We are here!

After 36 hours of traveling, with little and often interrupted sleep, we are here at Hope Center.  Arriving at 2:30 am we crashed in any beds available.  Today was a day to acclimate to the new time and get some rest.  We also practiced some of our skits, moved into the rooms we will be staying in for the rest of camp.  Most team members had some time to run to the market, exchange money, and get some ice cream.  Tonight we had a meeting with all the workers and volunteers at camp.

Our team of 6 from Riverside, is joined by 2 from Texas Steve and his daughter Melody, and from Colorado a family of 5 Steve, Nicole, Ethan, Dylan and Aubrey. In addition we have 6 interns, From Minnesota Christine and Judith, from Virginia Sarah, And from England Hannah, Emily, and Babs.

The first group of kids comes tonight just after midnight.  Tomorrow we officially start camp with most of the kids arriving between 10 am and 3pm.

The Rest of Camp 4

The rest of Camp ran smoothly (which means only minor changes to the schedule due to weather).

Day 5 Overview:

The Bible lesson was about Ester

We went to the Sea!!!! for the first time. The kids loved it.

We had our 5th birthday in 5 days (It turns out that of the 10 days of camps, we only didn't have a birthday on 1 day) However this one was a little different. Now I'm am not in the least bit superstitious but as I was thinking this out it is a little weird. Birthday Boy had his Golden Birthday, turning 13 on the 13th of August. As we were cleaning I was informed that he had mattress and pillow number 13 (yes they are all numbered). And during the afternoon game (Capture the Flag) he fell and broke his arm, not a clean "easy" break - but very badly. He spent the rest of camp in the hospital waiting for a surgeon to come to town. The team sent people to go visit him from time to time, and they along with the counselors raised the money to pay for his surgery 3,000 Hryvna (about $375). Which seems small in comparison to what we pay, but was well beyond what his guardians were able to pay, or cared to pay.

In the evening the kids practiced for the talent show and during craft made a fish mobile, which were actually quite cool.

Day 6 Overview:

The Bible lesson was about Jeremiah. And we went to the sea again.

In the afternoon we did the Talent Show. The theme was "Ukraine's Got Talent" The kids provided all the good talent and the team provided bad talent and commercials. Many of the acts were very good or funny. The kids enjoyed it, which is the most important.

In the evening we the kids did the Craft Competition. This is where the kids create their own craft, but they have to use a paper plate, Popsicle stick, and a piece of paper. The kids in each age group (and the adult) with the most creative and best done craft gets a prize. We saw many very creative crafts.

Day 7 Overview:

The Bible Lesson was on Jesus as our Ultimate hero. After the lesson we had an invitation for the kids to come to the front for prayer. I learned later that some came for prayer for salvation and yet others just came for prayer for health of friends or other things that weighed heavy on their hearts.

At the sea we attempted to do a sand castle contest, but didn't really have a great way to introduce it, because of how the Bible lesson ended. So we postponed it. On the other hand not all the kids were informed of that and so we still have a few great sand castles.

In the afternoon we played "I'm an egg" followed by Sardines. Now that I think of it that just sounds like bad mix of food, but it has nothing to do with eating. I'm an egg is a tournament form of rock, paper, scissors. And Sardines in a hiding game were the a few people hide and once they are found by the seekers, they join the hiders.

In the evening we played Biffer: A station game that has a few rules in place to even-up and slow down the game. I think I described it in more detail in an earlier post.

The craft was to make caterpillars, but the oldest boys continued working on their Christmas Trees.

Day 8 Overview:

Because it is Sunday we didn't have morning exercises.

The bible Lesson was on Paul.

This day we did the Sand Castle contest at the beach. The winning Castle was made to look like Egypt. They had the tom of Ramses the 4th as well as a Pyramid and a Sphinx.

In the afternoon, we held church for the adults and it was optional for the kids. The kids had a choice of doing making lacing bracelets.

After this we did Interest Groups. The kids could choose to do cross stitch, Finish their Christmas Trees, Hair, Football, Basketball, or Frisbee games. Even with all of these fun choices Ura a very small Ward 3 boy decided to make a new group. Help Naomi Sweep up the leaves for an hour. I was amazed at his persistence.

In the evening each of the kids received a picture of their ward and their craft was to make a frame for this picture. After which they were able to go out and watch a film.

Day 9 Overview:

The bible lesson was a Challenge for the kids to live their lives as the heroes that we had been talking about all week. At the end each person was given a paper and pencil to write something down that they needed to give to God. 1) To ask for forgiveness, 2) To give to God something that you are concerned about OR 3) a prayer request, in that order. Then then brought the paper to the foot of the cross (they were later burned in the bonfire that evening).

We were unable to go to the sea because the wind was too strong and the waves were too big. We were going to do beach Olympics and so we changed this to relays on the football field.

In the afternoon the kids practiced for the closing ceremony. After supper we had the closing ceremony, which was done very well. Followed by the bonfire and the slide show of pictures from camp.

Day 10 Overview:

This is the day the kids leave. As such is a sad day. Most of the kids left between breakfast and lunch. We finish the "Who is this?" Competition (The team had put up baby pictures of each one and the kids were to guess throughout the week who all the people where, the trick was that non of the kids were able to do it. So we just went with who ever guessed the most.) It took their mind off leaving for at least a few minutes. The rest of the kids left at about 2:30 as the team helped clean the wards and the grounds outside of the wards.

Camp 4 - Day 3 and 4

Day 3: It rained again. No morning Exercises, no sea. Rachel and Tim did the story of Ruth for the Bible lesson (It is funny to listen to both of my names on stage, and yet it has nothing to do with me.) The Sea was cancelled and so we watched a movie. I forgot what it was - probably because instead of watching, I hung out with Tanya, Andrey, and Judith. In the afternoon we did interest groups. With a plan B for locations in case of rain. Good thing too because 30 minutes in, it began to rain again. I attended the cross stitch station. It has been about 15 years since I had done much of that, but I created a pattern for a bookmark and finished it in a few hours. In the evening, it was raining again so the kids came directly in for craft and we had to do instructions from the inside. that is always interesting.

Day 4: It rained again. No morning exercises again. And no sea. Josh and Olivia did the lesson about listening to God and the story of David. This time we even needed to do the bible lesson inside the dinning room as it was raining during that time as well. After which they watched another movie, The Incredibles. In the afternoon, we gave every kid a t-shirt and then did stations. One of the stations was to take pictures of all the kids. And pictures of the counselors with their wards. In the evening we played "over/under" with the kids and then did a craft which I have already forgotten what it was. We ended with the kids with bedtime stories. But then the team went to the sea for a beach bonfire to celebrate a Birthday. The neat thing was that in addition the timing was perfect as there was a meteor shower that evening and we saw about 30 falling stars.

Camp 4 Day 2

Today was the first full day of camp. We started with devotions at 7 followed by doing the girls hair at 7:30 and morning exercises at 7:50. Breakfast is at 8:15, which is followed by our Bible lesson time. Today's Bible lesson was about Gidean. The whole team joined in acting out the story. At one point Gidean ask for people to join his army and for doing so they recieved a balloon sword. It was meant that those who are in the skit would come forward, but rather half the kids ran to the stage. It made me laugh. But overall the lesson was very well done.

We did not go to the sea today because the the temperature is quite low. (High of 71 degrees). In the morning we practiced for the opening ceremony. and after lunch we played a few games. The first was a scavenger hunt, in which we got a clue and used that to go find a letter, then return for the next clue. After which we use all the letters and rearrange them to create the last clue, which leads to the prize. It was intended to last the better portion of 2 hours, but it was done in 30 minutes. So the team came up with some impromptu games to play for another 20 minutes, after which we were all out of ideas and gave the kids some free time.

After supper, was the opening ceremony. The camp theme is Heros. So the international team's name is "Heros with a Purpose." Each of the team members was dressed up as different super heros. Some more random and hilarious than real. And then they used this in a skit. The wards chose the names, Super Kids, Super Stars, Super Family, and Happy Teenagers (or something of that sort, I have been getting different translations for the last group all night and don't yet really know what their name is).

The Craft Tonight was God's Eye followed by handing out the Bibles to each of the kids, and then bedtime stories.

Camp 4 Day 1

Today the kids came. We have 91 with 4 more coming tomorrow. I think today was a difficult day for a large number of our kids. The first thing that they have to do is get checked out by the doctor. Mostly for lice. And a large number of children had lice so bad that they couldn't get rid of all the lice without buzzing their hair. So they had to choose buzz hair and stay or go home. We always have a couple of kids who have to buzz their hair, but today I saw over 6 and 5 chose not to stay. It is sad to turn kids away, but apparently this not a choice we have if they choose not to be treated.

On a more positive note. We have many kids who have been to camp last summer, and they remembered me. Asking immediately if I remember them. The good news is that mostly I do remember their faces, the bad news is I don't remember their names. I couldn't wait for us to finish the craft (name tags) so that I could see their names without having to ask.

Today we had many kids who were withdrawn, I tried to talk with a number of them, only to have them walk away from me or refuse to talk. Yet by the end of the day they were already opening up. One boy (who I asked his name 4 or 5 times and I still couldn't say it correctly) refused to talk with me, play in the games, and physically walked away a number of times, started participating in the games after a few hours. Another skinned up his knee, but refused to let me bring him to the doctor. But by the evening he allowed me to check his wounds to make sure they had been attended to (which they had) and he even volunteered to show me all the rest of his bumps and bruises.

I found craft time very interesting. I did most of the gathering of the kids attention in Russian, so when we started craft the kids just kept talking to me. And to my surprise I understood! What I though was so interesting is that they need so much assurance. The common theme in their conversation was, "Can I...?" They needed assurance. One part of the craft was to start a friendship book where we write messages to them in it. After I wrote in one, the child asked if it was OK for him to get another signature. Others asked to be dismissed. These may seem like little things, but here this is so uncommon for me to hear. Most often they just do. These children seem to need so much reassurance that what they are doing is OK. Maybe this hints as to their past.

For bedtime stories I go to the second oldest girls. We have about 13 girls, of which only 3 have been to Hope Center before (all three of those girls are called Nastya). The rest are all here for the first time and range from 8 years old to 14. I love the kids who are here for the first time! And to add to the blessings God brings. The girls invited me to sleep in their room. Although this request happens from time to time, I can't think of a time that it has happened on the first night.

I can only imagine how God is going to work in amazing ways at this camp. Please pray for all the children. Pray that they open up quickly and that they choose to make a commitment for Christ. Pray for the team, who is already doing a wonderful job. Of the 22 of them 19 are first timers to Hope Center. They are excited for camp and yet the days here get long very quickly. Pray for physical endurance, but most importantly pray for spiritual endurance, and to make the time to daily dive into God's word for strength and encouragement.

Camp 3 Images

There are so many more, but here are a few of my favorite images from camp 3:

This is Tanya. Here father died of TB and her mother is ill with the same thing. The government thinks that she will die soon. The orphanage were Tanya lives is trying to terminate her Mother's rights so that Tanya and her sister can be adopted. Her mother some times comes to visit, but Tanya doesn't go to her, because she doesn't want any part of a life that might result in a similar situation as her father.

This is Oleg. His shoe broke early on in camp and I managed to go to the market to get him new ones. Although they were the wrong size (too small). He insisted that they were normal and wouldn't let me get bigger ones. Apparently he is most used to wearing sandals that are too small.

I don't remember this boys name, but I can tell you a little about him. Anger was his deal. He flicked me off frequently with every hand gesture known (they have more than one here) and swore at me as well. He frequently refused to participate in activities. However, at the beach we got to see a completely different side. He loved the sea. There we saw a delightful and joyous child.

I don't' really have a cool story for this picture, I just like it. These girls loved to take pictures. Mostly of themselves :o) Here they are at the beach reviewing their work.

One of the last days of camp, I made it my goal to take a close up picture of every child at the beach. In about 1 hour I had taken over 200 pictures. This is one of them. I finished just in time to run up the hill before it started to down pour as a thunderstorm was rolling in. (The kids were all still at the beach when it started raining.)

This is Sergey. He has been a camper for as many years as I have been here. Although he is young enough to still be a camper, this year he is volunteering his time at camp. He helps out with a number of different things around camp.

Again I don't remember her name, but she was very self conscious and often didn't allow me to take her picture. Never mind that she is beautiful. Throughout camp, she became more and more open and even allowed me to take a picture, instead of me always having to sneak one.

This boy started the camp very guarded. He didn't smile often, and participated reluctantly. However, he warmed up quickly to us and start to smile more and more.

On the other hand, Daniel smiled from the beginning. A contagious smile.

Sarah and Campbell at Bible Lesson time. One of the most important times of the day. This week we talked about the Armor of God, and ended with a salvation skit an message.

In the salvation skit Melissa became blind, and Jesus comes and takes her problem on to himself. I can't believe the timing of this shot, as it is the moment that she regains her sight.

And this is why we come. To bring the message of Christ to the kids and to be with them as they make the choice to follow Him.

Judith and a couple of her girls.

Jemma and Misha

Tanya and Megan

Arman, Bogdan, Tanya, and Misha

Camp 3 is Finished and Camp 4 Begins

I intended to update on a daily basis like I was able to do at the beginning of the summer. However an number of events prevented me from doing so. First, we had evening meetings from 10:15 to whenever we finished. Since this is normally my blogging time, I didn't often get it finished. Second, I was in charge of taking, collecting, and sorting pictures. This in and of itself doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but when you realize the shear numbers of images that I was dealing with, the task was quite great. (I started with 23.24 GB with 6,573 images, that I had to sort down to 14.28 GB of 3,242 images to give to the team and then sort this down to 667 images to put into a slide show for the last day of camp.) Third, which might have been the biggest hindrance, is that for the entirety of camp 3 I have been fighting a cold. And although I managed to make all the events, to take pictures and such. When I had down time/when it was time to sleep, I actually slept. I am just now getting over my cold, and starting to regain some energy (or maybe that was the 2 hour nap I took today :o)

Camp 3 finished great. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this camera through the lens of the camera. Not because I enjoy taking pictures all that much, but because my job was to see the kids. It is easy to get pictures of the kids that jump out at you, the attention seekers, but my job is to take pictures of all kids. And through this I was able to seek out some of the kids who are less seen. And to remember to see each of the kids as God sees them. I can't remember a time in which I have seen so many beautiful children. God used these children to remind me that his creation is always beautiful, hand crafted, and preciously loved.

The next blog will include some of my favorite images.

As for now we are preparing for the next camp. The team has arrived and the kids come in 2 days. I will do my best to be better at updating this blog then.