Camp Vozrozdhena, Russia
July 2003

We left for Russia on Saturday July 5 and after a 23 hour series of flights and a bus ride, pulled into Camp Vozrozdhena, about an hour north of St Petersburg, at about 10:30 pm. There were still 3 hours of daylight left.

We woke to a throng of kids at the foot of our dorm stairs. Many were friends we made last summer. The message in their smiles was simple…”we’re glad you came back”.

Our team was made up of 18 Americans and 12 Russians, many of whom were with us last year too. Christ Church sent Russell Hill, Henry Timberlake, Whitney, Kelly, Cameron and Rick Archer and Claire, Sydney and Madison Smith. Two thirds of the team were under 20 so there was no shortage of energy and fun, honesty and ability to relate to Russian kids, most of whom were 9 – 13 years old. The connection was instant.

For two weeks we got to put aside our daily obligations and roles. Our days were full but simple. We’d throw on shorts and t-shirts and go to our one task…trying to love whoever we were with… orphans, camp staff or each other. We had lots of options: Frisbees, sitting on bench swings, doing crafts, taking walks, playing guitars, visiting and just hanging out together. We had a couple of firsts in the sports area. We taught the kids baseball (past teams have tried but with no success) and our guys built what we think may be the first putt-putt golf course in a Russian camp (if not in all of Russia).

We learned some disturbing statistics this year. Nationwide, only one in ten of the orphans will successfully make it to adulthood. In a recent Russian poll, the majority felt the orphans were simply a drain on society and that it would be better if they died. We were shocked. These are bright, energetic and handsome kids. Looking at them, such odds don’t seem possible. But life is hard in Russia and the deck is stacked strongly against the orphans after they leave the shelter of the orphanages at 16. Most will be sucked into prostitution, crime, drugs and will simply vanish or die at an early age.

As the days passed, our informal bible studies grew, conversations went deeper and kids started asking Jesus into their hearts. What began as a trickle grew into to a steady stream over the last few days. We could feel the Spirit moving in the camp and see Him changing hearts. Several kids had read the bibles we gave them last summer and were ripe for belief this summer. Others considered Jesus for the first time this year and accepted Him. Still others experienced Jesus in some way during our time and have a seed of curiosity planted in them. We told them that with Jesus now in theirs hearts, they had become our brothers and sisters in Christ and were members of Gods family now, our family. They liked this idea, starved as they are for family. We also told them that their troubles will not go away but that now they were not alone in dealing with them. They will have God walking with them through their challenges, using the struggles to make them strong.

We went over as missionaries but we were easily given more love than we were able to give out. We found that we couldn’t out-give the Russians - kids or staff. We each experienced God caring for us through those we came to care for – and through each other. “Give and it will be given to you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap…” (Luke 6:38). We left tired but overflowing with God’s goods.

For two weeks we lived in freedom like we rarely experience here. We brought back relationships, experiences and hopes that will last forever. Thank you for your support, your prayers and your friendship. One last word…seriously consider going yourself. You will experience freedom, fulfillment and life in its highest form.

In the adventure of Jesus,

The 2003 Russian Summer Team