Month 1 done already?!?! I can hardly believe it! We are now in ROMANIA! We started out our first week with a whole squad debrief. This is a just a time to see everyone and get refueled for our next month. Our squad mentor and coaches met us and they shared some lessons with us and we all got to worship together!
Before I get too far into Romania, I want to back up and share with you about what our experience was like in Ukraine.
For the first two weeks we were working at Nehemiah House helping with Camp Explorer. They asked us to split up and work with different age groups to teach them English every day. Naturally I flocked toward the little guys. We paired off and so Morgan and I got to teach the 5-7-year old’s. To teach this age group when you speak the same language is hard enough and these little guys gave us a run for our money, but we loved it! We worked with them every morning for 45 minutes teaching them words associated with family, food, drinks, musical instruments, items in a house, school, and what they want to be when they grow up! We played games, sang songs and did so much drawing! They were fantastic artists!
Below is where we taught English each day!
We would follow our groups around for the day participating in what they did. In the morning we would start off the day with exercise, well the kids would run and we would high-five them as they ran by. Then we would go to this big courtyard and dance!
After breakfast we would go to the tent for some worship songs and a bible story.
As the weeks progressed, the camp asked us to teach some songs to all the campers. My teammate Brie had some amazing songs, and everyone loved them! We also sang the fruits of the spirt song which is really fast but so fun. We would see the kids practicing this all day long!
Next, we would teach English before heading to the forest. The forest was a time that we would spend just playing with the kids and hanging out. We would have to walk down the road to the forest but in the middle of the trees there was an open field for the kids to run. They brought lots of blankets and we would just relax and play Uno…..lots of Uno! (below is how they play Uno- I highly recommend)
After the forest it was time for lunch and then we would head to workshops with the kids. We could pick two of the following each day during the workshop time: origami, card games, craft, art, table tennis, soccer, volleyball, swim, dance and French. At the end of the day we would gather back at the tent for some dancing and a quest. The quests consisted of the kids going around as a group to different stations completing the tasks that were given. Some of the quests had tasks to deal with sports, others were talking about their health and then one day it was a water day (thank goodness- because it was so hot that day!)
Our two weeks at Camp Explorer went by so fast. We met some amazing people and played with so many kids! We also learned a little Ukrainian 🙂
After those two weeks we got the opportunity to help sort clothes for an orphanage ministry, visit a couple orphanages and attend a Father’s Heart Workshop.
I seriously can’t believe month 1 is already over. We had a fantastic host, Clinton, who had been on the world race before. He showed us around Uzhhorod, Ukraine and opened up his apartment to us! Him and fiancé also made us a traditional meal, it was so good! We also met Rudy and his wife Katty and their daughter! They took us around and showed us some castles as well as taking us to the orphanages to visit and play with the kids.
I am so grateful for my time in Ukraine. Amazing food and Amazing people!
Lastly- here are the rules for UNO with a twist! Enjoy 🙂
Every time there is a 0 you pass your cards to the next person depending on the direction you are currently playing
If there is a 4 played you have to remain silent- if you talk you draw 2 cards
If there is a 7 played you have to slap the deck and the last person to slap draws 2 cards.
They also play that if you have more than 1 of the same card in your hand, you can lay them all down at the same time! (ex: red 3, green 3 and blue 3 can all be played together) BUT if you play three 7’s and then your the last to slap- you can have to draw 6 cards.
Get it? If not that’s okay- just make it up! LOL
As always- thanks for reading!
Charla or Char or Char Char Binks (I answer to all)
