We are working at Camp Mechta right now, which translates as Camp Dream J This Camp used to be a Soviet Training facility, then turned into a Ukrainian resort, and is now being used as a camp in the summer and a rehab facility in the winter. It’s in a small village, about an hour outside of Lugansk. The rolling hills are beautiful. The fields of yellows, greens, purples are just breathtaking. This place is unlike any I’ve ever been to, but much like what I’ve seen in Euro based movies. At Camp Dream, we are helping to lead a summer camp for kids! Most are orphans, and many of their stories are just heart wrenching. They are so precious, I can’t imagine what they have been through in the lives they’ve lived for just a few years. We were able to work with a group from Fresno, CA for the first week we were here. They are just an awesome team and love the Lord and these kids so much. It was so good hearing their stories of how God’s hand has been working in the hearts of the children – how attitudes have been changing, kids are starting to pray, they’re joyfully sing praise songs. We each have a small group of kids, and mine are actually a swim team who have come for three weeks. They wake up every morning at 6am and work out – they’re crazy strong. They range in age from 5-15 years old and are so much fun. Some of them know a little English which has been fun. I spend a lot of time just trying to get to know the kids and hang out with them. We point, I say the word in English, and they say it in Russian. We’re trying to teach each other – its fun J They are so cute and polite and respectful, especially when I am not able to offer more than “Kak krisivya” – “How beautiful”, or “Kak tibya zey vut?” – “What is your name?”
