Window to the World

Blueberries and more Blueberries

2007-08-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, we drove to the orphanage camps on the coast of Finland to spend time with the kids of orphanage No.14, 60 and 2. We were anxious about spending our time with the kids at No. 14 because we had heard their hearts were more calloused. As a team we decided we wanted to focus on why they were created and what the Kingdom of God has in store for them. We wanted to leave them with the fact that God is real. The first day the kids were distracted (playing on their cell phones, laughing, listening to music), but as the days went on the cell phones and headphones were put away and they were attentively asking questions. We felt God slowly softening their hearts. He is working on these kids.

On the first day the director came up to us as we were leaving and handed us a huge bucket of blueberries. The kids had picked them especially for us. That night we ate the fresh blueberries until we couldn’t eat anymore! Then, the next day one of the boys came running down the road with another huge bucket of blueberries. The last day the caregivers prepared a huge blueberry pie for us, and I think it is the best thing we have eaten all month long.

Today we saw the orphans from No. 2. The children there are no older than eleven. When we started walking up, a stream of little children came running towards us and literally jumping in our arms. It was a moment I will not forget. A girl named Kristina began talking with me. I told her I was from Dallas, Texas, and she said I am going to live there very soon. I found out she and her brother are in the process of being adopted by a family from Dallas. It is encouraging to think about the life has she has now and the plans the Lord has for her. I am hoping the next time I see her will be in Dallas.

Kenya--Week Three

2007-08-01T07:57:00.000-07:00

Wow what a week! Everywhere we look we see God at work. In a place where it would be so easy to lose faith or become angry at God, there is hope. Just like the education center in Korogocho is a haven of hope and peace in the midst of unrest and chaos, there is a peace throughout this place that says God is here and we are not forgotten.

This week we were able to do so much for the kids. On Saturday, we were able to take the kids on a field trip to a boat park. The kids faces glowed as they were able to see animals and ride rides. In all of the excitement one of the little boys got sick. As he laid on my lap, tears rolling down his face, all I could do was thank God that I was there to love on him. As Tricia pointed out to me later, even when we get sick all we desire is our mother to comfort us and take care of us. For the kids here they don't get that privilege. They are left to comfort themselves. What an honor it was to be used by God in this way to be the hand of God to this young child.

We were also able to provide the children with a sweet treat of sugar cane this week. Their eyes just lit up with the excitement of such a rare treat. The room was filled with happiness as were able to give each child a sugar cane of their own. To top off our week we were able to sit in on a True Love Waits class. Here we were able to give an American and a Christian perspective to these kids. God is at work here and it is amazing!!!

What God Has Done

2007-07-26T09:23:00.000-07:00

This week, we have been working in another group home for special needs. It has been an amazing time. We have felt the renewing of our strength as we go and do not tire of playing with the children. There are twelve children in this home, the oldest is 15 and the youngest is 7. We have enjoyed every moment of pushing Emilut on the tricycle, dancing with Adriana, running all over the yard with Claudia, walking with them into town to get ice cream and watching Marius dance as LeAllison sang to him. These kids are truly amazing and as I sit and watch them my heart is filled with love and compassion for them.

Last night in the group home, one of the caretakers, Tubi, came out to the yard with two photo albums. She shared some stories about the children and she said that Bobi was her favorite and went on to share his story. Bobi, at age three, was in the hospital. He was unable to walk after already having two years of therapy. The doctors said that he would be a vegetable for his life. She was one of the caretakers at the home he was placed in. During their breaks all of the caretakers would go to the store or sit outside and smoke. On her break, she would massage his feet and spend her time working with him. Eventually she taught him how to walk and now, at age 10, he runs around the yard like all of the other children. The love for him was evident and you could see it in her eyes as she looked at her “Bobitsa.” It was truly a miracle to see how her unconditional love had brought him so far.

The translators and in-country staff have also been a huge blessing to us. They are always so willing to take us shopping or to the post office to buy phone cards or whatever we need, and they do all this without complaining. They have been great about translating what the kids are telling us and also for the entire two to three-hour long church services. We would be in quite a bind if they were not here. But we have also enjoyed watching them interact with the children. The kids all have great respect for them and flock to them as soon as we arrive at the homes. They share story after story of what these kids used to be and how much they have changed.

Wisdom and Revelation

2007-07-26T09:21:00.001-07:00

Yesterday and today we went to Hospital No. 15, which is where the newest orphans are taken and assessed. The kids are there for less than three months. Yesterday, I went to the baby room and held a two month old baby named Dima. I have never seen a baby this sick before. I was reminded of the huge amount of love and attention I got as a baby. I prayed over Dima, asking that he would know Jesus. What does the Lord have in store for this child?

There was a twelve year old girl named Vera who experienced her first day at Hospital No. 15 yesterday. She had been living in a tent in the woods with her parents since she was six years old and had never been to school. Her father was convicted of murder and right now the orphanage is the only place for her. Pray for Vera.

We came to Russia expecting to show Jesus to children, but what we didn't expect is the deepened desire to know Christ. Our prayer from the beginning has been Ephesians 1:17-19. We have been filled with a spirit of wisdom and revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are coming back to America as changed people.

Jesus Loves Me

2007-07-24T14:35:00.001-07:00

Hello from Cuzco! We have been staying in this beautiful city since Sunday afternoon, working with a short-term team from Dallas. Our new intern Katie joined us this week, and we have really enjoyed getting to know her in the past few days.

Our focus is an all-girls' home about 10 minutes away from the downtown area. The orphanage houses about 40 girls from ages 7 to 19. The men on the team are busy laying a tile floor in a room at the home, and the women are doing a VBS program with the girls.

This experience has already been so rewarding just in the past two days. Yesterday, we gave each girl her very own Bible and journal. Many of them were immediately busy reading and studying. I can't describe how much I love seeing them pore over God's Word. I am so thankful that this team has been able to provide this for the girls. What better thing could we give them?

Another moment I really enjoyed in this home occurred this morning. My group had a few extra minutes before we needed to switch to the next activity, so Guili, one of Buckner's Peruvian staff, led the girls in singing "Jesus Loves Me" - in Spanish of course. Hearing them sing joyfully about Jesus' love in their own language brought tears to my eyes.

There have been many other rewarding experiences. We have done crafts, played games, told Bible stories, read Max Lucado's "You Are Special," taken pictures, and just talked. I have connected with several girls. I am so thankful for being able to spend this week here. And as an added bonus, on Thursday we all get to visit Machu Picchu! We're very excited about that.

Thank you for your prayers! Ciao until next week!
Anna (& Katie & Klista)

Our Fifteen Minutes of Fame

2007-07-23T11:38:00.001-07:00

This past week we were in the great town of Tikhvin. We loved it and they loved us. When we walked up to the orphanage on Tuesday we were being videoed by the local news team. They interviewed each of us with questions ranging from "Why did you come to Russia?" to "Have you read any Russian literature?" They documented us playing with the kids all morning. We prayed about how they would portray our hearts because the media has a tendency to distort reality. On Thursday they aired the segment and it was nothing but positivity about our work. They actually were using our story to encourage the Russian people to become more involved in the orphanage.

On Friday, we gave all 28 orphanage workers a party to honor them for all of the work they do. These women work hard and long with little recognition and it was a blessing for us to be given the opportunity to serve and encourage them. Brooke and Kim (the organizers of crafts) worked extremely hard all week to assist the kids in making a quilt to give the workers. It was a special moment to allow the children to give back to women that have given them so much.

On Saturday as we walked the pathway from the orphanage to our van. We turned around and there was a trail of children following us. They took our bags and carried them for us and and waved goodbye as we drove off. This was a precious moment.

Our team leader said something that will stick with me forever. She said "some of these children have never been prayed for before." I was reminded of the many people that pray for me and how much I need it. These children need it! We might be the only people that pray for them. So, the faces and names of more children are written on our hearts forever. Help us pray for the children of Tikhvin.

A City on a Hill Cannot be Hidden

2007-07-23T11:30:00.000-07:00

Well, we have been here in Kenya for two weeks now...it feels like it's been 2 days! It is flying by. On Tuesday, we went to the Korogocho Slum to visit the Baptist Youth Center there. I can’t even explain in words what this slum was like. It was quite different than the Kibera Slum we visited last week. So many thoughts went through our minds as we drove through and looked in the eyes of the lost and hopeless men, woman, and children.
We have all seen pictures of slums and poverty, but actually seeing it in person is so incredibly overwhelming and emotionally draining. There was a feeling of anger and despair in this place. It was so dark and eerie.

After traveling a little while through the dirt streets, we finally arrived at the Youth Center. It was in the heart of the slum. There was a huge trash heap behind the Center. It went for miles and the stench was almost unbearable, but when we stepped inside the gates of the Center there was a sense of peace. The presence of God was overflowing. We met the principal/preacher and walked around to all the classrooms. We were amazed at how respectful and disciplined the children were. The teachers and staff had a joy I've never seen before.

In the midst of all the darkness and despair there was this place that shined so bright. Cicely reminded us of how many times we put God in a box. We think He is only in America, but he is moving in hearts even in the most remote parts of the world. His love is great for the abandoned and neglected.

This Youth Center in the middle of this slum reminded me of Matthew 5:14, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." These people were not discouraged by the darkness that surrounded them, instead they let their light shine before men. What an incredible testimony of God's love and faithfulness! He will hear all who call upon His name no matter if they live in a mansion in the city or in a house made of mud and sticks in the slums of Africa. God has truly made beauty from ashes and we are seeing it first hand!

We are still in awe of the hearts of the staff; their prayer is that the Center would be a place where people would see Jesus and where burdens would be lifted. Please continue to pray for our team, that we would keep strong as we continue to share the love of Christ.

Matt. 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

The Kenya Girls (Tricia, Cicely, and Tori)

Zua de Campie

2007-07-20T07:36:00.000-07:00

This week we worked at the orphanage in Zau de Campie. As we pulled up to the orphanage on the first day, I felt like I was in a movie. Some of the things that happen there seem like they could come right out of “Annie”.

The orphanage is actually a castle, which sits on a hill above the city. It can be seen for miles around. It looks good on the outside, but it could use a little work on the inside. It functions for housing 45 kids. Kelly compared the castle to the children, saying that they look good on the outside, but they could use some help in the inside. It is heartrending to hear their stories. In the orphanage, there are five children, all brothers and sisters, who were dropped off at the orphanage by their parents at Christmastime. It is hard to imagine a time that is supposed to be so joyful turn out to be so painful for these children.

We have had an emotional week. Starting out with complete chaos. The kids were running wild and not sitting still to listen to the story or do the craft. The translators were having quite a time keeping them in line. The older girls were also a hard group. They did not want to participate in the activities. We became increasingly more frustrated with the language barrier and being unable to communicate with them.

Today was a party day with the children, and that was the major turning point in our relationships with them. We played with them the whole day, and then we had a party for all the children whose birthdays are in July. I think that the quality time we spent with them is greater than any words we could have spoken to them. When they saw we really do care about them and do not have other motives they warmed up to us.

One of the highlights was yesterday when two of the little girls were doing LeAllison’s and my hair. They would put it up and when we turned around to show them how they looked they would just sit there and laugh.

We have been blessed and encouraged by the faithfulness of God in strengthening us. We take joy in the small reactions: the hugs and kisses, the fighting over who is going to hold your hand, their wanting to talk with us and teach us Romanian, and the abundance of smiles and laughter.

A Gift and a Smile

2007-07-18T08:35:00.000-07:00

We have been having an amazing second week here in Lima. For the first couple of weeks we were on our own, and we spent time in two homes for teen moms who have been homeless or sexually abused. It was so wonderful to spend time with them and play with their babies. At the first home, I made friends with a girl named Doylith. I felt a special bond with her and it was difficult to leave. She gave me a teddy bear that belonged to her baby. I felt so humbled to receive a gift from her out of her poverty.

I visited a home for babies this morning. I made friends with a little boy who was about two or three. He was so serious and not expressive, and I prayed that I would be able to get him to smile by the time we had to leave an hour later. It took about 45 minutes, but by the end, he was not only smiling but laughing. I can't express what joy it gave me to see the smile on his face and hear his laughter.

I have loved being here with Katy and Klista. They are amazing to serve with and each one brings something unique and special to the experience. Most of all, we are so blessed to serve these children and show them Jesus' love. Thank you for your prayers!

Ciao!
Anna

Scrub-a-dub-dub

2007-07-18T08:28:00.000-07:00

All of the interns in Guatemala are so grateful for the teams who come and make more things possible. With so many hearts all wanting to bless the kids in a special way, we were able to do something remarkable last week.

Because of the large number of children and the overwhelmed workers, I can often smell the children when they haven’t been bathed recently. We stopped VBS one day and showed these children how much God loves them through showers! Everyone in our team got to experience something very special this day.

Our leader Alison worked behind the scenes handling the babies and caring for them so everyone else could help with the showers. Patiently loving these restless babies, her kindness was as soothing as the lotion.

Brandon was on the other side helping out with the boys. When almost everyone had gone, Brandon and other guys from the team went the extra mile. Edvin has found a special place in each of our hearts. He is in a wheelchair with special needs and is probably often neglected from things like showers. These guys picked up Edvin and held his dead weight to see that he got what we take for granite everyday: a shower. Their dedication to “the least of these” inspired all of us, and probably the caretakers too, to give beyond our self.

Beth and Heather distributed the clothes to the fresh and clean children. As they dressed the little shivering kids, they took off the only outfit we had seen them in all week. They both worked so hard to see that each child received clothes that fit them. The girls were literally walking taller and smiling bigger. It’s amazing how clean hair and new clothes can bring so much needed confidence.

Nydia can communicate with the kids in their own language. You can always see her running around doing everything under the sun. We all relate to the kids in some ways, but it is Nydia who can really dive deep with each child and listen and minister to their hearts.

I was at the hair station combing through their hair and pulling it back with cute new clips. Even though there were a lot of children, I decided not to rush. I took my time on each child and remembered how much I loved my mom fixing and playing with my hair each morning before school. After I finished, I took a picture of each kid and let them see themselves and reaffirmed how beautiful they are.

The whole experience brought the kids and us memories and life lessons that will last longer than the shower. Thank you for your prayers. God is working and we are seeing decisions made and lives changed.

The Battle at Lo Bohinka

2007-07-18T07:24:00.000-07:00

Monday morning we journeyed to an orphanage two hours outside of St. Petersburg called Lo Bohinka. This place was new to all of us, even Katya and Kinsey who have been Buckner Interns to Russia before. As we pulled up, the little faces of strangers poked out and looked at us. It is hard to believe in six days those strangers became good friends.

On Tuesday we began VBS, and during the story time two government officials came to see what we were doing. At this point we were unsure of what this meant, but we thought they would jeopardize how long we would be able to stay. We were anticipating more officials to come during the week. Tuesday night we filled the orphanage with prayers of protection.

Wednesday came and we found out that an orphanage caregiver called the government because she did not like what we were doing. The director of the orphanage was so upset with how she treated us that she fired her and told us that we were not allowed to leave and were welcome there. For this battle was not ours but God's, and of course the King of the Universe would win!

We were able to teach the children about how much Jesus loves them and what he has done for them. We were able to play with them and encourage them...even if it was a Russian Punk Rock concert performed by the older boys in our room at 11:00 p.m. (Yes, I have it all on video). We ask that you join our team in praying for the children of Lo Bohinka. We want the Truth that they heard this week to become real in their lives.

Our Journey Has Just Begun in Kenya

2007-07-13T07:45:00.000-07:00

Wow! I don't even know where to start. We have been here for 5 days and have seen so many incredible things. We have worked at the BCC with the orphans and students in the classrooms, serving the kids in the kitchen, working with Martha in the medical clinic, and spending time with the girls in the sewing class. the other day while working at the medical clinic I (Tricia) met a man named John. He works at the BCC as a security gaurd. We mopped the porch together and talked to him for at least 2 hours. I will never forget the conversation I had with John. He is 38 years old with a wife and kids at home. He lives right there in the village next to BCC. John has never been to school in his life. He works hard all day long to provide for his family. John has close to nothing when it comes to material things, but his faith in the Lord is all he needs. John has such a joyful radiance about him...I never see him without a smile on his face. He truly is in love with Christ. Throughout our whole conversation he was quoting scripture and everything he said was centered on God. He kept saying, "God has blessed me with so much and provides for me and my family everyday." How humbling. It made me want the kind of faith John has...it puts mine to shame. John will be the first in the Kingdom of Heaven. His dependency on God has brought me to my knees in surrender to the Lord. We have learned to much already about ourselves, but this is just one example.

Cicely, Tori, and I went to the baby aids home. It was so fulfilling to hold those precious children and show them the love of Christ and affection they long for. These babies are found in pits, their bodies are damaged, and most are abandoned. The ladies that work at the home love and care for these children....so we can praise God that he has raised up leaders to watch over them. It is amazing to think that God has a plan for each one of those little babies and children. They were left and forgotten by someone, but our God loves them and has protected them. It's exciting to think about how He will use those kids for His glory!

Our trip has been incredible thus far. This is just a pinch of what we have experienced. We are all still in awe that God would use us to fulfill His purposes here in Kenya. We look foward to what lies ahead. Our journey has just begun and we're excited to see what God has in store for us in the coming weeks.

The Kenya Girls

Romania--Week One

2007-07-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights of the week was attending church on Sunday night with Cristina and Ioana (Buckner in country staff). There were about 150 in attendance and they were all very excited to be at church. It was neat to hear songs that I recognized even though the words were not the same. We do not speak the same language, yet, we are all able to worship the same God together.

The children are such a huge blessing and encouragement. They are so much fun to hang out with and they are well behaved for the most part. It is great to hear them sing “Father Abraham” in English and know that they have no idea what they are singing; they sure are enthusiastic about it though! As soon as we walk into the classroom the children get these huge smiles on their faces and run up and give us big hugs and the little girls want to be held the whole time. They are precious.

It is heart breaking to know that most of these children will probably only get to attend school for two years and then they will go back to be at home. The uniforms and books are too expensive for many of the families to have the children continue their education. Thus, this cycle of poverty is repeated.

I am greatly blessed by the caretakers in the group home. I am blessed by how they love these children and care for them unconditionally. How they patiently rebuke them and do not yell and scream at the children until they obey. They lovingly care for them, hold them, kiss them and laugh with them.

I am reminded of a conversation en route to Romania. I was sitting with LeAllison and she said that sometimes we get too comfortable with our lives and we take things for granted. We get to go to Romania! What a huge blessing! We need to soak it all in and not get frustrated when things do not go how we had planned because we have been given this great opportunity and we want to get everything out of it that we can.

I hope that we never take this for granted. We are blessed to be here and to serve these children. May we not worry how many times they pull our hair out or pick our noses or push us over; may we be ridiculously goofy as though there were no one to criticize; and may we open our hearts to love them just as Christ loves them.

Little Hands, Tiny Feet

2007-07-11T08:16:00.001-07:00

The emotions that stir inside of you when you walk into an orphanage are unreal. Today I was humbled and heartbroken for these little ones.

Already these little arms that hug and the big smiles that love, have grabbed my heart. In a situation that should be surrounded by despair and no hope, the kids are so happy. There is no sound more beautiful than the children’s laugh I heard all day today.

We taught the kids memory verses, a bible story, made crafts and played games. It was so awesome to hear their little voices reciting scripture, and to hear them yell “Dios” (GOD) to answer the questions. There were even some kids who stumbled upon a Bible and were glued to reading the Word of God, and so carefully turning each page.

The orphanage we are in has 96 children and too few workers. It is not realistic that the kids get a bath everyday or close to that. On Wednesday, we will bathe each and every precious child and then place new clothes on them. What an experience.

God has blessed me with such an opportunity to be here. And the team of interns here in Guatemala is the greatest. I probably tell them four times a day how much they rock! As I go through probably one of the hardest months for me emotionally, I am so thankful for the people serving beside me that have the same heart.

Please keep us and the kids in your prayers,

Ashley O

Blessing in Disguise

2007-07-05T07:48:00.000-07:00

Below are some pictures of our work in Zacapa.

The little boy in the is Gyro. He is 7. He is one of the children that stole my heart! It was sad to leave him on our last day there!

I am writing you all from a coffee shop in Antigua, Guatemala where the other four interns and I will continue our trip this next week. We have the opportunity to go to language school here in Guatemala this week and have one on one personal, intensive Spanish classes with a teacher for five hours a day. I am excited for the opportunity to improve my Spanish, and I am praying for the possibility of sharing my faith with someone I meet this coming week!

Our last week working with Buckner, we worked with East Main Christian Church from Indiana. Only three people from their church were able to make it, so we worked with a much smaller team this week. With this team, we traveled to Zacapa, Guatemala, where we worked in the government orphanage for boys and girls there. There, the interns and I, had planned three days of activities for the kids there, including Bible study, crafts and recreation. The team helped us with each of these activities. The team wanted to make time to talk with the director of the orphanage, because they were looking to get their church involved in the process of supporting the orphanage in Guatemala.

One of the days, there was already a team there, and apparently the person in charge of scheduling had double booked the orphanage for that day. We were all a little bummed because we could not do activities with the kids that day. We were going to wash their feet and talk about how Jesus was a servant when he washed the disciples’ feet. However, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The East Main team members were able to talk to a long term missionary from there and realize that there is a greater need for support at the San Gabriel boys home in Guatemala, as the needs in Zacapa have started to be met by this man and the teams he has been bringing with him in the past few months.

My time spent in Guatemala working with the orphans and in the government homes is one I will never forget. The love I feel for these kids will always be there, and I know I will always remember each of them. I hope to come back and see each of them again. And this trip only confirms for me, that I want to spend my life doing things like this and working with orphans. Please be praying for each of the kids in these homes in Guatemala! And by our faith that Jesus can change hearts, they could be healed!

Adios!

Amy

Finished with the trip, but not with Africa

2007-06-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

While we are all ready to go home, we cannot believe that our month is almost over. We are spending most of our time this last week at the BCC.

Saturday we decided to do something special for the orphans at BCC. We made sweet chapati for the kids, which is like fried dough. The main cook gave us all the ingredients to buy and he taught us how to make it. We served it with milk and gave them all small presents. They all really enjoyed it. It was so neat to do something special for them.

On Monday, we went to a school in the Korogocho slum. Buckner helps support this school. We all really enjoyed our day there. I spent the day with the girls in the beauty school. They braided my hair into a weave, which I still have in. I just spent time talking with them and getting to know them. Carla spent the day with the sewing school, while Melissa spent time in the school. Both really enjoyed it.

Over this whole month, we have had great conversations with people. The culture here is so different and it has been challenging and exciting learning about life that is completely different than our own. Melissa stated it well for all of us. We feel finished with this trip, but not finished with Africa. We are so thankful for this opportunity to experience Africa and begin to grasp who these people are. We have been blessed by the orphans and the children we have made friends with. Thank you so much for your prayers and support.

Kristin

Prayer for hospital children in St. Petersburg, Russia

2007-06-25T13:08:00.001-07:00

There is an orphanage in St. Petersburg that's called Hospital No. 15. It is a transitional orphanage that keeps children until all medical paperwork is filled out, after which they are assigned to different orphanages in and around the city. Some of the kids are brought in from the streets, while others are dropped off by their families. For most of the team, the hospital is a difficult place to be. One little girl, Natasha, was about 14 months old and has imprinted herself in the minds and hearts of a few from our team. While we were at the hospital this past week, her 18 year old mother dropped her off. As soon as the mother left, Natasha's eyes ran with tears. She screamed and looked desperately around for her mother. More heartbreaking still is the fact that she will probably never see her mother again, and an orphanage will be her new home for the rest of her childhood. When we put Natasha down to leave, she grasped frantically for us with terror in her eyes that she was being left again. This is not a unique case.

The hospital, and other orphanages for that matter, are filled with stories like Natasha's. On the same day Natasha was dropped, another little girl was brought in by the police. They had found this girl and her brother abandoned on the street. The brother was dead and the girl was starved and cold.

In face of this evil and sadness, it is only natural to question God and feel hopeless for these kids. But the truth is, there is hope. We have all been learning that though these children may have been abandoned by the world and even their families, Christ will not abandon them. There are people here in Russia who love these kids with Christ's love and visit them regularly. Grandmothers from the Buckner Babushka program go to the hospital to rock the infants, play with the children and make themselves available to give the children attention the caregivers can't always give. Also, the full time Buckner staff in Russia continues to devote their lives to loving the children at the hospital and show them Jesus and his love for them. One boy named Vova has been in the hospital for 12 years. He is 19 now and has cerebral palsy. His parents were killed when he was seven in a car crash, and his only living relatives are his brother and his cousin, both who are homeless and caught up in drug addiction. The head doctor of the hospital took a special interest in Vova and has personally cared for him and made it possible for him to remain at the hospital. Vova is an exceptional person, and he in fact met Jesus through Buckner's workers, Christian teams visiting Russia from places like Germany and the U.S., and from local Christian volunteers. Though his situation is still tragic, Vova says he has hope for his future through Christ Jesus. He knows God will not leave him and he knows that no matter where he ends up in the future, he will always have God and He will always care for him.

Pray for the children left in the hospital and these other orphanages, especially for their futures. It is so hard for them to transition into the world and so easy for them to fall into a cycle of drugs, alcoholism and pregnancy, which just puts more children in the orphanages.

Pray that these kids could have a hope to live for like Vova, not fearing their lives beyond the orphanage walls. Pray that Jesus would be their one constant.

Katie Courtney

God opens doors in Russia

2007-06-25T11:53:00.000-07:00

Last week the team spent time at the orphanage Lopukhinka, about an hour and a half from the city. This was an orphanage that was not in our original plan, but the Lord closed doors and opened this wonderful opportunity to go Lopukhinka. This was the first time that the orphanage had had a team come in. Furthermore, it was the first time that most of these kids as well as the caregivers had heard the gospel. We were not bringing God to these children, He was already there, but He used us as His instruments to love on the children and help them recognize His presence in their lives.

The children ranged from about seven to 17 years old. Our first day there we brought backpacks and supplies for those that were graduating and would need assistance when they leave the orphanage and enter into a new place. Originally the plan was to visit this orphanage for one day, and return to Orphanages 40 and 14, but as the day carried on, God's plans began to form. The director at Lopukhinka wanted us to stay at the orphanage with the children for the entire next week. As a team, options were considered and we decided that God wanted us in this place. Monday morning our bags were packed and we returned to Lopohinka for a week of Vacation Bible School and some hang out time with the children.

When we arrived to Lopukhinka on Monday, many of the younger kids came running out, wanting to help us carry in all of our bags! The transformation of so many of the kids, especially the older graduates was incredible--at the beginning of the week--cold, standoffish, disinterested, and aloof to anything we had to say, but by the end of the week, they were begging us to stay, with hugs and tears. Their interest in VBS increased and changed throughout the week. Their questions began more as facts about the Scripture and turned into questions about God's love and grace. On Wednesday during VBS, the parable was told about Jesus healing the men with leprosy. As the story was being told one of the graduates, 17-year-old Jenya, ask a question about the men that did not return to thank Jesus for healing them. He asked if the ones that had not returned to thank Jesus would be healed again if their illness returned. Discussion arose about forgiveness and about how we can come to rest in Christ's presence daily and that His love has no limits.

As the week came to a close, the kids were making crafts, necklaces, bracelets, and they soon began to give these gifts to us. They have photo albums in their classrooms and so many of the kids were looking through those albums to give us all pictures to ensure that we would not forget them. I think all the interns can agree that these kids have made imprints on our hearts--where pictures may one day fade, our experience there will not. We are certain that God will continue to work in this orphanage and we are confident that God will continue to place people in their lives that will continue to pray and love and talk to these kids.

Katie Courtney

Pictures from Guatemala

2007-06-25T11:43:00.000-07:00

Three boys that live at San Gabriel. Walter, Eduardo, and Hector. They are all brothers. They did not like to take pictures together, that is why Walter is making a face!

Us on our way to the top of the volcanoe! It was named Pacaya.

Eric, Berta-Maria, Wilson, and Vladimir, the men are follow up staff for Buckner for San Gabriel. They go to San Gabriel Monday through Friday and hang out with the boys, and talk about Jesus with them, and in general just make relationships with them. Berta is the in country staff that has been with us on our trip for the past week and a half. She is a great help!

From hellos to goodbyes in Guatemala

2007-06-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

This week, the interns and I worked with a team from Tallahassee First Baptist Church. This team was an amazing team, and they were really eager to share the gospel with all of the children that I have come to love so much. We worked in San Gabriel every afternoon from Sunday though Friday. With the team, we also worked in a community center for two mornings, the Buckner Baby Home, the Boys and Mothers Transitional Homes for two mornings and on Friday morning we worked at Fundaninas, a privately funded orphanage. At Fundaninas six girls decided to give their lives to Jesus. They said they didn't want to just read about Jesus and learn about him anymore, they wanted to have him in their lives! How EXCITING is that? We were all so thrilled!

The FBCT team and the interns and I all helped to do a youth camp at San Gabriel this week. The pastor of the church helped lead the Bible study portion of the camp. They talked about how God handles fear and if you have Jesus, you don't have to fear. There was also a portion for memorization of a memory verse which was lead by Clint, one of the guys on the team. The boys really participated well during the memory verse and I hope they continue to memorize scriptures. It was a really great week with this team. They loved these boys so much!

This week we also climbed up Pacaya Volcano, and were able to get about five to six feet away from the flowing lava. A few members of the team from Tallahassee joined us instead of going to Antigua with the rest of the team to go shopping. It was a hard hike up the mountain, but it was worth it. Today was a hard day. The interns and I welcomed a new team from East Main Christian Church in Indiana, and we went to San Gabriel this afternoon. This was our last day at San Gabriel. As I was leaving and giving all the boys hugs and telling them they were my friend I would miss them, Angel, an older boy with special needs living at the home, came and told me in English, "Thank you for being my friend." He gave me a hug, and in Spanish told me he would never forget me, and another boy, Juan Carlos, started to tear up a little bit.

I cannot describe how much I love these boys and I cannot believe today was our last day with them. I desperately want salvation for all of them so they can know the love of Christ in their lives. Today the interns and I were all sad to leave the boys, and when we went home, we started praying for the kids. We asked God to use the seeds the teams and we planted during our time with them and to bring them salvation. I am going to miss these boys so much! Pray for them. Pray that they would accept Christ into their lives!This week we are going to Zacapa, which is about four hours away from Guatemala City. We are going with the East Main team to do ministry there for three days, and then we will return and go to Manchen for a day. Be praying for our teams for safety as we travel and for our ministry to the orphans that live in Zacapa. Pray that their hearts would be open to our message and that they would accept Christ as their savior. God is so good to provide us a way to his son; I am so thankful for Him in my life, and I pray that these orphans would know the love of their heavenly father as well! I will update with pictures soon!

For now, hasta luego!

Amy

You gotta love Kenya!

2007-06-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

In the same day we smelt popcorn, which is unexpected driving down the streets of Nairobi, and we saw a camel going down the road. I will have to say it has been quite the adventure and we are all learning and growing through it all.

The safari was so much fun. We saw most everything except rhinos and hippos. We had an awesome jeep and did some crazy off-roading. We saw a leopard in a tree, and from what we hear, seeing a leopard is pretty uncommon. It was nice to be pampered and fed extremely well for a couple of days. Also, a team with Buckner was on the safari with us. It was nice to hang out with some other people and talk about our experiences.

Today, instead of going to BCC, when went to a place called New Life Home. It is a home for abandoned newborns. Most of them arrive HIV positive, but around 90 percent turn out to be negative after being on their nutritional and medical program. It was so much fun to be there. The babies are so full of life and a joy to be with. We all had such a great time loving on the babies. And one particular baby certainly loved me. She loved me enough to vomit all over my legs. I just laughed it off. It wasn't the first time it has happened.

On Sunday, we had lunch at Tony's house. He is the man who runs the BCC. It was so great to be with him and his family again. We had a great conversation with him about the center and his vision for it. We really were able to understand some of the currents needs at the BCC and understand where he wants to take this place.

Well, while it seems like we have been here forever, we also can't believe our time here is almost through. Next week I will try to fill in as many details as I can since that will be our last post.

Greetings from Kenya,

Kristin

¡Hóla, Qué tal! Guatemala

2007-06-18T09:17:00.000-07:00

A few interesting things have happened here in Guatemala in the last couple of days. One, our water completely went out at the place we are staying so we used buckets of well water to wash with. It was pretty hilarious. We tried to take a picture, but decided it wasn't good to do that, so we didn't. Then, we were in an earthquake, that’s right, an EARTHQUAKE! We were in Antigua, sitting down to lunch with the team from Park Cities Baptist Church, and the whole building began to shake and blow. It was really weird, and being from Texas, I don't have a lot of experience with earthquakes. We kind of freaked out a little bit, and asked our translators what it was, we really had no idea what was going on. One of them said the volcano might be active, and then another one said it was probably some seismic activity. Well it turns out, it was an earthquake. So in the same day, I bathed with well water and was in an earthquake! Kind of cool, huh?

Last week we worked with Park Cities Baptist Church, where we went into San Gabriel three days and worked with the boys; we also went to Manchen, the government all girls home for two days. There we met some girls, who were so sweet and loving. It really strikes me how when we ask what we can pray for the kids about, they never pray for themselves; they always want to pray for their families and other girls, but never for themselves. I have really learned a lot about how much I pray for myself instead of others from these girls. I really loved going to the all girls home. One girl taught me how to make a really cool bracelet while I was there, out of the strings the PCBC team brought for the kids to use during craft time. This girl had a really hard exterior, she looked kind of rough and she was very standoffish at first. But when I asked her to teach me how to make what she was making, she opened up to me, and really attempted to talk to me, even though we couldn't understand everything the other was saying. When it was time to leave, she asked for something to remember me by, and I told her that I was coming back again and I would bring her something the next time I came. She was really happy to hear I was coming back and I'll be excited to see her again!

The past few days, the interns and I have not had a team with us, so we had a free day for most of yesterday, where we went to Antigua and had a picnic at this gorgeous park. Then we went shopping for a bit and went to "La Union." This is the name of the language school where we will stay for an extra week to have intensive Spanish lessons the week after our internship is over. We will be staying in Antigua, Guatemala another week. We are SO excited! Above is a picture of our intern team with Berta-Maria (a Buckner in-country staff) at the park.

We also went to the Buckner Baby Home on Friday, with just us, so we were able to really play with the kids, and not overwhelm them with 30 people. There are only nine kids living in the home. We were able to unpack our Humanitarian Aid bags, and I was able to give out most of my supplies to these kids, the playdough, the kitchen toys, the hotwheels cars, they loved them! Thank you all so much for helping me fill my bag with wonderful presents that these kids LOVED so much! Above are some pictures of the kids so that you can see what all we gave them, and how much they loved them!

We made them a cake, and yeah, it kind of didn't work that well, it sort of just fell in on itself in the middle, which pushed the sides out. I was the one holding the cake, so it was a problem. But it was fun when we got there with the cake, the kids didn't care; they were just excited to see the cake. They jumped up and down and were so sweet. Above are some pictures from the Buckner Baby Home, and the messed-up cake. You will also find a picture of our team at the picnic, some pictures of the boys from San Gabriel and the girls from Manchen.

Yesterday we welcomed a team from First Baptist Church Tallahassee. They are a group with only a few youth, and mostly older retired couples and even their pastor is here. We are so excited to work with them and to share the gospel and the love of Christ with the children here in Guatemala. This morning FBCT had their own church service at the Quinat Real hotel, and we participated. They shared their heart for Guatemala's children with us and we are so excited to see the work God is going to do through them this week; they are excited too! We are going to be at San Gabriel all week, and we are all excited! As much as I loved going to Manchen, my heart really lies with the boys at San Gabriel. I love them. Be praying for the boys at San Gabriel that they would be open to our message and God's love, and that they would accept Jesus as their savior! I'm excited!

¡Hasta Luego!

Amy

Hands and Feet of God - Romania - week 2

2007-06-13T07:23:00.001-07:00

Jeff's speech on not messing up Buckner's good reputation came to my mind this morning at breakfast. It was either the first or second time that we ate breakfast at the hotel when the waitress inquired whether or not we were from Buckner; in which we replied with an emphatic "yes!" She introduced herself as Judith. It is nice having a foreign friendly face greet you first thing in the morning. This morning she brought pictures of her daughter to work so that we could see them. It was so sweet! Tomorrow morning we are going to show her pictures of our families. All I can say is thank you, to all previous interns for setting a godly example!

We've spent so much time the past several days working in two different group homes. In the mornings, we go to Ceauas special needs home that houses 12 young children. They are all unique. We've been bitten, hit, scratched, spit on, slobbered on, jumped on, pulled, pushed, hair has been ripped out, etc. Enduring all of this is for the glory of Christ. The caregivers enjoy our company as much as the children. In the afternoons, we are in special needs group home for older kids. We've only been there twice; so, we are still in the process of getting to know them.

Last night we got to experience an authentic Romanian meal. Alison and Melanie went to Cristina's home for dinner; Chris and I went to the home of Rares, a Buckner volunteer, for dinner. Last night was the best meal I've had since I've been here and the hospitality is remarkable.

On Sunday, we attended our first Romanian church service. It was quite long. Cristina translated for us. Throughout the service, I was comparing my church back home to the service I was experiencing at the moment, and this is what I discovered: We don't express even a fraction of the passion that the Romanian people were pouring out before the Lord. I was in awe. They spend a lot of time in prayer – they were a refreshing Christian example.

Every morning we meet Cristina and Rares in the lobby of the hotel to do devotions. Cristina shared about what it is like being a Christian in Romania. Communism fell when she was five, but during communism all churches were destroyed. Christians met for worship in people's homes. They had to keep quiet because if the neighbors heard what they were doing they would call the police. Cristina related that people were bolder about their faith when they were under communism than they are now under freedom. Now they don't have to make a stand, they can just be.

Things haven't worked out the way that we had planned or been told that they would, but we are being flexible and realizing that we are the "equipment!"

We've realized that on this specific trip that we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus, not the mouth!

Kenya - Week 2

2007-06-13T07:13:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all of your prayers. Some of you know that Melissa and I have not been feeling our best, but we both stayed behind a day and are feeling much better. We are ready for our safari.
It has been great working at the BCC, but it can become somewhat overwhelming being at the same place everyday. The safari will be a good break for us to renew and re-energize.
I believe that Nairobi is a different Africa than we expected. There is so much need here that it seems just overwhelming and hopeless at times. There is one thing though: God is not smaller than all of this and he is definitely at work here. He has opened up some new ministry opportunities that we’re all excited about. We are going to spend some time in Buckner's school ministry in the Korogocho slum area, which we are all excited about. God has tugged all our hearts in a certain place at the Korogocho school.
Carla's sewing ministry is going really well. The girls are all still shy, but loving working with Carla. It has really been an encouragement to the girls and to us. God has also opened up some opportunity to possibly help these girls make and sell their items. We ask for your continued prayer for this ministry.
Since we get back in the early evening, we have to find ways to entertain ourselves. We have played many games of UNO (thanks Jeremy), quizzed each other on Trivial Pursuit, and had many conversations. Last night, a lady at the place we are staying invited us to watch a movie with her in her room. That was such a good time for us. We have really been encouraged by the people we have met here where we are staying.
Well, next week we will let you know how the safari and things go. Again, thanks so much for the prayers.
Sending much love from Kenya,
Kristin

Blessings from Guatemala

2007-06-11T07:45:00.001-07:00

Well, today was our team's tenth day in Guatemala. I feel like we have been here so much longer. My time spent with the orphans here is amazing!

We had our farewell dinner with the team from Arkansas this last Friday, and then we welcomed a new team of youth from Park Cities Baptist Church. We have been going to San Gabriel, the all boys government orphanage, with them for the past three days. The interns and I agree, this is our new favorite place to go. These kids are so fun and amazing! The team from Park Cities Baptist Church had prepared different Bible studies for the kids and crafts for them to do each day, so we have been in groups doing the devotionals, crafts and sports with the team and the kids.

Today was an especially good day at San Gabriel! Meredith, one girl from Park Cities Baptist Church was leading a devotional with a group of boys about Zacheus. We talked with the boys about what it is like to talk to Jesus, how Jesus loves even the people that we think are the worst and that we dislike, and how Jesus can change our lives completely. The boys really participated and listened well to the story during devotional, and I was so excited. They had a lot of feedback in their answers.

One boy, named Nery, who has really been interested during Bible time, seemed even more interested today. He said it made him happy that we could talk to God anytime we wanted to, and that God loved us.

Be praying for Nery, that he will be aware of his need for a savior and that he will accept Christ! Above there is a picture of him and Emily. The interns and I, along with the team from Park Cities, went to church at Iglesia Bautista "La Verdad" these past two days, participated in a youth program with them on Saturday night, and went to Sunday school and their church. They allowed Pike, the youth pastor at Park Cities Baptist Church to preach this morning, where he taught about unity in the body of Christ. We were all really excited to hear the message and realize that we are all worshiping and serving the same God. During Sunday school we split up into groups and talked back and forth with the Guatemalans in the church, and discussed Genesis 10. Tomorrow the interns and I are going with the Park Cities Baptist Church team to Antigua, where we will go into Manchen, the all girls home. Pray for our time there with the girls – that we would be able to minister the love of Christ to them, and that God would work in their hearts.

I am so excited to continue in our work here and be part of working with the orphans in Guatemala! They have been such a blessing in my life already, and they have brought me so much joy!

Talk with you soon! Adios!

Amy

Здраствуйте (Hello in Russian!)

2007-06-11T07:33:00.001-07:00

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

Buná from Romania!

2007-06-11T07:20:00.000-07:00

We timed it – we traveled for 26 consecutive hours. Anca and Christina picked us up at the airport in Budapest. We weren't in the van for more than ten minutes and we got to witness a two lane road accommodating three vehicles.

We are getting a lot of practice at being flexible – several times a day, in fact. The first three days were hectic. We drove to a cabin three hours away with 17 kids in tote. This eclectic bunch of kids encompassed gypsies, Romanians, and Hungarians.

I was not out of the van for more than five minutes and a little girl, Monica, clasped her hand in mine; and in that moment she stole my heart. I realized how much I have to learn from children. Monica taught me how to count to ten in Romanian.

I didn't know how to say "good job" in Romanian, so I would just give the kids a “thumbs up.” At first, they had no idea what I was doing or what it meant. On the second day, I gave a little boy a “thumbs up” and he gave me one back. He finally realized what it meant. It was an exciting moment!

We visited a group home that housed 12 special needs children. Christina gave us brief background on some of the children in the home.

One child was found locked in a cage with dogs. She sniffs everything.

Another child was found locked in a cage with pigs. These two children, when left alone, would just sit there and rock back and forth, which is just a classic result of a child who has been neglected and/or abused.

All of the children have severe physical and mental needs. I spent most of my time with a little blind girl. She would imitate everything you would say. She imitated me in perfect English. I sang "This is the Day" to her and she would sing it back to me. We would be sitting in silence and then she would just start singing it all by herself. The amazing part is that when she would start singing it by herself, she would sing it in Romanian and with me she sang it in English.

The Beginnings of God's Blessing in Kenya

2007-06-05T12:15:00.000-07:00

All three of us are still trying to process everything we have seen the past few days. We came over here thinking we were the ones who were doing the serving and were proud of what we are doing, but we all have been truly humbled.

We have been served in so many ways. The staff at the place we are staying serve us at every meal and pray for us. The staff at BCC serves us, and the girls in the sewing class have made us feel more than welcome. Our driver is an amazing, humble and sweet-spirited man. He makes us feel so comfortable and really takes our well being seriously. We are blown away by the faith of the people here. Everything is so Christ centered and all they need is God. Material possessions are nothing. It is all about relationships.

At the center, the children are beginning to warm up to us. We spent our first day with the older girls in the sewing class. They took us in as one of their own and taught us how to sew. They are all such amazing girls. They sing and pray together at the end of each day, and it was so encouraging to be apart of that. The staff here at BCC loves the children so deeply. You can just see it in their faces. They are so committed to serving these children.

While our main purpose here is to love the children at BCC, we find ourselves wanting to know the people we pass in the slum everyday. They wave at us and we receive many "how are you's" from the children. The most shocking thing so far about the slum areas is not the amount of poverty – We have all seen media and heard stories about the poverty – It is the normality of it all that gets to us. This is everyday life for these people. There is nothing wrong with it in their eyes. The have their own way of life and community in these slums. It is hard to process and see how we can even help them because the simplicity of their culture is so beautiful.

We are finding out more and more that we are here just as much to serve and love the staff at BCC as the children. We can tell that us being here is an encouragement to them. Today, Melissa and I hung out with the two women who run the clinic; It gets very slow for them sometimes and it was good to encourage them and talk with them.

We pray and ask for your prayers that we all can be at peace and in tune with the Holy Spirit and see an opportunity to serve and love in everything He calls us to.

To sum up our experience so far, I would say that we have been truly humbled and are learning so much from Kenya. We have also had many fun times of driving in the crazy traffic/ditches and potholes and playing football and handball with the kids. The children have such personalities. I have already made two children cry out of terror because they have not seen many white people.

We have also met some amazing people where we are staying. You think a month is long, try 34 years of commitment to this continent. So many people have devoted their lives and sacrificed so much to minister to this place.

We look forward to the rest of the month and cannot believe that so much has happened so far.

Hello from Team Latvia!!

2007-06-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

Hello from Team Latvia!

We arrived in Riga June 2 and were able to get rested from the long flight. It was Cynthia's birthday and we celebrated at a delicious restaurant.

We are at the Tervete orphanage now and loving it already. We have the privilege of serving with a team from Tate Springs, Texas, who has previous experience and love for this orphanage. Upon arrival at Tervete, we were welcomed with 'Sam Bradley's Birthday Party' and a huge spread of delicious food.

The freezing cold lake has been the place to hang out during the afternoons with the kids. The stairs to the 4th floor are a challenge to us all, as we walk up and down from our room. The men of the Tate Springs group began construction with the 'help' of many kids, stripping the paint in just a few hours.

It has been fun to try and learn different Latvian phrases and words with help from the kids. Vacation Bible School is going pretty well in the mornings, although the language barrier and energy of the kids has been a challenge.

As we get to know the kids here, I realize how fortunate I am. They have so little, but are so happy! Their humble spirit has challenged me to appreciate the little things in life, from little balloon dogs to seeing their own face in a camera.

The long walk to the lake a few times a day has given me a chance to talk to some of the older kids. I can see how hungry they are for love and attention.

It’s only a few days into the trip and I can already see God moving in our team and in the kids. We have only been here a few days and still have much to experience. Please continue to pray for the team and the kids here at Tervete.

Pray for our humility and unity as a team. Pray that God will use our individual gifts to reach theses kids. Pray for our open spirit and willingness.

HOLA from Guatemala!

2007-06-04T07:35:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Guatemala late on Friday night where we were greeted by Vera, a Buckner staff in Guatemala, and José. We spent most of the day on Saturday getting adjusted to Guatemalan life and shopping for groceries and last minute things we needed for our ministry this month. We spent the rest of the day just spending some down time with each other and getting to know our team better.

Today, Sunday, we woke up and welcomed a team of highschool and college age students from Little Rock, Arkansas to the country and proceeded on to church at Casa de Dios. After church we went to my favorite place so far which was at the Buckner Baby Home, where all the children ran to greet us with hugs and kisses when we arrived. They all flocked to us for attention and it was amazing to be able to hug and love on these adorable kids! They were so excited to show us their new shoes also! We got to play with the children for about an hour, before both teams left and went to visit the different transitional housing that Buckner runs. Below you will see some pictures of some of the kids and our intern team playing with them!

We went on to dinner after that and our teams asked the boys and girls from the transitional houses to come and join us for dinner! At dinner, the interns and I had so much fun trying to learn how to make tortillas. We kept dropping our dough and having to start over! I guess we were not as skilled at tortilla making as Guatemalans. At dinner, we were able to talk with some of the girls and boys from the homes, and it was really fun practicing our Spanish with them, as they practiced their English with us. Below is a picture of myself and our team leader making tortillas, and another picture of our team leader, Emily, and Negris, one of the girls living in the transitional home.

I am really excited to continue working with these kids in the Baby Home and the Transitional homes and continue serving alongside the Arkansas team as we get to do God´s work in these orphanages down here in Guatemala! I am excited to see what God will do in each of the kid´s hearts! I know He is going to do a lot of amazing things during our time here!

Amy

Jambo from Kenya! Week Four

2006-08-02T10:01:00.000-07:00

So much has happened over the last 5 days! I feel so blessed and also burdened from my experiences with Wilshire Baptist church.

The interns and our driver left Nairobi with the team's luggage from Wilshire. We drove about 10 1/2 hours to the very western border of Kenya. Busia is located about 6 miles from the border of Uganda. The further we drove away from Nairobi, I could not help but feel as though I was traveling backwards in time. We saw many women carrying huge loads of firewood on their heads, donkeys pulling loads of fish and even shepherds wearing the traditional tribal dress. Along the drive we saw zebras, monkeys, baboons and the Rift Valley. How wonderful is God's creation! I felt like I was inside National Geographic.

The team from Wilshire came to do a Vacation Bible School with the foster children in Busia and also to hold a medical clinic. Jeff Jones and Lyndee from Buckner lead the trip. I was so thankful that our team of three could accompany them. I was not sure what to expect. Everything looked so different from Nairobi. The people were even more shocked to see "mazungus" (white people) in their home.

The VBS was a blast. The kids were so much fun. I loved singing songs, playing games, learning scripture verses and just spending time with the children. I am continually amazed at their joyful smiles. The nurses in the group even came and provided AIDS education for the children. That was very interesting because most of these children's parents died of AIDS. Some of their questions were heartbreaking.

We had the opportunity to go to church on Sunday morning in a tiny village called Mudoma (?) where the medical clinic was taking place. It was raining that morning pretty steadily. I was amazed that some of the people we passed on the dirt road in the rain arrived later at church. I shook hands with one woman who was slowly walking with a large walking stick that must have been 80 years old. The church was held underneath a few tents that were placed together. Hundreds of people were gathered under and outside of the tents in the rain. All of the foster children (orphans) with Buckner came to church. I had the priveledge of holding Rosemary in my lap during the service. The pastor from Wilshire spoke on Jesus feeding the 5 thousand. What an excellent reminder that God meets everyone of these peoples needs. He knows the deepest parts of their heart.

Later on Sunday, the medical team began to work. The day before, over 500 people were registered. The team was truly incredible. The doctor and three nurses did not even stop to take any kind of lunch break. The need is overwhelming. So many people walked hours by foot to be seen by the doctor. There were huge crowds of people surrounding the tent. In the beginning, I just did anything I could to help with crowd control. Later I was called to help lead the children in songs. Michael, Tom (the missions coordinator) and I sang for over one hour. All of the people gathered to hear and attempt to sing praise songs. It was a really neat outreach ministry. I was reminded of the verse in the Bible that says "silver and gold have I not, but what I have I will bring to you." That was my prayer the entire day. I was open to any way that the Lord could use me. The most difficult part of the trip was when the pastor George and I decided to set up an area for prayer. I had mothers come to me with their very sick infants and just hand them to me with tears. All I could do was hold the children, cry beside them and pray to Jesus the true healer and author of life. I prayed for over a hundred people the afternoon. I saw so many terrible things: skin diseases, muscle pains, swollen legs, huge cysts, people with malaria and people starving. At the end of the day, the medicine ran out. Not everyone was attended to, but over 350 patients were seen by the doctor/nurses and provided medicine. AMAZING! It would be easy to get discouraged, but God is good all the time and all the time God is good. I have to trust him to provide like he promises in scripture for the sparrows.

Bwana Asifiwe...Praise the Lord,
Becky

Buna from Romania! Week Three (Entry Two)

2006-07-31T08:02:00.000-07:00

Things have been so busy here...this last week was probably our busiest yet...but it was great! We have already had 2 church groups come and go, and they both put on great programs for the kids! We just finished a week doing VBS with children who live in group homes in the mornings, then we would go out to special needs group homes in the afternoon and play with them. We didn't really know what to expect with these children, but we ended up falling in love with them, and had the best time! They are so sweet, and so funny! They entertained us more than we entertained them i think, but they were so welcoming and loving towards us, and we were able to get close with alot of them.

We were able to take about 7 of them to the zoo yesterday morning, and we had a great time. All the interns and I thought the zoo was hilarious! It is a little different than zoos in america. In Romania, they have deer, cows, and horses in their zoos...haha...not too exoctic...but still very fun!

I can't beleive this will be our last week here...the time really has flown by so fast! Our plans have changed again (flexibility is the theme this month...haha) which turned out to be a blessing, because we will get to spend more time with the special needs children, and then we will be going to Zau again!!! We are all SO excited about this, because we spent our whole first week here and got really close with the girls, so we are really glad that our last 2 days in Romania will be spent with them. Those girls are so amazing and they love the Lord, which is SO comforting as we prepare to say goodbye.

We will then drive to Budapest on Friday morning, and fly home Sunday...so crazy! But, God has done some amazing things on this trip, and it has been filled with lots of laughs, some tears,new friendships, and many memories.

Thank you so much for your prayers,

Amy

Buna from Romania! Week Three

2006-07-31T07:51:00.000-07:00

Week 3 has come and gone and we're about to begin our last week in Romania. This past week was spent with a visiting church group with participants from Florida to Texas to Massachusetts. Talk about diversity!

Each morning we, the interns, went with the group to a local church where we helped lead VBS for orphans from three group homes. Despite communication barriers, the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves - especially when it came to snacks and sandwiches. Each afternoon we split up and spent two hours playing with and loving on special needs children in three group homes. I must say, I really love those kids! They are so sweet and just plain old fun! We definitely got some laughs!

One boy, Virgil, is especially passionate about vaccum cleaners. He has actually created his own vaccum, which he uses to sweep the playground for hours on end. Yanust loves a "pistola" - the more the better! Claudia loves to be tossed up in the air, while Cristi smells everything he can get his hands on. Another little boy smells and eats hair, while another played with my watch for two hours straight everyday. Each one of these children is very special - I will miss them when we say goodbye.

The needs of these children are so great, and yet they are so loving and satisfied with so little. Working with the special needs kids has served to remind me that despite the seemingly hopeless situation, God's hope is at work and completely applicable to their lives, as well as my own. His promises ring just as true in Claudia's life, as they do in my life. God is indeed good, and we mustn't forget that, especially when working with those who seem to live with many needs.

Rachel

Hola from Guatemala! Week Three (Entry Two)

2006-07-28T07:10:00.000-07:00

A Glorious Reunion.....

On Monday of this week, we celebrated a much anticipated reunion with the boys at San Gabriel. They came running out to us yelling and screaming with excitement. They didn't know that we were returning this week. I'm not sure who was happier.....the boys or the team of interns. We are spending this week with a team from South Texas Children's Home. It's another amazing team! Best of all (and most impressive) is that the team is lead by four teenagers from the South Texas Children's Home. The other members of the team completely submitted themselves to these youngsters. It's been so exciting watching them lead our team. They are doing a phenomenal job!

We had a busy week at San Gabriel. We had a great time reconnecting with the boys while continuing to build relationships with them. Each day, one of the teenagers shared their testimony and a Bible story with the boys. On Wednesday, the gospel was presented to the boys, and 24 boys committed their life to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Yes, 24 boys have started a new life!! We are honored to call them our "brothers in Christ." On Wednesday, we also brought new shoes to the boys. I've never seen a group of people so excited to get new shoes. Many of the boys' shoes had holes and were torn. All of them needed to be replaced! Thank you to everyone who has donated shoes to the Buckner "Shoes for Orphan Souls" project. Again, it was an honor to be a part of this mission.

We spent the mornings this week at community homes in Guatemala City. We enjoyed seeing familiar faces and playing with the preschoolers. We also went back to the Buckner Baby Home. There are now 6 babies in the home. Two of the babies are from the orphanage in Xela. It was so fun seeing these precious children again!

On Tuesday of this week, the team of interns went on a special "intern only" field trip. Where, you ask? We all went to the doctor! Pretty much all of us had been sick off and on for over a week, so it was time to get some prescription drugs. Eight of us were given medicine! Praise God, we are all almost completely healthy now!

Please continue to pray for us and the other teams of interns in Russia, Kenya, and Romania. As we enter our last week, pray that we would finish strong. Pray for endurance, energy, and excitement. Pray that each person we come in contact with will see the face of Jesus, not us. Pray that we will see everyone through Jesus' eyes, not our eyes. We are honored to be able to spend one last week with our boys at San Gabriel. Pray that God would continue to do miracles there.

We have an adventurous weekend ahead of us....more details on the next blog! Thanks for checking in and thanks for praying for us!

For His Kids and For His Glory,
Sheena

Jambo from Kenya! Week Three

2006-07-27T07:09:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

I am excited and sad today because this marks the end of the first leg of our trip. Yesterday, we said goodbye to all of the children from the school that live in the slums and the staff at the Baptist Children's Center. Tomorrow we are leaving for Busia (western Kenya, bordering Uganda) with a team from Wilshire Church. We will be working with a medical team and also with children in Busia. I am looking forward to the drive tomorrow and seeing more of the Kenyan countryside. After Busia we will go on a two-day Safari and then attend "camp" at Brackenhurst with the orphans from the Baptist Children's Center. I am so thankful that we will have more time with the children from the orphanage in Nairobi!

I am not sure if you have ever heard of Kibera slum in Nairobi, but it is supposed to be the second largest slum in Africa and the largest in Kenya. I know Kibera from watching the movie the Constant Gardener and reading articles from National Geographic. The statistics that I have read say that Kibera is 4 square miles and more than a million people are crammed into a space with no running water, electricity, etc. There are supposedly over 50,000 + documented orphans in Kibera.

Earlier this morning, I had the opportunity to visit Kibera. Tom, the missions coordinator, lead us in a stroll along the railroad tracks that ran through the slums. Trash and mud were covering the ground. As we walked, the children would smile and say "how are you, how are you?" They would also yell "mazungu" which means "white person!" I have been told that when they say "mazungu" they are commenting that the person is either crazy or lost to be there. Most of the shelters were made of mud, cow dung or tin. Everything was crammed in very close together. I saw many people working very hard at carpentry, sewing shoes, selling bananas or shoveling dirt. No matter where I have traveled, I am reminded that people are people wherever you go. I loved getting to make eye contact with women there and send them a smile. I pray that they could somehow be encouraged by our greetings. Walking through, I heard praise and worship music coming from one of the market stands. I am reminded that our God is a big God. He is alive and well in the hearts of his children in Kibera.

Thank you for your prayers.
May Jesus bless you today as I am blessed daily by his grace...
Becky

Hola from Guatemala! Week Three

2006-07-26T06:56:00.000-07:00

Hola from Guatemala! Week Three

2006-07-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

Hola!!!

Team Guatemala is in full swing as we start week 3. We had a phenomenal ending to our time in Xela ("Shay-la"). We had a huge beach party for the kids on the last evening. It was miraculous reflecting back on the week and seeing the changes that occurred in the children. Many of the changes were so great that it could have only been God working through us in the life of the children. Several interns spent time in the medical clinic giving lice treatment, washing feet, and assisting Dr.Bobby. There is a picture of Denise washing the feet of one of the children. After cleaning the children's feet, we clipped their nails and applied an anti-fungal cream. It was such a privilege, honor, and a humbling experience to do this for the children.

On Saturday morning, we went to Lake Atitlan. It was definitely one of the most beautiful places that I've ever visited. One of the pictures is from the lake. Even though the picture is really pretty, it doesn't give justice to the true beauty of the lake. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at a restaurant overlooking the peaceful water. Afterwards, we spent some time relaxing in hammocks while listening to music. On Saturday night, we had our farewell dinner with High Pointe Community Church. Wow, what an amazing body of believers! The interns were continually in awe watching this church and seeing their passion for the children in Xela. This church has been visiting this orphanage for four years. On Sunday, we went back to beautiful Antigua. Once again, we had a great time hanging out with the girls at the girls' orphanage in Antigua (Manchen). It's so great seeing the children several different times.

It's so hard to believe, but we are at our midpoint of the trip. Each day, God has taught us so many things. Below are some of the things that God has taught a few of the interns:

"How humbling it was to be at my weakest point physically and for God to speak to me. I was so broken and was often reminded that I am nothing and can do nothing without Christ. I've seen many times that none of what we're doing is because of us, but because of God. We have to continually die to ourselves every day, so Christ can be seen and live in us. I've also learned that because of the language barrier and culture, Christ can't be seen in us without God's grace." ~Laura

"I have learned what an incredible gift love is. We all try to figure out what gifts God has given us and how we can use them in our lives, but we often overlook the best gift of all that we have to give- love. And it's such a simple thing to give, yet I often get too absorbed in my own life and forget how important a simple smile or hug can be." ~Shauna

"God has been teaching me His crazy sovereignty in taking care of these little orphans. He totally broke my heart for the babies in Xela. It has just been incredible to allow God to use me to bring smiles and joy to the sad, crying, lonely faces of the babies. BUT, God has been revealing to me that He is still taking care of them, and still has their names written in the palm of His hand." ~Becky

"The time in Guatemala has revealed God's vastness and sovereignty over His entire creation. Entering into the orphanages has been hard to even begin to comprehend the realities that these children face day to day, week to week, even year to year. But He has revealed that He is sovereign over their lives and their future -things that we can't even begin to worry about. It has been amazing to know that we can give these children nothing of our own strength, but only that which God has set ablaze in our hearts to overflow into their lives. We have been at Christ's feet for strength and energy, and that has been a truly amazing experience; in our weakness, He is strong!" ~Noelle

"I have been in utter amazement of how God has used diverse personalities for His Glory!!! His plans are so timely!!! His love is overwhelming and beautiful. I thank my God for teaching me how to submit and encourage those who are becoming leaders. I thank him that He has allowed me to see others through His eyes and not my own. Praise God for the power of prayer!!!"
~Lorraine

"After praying that God would make me incredibly alert to the needs of His children on this trip, I think He's teaching me to serve immediately upon seeing needs instead of waiting to be asked to serve. More importantly, He's teaching me not only to be perceptive of needs in the orphans here and to be praying for them when we can't be with them, but to be serving in this way each day of my life. As God is tearing my pride apart over & over, I'm learning to value my family more than ever, to strive to bathe each day in prayer, and to let Him be the one to heal broken hearts. One of the biggest ways I've learned here is through observing the passion of this incredible team of interns, so thanks for your support of the team!" ~Denise

As I've said before, I am surrounded by an incredible team of interns. I've never been so encouraged and supported as I am in Guatemala. This week, we are going back to the boys' orphanage at San Gabriel. What an exciting reunion for us and the boys as they don't know we're returning. Pray that their hearts will be open and receptive to us and most importantly to God.

Pray that God would use us in mighty ways to impact every child at the orphanage. Pray that all of the children would desire a relationship with Jesus or would desire to deepen their current relationship. Also, please pray for the health of all of the interns. Thanks for checking in and for your prayers.

~For His Kids, Sheena

Zdravstvuyte from Russia! Week Three

2006-07-24T13:37:00.000-07:00

Zdrastya!

We got back from Orphanage # 60 yesterday and it was by far the "roughest" orphanage thus far. Aside from the rock-hard mattresses, there were about 50 kids there and only one caretaker with little control over the kids. Even though it was rough, I found that my three days at this orphanage have been some of my best since I've been in Russia.

I want to share a particular story about two girls in the orphanage who I spent the majority of my time with, Natasha and Alyona. Both of them are 14 and have lived in the orphanage system for a long time.

They were the orphanage bullies, very hard girls and hard to reach - physically and spiritually. When we first arrived at the orphanage I was drawn to Natasha because she had several long, deep scars on each of her forearms, which I later found out had been self-inflicted.

After the first day of camp with the kids, some members of our group took a walk to the nearest store four miles away, and Natasha and Alyona went with us. During that time, I got to meet them and they opened up a little to me. Both were very sarcastic and tough kids, with each other and us, yet they were still kids. Deep down they were scared and wanted hope and love more than anything else in the world.

After the walk, I spent about an hour with them and some of the other kids and actually gave Natasha a hug (Alyona would let me get close to her) before saying good night. The next day at crafts Natasha wrote me poem which said - paraphrased; it rhymed in Russian and was very well written:

"I can not wish you love, I know love will find you. I can not wish you happiness because what is happiness? I can not wish you success, I know you will be successful. My only wish for you is that you will be a good man."

Of course, I will keep that poem forever. During the next two days we spent together we sang praise songs in Russian and Natasha was actually singing the words and requested that we sing a certain song over again.

We talked for about four hours on Saturday night after dinner, laughing and joking around because underneath the hurt and the pain, they both are just kids, only 14 years old, and in their heart they both want love and hope and a future - things that only a life in Christ can bring.

During our short time together I tried to hug them and hold them as much as I could, and by the end of the three days, they were actually giving me hugs. I wrote them each a card and gave them each a bracelet. As we were leaving, I had to hold back tears as they were waving goodbye. My heart breaks for these two kids, and I hope that you will pray for them.
I know I will be praying for them.

God bless you,
Ben (Venya)

Hola from Guatemala! Week Two (Entry Two)

2006-07-21T07:01:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

The Guatemalan team of interns has been very busy, yet we still remain in awe of our wonderful God and His mighty works. It's been so encouraging to hear how God is working through each of us and through the children that we encounter.

Over the weekend, we visited a transitional home in Guatemala City and an orphanage in Antigua. The transitional home has girls from the ages of 14 to 22. The girls are in finishing school and starting their careers. We took the girls to see "Super Man." They loved the movie, and it was a great time to get to know the girls better. It was very encouraging to hear the girls' stories. We asked the girls how their life has changed since they first came to the Buckner Transitional Home. One of the girls started crying and told us that since she came there, she realized that she has a future and can achieve her dreams. We shared testimonies with the girls, and they shared their hearts and personal stories.

On Saturday, we drove to Antigua, which used to be the capital city of Guatemala. The city is so beautiful!!! Ancient churches and buildings abound along the cobblestone roads. When we first arrived, we visited Manchen (a girls orphanage). We sang songs with the kids and told stories. We had so much fun hanging out with the kids and playing with them. Several of the girls know how to knit and sew. I thought it was interesting watching the young girls knit purses together. After having lunch at Mono Loco ("Crazy Monkey"), we went shopping at the (very popular) market in Antigua. We had so much fun bargaining with the vendors. We bought skirts, purses, blankets, and more. The market is filled with brightly colored, handmade items. It's a matter of finding what you want and then bargaining to get the best price. My skirt started at 90 Qs (about 12 US dollars), and we bargained until the price was 50 Qs (only $6!!!). Its fun bargaining, yet very tiring!!!

On Sunday, we drove about 6 hours west of Guatemala to Xela ("Shay-la"). We drove over and around many mountains (including the highest point in Guatemala). It was such a beautiful ride through the mountains. This week, we are with a team from Puyallup, Washington (High Pointe Community Church). We walk to the orphanage each day (it's about a half mile each way). There are about 70 children at the orphanage....from infants to orphans in their 20s who have special needs. We meet for devotional at 8:30 and then walk to the orphanage. The boys are with us in the morning and the girls in the afternoon (they are at school during the other part of the day). We are doing a wide variety of things at the orphanage. Each child is seen by the doctor (from the High Pointe team). The doctor and assistants also give each child lice treatment and foot treatment. All of the children get a new pair of clothes, new pajamas, new socks, and new underwear. The kids were so excited trying on their new clothes. I was again reminded of life as an orphan when I found out that each kid may only have 3 pairs of clothes at any time. Wow, we have so much to be thankful for...especially the things we take for granted each day. The children also participate in VBS stories, crafts, and songs. All of the children are going to a dentist this week for a cleaning and checkup. Several of the men have already spent many hours this week fixing toliets, rewiring lights, changing hinges, and many other much needed repairs. It has been so easy for us to see how the whole body of Christ pulls together. We each are talented in different ways and make an incredible team when we combine all that we have.

Please continue to pray for us...several team members have been sick these past couple of days. Pray that we will be healthy and will be filled with energy and excitement each day. Pray that the children will see Jesus in us and that we will see the children through Jesus' eyes. Pray that we will be a positive witness to the caregivers and will continue to encourage them.

We will travel back to Guatemala City on Saturday night....pictures coming soon!!!! (as soon as we get back to the Buckner House). Thanks for checking in and thanks for your prayers and encouragement!!!!!

For His Kids,
Sheena (or "Chee-na" as the kids here refer to me as) :)

Zdravstvuyte from Russia! Week Two

2006-07-20T06:41:00.000-07:00

Zdrastya!!

I’m sitting in an internet café located on the Nevsky Prospect, the most famous street in St. Petersburg. This morning we prepared for our next mission to camp #60 and we visited the Church of the Spilled Blood in the afternoon. It’s the church that everyone thinks about when they think of Russian Orthodox Churches (the one with the bright colors and swirling domes on the top).

We got back from orphanage camp #9 on Tuesday. It was a camp that the follow-up staff here in Russia had never gone to and some of the children had never heard the gospel message before. It really was an incredible experience how God changed the hearts of the kids at that camp. They were mostly older kids who earned their keep in the orphanage by working on the farm that was attached to the camp.

One story I’d like to share is of a young girl named Anya, who is 19. She was in my small group where I had an opportunity to give the gospel message. While it was being translated, I could see that God was speaking to her heart. After our small group was over Anya approached the translator and me to ask more questions about God, Christ, and her life. I’m not sure if she accepted Christ at that point or not (most of the older kids do not open up that easily), but as we were leaving and I was just about to get on the bus, I looked over at her and she was at peace.

The kids at this camp are pretty hard and jaded. Most have lived a rough life and they’re only teenagers. Some of them had never heard of Jesus, which was really a neat for our group because the kids were so eager to hear what we had to say. When we left on Tuesday after only two days, most of them were waiting at the bus to say goodbye to us. We will be going back to orphanage #9 in about a week so please pray that we are able to connect with these kids and complete the good work that we have already started with this group. Our group really has a heart for the orphans at this camp and we can see God working in their hearts. I gotta go cause the rest of the group is waiting for.

From Russia with Love in Christ,
Ben

Buna from Romania! Week Two

2006-07-19T06:46:00.000-07:00

Hello!!!

Wow...I can't believe we have been here almost 2 weeks....it is crazy! We had an AMAZING week at Zau girls orphanage and it was very very hard for us to leave...alot of us were in tears and we became so close with so many of the girls...the week was a neat experience for all of us to start out with...some of the girls were surprised at how close they got with the girls and how real their bonds became...the Lord really blessed us with memories of these girls that we will never forget.

Since then, the team from FBC Euless has been here and they are SO GREAT! We all got along instantly and they have been a huge help and blessing for us this week....it has been great working together and learning so much from them as well. Their leader, Dave has also been extremely supportive and has been very comforting and encouraging to our team of interns this week also. We have had many laughs and good times so far, and we'll be really sad to see them leave on friday.

We just got done with our group devotionals/reflection time tonight and it is so neat to see how we have only known these people for a short time, but I feel like i could talk to them about anything. I think that because of this, the week has gone very well and we have been able to be more confident as a team because we have so many people working together and supporting one another.

But, the kids have been great, we have been working at a day center in the morning, and Ludus orphanage in the afternoon, and today was our second day, and went alot better than yesterday, because we are getting to know the kids better and they are opening up alot more. We were a little worried about how Ludus would go, but God really is working there and things have gone alot better than we expected...which is usually the case! We are just praying for continued trust and that we would have complete faith and not let satan intimidate us in any way.

It is really hard to sum up a week, because SO much happens here everyday! Some other girls will be posting in the next few days to give more insight to what is going on, so hopefully you will get a better picture of what we are doing everyday....but whoever is reading this...your prayers are much needed for the children of Romania! Have a wonderful day!

Love,
Amy

Jambo from Kenya! Week Two

2006-07-18T07:14:00.000-07:00

What an interestingly wonderful week we've had.

There are many things I can write about for this week. The monotony of grinding maize stalks. The joy of impromptu skits. The little boy starring at the white guy behind him even as I write this. But I would have to say, the best thing I can write about would have to be my preaching experience. This was not my first time preaching, but it was my first time preaching in a foreign country. This was not my first time preaching, but it was my first time preaching with an interpreter. This was not my first time preaching, but it was my first time preaching were I am the minority (and what a big minority!)

I think I might hold the record for the shortest sermon at BCC's chapel. A quick 15 minutes is all it took for me. But it was a great experience! I am called to be a foreign missionary, so being given this opportunity was truly awesome. The lessons I've learned cannot even be listed (I'm to keep this to 200 words if possible), but I tell you, for the rest of my life, I will be able to remember back to the day I preached at BCC.

Well, goodbye for now!
Michael

Hola from Guatemala! Week Two

2006-07-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

Hola from Guatemala! Week Two

2006-07-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

"MI TESORO, MI TESORO, MI TESORO, MI TESORO ESTAN AQUI, MI TESURO......."

Team Guatemala has had an amazing first week in Guatemala! We have continually been in awe of our indescribable God. The team of interns has bonded so well. It's like we've known each other forever. Each of us have many different strengths. It's so encouraging to be surrounded by so many Godly people each day.

This week, we spent the mornings visiting different community homes in Guatemala City. Most of the children were between the ages of 3 and 6. We sang songs, shared a Bible story, and played with the kids.

In the afternoon, we went to San Gabriel Boys' Orphanage. The second day through the last day at San Gabriel, we were greeted with one of the guys shouting, "MI TESORO, MI TESORO, MI TESORO, MI TESORO ESTAN AQUI, MI TESORO......." In English, "my treasue, my treasure, my treasure, my treasure is here, my treasure!"

Our Bible School theme this week was "Bible Heroes." We studied Noah, Daniel, and Joshua. We played with the boys for a little bit and then started our program. We sang songs and shared a Bible story. Then, the boys started rotations (prayer/snacks, soccer, arts & crafts, and basketball). We shared our personal testimonies with them and shared some of our favorite Bible verses. We have prayed so hard for the boys this week and have seen God work in so many ways. We built many relationships with these guys. Many of the guys are still very broken-hearted, angry, and sad.

However, by the end of the week, several of the guys opened up and shared stories with us. Several of the boys were very interested in learning English. One of the boys asked Denise how to say "Dios con nosotros" in English. Denise told him "God with us." She taught him many more phrases in English, however, his favorite was "God with us." He went around the orphanage and told all of the Americans, "God with us." Even at the end of the week, he still remembered and constantly repeated "God with us." On Tuesday, some of the boys really started opening up and sharing with our small group. They started telling us their background and their stories.
We listened to Elmer tell about how his dad choose his stepmom over him.

Elmer's dad told him that his stepmom could give him a normal child (as opposed to one who has epilepsy). Elmer told us how he was called worthless trash. He told us stories about being physically abused by his dad. We listened to Tedy tell about how he formerly looked to drugs to satisfy the void in his life. Tedy told us numerous abuse stories. It was so hard to hold back the tears and be strong. All of a sudden, life as an orphan seemed so real to me. My heart broke in two for these kids. Then, they started telling us how they pray every night and the things they pray for. The next thing we knew, Tedy and Elmer were telling us how they've been praying for us and how grateful they are for us visiting them. They told us they pray for our safety, our relationships with God, and they thank God for us every night. Tedy told us that when he grows up, he wants to be a pastor to spread the word of God (see picture below...Tedy is holding a picture that he drew of Jesus). Wow! It's like we were speechless listening to the boys' past stories, then blown away by their prayers for us, and finally in complete awe of God's sovereignty. Later in the week, Denise was talking to Samuel and asked him who was his best friend. Without hesitation, he pointed up and said Jesus.

Ahh, and our big surprise.....Thursday we had a surprise birthday party for all of the boys at San Gabriel. It was EVERYONE'S birthday!!! While the boys and the team from Bellcroft sang songs and acted out the Bible story, the interns decorated the cafeteria. We had posters with encouraging words and balloons. We had pizza for the boys and a huge birthday cake. After the food, we had a huge water balloon fight. We ended the party with birthday gifts for all of the boys! What a day! Best of all, we will be returning to San Gabriel the last two weeks that we are in Guatemala. Please continue praying for all of the boys at San Gabriel. Pray that God would soften their hearts and that all of the boys would seek God with all of their heart. Pray that they would be overwhelmed by the love of their Heavenly Father even though an earthly father isn't part of their lives.

Pray that God would work miracles through us when we're at San Gabriel.

Feliz cumpleanos!!!
~For His Kids, Sheena

Zdravstvuyte from Russia! Week One (entry 2)

2006-07-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Priviet from Russia!!

It was so good to hear from a lot of you via email. Thanks for all your prayers and concerns. It has been an amazing trip so far. Our group has bonded really well and Buckner’s Russian staff are such great people. I’ve spent the last week at a camp located outside of St. Petersburg with about 50 Russian orphans. It has been so incredible that words cannot describe what it was like, but I’ll try.

The age group of the kids was from 5-13 year olds and of course they loved us as soon as we saw them (the older kids take a lot longer to warm up to us, or so I’ve been told). Our group did a tremendous job with the Vacation Bible School and everything worked so well, praise God. In the afternoon, we had free time with the children and I taught them how to play football (American football.

The kids, of course were the best part of the trip. They were constantly jumping all over me and asking me to throw them up in the air. I’d usually have at least 3 or 4 kids hanging from my neck and arms and since I’m the only guy (the other 9 American interns are girls) all the boys wanted me to play with them. The kids are starving for male attention because all of the caregivers are women. I had an opportunity to get close with a number of the boys and just hug them and play with them and build them up. One little boy in particular had a special bond with me because we saw each other when he was in Dallas and I told him that I would see him when I came to Russia. His name was Vitaly, please pray that he gets adopted. I’ll never forget on the first day when we arrived, he remembered me and what I said back in Dallas. After the first day, when we were all waiving goodbye, I looked up and saw Vitaly smiling down at me from the balcony with a look of shear joy. It’s a moment that I’ll probably remember for the rest of my life.

The orphanage that we visited (#2) has some of the best caregivers in all of St. Petersburg, but the kids are still so starved for attention and just basic love. Any time I’d go anywhere, they’d want me to hold them or play with them or just hold their hand and smile at them. One little girl named Ella stole my heart. She’s 10 years old and lives in the orphanage with her brother Kostya, she has bright blue eyes and blond hair (always wears a bandana), such a cute little girl. I didn’t even meet her until the second day and even then she was very shy and would hardly let me touch her. Slowly she warmed up to me and I got to spend some time with her during our Bible story time and craft time. By the end of the week she wanted me to hold her during our times together and would sneak a kiss on my cheek from time to time. When we left this afternoon, I wrote her a little card and she gave me a big hug, while holding back tears. Words really can not express the love I had and have for this little girl. She is so sweet and innocent and I pray that a Christian family will adopt her.

Well I gotta go cause I’m holding up the group. My time so far has been challenging and so rewarding. We start again on Monday at orphanage #9. Till next week, we remain Strong in Christ,

- Benjamin (Venya)

Jambo from Kenya! Week One

2006-07-12T07:51:00.000-07:00

Here a few of the blessings that I experienced today:

1.When we walked into the orphanage, Josia (eight year old boy) was leading the song:
"I have a living hope, I have a future, God has a plan for me, this I am sure. Jesus your my firm foundation. I know I can stand secure. Jesus your my firm foundation. I put my hope in your holy word."
How precious and what a true testimony to hear the children loudly singing this song together. I am reminded of what a tight grip that their Lord Jesus has on their lives.

2. The children had a running race at school. Shirro (a five year old girl) was racing another little boy. She ran to the fence and was leaps ahead of the boy. All of the girls were chanting "Shirro, Shirro..." She had the hugest smile on her face as she ran across the finish line and straight into my arms. I pick her up in a huge hug and began to spin her around. I felt so privileged that she would run that hard to me. This reminded me of how the father in the parable of the prodigal son might have felt as he received his son. All of life's worries fade away and you see the face of someone you love. Those of your who are parents know what it feels like to have a child pick you out in a crowd and run to your arms.

3. The poverty in Nairobi is so extreme. We saw a few ladies digging through huge piles of trash today looking for any food to eat. Again, how blessed am I not to worry about the next meal that I will eat.

Thank you for your prayers. Our team is healthy and has a wonderful attitude. Tomorrow the children are doing a performance of the traditional songs at school for us.

Much love,
Becky

Buna from Romania! Week One

2006-07-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

Buna!

Yay we are finally here!!! haha...30 hours of traveling is insane! We are having a really good time here so far. Yesterday was our first day working in an orphanage, called Zau. It is an all girls orphanage with girls from 4 years old to 20! So, we are having different programs for the older and younger girls. We have been doing VBS in the morning and play time in the afternoon. The girls are all so precious, and our team was all so surprised how sweet and welcoming they are! We were all getting kisses on the cheek about an hour after we got there! Everyone on the team is doing well, and are laughing a lot...so that is always good!

Today we got to have a picnic outside and enjoy the beautiful mountains here! We had no idea there would be so many mountains, trees, and animals walking around. The orphanage is about an hour away in a small village, so it has been really neat to see a completely different way of life.

We will continue working with the girls until Saturday, when a church team comes and we will start at Ludus next Monday. We are all having a great time getting to know the city and one another, and especially the girls. Personally, I have become friends with a girl named Lucia, and there is nothing better than getting her hugs every time we arrive! Please pray for the rest of this week and that we can form deeper bonds with the girls...they are wonderful, and we are so lucky to be able to spend time with them this week!

Ciao,
Amy

Zdravstvuyte from Russia! Week One

2006-07-11T07:10:00.000-07:00

Priviet Comrads :)

Well our group made it to St. Petersburg safe and sound. No problems along the way or getting through security. It was a long trip and we got to experience the "White nights" (because our flight path was so far north, the sun never went down completely all throughout the night) on the way there. It was so nice to hit the sack last night after being up almost 36 hrs straight! We have got a terrific team with us here. Besides the 10 interns from the US, I've met 3 other Russian nationals who will be helping us in our mission to the orphans, Olga, Lena and Yan. Yan is totally classic; he's my roommate and the only other guy on the trip, so we've been spending a lot of time together. He has an amazing story about how he became Christian. Also, coincidently, he is from Shymkent Kazakstan, the same city my brother Zack stayed at when he was in Kazakstan two years ago. We had a really good time of worship and Bible study last night and I think the team is bonding pretty well already.

Church this morning was really cool; we went to a Russian church. I think it's one of the most amazing things to hear songs that praise God in other languages. The people at the church were really nice and I got to talk to (and practice my Russian) with a number of them.

The Russian people (in general) on the other hand, are not so friendly. One of the biggest things I've noticed is no one talks. It's so weird, we'll be walking down the street and there will be lots of people everywhere but the whole place is silent. St. Petersburg is a beautiful city and they are doing repairs on it which is good, because it is a little run down in some parts. It reminds me of Paris or Vienna in its architecture.

Well I gotta go cause the group is waiting for me. Everything is going well and thanks for all your prayers. We head out tomorrow for our week at the first orphanage camp. Will be in touch soon, also, getting a phone card tomorrow.

Dasvidanya Y Slava Bogo (Goodbye and Praise the Lord)

Ben

Jambo from Kenya! Week One

2006-07-11T07:07:00.000-07:00

This week, well, really day, was splendid.

It was quick; it was slow; it was perfect.

Today my biggest worry was that they wouldn't remember me. But all that vanished when we got to Baptist Children's Centre (BCC) for church. We walked into Sunday school this morning and right away I was Hillum (my main man from the December trip)... and Hillum saw me. I watched with almost blinding joy as he mouthed, through full grin, "Michael". All the anxiety I had had now fled with the beam from his face.

The faces that I remembered, and that remembered me, only increased as the day progressed. And it felt like a long awaited homecoming.

Then it was time to leave. What felt like only a momentary meeting was now over; but not to worry my little orphans, I'll see you tomorrow.

-Michael

Dear friends and family,

I have arrived safely in Nairobi, Kenya and am so thrilled to return here again.

This morning we went to church at the orphanage. I was so excited to see all of the familiar faces. The children remembered me by name and it took everything in me not to break down with tears of joy. Everyone looked so healthy and their smiles were even larger than I had remembered. I couldn't help but scan the crowd for my little friend Regina, but she was no where to be found. I asked the school teacher where she was and I found out that she was moved to a different orphanage. Regina and another little girl with AIDS were taken to a special medical orphanage. I will miss her, but know that her life is still in the Lord's hands.

The church service was very encouraging. I love getting to sing hymns and here the Bible read in Kiswahili. There is something really special about getting to praise God in different languages. I think this morning at church is a little glimpse of what heaven will be like.

Tomorrow we will begin our daily routine of visiting the orphanage. Today, we are still recovering from Jet-lag. I hope to send weekly email updates. I value your prayers above all!

Many blessings and Bwana Asifiwe (Praise the Lord!)
~Becky

Hola from Guatemala! Week One

2006-07-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

Hola! Estamos en Guatemala! The Guatemalan team of interns safely arrived in Guatemala City Friday night. We are staying in the Buckner House in Guatemala City this week. One of the pictures is from the roof of the Buckner House. What an amazing view to wake up to each day!

Yesterday, we went to the Buckner Baby Home. This orphanage is a new baby home that is completely ran by Buckner staff. There are currently three children living there. Below you will see two pictures of the kids from the Baby Home. The interns were so excited to spend some time loving on those precious kids.

This morning, we went to church at La Verdad ("The Truth"). It was my first experience at an all Spanish church. It is so amazing to reflect on the fact that the God that we worship in English is the exact same God that we worshipped in Spanish this morning (as well as the same God that other interns are worshipping in Kenya, Russia, and Romania!!!). I think that sometimes it's so easy to put God in a "box" and minimize who He really is. However, God doesn't even recognize the language difference, because He looks at our heart. What a big God!

We met Bellcroft Church from Maryland this morning. We will be teaming up with Bellcroft Church this week while we do Bible School at San Gabriel Boys' Home. Here's a little background about some of the boys from San Gabriel. Several of the boys came from Elisa Martinez Boys' Home which was recently closed. As you can imagine, this was a very hard transition for those boys. There are many boys there that are sad and have broken hearts. It is truly Divine appointment that we planned many months ago to go to San Gabriel this week. It is our prayer that the boys' hearts will be open and excited to hear the Word of God. We have a BIG surprise for the boys on Thursday! More details on the next blog . . . :)

~Sheena

Photos from Guatemala

2006-07-10T08:25:00.000-07:00

Buna from Romania! Week Four

2006-07-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

We're in Budapest!! This city is amazing. We've spent our whole last day here taking pictures and trying to cram in all the culture and beauty that we can. We took a bus tour in the morning (to figure out how to get to all the places we wanted to go back to), took a boat tour midday (included in the bus tour price), took several metro rides to get to a museum that closed five minutes before we got there, visited the sweet zoo, shopped like crazy people, and managed to find time for food here and there.

It's strange to think that just two days ago we were spending all of our time with the kids. (These last three days we were at a great group home with only nine kids - wonderful!) I don't think it's really hit us yet that we probably won't ever see those kids again. I'm not even sure it's registered for me that I'll be seeing my family so soon.

I never really know how to handle ending these kinds of short-term trips. It doesn't feel right to just go back to living the life I had before all of this, but I know that dwelling on the past and longing for it will accomplish nothing. The hardest yet most important thing that should be done is to continue praying fervently. Yes, we've all been praying while we're there, and even before we came, but after we get back into our routines? after we push these memories to the backs of our minds? Paul constantly urged the early Church to pray for one another, present all kinds of requests to God, be united in prayer (even when distance is an obstacle). What a challenge! Please continue praying year-round for all of the work being done by Buckner's in-country staff (Anca, Dacian, Cristina, Ioana, and others). And pray for the children - that they will come to know our Father and stand firm in their faith through the many obstacles that come their way.

In Doamne's hand,
Sara

Chau from Latvia! Week Four

2006-06-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

It was so hard leaving Tervete last week, but God has really blessed our team. This week was such an amazing week. First, we returned to the Jelgava orphanage where we started out, so it felt good to see all of the familiar faces. We really missed the kids there. We also got to experience a lot of Latvian cultural traditions because we celebrated a holiday called Janis. We went camping with the Jelgava Baptist church Friday and Saturday. There was singing, games, a talent show, a fashion show, lots of food, bible studies and history lessons, a scavenger hunt, a bon fire, and some other fun traditions. We stayed up until 6 a.m. the next morning!

God really revealed himself to us during this celebration because we arrived only knowing about three people, but we felt like they were family almost immediately. Love really is a universal language! Thank you once again for all of your prayers. It becomes more and more evident everyday how God is working through us to pursue and fight for his children.

I want to share a letter with you from one of the girls at the orphanage that we have developed an intimate friendship with. She has been hanging out in our room a lot and has gone to church with us twice.
"Dear Summer, That was unique to hang out with you! Thanks for praying over me. I am praying for you too. You are so sweet and I am crazy in love with you! I especially enjoyed the nights when we would get some bible stories. That was really good for me. I love them. I have been devoting everything to God especially in these two weeks. I love Him with all one's might and heart! . . . I especially enjoyed the night we did hair and nails and then in church . . . I love you very much . . .”

We have been covering this place with prayer and God's word. These kids have nobody to fight for them, so we must! Thanks, see you soon!

Summer Shaw

Hola from Guatemala! Week Four

2006-06-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

This past week has been hard but so good. We spent the majority of our time at Elisa Martinez boys' orphanage. If I had to sum up this week in as few words as possible, I would say "heart change." It was incredible seeing the interns' change of heart as the week progressed. After hanging out with the boys on Sunday, most were worried about really being able to connect with them in the coming days and about the anger they showed towards each other. By the end of the week we didn't even want to leave the boys that we had gotten to know so well, and the boys didn't seem to be fighting as much.

Here's a sweet picture of how God has been moving at Elisa Martinez: A boy named Lester got to leave the orphanage and go home at the end of the week. Despite how awesome that was, he told one of the translators that this had been the best week of his life because he accepted Christ as his Savior! Yay!!!

A lot of things broke my heart this week too. One day my group took prayer requests with the boys, and a little guy named Mario asked us to pray that his dad would miss him. I loved being at the boys' home, and I'm excited that we will get to go back there for an afternoon next week. For our last week here, we'll be at Manchen girls' orphanage with Park Cities Baptist Church.

Buna from Romania! Week Three

2006-06-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

Last week, Jamie and Hannah both recuperated very quickly, so they were able to go to Leaganul (the baby orphanage) on Thursday and Friday. Some of the babies and toddlers there are quite healthy, and we were able to play with them and take them on walks - so much fun!

This week began a more straining schedule for us - traveling over an hour to and from the orphanages, working with two different groups a day. We were so excited about this new schedule though, because we had been feeling like we could be doing more with our time. Our focus this week (and for the rest of the trip) will be on teenage girls, leading discussions on various aspects of temptation. It requires much more preparation time than planning Bible stories, crafts, songs, and games, but I am so excited about it! Discussing this topic with them opens up a lot of other doors to share the roots of our faith. We also realize that there are a lot of temptations that these girls face every day in orphanage life, that they may not know how to handle.

Our fourth member of the team, Kelsey, will be joining us on Thursday night. We are so excited about meeting her! I'm sure that she will add a lot to our team and our ministry.

Please keep praying for the Holy Spirit to guide us in everything we do - it is then that the love Christ has for these girls can be truly reflected in us.

So much more to say, so little internet time to say it! :)

In Doamne's hand,
Sara

Chau from Latvia! Week Three

2006-06-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

We joined the Tate Springs team from Dallas in Tervete this past week. The kids there were so amazing and loving. We absolutely fell in love with all of them, and it is obvious God is at work there. We really learned the meaning of God's grace. I just want to give you a taste of their sweet spirits.

One boy, Edmunds, didn't come around until about mid-week, but he wrote me this note. "Hi Vasara (Summer), I was very happy that you came to us and gave us your love. Every evening you just hugged us and taught us something new. Thank you for just loving us, and I am very happy that you were honest with us. The best thing was that we could pray to God together. Don't worry be happy."

Also, a 15 year old boy named Janis really got attached to me and Jon. We got to go upstairs at night and tuck the kids in bed, sing them songs, and tell them bedtime stories. Janis decided to tell us a story last night. He said, "There was a boy named Janis who met a girl named Summer and a guy named Jon. They moved to America and lived in a big summer house with lots of food and a pool in the backyard."

God really broke our hearts for these kids. It was so hard to leave. I want to ask you to pray for one of the boys. His name is Andris and he is 17. He held on so tight to Jon and just kept telling us that he would miss us so much and would not be there next year. He has to leave the orphanage that he has lived in for 8 years. Just pray that God will give him hope and protection.

In His Grip,

Summer Shaw

Jambo from Kenya! Week Three

2006-06-20T07:09:00.000-07:00

Today we have worshiped for the second time with the BCC church and congregation. As usual, it is a lively experience. There is lots of singing, dancing, and laughter throughout the service. Everyone-visitor or member is treated as family once they walk through the door. I imagine that heaven will be the same way in a more glorified manner. In Africa, God's presence seems so much more available-not that He never isn't. But I guess here, we're not afforded the distractions of cell phones, internet, busyness, work, etc. to cause us to miss the sweet communion with our Lord and Savior. You can't help but to slow down and take the time to just breathe Him in! Thank the Lord that here in Kenya our brothers and sisters know how to relax and take it easy! Anything and everything that needs to get done will, so what's the hurry? I realize I have a long way to go to slow down, but I do strive to simplify my life while making sure the things I do have meaning. Anyway, today I did sing a song called Perfect Praise in front of the whole church. Talk about SCARY! But I said, "Lord, You did not give me the spirit of fear-so here goes! I hope you enjoy!" That was the greatest feeling-to sing and give back to them a song, as they have given so many beautiful ones to us while we've been here. Plus, I'm all about stepping out of my comfot zones-makes life much more exciting to see what God will do! They enjoyed the song-so that was good! God is my AWESOME FATHER and I love Him so much! Psalm 8:1
Your Sister! k

Hola from Guatemala! Week Three

2006-06-19T12:27:00.000-07:00

I can't believe we're halfway done with our trip already. This week we haven't had a church team here so the schedule has been very different. We spent one morning at a community home, and the kids there were hilarious. They love to dance, and it made me happy to see the joy in their faces as these preschoolers danced and did cartwheels to Spanish pop music.

Each afternoon a small group of girls from the transitional home (ages 14-18) came to our Buckner casa, and we got to read through Scripture together and discuss the topic of temptation. It was awesome getting to pray with them and get to know the girls.
We spent a couple of mornings painting the outside walls of Buckner's new baby home.

On Thursday afternoon the interns got to surprise the girls at Manchen. We stopped by and brought them lunch from Pollo Campero which was a big treat to them. It was awesome seeing their faces again and a blessing to see their excitement.

On Friday morning we left at 6 a.m. to hike up a volcano in Antigua called Pacaya. It was an amazing experience, and God's creation is incredible. We got within feet of lava, saw breathtaking views, and got a good workout hiking up.

Northpark Church from Abilene, TX arrived late Thursday evening so we're starting to get to know them. We went with them to Manchen on Friday and also spent today with Northpark Church, Celeste, Susy, and Gabbi from the transitional home. Next week we'll be at a boys' orphanage called Elisa Martinez.

It's amazing being here in Guatemala. The people are precious. So many different emotions flood me each day- so much joy overwhelms me when I see familiar faces at Manchen; there's so much heartache when I hear some of the orphans' pasts; so much encouragement from listening to and just getting to watch other interns with the kids; so much awe when I see all that God has done and is doing here. Thanks for praying for us.
~ Holli

Zdravstvuyte from Russia! Week Two

2006-06-16T06:55:00.000-07:00

TEARS -- Today was our last day in our first orphanage (Volkhov, Russia). The littlest kids acted out a fairy tale for us and little Sasha (he’s four) was in it. He was adorable. He played a dog so he had a little tail sewn to his pants. I stayed with the little kids for a little bit and helped them get dressed to go outside. I took a few kids to the sandbox once they were dressed and we pretty much stayed outside the rest of our time there. When it was time to go get all of my stuff together to leave, I did just fine. I went back outside with all of my stuff and some of the group was starting to say goodbye. I held it together pretty good even seeing some of the girls crying. We started walking down the path toward the street to catch the bus and ALL the kids started following us and coming with us to the bus stop. It was horrible. Everyone was crying. I finally had to struggle to hold back the tears when all the babies started yelling Dasvedanya (goodbye) from the sandbox. Knowing that I will never see little Sasha again and knowing that he doesn’t understand why we’re leaving and that we’re not coming back, breaks my heart. At this point I was miserable. But me being my usual self, I wouldn’t allow myself to cry. The caregivers and director thanked us so much for all we had done for their kids. It was really sad to leave.

Earlier today I pulled aside Peter and Andrei (two of the greatest kids in the world) and had Yan (our translator) talk with them. I love those boys so much and they have so much potential. I love them both.

The worst part of leaving was leaving Peter and Andrei. As we went across the street to the bus stop, I couldn’t bring myself to look at them. I felt so sorry, as if I had failed them in some way and knowing that everyone in their lives has walked out on them. I had so many tears that wanted to come out, but I just would not let myself cry. I just didn’t know what to do with my emotions.

The girls in our group were crying today, some more than others. But seeing the Russian kids cry so much is what broke me. Even some of the little boys were crying. One little boy yelled at his leader, “Can’t you take me with you?” Another little boy, who was so tiny and only six, had bonded so much with one of our girls. He was crying so hard. His caregiver had to hold him in front of her with her arms wrapped around him in comfort so that he wouldn’t come after us.

As our bus drove away some of the younger kids started to chase after us from the side of the road, yelling and waving goodbye. My tears filled up my eyes, but I only let a few fall.

It is only now that I am able to fully release all my emotions. As I am writing this, alone in the dark in my bed, that I cry out to God for comfort!

~Amanda

Buna from Romania! Week Two

2006-06-15T06:55:00.000-07:00

Both of my girls - Jamie and Hannah - are still sick, and I've been showing the same early symptoms for about three days that they did when we first arrived here. We went to the doctor yesterday, and he told us to just keep taking the medicine we'd already started. Please continue to pray for our healing - it can be frustrating to be kept from the work we came to do, especially when our time is so limited here.

Thankfully though, this week we were scheduled to go to a baby orphanage, so it's not like we'll be disappointing children who were looking forward to our coming. I may be able to go later in the week with Anca - one of Buckner's full-time staff here - but it's looking like Hannah and Jamie will need the whole week to recuperate.

Hannah and I were well enough to go to church on Sunday morning, and it was amazing. Our interpreters helped us out on one of the sermons (there were three, though I think the first two were more like devotionals/short scripture readings), and it was so good. I don't know if the pastor knew we were coming, but one of the passages of scripture he used in one of the first devotional times was Psalm 19. The first four verses are what stood out to me: "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." I have no idea what he talked about concerning this passage, but when reading along, my eyes were caught on this first part. I've been in such awe of the beauty that surrounds us here, and we've all talked about how God is so evident in His creation. Though we may not be able to communicate (in words) to the people here the glory of God, the whole earth is constantly declaring His awesomeness - in every language!

In Doamne's hand,
Sara

Chau from Latvia! Week Two

2006-06-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

This week has been very busy for us here in Latvia. We have had VBS every morning, play time in the afternoon and planning at night. The kids keep us out until around 8 p.m. every night because it doesn't get dark until around 11 p.m. It has been so much fun! We have had a great time being creative and silly with the Bible stories. When we told the story of Joshua and the Israelites crossing the Jordan we made new words for three popular American songs: "I Love Rock and Roll," "Complicated” (Avril Lavigne), and "Rolling on the River” (Tina Turner). The kids loved it, and we even got to perform again at the youth service at the church that night. We have really connected with some of the kids, too. One girl in particular, Lola, joined us for our nightly devotional the other night. I stayed up talking with her until 2:30 a.m. She is a Christian and was just telling me what a blessing we have been in her life. She writes us little notes everyday telling us how much she loves us. There is no doubt God is moving in this place. Thank you for all of your prayers and love.

In His Grip,
Latvian Team

Jambo from Kenya! Week Two

2006-06-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

This has been a good week! I was having difficulty deciding what to write about. Should I write about the fact that the three of us are learning the words to Dolly Parton's songs all the way in Africa, since our driver listens to her tape as we ride? Should I write about the many young children who run alongside the truck waving as we ride to the orphanage shouting greetings of "How are you? How are you?" Or should I write about the jokes our Kenya team leader gives us in the morning? For example, one of his jokes was, "Why was Eve never thirsty while she was in the Garden of Eden?" Being a DTS student, I was thinking all theologically and stuff -- bottom line, none of us came up with the answer! But for wondering minds, the answer to the riddle was, "Eve never became thirsty in the Garden of Eden, because she had A-dam!" Get it! A-dam/Adam! Talk about corny! It was fun! Lastly, I was wondering if I should write about how friendly and hospitable the people here are! We have so many invitations to other people’s houses for Sunday dinner and tea! We'll be there! This is my kind of country -- food and fellowship all the time! Well, that will be all for now! We will be seeing you soon!

~ Kanika

Hola from Guatemala! Week Two

2006-06-12T06:50:00.000-07:00

This week has been spent in fellowship with Northside Baptist Church. We helped them with VBS and carnivals they planned for the orphanages, went with them to meet the First Lady of Guatemala, explored the city, shopped and ate meals together. It's hard to sum up this week in a few words, but the times my heart has felt most alive were definitely when we were with the orphans. I got to work with the special needs group at Manchen girls’ orphanage in Antigua for a few days, and those girls are so loving. They latch onto you as soon as you walk in the door. Giving hugs, holding hands, playing with their hair, dancing, hearing them sing, holding them when their feelings got hurt, getting to know them, laughing, and just sitting beside them are times that I will never forget. I've loved little moments: jumping around laughing so hard and yelling "pizza" with a girl named Maria as we waited for dinner (one of the few times we understood what the other was saying); when a sweet girl that can't speak named Ruth brushed my hair out of my eyes; when a tough girl named Elena smiled while I scratched her back and then started scratching mine; seeing how excited the special needs girls got as they dressed up in costumes for Bible story time; and watching the other interns love on the kids with all they have. On Thursday we went to a boys' orphanage, and seeing the conditions they live in each day hurt my heart. Despite the surroundings, God blessed me so much there. I met a boy named Eduardo, and he spent time trying to teach me Spanish words. He was so patient with me as I butchered pronunciations. Next week will be much different – we don't have a church team coming in, so we'll be spending time building relationships and leading Bible studies at the transitional girls' home. Thanks for all of your prayers, and we have an awesome God.

~ Holli

Zdravstvuyte from Russia!

2006-06-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

Well, it’s been a crazy couple of days here in St. Petersburg! Within the first few hours of being in the country, one of our guys, Eric, busted his head open. Our translator, Lyena, and I took Eric to the clinic to get it looked over. I went back into the exam room with him and when the doctors came in, they wanted to know exactly how he did this to his head. After trying to explain that he hit his head on the skylight in the ceiling, they started laughing at him. I think something got lost in translation. Needless to say, it was an interesting experience and Eric ended up with four stitches. He’s doing fine and gets them taken out in a week, but it sure made for an interesting first day. Today will be our first day at an orphanage. I think everyone is a little nervous of the unknown, but really excited. Our group has been working together really well and I know things are going to be great today.
Yesterday morning I woke up for church and looked out the window to see a huge cruise ship sitting across the street! Someone had said that some ships dock around here, but I wasn’t expecting something that large to be outside my window! We are staying on Lieutenant Schmidt Street and across the street is the Neva River. There are many ships and boats of all sizes that dock along our street. We continually see Russian sailors walking around and men that work on the different kinds of boats.
Our first days in Russia have been very exciting. We can’t wait to spend time with the kids and get to love on them for a week.

~ Amanda

Buna from Romania!

2006-06-08T14:09:00.000-07:00

I keep trying to come up with a clever first line, but it's just not coming to me. Oh well. Things are going wonderfully here; we definitely feel and see your prayers being answered from across the world!

In the mornings this week we've been working with children in a day center - a school for children from impoverished families who can't afford to send their children to regular school - and it is so encouraging. These children were very attentive, even during the Bible stories(which are where we tend to lose most kids in VBS). I really appreciated getting to see how the government is funding such a great program. Please pray for continued support, and the growth of this program and others like it. It's a good start, but they are always in need of things.

In the afternoons, we've been going to group homes - homes for special needs children. The "parents" that care of these kids do it in 8-hour shifts, so there's always someone awake to care for them. There are 12 kids in each home, so I'm sure it's a very tiring job. Please pray for those who are so willing to care for these children, whose deficiencies range from blindness to Downs Syndrome to severe physical/mental handicaps. Thank the Lord that they are so obedient in God's call for us to care for "the least of these."

Other things to be praying about - our team only has three people, and both of my girls have been a bit under the weather almost since we arrived. I know it's very difficult trying to adjust to a completely different environment, even when you're feeling just fine! So I know it's been tough on them. Please pray for their healing and rejuvenation. And it's been pretty cold and rainy all week, so prayers for warmer, sunnier weather would not be unwanted! :)

I know this was a long first post - multumesc (thanks) for all of the prayers!

In His hand,
Sara

Chau from Latvia!

2006-06-07T18:51:00.000-07:00

We all arrived safely here in Latvia on Saturday. The trip went smoothly, and we had a warm welcome. We got settled into the orphanage in Jelgava on Saturday and started planning right away. The food is good and everyone is really nice. We have learned some basic words like chau (hello), ludzu (you’re welcome), and paldies (thank you). On Sunday, we attended a Latvian church service and sang some of our favorite songs in their language like “Amazing Grace” and “Open the Eyes of my Heart.” After the church service, we played all day outside with the kids. We loved it! We played our first real football (soccer) game. The kids enjoyed teaching us their games, helping us learn some Latvian words and showing us around the orphanage. It has been amazing so far, and we look forward to all God has planned for us here. The first day of VBS was today, and it was a little crazy but was fun. They really loved the balloons and the singing. We appreciate all of your prayers. Please keep praying for our strength and for God's message to reach the children's hearts.

In His Grip,
Summer Shaw

Jambo from Kenya!

2006-06-06T06:54:00.000-07:00

Before leaving Dallas my mind was already fried! I was thinking about those things I wish I could have taken, should have taken, who I needed to call to tell them I was leaving, etc., etc, as was the case even when the three of us - Ande, Brooke and I arrived in Chicago. On top of that my backpack was weighing me down and my carry-on was "carrying me up a wall" since it was so heavy too! However, the Lord provided some peace for us momentarily as we walked around Chicago's airport waiting to connect to London. There in the midst of the sea of people from all over the world stood the most melodious group singing some good old-fashioned gospel music! It reminded me of the home that none of us will be seeing for a month. We just had to stop and listen! Their singing, joy and love for the Lord were obvious as others began crowding around them with us. I sang along and temporarily the physical weight of my bags left me and the joy of the Lord renewed my strength! Hallelujah! I don't know the name of the group, but I will always remember how they encouraged me that day and made moving a little bit easier.

~ Kanika

Hola from Guatemala!

2006-06-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

Hola! Our team arrived safely in Guatemala Friday night after a fun, turbulent flight. We ate McDonald's for dinner, and I got to order in Spanish for the first time in my life. We're starting to get settled into the Buckner home where all of us interns will be staying for the next month, and I'm so excited to get to know all of these amazing people's hearts. Today we met the Northside Baptist Church team from Atlanta that we'll be working with for the rest of the week. It was encouraging getting to hang out and visit with them for a little while. We went with the church team to the girl's transitional home. Going there was a blessing but also overwhelming. It was such a blessing listening to the church team encourage and pray over the girls, and I loved how much joy and humility fills those girls' hearts. The girls at the transitional home gave us a tour of where they live. I felt overwhelmed because my Spanish speaking abilities are lacking, but I know that God is so much bigger than language barriers, and I can't wait to continue forming relationships with these girls. While we were there, the girls and interns played "pato, pato, gonso" (duck, duck, goose), card games, danced, talked, and laughed together. I'm so thankful that we arrived here safely and that God is already stretching us so early into the trip.

~ Holli

*Window to the World*

Blueberries and more Blueberries

Kenya--Week Three

What God Has Done

Wisdom and Revelation

Jesus Loves Me

Our Fifteen Minutes of Fame

A City on a Hill Cannot be Hidden

Zua de Campie

A Gift and a Smile

Scrub-a-dub-dub

The Battle at Lo Bohinka

Our Journey Has Just Begun in Kenya

Romania--Week One

Little Hands, Tiny Feet

Blessing in Disguise

Finished with the trip, but not with Africa

Prayer for hospital children in St. Petersburg, Russia

God opens doors in Russia

Pictures from Guatemala

From hellos to goodbyes in Guatemala

You gotta love Kenya!

¡Hóla, Qué tal! Guatemala

Hands and Feet of God - Romania - week 2

Kenya - Week 2

Blessings from Guatemala

Здраствуйте (Hello in Russian!)

Buná from Romania!

The Beginnings of God's Blessing in Kenya

Hello from Team Latvia!!

HOLA from Guatemala!

Jambo from Kenya! Week Four

Buna from Romania! Week Three (Entry Two)

Buna from Romania! Week Three

Hola from Guatemala! Week Three (Entry Two)

Jambo from Kenya! Week Three

Hola from Guatemala! Week Three

Hola from Guatemala! Week Three

Zdravstvuyte from Russia! Week Three

Hola from Guatemala! Week Two (Entry Two)

Zdravstvuyte from Russia! Week Two

Buna from Romania! Week Two

Jambo from Kenya! Week Two

Hola from Guatemala! Week Two

Hola from Guatemala! Week Two

Zdravstvuyte from Russia! Week One (entry 2)

Jambo from Kenya! Week One

Buna from Romania! Week One

Zdravstvuyte from Russia! Week One

Jambo from Kenya! Week One

Hola from Guatemala! Week One

Photos from Guatemala

Buna from Romania! Week Four

Chau from Latvia! Week Four

Hola from Guatemala! Week Four

Buna from Romania! Week Three

Chau from Latvia! Week Three

Jambo from Kenya! Week Three

Hola from Guatemala! Week Three

Zdravstvuyte from Russia! Week Two

Buna from Romania! Week Two

Chau from Latvia! Week Two

Jambo from Kenya! Week Two

Hola from Guatemala! Week Two

Zdravstvuyte from Russia!

Buna from Romania!

Chau from Latvia!

Jambo from Kenya!

Hola from Guatemala!

Window to the World