BACK TO THE FUTURE... in RUSSIA

When you know that you’re going to your home country on a mission trip, you think differently than others on the team. I have many memories about things that happened there. I am excited about the trip. Sometimes I think that when I get to Russia I can do whatever I want, but then I have to stop and remember that I’m a citizen of the U.S.A. and not Russia and I have to be careful in what I do there. The rules in Russia are very different than I used to know.

As we are preparing here in United States to go to Russia, the Russians are also preparing for us to come to their orphanages. From my experience, the week before the American team comes, the kids clean their bedrooms and clean up all the messes they have made so that they can have great time with their friends from another country. When the American team comes to their orphanage, the kids get really excited and they feel that they are loved and not forgotten.

The first day with the kids always relaxes you and you forget all the challenges of getting there. The kids enjoy playing with the people they love. The younger kids are usually having fun with their new friends while the older kids stand farther from the team. From my experience of being an older guy who lived in orphanage, I know that it is really hard for them to let go of their popularity and toughness. Although they look tough and strong standing in their corner, they wish they were with someone. I believe that every older kid in the orphanage struggles with the risk of being made fun of if they join in the “American craziness”, but in their hearts they want to be with the rest of the team. They cannot join on their own; they need someone to invite them. It is also a risk for the team members to reach out to the older guys. God placed this challenge on me. Whenever we go to the camps or orphanages in Russia, I try to get as close to the older guys as possible, and to develop relationships with them. God always has different tasks for each person, and He gave me a lot of joy being with those guys.

In 1999, I was one of the younger kids who are more open to the American visitors. I always waited for someone to ask me to be with them and be their friend. One day, when Americans were in our camp, one of the guys from the team came to me and loved me. From that point on, he was my hero and my heart softened, helping me become the child that God created me to be. I will always remember that day. The kids that are still in the orphanages are like I was. I pray that God will find them before the devil does.

For more information about the work of our partner organization, Spoken For International Youth Outreach, visit www.spokenfor.org or email Russia@121cc.com.

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