` » Russia Update #11 – End of 1st Bible Camp

Russia Update #11 – End of 1st Bible Camp

Posted By admin on June 17, 2011

Dear Prayer Partner,

We are now completing our first week at St. Petersburg English Bible Camp. Friday was the last day of our first week at the camp held at Koltushe. Wow! It seems as though the camp just started! The days were busy and tiring but immeasurably rewarding.

This year was our second year of camp in this location and working in partnership with the Ingrian Church missionary committee to help them strengthen their churches to reach out to new people especially new kids and families. Everyone is having a wonderful time, the energy is high. After a week of rainy weather, we have warm beautiful weather today, so the students can enjoy the physical activities outdoors.

On Wednesday evening, our hosts invited us for a special evening for a cultural event. We had a Russian BBQ of grilled marinated pork called shashleek. It was amazing! We enjoyed vegetables and bread along with it. The pastor of the church was at the grill, and our hosts Aleksei & Alina and their 3 year old daughter Monica hosted the bbq. Our translators were also invited and we were even honored by a visit from the Bishop, Ari Kugapi. The fellowship was fun and sweet and we spent time getting to know each other. We were moved as the Pastor of the church that we are having our camp in, Pastor Ivan, shared his testimony with us.

One of the fun subjects that we offer each day at camp is drama. Each of the classes is assigned one of three stories from David’s life to prepare as a drama to be performed the last day or camp at our Closing Assembly. It gives the students the opportunity to really internalize their daily Bible stories as they go over the drama again and again while practicing. We had some very creative dramas this year, as the classes went all out with props, backdrops, costuming, songs and Bible verses using their best English, to convey the message. Most of the students and Russian teachers get very involved and really enjoy this.

Sometime during the latter part of the camp day, the students and their teachers and translators in their classes, will have a party where they are given a class picture as a gift from the camp. The teachers & students also exchange gifts. Hugs, tears, addresses and gifts were exchanged and also the hope that they will see us again next year was expressed. It is definitely a highlight of the week, and we all leave tired, but with many new friends and wonderful memories to share.

The first week of camps all wrapped up with closing ceremonies. This year the campers invited their friends and family for this special Closing Program. It was a highlight of the week! It will feature class dramas; the dramas were amazing! We are all surprised at the talent of the Russian translators and the young students. The children and teachers also perform new songs learned at camp using their tambourines, one of the crafts made during the daily craft rotation. One of our very own team members, Wendy Jepsen, who is a professional musician, performed, singing music that she has written and recorded. EEMN staff member Eric, also sang while accompanying himself on the guitar. Team Leader, Bob Bogott performed a silent skit on sin and repentance. The program culminated with the formal exchange of thank you’s and gifts between the American team and the Russian Translators and then we all enjoyed tea with our guests. After the tea ended, Pastor Ivan took the opportunity to pull aside all of the parents/visitors to speak to them and share the Gospel with them.

One of the regular readers of our prayer letters wrote to say how much they are enjoying it. They also asked about getting personal stories and testimonies from the students during the week. When I answered him, I realized that we are so familiar with the culture here after 8 years that what Bill & I take for granted as a cultural part of these camps is unknown by you who don’t travel here regularly. So I thought our answer to him might also be helpful to you as well.

” It is the nature of the Russian people to be very reserved in sharing personal things. Our partner here likens Russians to coconuts with a hard outer shell. They will rarely volunteer personal testimony in the way that Americans typically do. Once you factor in the language barrier, the smiling faces of the kids, the songs you hear being sung down the hall between classes and their eagerness in coming each day are often the best reflection of where they are that we can observe during the week. Occasionally the Lord blesses us with more detail from older students.”

We would like to share a couple of testimonies that have come through thus far:

We heard of one student, Sergei, who was in the camp last year, who reminded his mother throughout the year, “Don’t forget the English Camp! Please sign me up for the English Camp! I can’t wait!” His mother shared this with Russian team member Diana from Ishevsk. Being fluent in Russian and from this country opens some doors for extra conversation for her with the students and sometimes their parents.

One of our American teachers (Wendy) shared that she brought her guitar into her classroom and shared a song she had written with her class. After class was over the translator came to her moved to tears and shared that the song and words had touched her greatly. She shared that as in the song, she wanted to exchange her ashes for beauty. So, the teacher took time to pray with her.

Please pray for:

Next week’s first year camp in the village of Gubanitza with team leader EEMN staff member, Eric Debelak.
The Moberlys, Director & Short Term Mission Coordinator, and staff members John & Nichole Moberly & Will as they travel to Riga, Latvia tonight. They will be spending time with EEMN missionaries, Martins & Gunta Irbe, and then will meet the Latvia English Bible Camp team who arrive next week for two weeks of camps.
Pray for team member Jim Morrison who is battling a cold.
Pray for EEMN staff member and leader on this trip, Eric Debelak and his wife, Liza, whose mother passed away last week in Petrozavodsk. Pray for comfort and peace for both of them, and their children, as they are apart.
We ask for prayer for us, the team members, for strength, courage, wisdom in sharing the precious truth of the Gospel and for God’s love for forming friendships with our students and teachers.
Please pray for the students that they will be open to the seed spread and that it will fall on good soil.
Our Russian translators, that the Lord would touch them by His Spirit with His love, through us teachers as we interact with them daily.
Our hosts, that the Lord would use us to be a living witness to them as we share with them day by day.
For continued good health for the members of our team.

We Praise the Lord for answered prayer: