FA Russia Tour

Home sweet home

farussiatour — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:55:57 +0000

We had a mostly uneventful trip home and are glad to be back in our routines. Well, I’m not sure if the students are “glad” to be attending classes today, but nevertheless they are glad to be home!! I can see that we are still getting “hits” on this site, so will try to post more pictures in the next couple days. We made my goal of 10,000 hits – not hard to do when there is so much support! Thanks again for your prayers as we journeyed to Russia and back. We can’t wait to share our stories with you!!!

Headed home

farussiatour — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:40:16 +0000

Just a quick post before we head to Moscow for the day. It is possible that we won’t have any internet access for the remainder of the trip, so don’t be worried if you don’t see anything new on this blog. If we do have access, we will try to update it. So – we’ll see you in Fletcher on Monday night! Thank you for your prayers thus far and for your support. We have enjoyed the comments that you have posted, and look forward to sharing our experiences with you. Love to each of you…

New friends

farussiatour — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:10:01 +0000

Our week in the seminary is over. In an hour, we load the bus and head to Moscow for the day. This evening, we board a plane headed for London and we will spend the night at Stanborough Academy. Monday morning we head home! Our students are happy to be going home – they have missed their parents, their friends, their routines. But what we have learned from them is that they will miss their new friends here in Russia very much. In talking with our students the past couple days, it is evident that they have been blessed by the relationships that have been formed. They have exchanged email and “snail-mail” addresses.

They hope that one day they will be reunited with them in heaven.

A little down-time

farussiatour — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:00:58 +0000

In the midst of our busy days, our students did find time to rest, relax and hang out with friends. Here are a few pics…

Week of Prayer

farussiatour — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:16:39 +0000

We held a week of prayer this week for the Academy students. In the beginning there were kids sitting in the meetings with headphones on, playing games on their phones, and just over all not paying attention. But by the end of the week there were many kids who put away these distractions and paid attention. This week we had 7 people speak for our week of prayer. I was one of them. The first day was Tuesday, Krista and AJ. The second day Marc and Katrina spoke. The third day Bradley and Jessica spoke. The last day was Friday and I spoke. I was really really nervous. I have only spoken once before and never with a translator. Mr. Gettys had informed me 2 days before that he had switched my day and now I was the only person who was going to speak. So I used that extra day I had to write more into my sermon. I added two skits which thankfully Shelby and Marissa were willing to help me with. And Cameo I was very nervous with just the thought of going up front and speaking. But before I went up, a lot of people prayed with me and I felt a lot better. For a few moments before I did feel sick but I didn’t feel the anxiousness I was expecting. I think it went well. A few people came after me and told me they really needed that message and they thanked me. I was encouraged. I was very blessed by the people who prayed with me and prayed for me. For me it was very encouraging because there were many people who made an effort to come and pray for me.

Shout out to my family- see ya soon!!

Melanie Yoon ’11

Russian Roommate & Russian kids

farussiatour — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:29:10 +0000

First off, this trip has been amazing! There are two things that have really impacted me on this trip. First I have a super sweet roommate. Her name is Sveeta ( or something like that ). She is in her 20′s, 21 or 23 I think, and she teaches 4 classes here and Geography to the 9th grade class. There is another girl named Ira but I don’t really see her because she is usually gone and doesn’t know any english. But Sveeta is wonderful. When I first moved into the room she told me she was going to the shop( they say shop instead of store ) and when she came back she had cheese and bread and tea. She asked if I wanted any and at the time I said no but she said later she wanted to sit down and have tea. Than that night while I was sleeping she put one of her blankets on me so I wouldn’t get cold. She invited me to go play at the gym with her and go to a concert which I wasn’t able to go to but we went to another one that we sat together and talked about the music. She always offers me food and one night she cut up bread and cheese and made tea and asked me to sit down and show her my pictures of London and Russia. She told me that her dream was to go to Prague and live in London. She always makes sure I’m comfortable and has been so great. Just last night she invited Emily to go to a tea party with us. She has such a funny personality and is very animated. She does devotions every morning and I can just really see God through her in the way she treats me. So that is just a bit about her and the good time I’ve had with her.

The second experience came when we went to the correctional facility. It just really touched my hearts when I saw those kids. We sang songs for them and as I looked out over their faces my heart went out to them. In that moment I realized that there has to be a God, a God that has something better in store for these beautiful children. A place where all their hurt and pain will be taken away and they’ll have someone who loves them more than they can imagine. After we sang we were told to find a child to teach us an english word. I walked up to one who was blind and the lady that was sitting with him told me that the kid beside him could teach me. So I sat by them and the one little boy taught me some words, which of course I’ve forgotten and I can’t remember his name. I let him and some other kids look at my pictures and they really enjoyed taking them. I took a picture of him and the other little boy who was blind. When I think of that blind boy and his beautiful smile my heart melts.

Danielle Beaudette ’11

Tea Party

farussiatour — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:22:15 +0000

Last night, Danielle’s roommate invited me to tea. So after our evening worship, she took us upstairs to her friends’ room where there was a little table covered with a table cloth. The five of them had put plates of fruit and little cakes all over the table for us. We sat on the beds facing the table as they started pouring our tea. While we were eating our food, they asked us questions about where we lived and went to school, and about our families. When we were telling them about us, they were so sincere in listening to our answers. They really cared about what we had to say. It was so nice to get away from all the people that I have been with all week, and talk to people who actually cared. God knew exactly what I needed last night when my patience was running thin.

The love of the people here in Russia and especially at Zaoksky is truly amazing! My experience here has been life-changing. When I get back to Fletcher, my attitude will definitely be different. Praise the Lord for all He has done in my life on the this trip and for all the people He has used to do it!

By Emily Jones ’12

How do you say___?

farussiatour — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:46:49 +0000

Of all the new, interesting things we have run into on this trip, the most confusing is the change of language. Of course it is, you might say, but its not until you’re surrounded by people saying ‘Huh?’ and ‘Repeat Please,’ or simply not knowing any english, that you truly feel the impact. Having great translators [Ruslan and Alexander] always helps but they are not always around so you still feel inspired to learn some of their language. Here are a few things I have learned throughout my stay in Russia.

Previet- Hi

Pacca- Bye

Spaseeba- Thank you

Pajalusta- Your Welcome

Horosho- Good

Dobroye Utro- Good Morning

Dobroy Noche – Good Night

I hope you enjoyed your short lesson in Russian. Don’t forget to roll your R’s!!!

By: Krista Bonney -Sophomore 2012

SHOUT OUTS

To my brother David! Happy Belated Birthday!! And to the rest of my family. I miss you!

Sasha

farussiatour — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:45:22 +0000

About a twenty-minute drive by from the Zaoksky seminary is the Obidemo Orphanage, and after slipping and falling on the icy walkway, all 65ish of us made it inside. Now I’ve never been in an orphanage before, and to me it looked rather dinky, but then again, I didn’t expect anything luxurious. And as I looked around while the choir was setting up, the kids looked with curiosity and amazement at us Americans. Their faces also told unknown stories of what they were going through and what they had been through, and that’s when sympathy overtook most of my emotions. The other challenging factor during the orphanage visit was the fact that for most of the songs that we sang, the keyboard’s power was out due to the city’s electrical supply I believe, so Cameo couldn’t accompany for all the songs that needed it. So we sang most of our songs accapella in some farfetched key that Mr. K came up with… The highlight of this trip however, was in a little boy I met named Sasha. When Mr. K had given the orphanage children the opportunity to find one of the choir members to acquaint themselves with, I suddenly found myself in the arms of this 11 year old boy who barely spoke any English. From the get-go, he absolutely would not let go of me, and personally, this was one of the weirdest but most comforting feelings I had ever experienced! With every tidbit of information he knew about me and I about him, it drew our newfound bond closer and closer together; even more so when I gave him a scarf and a “goodie bag”, one of our priorities that we were to take care of in the orphanage. Sasha graciously said, “Spasiba!” (“Thank You!” in Russian) and again, I was touched. We played with whatever he found in his bag, and his other three bags (which I have no idea how he got them…). “Paka” was our parting word, but I will never forget the constant lesson that Sasha taught me: how our Heavenly Father never lets go of us from the time we draw near to him…

AJ Valcin (bass), Class of 2011

“Proud Mama” Moments

farussiatour — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:36:18 +0000

Words can’t describe the warmness in your heart, when you watch your child give selflessly of themselves without prompting. I call these “proud mama” moments. I know you are not here to share this experience with us, but let me assure you that I have been experiencing “proud mama” moments for you. Your children have been the most adaptable group; never complaining when plans change (and boy can they change) :), offering their assistance without being asked, giving of their time and energy without expecting anything in return. If you have had any doubts as to the fruits of your labors, I want to put your minds at ease and let you know that you have all done a great job. God has blessed me through watching your children give of themselves to our new Russian friends!

God Bless,

Brandy Gettys “proud mama”