You just never know

We've been getting some flack for not updating you on life here at the camp.  Lately, I've been feeling guilty for this, and wondered why this is so hard for me to do.  I guess it's just because life seems so... normal here.  We don't have any miraculous stories to make you feel good or to make it sound like we are doing "God's work" overseas.  But God reminded me that he works in the "normal" of our days.  

So here is the "normal" of our day.  Since last summer we've gotten connected with two boys who live near the camp... Sergey and Misha.  Nearly every weekend these two come to visit.  I'll be honest with you... some days I just want to be by myself, but every time God changes my selfishness and shows me that it was worth it.  

            (Sergey)

Here's a little background on the boys.  Sergey is 15 and Misha is 14.  We've been told that their mom died in childbirth with Misha, and their grandparents did not want them living with their dad so they took them in.  Although for the first 11 years, it was hard for them to provide for boys so they went in and out of the orphanage.  The last 3 years they have been solely living with their grandparents.  When I first met Sergey at our summer camp, I thought he was a punk.  He strutted around with his friends, and when I first said hello he shook out his wet hair in my face.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       (Misha and Cam)

Misha is always coming over drinking all of our powdered drink packets and (now that we are in winter) all of our hot chocolate. :) But, now that I've gotten to know these boys, I love them like they are my nephews.  They are very sweet and Sergey has shown himself to actually be very polite and considerate... and even tries to teach Misha to do the same.  Misha is always helping me to clean and loves playing with Campbell.  They have become fast buds.  

Last Saturday, we went to see Sergey compete in judo... of which he took first place in all of Crimea!!  They came over on Sunday... we made cookies.  Yesterday they came over again and we hung out... and yup, now that it's Sunday, they are coming over again.  With our limited Russian and their limited English our hangout times are just that... hanging out.  No deep theological training... no life changing revelations... just hanging out and laughing. 

What is God doing through this?  Not a clue.  Will I ever know?  Probably not.  Hebrews 11 talks of all the "greats" in the Bible... Abraham, Moses, Isaac, Jacob... who were given promises from God.  "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised." (Heb. 11:39) It all happened outside of their lifetimes.  So who knows what will come out of the normal of our day.  God has just asked us to befriend these kids, to demonstrate Christ to them... and only through our actions.  

I will try to keep you updated more on our "normalness".  Who knows, maybe it will encourage one of you, and at the very least you'll know what we've been up to.  All I know is that when I am conscious that God is working in everyday things, the days become more purposeful.  Take captive every normal aspect of your day... you just never know. 

Again with the Ranger

I know that some of you are about sick and tired of hearing about our new UTV but there's some who are interested to see how it's doing, what we use it for, etc.

I just put together this video really quick regarding out parking/security situation that exists until we can finish our carport/garage where it will sleep.

Also, we are still trying to come up with the funds to cover the import tax that we were forced to pay unexpectedly last week.  If you had thought about helping us cover this, please remember to get your gift into Global Action and indicate that it's for the "UTV fund".  Thanks.

Caption please!

Koala trying to escape from 100+ degree temps in a bucket of water on someone's porch.

What's he saying here???

Best comment gets a..... umm...  high five in 8 months.

Wheelchair master

In between humanitarian aid recipients today, Jenya and I raced wheelchairs around the camp and I am making an official statement - a part of my platform, if you will - that para-olympians are studs.

By tomorrow morning I will likely have little or no use of my upper extremities and the amount trunk control that wheelchair power entails will probably render me unable to sit up in bed.  Oh well.... I won 4 out of 5 races and that's what's important, right.

Today's big game

Here's my take on today's big game....

How could one not pull for the boys in red?  They have struggled unsuccessfully to climb to the top of the league for decades.  This year offers their best chance to finally reach the pinnacle and longtime fans are holding their breaths for today's matchup.

Since it's already 9pm in Ukraine, I'll tell you how it ends.

The Reds scored twice in the final minutes to defeat......

...the billionaires of Chelski.

Today was the second meeting this year of these 2 powerhouse sides.  Liverpool won last time at Stanford Bridge - halting their record-breaking undefeated home streak.

This time, back in Liverpool Fernando Torres scored twice in stoppage time to break a scoreless game against the 10-man Blues.  It was torturous to follow it online but luckily Tammi was actually in the grounds and gave me updates over mobile facebook.  It was an awesome victory that broke a run of draws and bad form.  What a relief......

What, you thought I was talking about the Super Bowl??  Tomorrow morning check which game had more viewers.