Здраствуйте (Hello in Russian!)

We arrived in St. Petersburg safely after a long night of traveling and made our way to the shelter, which we call our home base.

Sunday we spent the day organizing our supplies for the week that we would spend at the orphanage in Tikhvin. Monday morning we left about 8:00 a.m. for a four and a half hour bus ride through the countryside in Russia.

Upon our arrival, we headed to the orphanage in the mid-afternoon. The kids at Tikhvin range from 8-years-old up to 16-year-old graduates. We spent the first afternoon having Vacation Bible School with the kids and playing and running around with them. Throughout the week we all fell in love with the kids we were working with.

Through free time in the morning and vacation bible school we got to know each of these unique children – all with their own story and background. We poured our hearts upon them and loved them every moment that we were in their presence.

During free time we were able to set up soccer games, baseball, volleyball, make bracelets and necklaces, jump rope, and of course...bubbles!

For many of us, language is a barrier, but the ability to communicate is not only verbal...with a hug, a smile, or playing a game, we were never at a loss for communiation. We are all learning that God is in the simple things, for us and for these kids. Watching some of the kids with hard hearts when we walked in on Monday was a challenge, but through the power of prayer and the work of the Spirit, God has softened these beautiful hearts. The kids quickly took interest in VBS and what we were doing there.

This orphanage had never had a group come in and work with them before. God had already prepared this orphanage and the children for us before we arrived.

And after leaving today, we know that the Lord will remain at the Tikhvin orphanage.

We are back in St. Petersburg for the weekend. Tomorrow we will be working in Hospital number 15, see some of St. Petersburg, and next week we will go to orphanage number 2.

Thank you all for your prayers and support on this trip. Tthe week has been amazing and we are eagerly awaiting what God has been preparing for us in the next three weeks.

Katie Courtney