Time in the Village

Today is Thursday and our time in the village has been really fun.
Our kids have done a great job jumping in and spending time with the orphans. They have been playing soccer, volleyball, frisbee, drawing with sidewalk chalk, and making bracelets. After the first day, Carol and some of the translators and kids went around the village to invite the kids to come to the orphanage to have Bible school with us. Every day more and more kids have come. Last year we had about 100 kids all together. This year we have about half that but we are ok with that. We are being allowed to share God's love with the kids who come and we are having great small group times with them.
Without permission to have a program in a public place, we cannot have our "Bible school" atthe park in the center, so we are having in the orpanage. The orphanage director will allow us to have it there where she will be responsible for us. We were not able to get permission this year but since we made friends with the village kids last year, they heard we were back again and wanted to come to be with us even though we were at the orphanage.

The teenagers are sharing the story every day (with the help of the translators, or course). We are teaching about the Armor of God. Every day is a different story about how Paul put on a different piece of the armor. Today is the story about the Helmet of Salvation so we shared the message of salvation with the kids. There was a smaller group due to some rain we had this morning, but I think we'll have all the kids back this afternoon and we will repeat the message in our small group time.

One thing that has been really cool to see this year is that the village kids have been playing with the orphan kids. They have even helped them with their crafts or with the games we have played. They have seen the uncondional loved poured out from the team and they are follwing the example.

Those of you who have kids on this team would be proud to know how well your kids are doing. They are working non-stop. If they aren't playing with a child, they are preparing for a lesson or working on a skit or cleaning or just doing what ever needs to be done.
Tomorrow, we leave the village around 3:30 to head back to Odessa. Next week we will go to Fontanka (I CAN'T WAIT) and will teach our lessons every morning. We will spend time at Camp Viktoria in the afternoons.

I wish I could post pictures for you today but this will be a fast post. I am sitting at a little internet "cafe" in the middle of the center inbetween our sessions. I'll post pictures as soon as I can. Just know that everyone is doing great; no one is sick or too tired or homesick and all is well. Thank you for your prayers and please keep praying.