Monday was our last day in Novgorod and it was the day we worked with the children for the end of the day camp. Our task was to entertain the children in a large waiting room while the teachers set up a Russian version of the Peters walk. They were going to begin taking the children in groups of 10 through the experience so we were to entertain the 50 or so kids for an hour and by the end of the hour we would only have a handful left. Unfortunately that is not how it worked out. We had about an hours worth of games skits and lessons planned for 50 kids with no teachers and just one translator. First the youth did a skit called hands where they acted out the parts of God, Man, and Woman and how we need God but some choose to accept him and some choose to deny him. I filmed it so once I figure out how to upload that I will.
Water-Balloons and Kids
The thing that the kids loved the most Water-balloon toss, I am not sure what gave Michael the idea that bringing water-balloons was a good idea but I am confident that it was an idea from God because they sure were a blessing. We ended up playing 2 rounds that each lasted about twenty-five minutes, apparently throwing water-balloons and getting your friends wet is something that transcends a language barrier. If you know how to do math you have figured out that by now we should only have a few kids left, so we planned to teach them the song Father Abraham in English and with the motions. Instead we tried to teach this song to all of them and of course there were several kids who just thought they were too cool for it and one little girl in particular became very curious about Alex and sat down next to her and began asking her questions. The kids then flocked from singing to ask Alex questions so we sat all the kids down and did a full question and answer session for another 30 minutes. The questions were hilarious like does it rain in Texas? do you have Tornadoes in Texas? Would you move to Russia? Would you move to another country because you like their food? How do you dance in Texas?
We were only able to keep order for a little while, and we soon learned that it was 50 kids and there were teachers but the teachers do nothing discipline wise. Chaos quickly took over the room and the kids formed clusters around each of us and began asking us questions as if we understood what they were saying. Anastasia was amazing going back and forth trying to help us have 5 separate conversations with a total of about 40 kids. Bigger kids were bullying the small kids, a boy with a mullet and a fake Adidas track suit was asking me about smoking drinking and dancing, one even pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and showed me. I figured this would be something a teacher would want to do something about so Anastasia (Nastia) helped me tell the teacher, her response was "It is okay, some of the kids are sick and need to smoke we don't worry about this. Are you surprised?" needless to say I was. The highlight of this time was a little boy who asked very good questions even about politics because he watches the news. We soon found out that he had already worked for the church a little bit and wanted to be a pastor when he grew up, we let the current pastor know about him because he wanted to go to the Methodist church but didn't know where it was. I am not sure how but we survived.
Yablaca Chicken (Apple)
Nastia and Alex cooked a Russian dish made with apples potatoes and Chicken. Yablaca is the Russian word for Apple so we referred to it as Yablaca Chicken. It was amazing and they made enough for our whole group to eat. We learned wonderful Russian phrases associated with Yablacas so be sure to ask us some when we get home.
Saying Goodbye
After Dinner we went back to our host homes and packed our things and gave our gifts it was time for us to leave Novgorod. Our hosts came with us by taxi to the train station and showed us all the love you can imagine. We truly felt like we were considered family even though most of us could not speak with our hosts at all, (except Bradley could speak to Margarita in French).
ADDED:
The youth getting ready for the children to be unleashed on them.
Little do the kids know but Michael was about to unleash loads of fun on them in the form of a bucket of water-balloons. What better way is there to spread the love of Jesus?
This is a picture of all the children with us, it is by far my favorite picture from Russia.
This is the crazy par of the day where we are all having different conversations with different kids and Nastia was keeping up with all of us by jumping from group to group and we were just confused while she was with the others.
This is our friend who watched the news and knew a lot about the United States, he wants to move to the U.S. for the food. He would like to work for the church when he grows up, so take a moment to pray for him.
This was a set of twins that fell in love with Bradley, or at least thought he was cool because he had an iPhone.
This is a picture of one of the kids trying to talk with Michael.
Water-Balloons and Kids
The thing that the kids loved the most Water-balloon toss, I am not sure what gave Michael the idea that bringing water-balloons was a good idea but I am confident that it was an idea from God because they sure were a blessing. We ended up playing 2 rounds that each lasted about twenty-five minutes, apparently throwing water-balloons and getting your friends wet is something that transcends a language barrier. If you know how to do math you have figured out that by now we should only have a few kids left, so we planned to teach them the song Father Abraham in English and with the motions. Instead we tried to teach this song to all of them and of course there were several kids who just thought they were too cool for it and one little girl in particular became very curious about Alex and sat down next to her and began asking her questions. The kids then flocked from singing to ask Alex questions so we sat all the kids down and did a full question and answer session for another 30 minutes. The questions were hilarious like does it rain in Texas? do you have Tornadoes in Texas? Would you move to Russia? Would you move to another country because you like their food? How do you dance in Texas?
We were only able to keep order for a little while, and we soon learned that it was 50 kids and there were teachers but the teachers do nothing discipline wise. Chaos quickly took over the room and the kids formed clusters around each of us and began asking us questions as if we understood what they were saying. Anastasia was amazing going back and forth trying to help us have 5 separate conversations with a total of about 40 kids. Bigger kids were bullying the small kids, a boy with a mullet and a fake Adidas track suit was asking me about smoking drinking and dancing, one even pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and showed me. I figured this would be something a teacher would want to do something about so Anastasia (Nastia) helped me tell the teacher, her response was "It is okay, some of the kids are sick and need to smoke we don't worry about this. Are you surprised?" needless to say I was. The highlight of this time was a little boy who asked very good questions even about politics because he watches the news. We soon found out that he had already worked for the church a little bit and wanted to be a pastor when he grew up, we let the current pastor know about him because he wanted to go to the Methodist church but didn't know where it was. I am not sure how but we survived.
Yablaca Chicken (Apple)
Nastia and Alex cooked a Russian dish made with apples potatoes and Chicken. Yablaca is the Russian word for Apple so we referred to it as Yablaca Chicken. It was amazing and they made enough for our whole group to eat. We learned wonderful Russian phrases associated with Yablacas so be sure to ask us some when we get home.
Saying Goodbye
After Dinner we went back to our host homes and packed our things and gave our gifts it was time for us to leave Novgorod. Our hosts came with us by taxi to the train station and showed us all the love you can imagine. We truly felt like we were considered family even though most of us could not speak with our hosts at all, (except Bradley could speak to Margarita in French).
ADDED:
The youth getting ready for the children to be unleashed on them.
As Always thanks for your time and giving this a read. If
you enjoyed it share it with friends, you can do so easily with one of the
buttons below. I pray that you will embrace life in the Love and Grace offered
to you through Jesus Christ, and that you will always remember Jeremiah
29:11. – For I know the plans I have for
you declares the Lord, Plans to Proper You and not for harm, Plans with Hope
for the Future.
