Camp Report

Yesterday we spent a wonderful day visiting James out at camp.  Johanna had been saying every night 'I WEALLY, weally want my Daddy back.'  So we all loved the chance to visit and enjoy the beauty of nature.  I may have said this before, but the camp is held in Borodino at the very lake Napoleon camped beside during the battle of 1812.  It's beautiful to say the least!

I'm always impressed at the fantastic job they do building everything from almost nothing!

Caleb ready to Conquer!  It's not easy to wear your shirt both backwards and inside out.

Impromptu singing after lunch

Okay this is the neatest story!  The man on the left is Chuck from Kansas.. he and his wife flew in Saturday to stay for two weeks.  Chuck got up early Sunday morning (jet lag and all) and decided to go for a jog... so he jogged through town and decided to stop by McDonald's for a coffee.  One small problem, he had no rubles.  So in the parking lot he sees a young man sweeping and taking out the trash.  Chuck walked up to him with a $20 bill and asked (in English) if there was any way he could exchange with him for some rubles.  The young man spoke some English and was quite shocked that an American was standing in the middle of the McDonald's parking lot.  His name was Yaraslav and he was 26 years old.  He had grown up in Uzbekistan and had moved to our city just a few years ago.  Yaraslav told Chuck he was about to get off work and could they please have breakfast together.  They ended up talking for a very long time and Chuck invited him out to camp.   He was able to change his work schedule and spent two days out at camp with Chuck and his wife Kim.   Yaraslav was so very interested in the Bible and learning about God.  I just love how God uses the ordinary things in our lives to bring us into contact with people.

The kids just LOVED being out at camp.  Here they are enjoying yummy fish soup.  And when they make fish soup here, they use the whole fish... for some reason some of the Americans were a bit distraught with the floating fish heads ;)

There is nothing better than getting dirty

Megan from Borger ~ what an awesome help!  

Rachel ready to play capture the flag

Robert, Caleb & Megan ~ hardcore campers

The victorious team

Here's another view of the dining table, kitchen and the start of the tent area

Please continue praying for safety and the weather.  They had a huge thunderstorm with lots of thunder and lightning last night, but during the day the weather has been beautiful.   Most of all pray that God would work in these young lives.  The camp ends Thursday and then the English camp starts on Saturday.  

Please be praying..

We are in desperate need of a miracle concerning the weather.  It has rained solid for a week and been very cold (37 at night~ brrrr! and highs in the 50's)  Camp was supposed to start tomorrow, but several parents have asked us to move it back a day as supposedly tomorrow will get warmer.   The sun broke through the clouds an hour ago and the kids went running around the house screaming 'the SUN, I see the SUN!!'    James has tried to set up and build the kitchen area at camp.. but it's a bit difficult in a foot of mud.  Please pray for NO MORE RAIN!    

The group from American arrived safe and sound and have been a huge blessing.  Megan from the TX panhandle (YEAH!! we love people from Borger!).  And Kyle, Caleb, Robert & Megan from Florida.  Pray for them as they have been walking around the city inviting youth.  They have achieved celebrity status already ~ last night as they were walking near the town square when someone yelled out "the Americans" and immediately 40 youth surrounded them to talk.  It's so neat to see... James doesn't get the same treatment when he walks around town ;)  Russia is all abuzz right now with President Obama's visit so I guess that somehow makes Americans interesting again.  Please pray for these young people to be protected and have God's wisdom and grace in their lives.

I'll try to update more later ~ we've had a crazy busy last week as I took all the kids for several days to a Christian summer camp.  Then our dog had 3 adorable puppies.  We know these camps are going to be amazing and God will change lives.  Thank you for standing with us in faith and prayer.