Blueberries and more Blueberries

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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