Say hello to our little friend

Somehow this third camp has already come to an end.  If each camp continues to fly by it should be snowing in what will seem like one week.  This camp was a different experience for Matt and I as we were more behind the scenes; therefore not getting to connect as deeply with all of the kids.  It certainly didn't make it any easier to say goodbye though.  These kids are so thirsty for love that it doesn't matter if they know your name or if you've taken a shower recently... they will come out of nowhere to give you the biggest bear hug.  And once you hear some of their stories you don't want them to ever let go.  

Some of these kids have tugged so much on our hearts that the "a" word (adoption for you slow people) has surfaced in our minds.  But due to the growing difficulties as an international to adopt here in Ukraine and the extremely high financial requirement, we just don't see how it could be possible.  So we got to thinking... maybe we could sponsor a child... sort of like Compassion International or Vision Trust... but more on a local level... and found Maxim.

The first day of camp I saw Maxim kicking a soccer ball around looking tough with his doo-rag and chained cross necklace.  My first impression was... so here's the tough kid... too cool to sing the songs or talk to any of the team members.  Despite my impression, I gave him a big smile and said "Preevyet" in my thick English accent and continued on to my busy preparation.  Soon I found him following me, trying to communicate as best he could with my limited Russian, and giving me this wrinkled nose face.
A kindred spirit... a fellow nose wrinkler!  Each day you could see Maxim relax and fit in with all the other kids singing and dancing on stage.  He quickly became a favorite of each of the team members.  
Near the end of our camp we found out that Maxim had lost both of his parents in a car accident in June '08 and is now living with his older sister.  We spent a little time talking with his older sister today telling her that we wanted to stay in contact with Maxim and to help out financially as needed.  She was grateful for our offer but said more than anything, Maxim needs emotional and moral support as he is having a hard time dealing with his parents being gone. She liked the idea of us hanging out and just developing more of a relationship with him.  So we've set up our first hang out time for this Friday and plan to continue on a weekly basis.  PLEASE pray for us to be consistent and diligent with Maxim.  Pray that God would work through us somehow to minister to him and his siblings.  We don't really know what we can offer or even what this will all entail but God has placed him on our hearts so we're just taking it one step at a time and letting him work the miracles.  And speaking of miracles... pray that our Russian would miraculously improve so that we can really communicate with him and also his older sister and brother.  I'm sure you'll be seeing more pictures of our new friend.

(Oh yeah and once again we stole these pictures from one of the many photographers here... Russian Tradition)