Update from the Bulls
September 30, 2009
Here is some news, and background, from the John Bull –
For several years, Karen and I have had a special interest in Russia, for reasons unknown to us. Because of this, back in March 2007, Karen and I took a short trip to work with Family Homes in St. Petersburg, Russia. God did a work in us while we were there. Because of this, when we returned to the States, we prayed about what our next step might be. We believe He asked us to go to St. Petersburg.
We packed our bags, sold our things and jumped on a plane to Russia in September 2008. We volunteered to help with a Family Home organization, called Road of Life. A Family Home invites graduated orphans to live in their home and to follow certain rules and guidelines. During this time, the graduated orphans are provided with spiritual training and life skills by learning the discipline of assigned responsibilities, nightly Bible study and observing and being involved in a “real” family.
We served in one of the Family Homes for a 10 month period. During this time, we had one college age student live with us for a month and a half and also a single mother and her daughter for about six months. We developed a relationship with these girls and saw God change them in many ways. He is continuing to work in their lives and we know that He is faithful to complete the work that He started in them. Read more
News from Megan Berger
September 27, 2009
Megan is living and working at the Road of Life Transition home. Here’s some news from her:
I have been here only 11 days and I already feel like I am a part of this family. I feel so blessed to be here working along side Vera and Vova in their ministry.
A week after I arrived our family got a little bit bigger. Our transition home now consists of nine people including me. Vera and Vova welcomed two new girls to their home last Tuesday and things are going quite well.
I have had the privilege to get to know each one of the girls and have had the chance to bond with each one. I have been able to connect with each girl in different ways from teaching one English to sharing photos with another.
The Lord is building bridges over the language barrier so that communication is possible. One of my biggest worries was communicating, but this has only been a slight problem.
So far during my time here, I have been able to help Vera and the girls with cooking and some cleaning, helping and participating in Bible study, and going with Vera to an orphanage.
I have met many people here in St. Petersburg that have been willing to help with anything, I know this is the Lord providing for my every need. He is so faithful!
I believe strongly in Deuteronomy 32:4 (God’s Word):
“He is a rock. What He does is perfect. All His ways are fair. He is a faithful God, who does no wrong, He is honorable and reliable.”
I praise God everyday for being my Rock. He is my strength each and everyday. I know I can rely on Him to provide.
Every time Vera tries to tell me something, I always pray first so that the Lord will bring understanding and let me tell you He does. I look forward to each day seeing the Lord work here in St. Petersburg.
Update from MIR — Clothes and Hosting
September 25, 2009
From Katya Plusnina, the MIR Humanitarian Aid Coordinator:
Before September 1 we had a lot of work.
First, a new big threefold window was bought for the orphanage #4 in Pavlovsk, instead of the broken old one.
Then a new purchase of medicine was done for Tanya, a girl from the orphanage #2 in Peterhof. Tanya lives only by means of this medicine and it was a big deal to by it all in time.
We continued buying clothes for the orphanage #8. Recently two beautiful dresses were bought for girls graduating from the orphanage.
It is a very important moment for all children, but unfortunately the orphanage can`t afford them to buy such expensive dresses. The girls picked up dresses themselves according to their tastes.
August 31 was a shopping day for the orphanage #32. During four hours four children and a teacher together with our MIR staff were preparing for September 1.
They bought dresses, shoes, flowers, school supplies and everything needed for a new school year.
The kids wear these clothes during the whole year. They themselves picked up the most beautiful and stylish clothes and by the end of the day were really tired and hungry. Donuts with tea after shopping returned them to life and gave strength and joy!
And now from Anya, about the MIR hosting program New Horizons (Anya is standing at left in the picture below):
September began and a new phase of NHFC program started. We (Maria, our executive director, and I, our newly-made coordinator of the program) launched a campaign with running back and forth from one director to another, trying to find out the number of orphanages willing to take part in our venture.
In the list of orphanages there was #60 we have never worked with before. We decided to involve it into our trip and started with its Administration. The building of Administration we found rather quickly, but we had to demonstrate all our acumen to find the chief of the Department of Education there.
After almost an hour of wandering along long tunnels (that they call passages) we finally met him and told about all the benefits of NHFC program… Unfortunately his answer was ‘no’. The conservative chief didn`t want the kids to go to America. But the other five orphanages consented to participate. That was a success and the first step.
The interviews of the kids was the second step. On September 6th Le Ann`s team came to Russia to meet with the kids. Tens of crazy (and not too crazy), serious, sweet and so cuuute kids were interviewed to find out their favourite food, colours and pastime (KGB would be proud of us). Most of them dream of going to America! We wish them good luck!
We still have a lot of work ahead, but the important part of it now is done. The only problem we met on our way was scary swine flu… This monster scares everybody so much that our chief doctor of the country advised people not to go abroad during of uncertain period of time. This advice really can be dangerous for our project but we keep praying and believe that God will open New Horizons For His special Children once more!
News from Belarus — Summer Camps 2009
September 14, 2009
Here is news from Alesya Kuleshova, staff member with Spring of Revival:
This summer 215 children participated in summer camps in Belarus and Latvia.
I and a few other volunteers were counselors in Christian camp in Latvia. There were two sessions: one for younger kids and one for older kids.
Each session lasted for 12 days. There were 63 children participating in each. There were children from different background: foster children, children from families with many children, children from poor families that cannot afford to go camps.
The program was full of different events. Every day there were so many interesting games and things to do. Also we had a Bible lesson and service every day.
There were three excursions during this trip. One day all the children went to the Baltic Sea were they had a really nice time and some of the children saw sea for the first time in their lives.
The other trip was to Riga the capital of Latvia. It was a very nice city to see. And the last trip was to the big Zoo in Riga where the children saw many different animals.
At the end of the camp the children were given an opportunity to accept Jesus as their Savior and almost all of them answered that call. And even children who knew Jesus before stepped out to renew their relationship with God. That was a really awesome camp and no one wanted to go home.
Another camps were Military base camp for Stankovo kids and Tent camp for Slutsk kids. SOR paid for children to go to those camps.
I got to visit both of them and spent time with the kids. Forty five children from Stankovo orphanage spent 40 days at the military base. It’s a true army base, and it was very good for the kids, as most of them are boys. Every day they had a very strict curriculum. They had some training like real soldiers have and the meals were the same too.
The camp was situated in a very clean area of Belarus, surrounded by woods. And it’s the main base of the country for training guard dogs. Twice a day for several hours’ children spent time with the dogs: walking with them, playing and helping to train them. The children became really good friends with the dogs. Children really liked that. This camp was a really good life experience for them.
A word from Megan Berger
September 2, 2009
Megan will arrive in Russia soon to begin her service in a transitional home for orphans. She recently sent this –
I have been praying for some scripture that would be especially helpful for my time in St. Petersburg.
I was going through a workbook on short-term missions we used as a team on one of my previous trips. I stumbled upon the scripture 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I was resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasicve words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your fauith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s poower.
When I was reading through this passage, I could definitely see how this could be applied to my experience in Russia. It talks in this scripture about fear and though I am not exactly fearful of this trip, I am a little nervous. Nervous about doing things I have never done before such as ride a plane alone or live with a family I do not know.
But I found comfort in this verse because it showed me that its not really about me, its about Him and the work He is going to do through me.
It showed me that by living a God honoring life, that alone can show His love even though there is a language barrier. One thing I have been praying about is the language barrier, I really felt at peace in that area when I read this verse.
The part where it talks about coming with persuasive and wise words (though this was not what Paul probably was talking about) showed me that in some cases actions speak louder than words.
I just wanted to share a little of the insights the Lord gave me when reading this verse.
