Interns in Russia!

So we just officially had our first week in Russia! My team and I are taking everyday as an adventure as we try new foods, learn more russian, and love more kids. We have already seen so much of St. Petersburg and travelled to the countryside to spend time with the kids while they are at camp. They are precious children full of smiles and they LOVE climbing on us and getting our attention! It is so great watching them really listen to the Bible stories and learning the memory verses as well. They ask such deep questions about faith and what we are teaching, it amazes me.

The orphanages in St. Petersburg just have numbers since there are so many of them. We spent this past week with orphanage #2 about 2 hours outside of the city. I can't even describe how wonderful it was or how blessed I am to have this opportunity. We can't understand most of what they are saying, but we can smile and hug them, and show them that we are there for them, and somehow I think that is enough. We had to leave them yesterday, and as I knew it would be that was so hard. Our team is just praying that they won't feel abandoned again and that they can have hope that God will be there with them.

I see their faces smiling in my mind and its so hard knowing that I won't see them in person again, but I know we are headed to love more children at the next camp and that is pushing us forward. Everytime I get a hug from one of the kids, or we make goofy faces at each other, or they want me to help them draw their pictures, I am filled with God's awesomeness. He is so good and I know that even though we have to leave them at the end of the week He never will. We have gotten the chance to tell them that and I know He will continue to watch over them even when we can't.

Please keep praying for us as we continue this adventure. We can't even imagine what these kids have seen or have been through. Please pray that we will give them as much love as we can, and that we will cherish every moment of it. God is teaching each of our team so much and it such an incredible journey. Thank you all for the prayers and support and we will hopefully update again next week!!

--Liz Andrasi, Russian Intern Team