Trying to keep updating!!

So I've been trying to keep the updates coming. It appears that I let them build up from time to time. Combined with the fact that our internet seems to go out on a regular basis...ugghh!! So I have some videos that I put together from some things we've done here recently. I hope you like them.

This is the holiday season here in Russia. It's a bit different from America. The New Year is the largest holiday here. They put up a tree but it's a New Year's tree, not a Christmas tree. Christmas is like an after thought. Everything revolves around New Year's. It is celebrated with tradional foods and fireworks...it's kind of like the 4th of July, New Years Eve, and Mardi Gras all wrapped up into one...and it goes on for a few days. It's interesting to see how the Russians celebrate.

We celebrated at a winter camp for kids. It was a blast! We didn't sleep much...we're used to that being in youth ministry for 10 years. We helped with the teams. It was so cool. The kids put on little plays and they sang songs, and did activities...and we had some great services. The praise and worship was so refreshing.

As far as Christmas goes, we helped with two Christmas parties at orphanages that Big Family works with. Those were so much fun. I loved seeing the reactions from some of the kids when they received their Christmas gift. It was priceless!! I can put one picture that sums up what makes it worth it to be here. You can see some of that in the videos.

All in all it has been a fun holiday season here. We have been blessed by our friends and family back home that helped with our Christmas season. Thank you for the words of encouragement and the help with finances. We thought we might have to come home but it has all worked out. Praise God!!