again and then having to do “wishes” when I lost , playing football, soccer, singing and sometimes just sitting in silence with them.

So my question to you is – will you go. Will you risk leaving part of your heart with kids who would cherish it more than you could ever imagine capable. Will you take your hard earned vacation to travel across the world, eat some sometimes crazy food, sleep in broad daylight, and climb countless stairs? For me it’s a no brainer – my choice was made the minute I stepped off the bus and met the kids.

I’m going next year – will you?

They say a picture is worth a thousand words

I'll let the photo's speak for themselves for now. Since there's so much in me - I don't know where to begin. Ask any question you like and I'll answer.

I think it's about time I start talking about Russia and where better to begin than the beginning.

Those wanting stories about the kids are going to have to wait until I get through all this other stuff. While I'd much rather talk about the kids - it's easier for me to start at the very beginning. It's a very good place to start. Like when you read you begin with ABC when you sing you begin with . . . . wait - how did I get on Sound of Music. . . .

Never mind. Back to the beginning.

The day I left, Thursday, June 18th was one of the fasted, longest days of my life. My morning started early with me finishing packing, loading my car and somewhat cleaning my room so that it wouldn't be a complete mess.

I headed up to church to finish last minute things with Susan. In the meantime I really hurt Miss Lee Barron - I mean really hurt her and that was something I carried with me most of my trip. Here's that story.

I wasn't thinking that there would be much to do to help Susan, but there were still at least 15 letters it seemed that needed to be translated to Russian. We had less than 2 hours, and each letter generally takes about 10 or more minutes each. Typing them in, formatting, and then the constant back and forth on the web site to make sure that the correct translation is done for each word. It's a long process and I don't do well under pressure. Needless to say I was stressed and about to cry. Lee was so very helpful before I started typing, and even while I was typing. But then she came into the room I was in and stood over my shoulder. I don't type well when people watch me and we were very quickly running out of time. I asked her to leave and she came closer, I asked her to leave again and she didn't. I said - Lee - I love you but you need to leave, I can't work with people looking over my shoulder. Then when she turned to leave Susan closed the door. I continued furiously working and just scraped by getting everything done. Susan left a little later than she had wanted to but I got to Dee's just in time.

As I was walking out the door of the church I went up to Lee and said, Lee I'm sorry about the way that I spoke to you before and she completely cut me off and said it was completely uncalled for and unforgivable and then wouldn't talk to me after that. So I walked out the door thinking to myself - what a way to start my trip.

I thought about that the entire flight and post trip note: I emailed her when I got back but haven't heard any response back. I've called up to the church to speak to someone else and she was courteous but she was not her normal warm self. Makes me sad that it's that way - and I know I should have handled it better - but REALLY!

Anyways - back to the trip.

Dee and I got to the airport and the Dimmocks and Susan were there. Soon after Shaun and Philip arrived as well as Margaret aka Nana. We got a call from Kristen Snyder that Steve and Brad were running late.


We couldn't check in until we were all there but Mike didn't know that so he came and dropped Brad and the luggage off and then went to park the car. Well - it took him FOREVER. So some of us decided to go ahead and get in the ever growing line.
We all (Steve included) finally got through the ticket line and security with enough time to spare to get food for those wanting.

The first 10 hour flight was stifling hot!! Miserable! Normally, so I've been told, the flights are freezing but not ours. Nope - in fact some dude in front of us stood up at the end of the flight and his entire back was one big sweat mark - yuck!
I was sitting in a row with Dee and Nana and all three of our guys decided to lean their chairs back and the dude sitting in front of Dee decided he needed to put his hands behind his head which put them almost directly in her face. Then the guys would get up for 10 minutes at a time and NOT put their chairs up - REALLY!!!

We had a 6 hour layover in Germany that was glorious!! The windows were open letting in the cool German breeze and I slept HARD for the entire 6 hours. I remember lying down and then being woken up because our flight was about to load.

The next leg went by really quickly and I sat next to some cute kids that didn't speak a lick of English. Next Post - the first sites of St. Petersburg.

I'm back

I'm back from Russia but I'm still processing. I don't know how long it'll be before I'm able to post but it's coming I promise!!

God did some amazing things while there, and in me and I can't wait to share.

I took over 500 pictures - and while I won't bore you with all I can't promise it won't be less than 3 digits worth ;) Don't worry - I'll use a program and grid some together.