NEWS

Bishop’s 3Cs Mission Initiative Update - Russia

As the East Ohio Conference Bishop’s 3Cs Russia UMVIM team arrived in Moscow June 25 they had no Idea they were entering the beginning of Russia's massive summer long heat wave!(96 to 106 degrees F).  Two days of immersion in Russian culture plus the special treat of worshiping at Vnukovo UMC in Moscow and sharing a meal afterward made the heat bearable.  An overnight train ride to the city of Kursk in southwestern Russia was air conditioned and held off the oppressive heat soon to come at Oboyan Orphanage where 25 smiling children, 3 to 6 years old, welcomed the 12 of us from around Ohio and as far away as Minnesota. 

For the next 8 days we assembled a large gym set purchased for the children by our East Ohio Conference and painted, repaired bicycles and replaced a floor in one of the play pavilions.  But most of all we played games every day with the children, supervised crafts and watched them perform fairy tales and dances for us!  Many of these children, while blessed with wonderful caregivers, long for adult attention and our team members were more than up to the task of giving our love to each and every one. 

At night, after long active days, we invited our interpreters to share in a Bible study with us and share our concerns and sometimes overwhelming experiences of the day.  We also had an opportunity to share why we volunteer with the sometimes puzzled staff and at the end of our trip we each spent two nights with Russian families who volunteered to host us.  The heat, the accommodations of 6-8 per room and the language barrier were more than matched by the international hospitality and love expressed by our Russian hosts! 

June 23 – July 7, 2011 we will return to a boarding school for Down Syndrome kids and maybe not quite so much heat.  If you would like to be a part of this Bishop’s 3Cs Russian UMVIM trip contact Harry Askin at askinh@aol.com for more information.