ИВА 2008

Last week we said goodbye to the IVA students.  They had become like our own kids so it was hard to see them go. 

 Graduation day started off with a "5K" run... not an official 5K but certainly close.  As you can see in the slideshow the students were none too happy to be up at 7am for a "Fun" Run.  The staff came to cheer on the runners and of course we had Ukrainian and Crimean flags and some rockin' music to get them fired up.  I was so proud of them all as they really did give it their all (okay most of them) and ended up having a good time, I think. The winner for the boys was Ivan... Matt said he started to walk near the end but Matt pushed him to keep running and ended up taking 1st.  Alla was my first girl to cross.  I don't think she'd ever made herself run so hard before.  She thought she was going to die when she crossed the finish line and wondered what that burning lung feeling was in her chest.  

The slideshow starts off with the race, then a few shots from earlier months, and finishes with graduation.  The more we learn about each of these students the more we want to take them home with us.  They will forever be in our prayers and we are so thankful we could be a part of their lives for the past 5 months... we just wish it could've been longer.  Each of the students were given a 3 volume set on Christian apologetics and they all heard some great testimonies from the work team before they left.  

To all our prayer warriors... pray for them as they head back to their everyday lives... pray for jobs as many of them need to support their families... pray for protection as many of the home lives are far from ideal... and pray for God to capture their hearts. 

"Meant To Live"  by Switchfoot