Greetings from the border, since my last post we have still been working. A lot. We put in another full day of labor in on Ms. Aurora’s house. In total, we have replaced 90% of the exterior walls to her house, replaced windows, painted remaining walls, repaired plumbing, cleaned, organized and helped redecorate the interior as well.

It has been a joy for the team to continually chase and be chased by Ms. Aurora’s grandchildren and sit by her and be amazed by her faith and amazing English skills. Our students wrote and decorated flyers to advertise VBS for Wednesday, and we canvassed the Colonial to make sure we got the word out as best we could. We discovered the key was at every house you saw a children’s bicycle or children’s clothes on the clothesline, honk the horn and masses of children come pouring out of the door.

Above are pictures of the last two days of labor on the house. Today we will split the team into two; one team will finish the house remodeling, and the other will facilitate the VBS and hot dog cookout at the church.

Tomorrow I’ll do my best to post VBS pictures. Thanks for your continued prayers!
Wade

It's Tuesday Morning, and believe it or not I'm sitting in a Burger King
parking lot using they're free Internet b/c the Starbucks in town doesn't have wifi.

It's been a great trip so far. we rolled into town about 8pm on Sunday night after a smooth trip from Richmond to Weslaco. We were up early yesterday preparing for the day and what laid ahead. We spent all of yesterday working Ms. Aurora's house which included: Tearing down the two side walls of her house that were falling down because of rotten beams, organizing her house for construction, painting the new walls deep purple (Ms. Aurora's favorite color) and putting up the new walls.

Our people did an amazing job of loving on Ms. Aurora's family, playing chase with the kids, pulling them around in the wagon and reading them books.

Today promises more construction and canvasing the neighborhood to publicize tomorrows VBS. Please be praying for the residents of the colonial and our folks continued safety.

Tomorrow I'll post lots of pictures!

Wade

Russia Trip: testimonies from team members

RYAN GHOLSON
“What an awesome opportunity to partner with believers half way around the world. It's really neat to see God working through different peoples and cultures. If you have a heart for children this trip is for you. All you have to do is being willing to love them. Hanging out with the older boys playing soccer, football and basketball is a pretty easy thing to do. God will use you regardless of what you think. It's amazing that the Lord uses us to reach others. It's all about Him. You just have to be willing. Please begin to pray about next year's trip. Be open to what God shows you. You will have to die to self and I think we all struggle with that but it's worth it. Step out of your comfort zone and allow God to use you.” (Ryan is pictured with Edward)


MICKY GRIMMER
“I've been numb since I returned. Waking in the middle of the night wondering what this child or that child is doing at that moment. As the numbness begins to peel away, I'm experiencing a bittersweet joy of being chosen by God to polish a little Russian girl's fingernails, pull weeds in the garden with the sounds of their laughter at the silly Americans bent over unable to get up, and wiping the snotty nose of a two year old whose face will be imprinted in my mind forever. God is AWESOME!” (Micky is pictured with her love bug from the Baby Home)


BRAD SNYDER
“My heart hurts. People keep asking me how the trip was and I really do not know how to answer. I say things like "good" or "amazing," but that is only because I cannot think of anything else. You see, when I say that I am thinking of my 4 boys - Sasha, Vageef, Vanya, and Roma - asking us how they can hear God. I am thinking about how I threw one ball to them and 4 balls came flying back. I am thinking about Vanya laughing so hysterically I thought he was crying when I picked him up over my shoulder. I also think about the older boys who would play soccer, basketball, football, or baseball until I could barely walk or bend my knees and then go exercise. How they described that their lives would be so boring after we left. How they refused to listen to anything about Christianity at the beginning of the week, but opened up in just a few days. Most of all, though, I am thinking about a little girl named Dasha who took my hand one day when picking partners and would not let go. She held on tightly and said, "sistra." We worked in the garden, colored a bandana together (which she gave to me), and danced. When we hugged, she left one arm around me and I did not mind one bit. So when you ask about my trip, I will probably say it was amazing. What I really mean is that my heart was ripped out of my chest by a little girl who would not let go of my hand and has not let go of my heart. I don't know if I can recommend this trip to anyone, but I pray I can go back and that more and more go.” (Brad is with Dasha)


SUSAN RIPLEY
“We had been waiting for this trip for over 9 months with such anticipation. And it was clear by the looks on the children’s faces that they were equally excited for our visit! What an amazing team of people God chose for this trip. Such humble-hearted, willing servants who shared the love of God through playing games, making crafts and hanging out with children and caregivers. They each showed such flexibility and willingness - it was evident to all that God’s spirit was working through them in the midst of culture and language differences. As we return to our families and work, it will be so easy for us to wash the sweat from our clothes and get the dirt out from under our fingernails. However, our hearts will be forever stained with the beautiful faces of these children and their needs. It is hard to describe what we experienced – different sights, sounds and tastes. But one thing is certain, God is working to soften their hearts. What we did this year was to merely scratch the surface by beginning relationships with the children, caregivers and the director of this country orphanage in Lopuhinka. Please continue to pray for our ministry and investment into these lives and for the trip next summer. Each person on our team has incredible stories of how they listened and obeyed and God provided for their needs. I ask for your prayers. Pray for the orphanage director, Nadierjda and her husband, Slavak as they go beyond their jobs to help these children, often giving their own money to meet basic needs. Pray for the two ladies who visit the orphanage each Saturday - Irina & Yanna. Pray for the Buckner follow-up team who go there once a month - Ishmael, Yan, Vusala, Jenya, Lena, Kristina, Masha and Valady. Pray that God would make it perfectly clear what our church is to do in continued ministry to these children.” (Susan is pictured with Misha from Orphanage #2)




SHAUN LESTER - BUCKNER MISSIONS COORDINATOR
"Grand Parkway was used by God in amazing ways that we witnessed and ways we may never see this side of heaven. It was truly a privilege and a blessing to serve alongside this group of individuals who gave of themselves sacrificially and with all their hearts to these orphans. Because of the leadership from the Missions Team from the beginning, with the "Going Global" night this group was as prepared spiritually, and physically as any team I have worked with at Buckner. The prayer support was evident through the entire trip as the team worked with the kids and orphanage staff as well as each other. The unity was clearly from the Lord. Because of their open hearts and willingness to be flexible in EVERYTHING, relationships were built much quicker than usual and the Lord was able to wrap His arms around these children that were so hard on the first day. For Phillip and I, it was so wonderful to feel a part of the team and serve together to bring hope to these kiddos. Thank you so very much for allowing us, Phillip and I as well as Buckner to be a part of your call to reach the nations and minister to the least of these." (Shaun is pictured with her husband Phillip)

Russia Trip: Day 11 - the LONG RIDE HOME

There's not much to say about Sunday. For some, it was simply a continuation from Saturday into Sunday with no sleep (or maybe just a nap). We met in the lobby of our hotel at 3:30am. Then headed to the airport for our 6am flight. Who knew that there would be so many people flying out of St. Petersburg at that hour?


This picture of Brad & Ryan pretty much sums up the feelings of most of the team on Sunday - tired!

They'll be no other pictures with this post, because after 10 days of traveling, none of us were in any condition to take have our picture taken.

The day consisted on waiting, flying, waiting, flying with some meals and movies and sleeping mixed in between. While there was anticipation about returning home and seeing our family and friends, there was deep hurt being felt among each person for what we left behind in Russia and what more we want to do to be with these kids and help in whatever way God leads.

We arrived in Houston about 1:30pm, got our luggage and headed home. Who knows what God has in store for each of us as we share the story of what He did through us on this trip? We find our hope as we trust in God, knowing that He cares for these kids in more ways than we can imagine and will meet their deepest needs. We continue to pray that the little time and fingerprints we left on their lives will cause their hearts and minds to be open to His love. We were each blessed to be such a small part of God's big story!

Russia Trip: Day 10

On Saturday, we returned to being tourists with Masha knowing so much about the history of everything Russian! We visited The Hermitage...the Czar's palace in St. Petersburg. It is a huge musuem with incredible art - sculputres, paintings, wood - all kinds of beautiful things. (too many pictures to post)

We then visited The Church on Spilled Blood.


It is a church filled with incredible mosaics of people and stories from the Bible, like this one of Jesus with the children. Just imagine every wall, every column, everything being a mosaic!

And to think that during Communist rule, this building was once filled with bombs in anticipation for its destruction.


Our day ended at PIZZA HUT (yes, it tasted good) where we met back up with our team of translators and shared some encouragement and more tears with each other.




Chris & Rachael with Vusala



Jeremy, Vivian & Chris with Jenya



Phillip with Yan

Russia Trip: Days 8 & 9

Thursday: We loaded our luggage and said our final goodbyes. Who could have known that our hearts would be so deeply touched with these dear kids? We are amazed at the relationships formed in such a short time. We stand in awe that God chose to work through us to touch these lives.




Slava (that big Russian teddy bear of a man), the husband of the orphanage director


Cheryl & Daniel


Phillip & Olga (the garden lady)


Micky & Karina


Vivian and one of the caregivers


Shaun and Nastia


Maxim and Jenya with Ishmael (our translator and Director of the Follow-Up team in St. Petersburg)


We traveled about 30 minutes to the town of Lomonosov and visited a Baby Home that housed about 90 children. The house was very clean and well stocked with furniture and toys for the children. And even though there were many caregivers, you can imagine that these children are greatly deprived from loving, physical touch. This is a place where Buckner has begun the Grandmother Program - having people come and just hold the children. We played and loved on these kids for only a short time, but they left a deep impression on each of us.




















We headed back to St. Petersburg, had lunch and then visited orphanage #15 - the hospital. This is where children are brought when they first enter the orphanage system. While not all the children were sick, this is where they receive medical care and attention before being sent to the different orphanages. It was fun to just play with the kids - coloring, playing with balloons, nail painting, making things and running around.













On Friday, we visited Orphanage #2 in the middle of the city. The orphanage was amongst many apartment buildings, but had great play areas. This is an orphanage where Buckner has had a presence for about 14 years. We found out that many of children who are adopted through Buckner come from this orphanage. It was a fun morning playing with the children.










That evening we enjoyed a great Russian tradition and went to the ballet - Swan Lake. Jeremy said that it was 'time I'll never get back' while others reported it was 'simply breath-taking'.

Russia Trip: Day 7

Wednesday: Some brave souls on our team got up at 5:30am to give a warm send off to the children heading to camp.



There were 10 kids left with us - 8 boys and 2 girls. We decided to forego our VBS plans for the today and simply focus on spending lots of time with them. It was a relaxing and quiet day. This one-on-one time allowed for some great conversations and interactions with each of them.

Some bracelet making (gifts for the caregivers)


Maxim & Jenya made custom bandana/charm bracelets & necklaces for each of the ladies on our team.


Some card playing (Uno)


and some more Jenga with 'wishes'


After dinner, we were all able to gather in one of the lounge rooms/dens for a Christmas party with these 10 kids.

Chris (through our translator, Vusala) shared the story of Christ's birth and why we so desparately need a Savior.



I was sitting at the back of the room during this time and it was incredible to watch the interest and focus on each of their faces. The more Chris talked, the more obvious it was that they were truly interested in hearing this message. And to think that some of the kids were very closed to even talking about the Bible and God when we were first arrived. As the night continued, it became more evident why God had arranged 1) a smaller number of kids at the orphanage this week and 2) the younger children to leave a day early. There is no way we could have had this experience with 60 kids.



We had some small presents for each of them. We enjoyed popcorn, soda, Russian cookies and watched a Christian movie for teenagers in Russian.


While we didn't know exactly what was being said in the movie, it was obvious that the kids were hearing the message. At one point, when a character from the movie was being put in jail, one of the boys turned and asked the translator, "If I reject Christ, will that happen to me?" I can only imagine the thoughts going through the heads of the other kids. Continue to pray for these great kids and for God's mercy to fall on them - leading to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Back Row: El'Ya, Edward, Jenya, Eldar
Middle Row: Maxim, (Jeremy - he's one of us), Alexander, Jenya, Karina
Front: Nastia and Daniel


After the party, everyone headed out to take showers. Our team intended to meet for some sharing time. But, to our surprise, the kids came back to the room. So, for the next few hours we sit and talked and laughed and just enjoyed being with each other.


While fun was being had by some, two of the boys (Eldar and Jenya) were having a pretty serious conversation about spiritual things with the translators (Vusala and Jenya).


After all the other boys had left, our team gathered together and began praying in English for what was taking place in that very room and in the hearts of all the kids. God's plans for the day were way bigger than anything we could have imagined! The connections we made with the kids went deeper than we ever thought would happen on this first trip. Praise God for our ability to put aside our plans and simply walk in the Spirit, following His guidance.