| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
A letter from Alan and Ellen Smith
in Russia |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
July 19, 2005
Dear Friends and Family!
Grace and peace to you all in the name of our risen Lord, Jesus
Christ!
I am glad to report that we have all survived the busy spell
of summer camp season and are now back online. These past three
weeks have been the busiest yet, but with cooperation and understanding,
we all made it through. We have had groups from seven different
churches passing in, out, and through Russia, bearing tents, sleeping
bags, and craft supplies and games for the camps. They have endured
rain and cool temperatures, rustic conditions, cold rivers, and
mosquitoes, but they have also enjoyed the fellowship of their
larger church family and the richness of Russian hospitality.
We hope that they have returned home feeling blessed by their
experiences. We have certainly felt the blessing of their visits. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Camp White Sails (Beliy Parus), Oryol, Russia. The back of the t-shirts
reads "Iisus moy parus!" or Jesus is my sail!
|
|
Al spent the three weeks as translator on location
with the groups. He traveled to Bryansk, Oryol, Orenburg, and Sol
‘Iletsk (a small city on the border of Kazakhstan). He had
time with the partners that he doesn’t often get during the
school year. He has his own newsletter to write. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
In the midst of the last three weeks,
I wondered whether I would have anything to write about at the end.
I passed in and out of camps, but spent most of my time managing
the flow of groups. The first group, from First Presbyterian in
Columbus, Georgia, arrived June 24, setting out for camp the next
day. I was able to travel out for the beginning of the camp, but
then had to return to Moscow to welcome groups from five more churches
over the course of three days. I had plenty of opportunities to
remember that all plans in Russia are tentative. Flexibility is
always essential, but far more important is faith and trust in the
Lord to provide. He did. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Lyuba shows Grandma Judy (MacPherson Presybyterian Church in Fayetteville,
North Carolina) her new beaded creations. Photo by Lydia Conard.
|
|
On the first day, a group from First
Presbyterian in Nashville, Tennessee, arrived—five hours late
(they missed their connecting flight). When I called the van driver
to see if he could make the adjustment, I discovered that there
had been miscommunication and that he had taken us off his schedule.
If they had arrived on time, we would not have had adequate transport.
I was able to find another driver and in spite of a horrendous delay
once they did arrive (including seven lost bags), finally managed
to get them settled comfortably for a night’s rest. The lost
bags were also a blessing, as it meant that we didn’t have
to transport them to the camp, the airlines had to. There would
not have been room for any more than those that arrived on time.
The next day had its own challenges, as I had one group coming and
one going, but my colleague Jeff Koning from Perm arrived early
that morning on his way out on a visa trip, and was able to help
out during his seven-hour layover. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
At the outset of this busy period,
it was a bit daunting, and I wasn’t sure how I would hold
up, but in the midst, I found that the Lord gave me what I needed
for each day and each situation. There was plenty of laughter
as the groups and I faced new challenges. I even managed to spend
a few more days in camp and found time just to chat with friends. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Meg and Emma returned from five weeks
visiting family in the United States at the beginning of the second
week and jumped right in to helping. I found myself watching my
children with amazement, seeing a new maturity and confidence in
each of them that I had not seen before. In the midst of jet lag,
Meg seamlessly slipped into the role of assisting with the groups,
even helping on the evening of her return to get one group back
to their accommodations while I took someone to the airport. In
camp the following week, Meg slipped into the role of translator
as Al left to take another group out to the Urals (I was back in
Moscow again, coordinating departures). Emma, for the first time,
was a full-fledged camper, staying in the tent with the youngest
girls and participating in the program with them. Up to now, she
has been very reluctant to attempt Russian, but she understands
the language. She came back from camp determined to speak and began
translating for group members as they toured Moscow. |
|
Campers navigate a horizontal ropes course while Kyle Moye times
them and Richard Sway (both of First Presbyterian Church of Columbus,
Georgia) monitors the net. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
The camp season has had many highlights.
It is always a joy for us to watch as the partners teach one another
new games and new songs. The American partners brought with them
a wonderful and varied supply of crafts—something we just
don’t have access to here. The children never tire of such
activities. We are amused to watch as the Americans and Russians
compete in athletics. Sometimes the Americans even have the advantage.
This year, one partner brought camp T-shirts (in Russian!). The
children and the staff were thrilled.
We do not run the camps in Russia; we participate. Our Russian
partners are moved by the willingness of their American brothers
and sisters to join them in camp, enduring rustic conditions (Boy
Scouts would feel right at home) and sharing their simple food.
The children, believers and non-believers, come away feeling special,
because they have American friends. I think sometimes our American
friends don’t fully grasp the impact they are having on
young lives as they spend a week to ten days with campers—playing
games, doing crafts, listening to stories they don’t understand,
and laughing with these new friends. Sometimes I think that some
of them feel guilty about coming and having fun and wonder if
this is doing mission, but I can tell you that they are touching
lives and they are affirming the unity we have in Christ.
I hope you are all enjoying the summer and finding time for rest
and recreation. May the peace and blessings of our Lord be with
each of you.
With love in Christ,
Ellen
The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
187 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
