Mission Adventures 2012

I can almost guarantee you that about 96% of all current missionary newsletters start with this sentence: "Well, the summer is over…". 

Bam!  

This one is not going to be different. Because it's true, summer indeed came to an end and it's time to reflect on some of the highlights of Mission Adventures season. 

As Ma Russia we believe that one day our nation will no longer be labeled as a "receiving" one. We know that God is able to rise up a new tribe in Russia- young people that obey His command "to GO".

However in the meantime, in this part of the world it's not very easy to find participants for programs like MA. Year after year our numbers are consistently low, but we have learned that numbers are not important. 

How's that? Well, great question, thanks for asking. See, because while we have had relatively small number of participants, we have been able to develop strong relationships with them and impact them individually. As a result, there is a high percentage of them that gets involved in some kind of ministry at their local church, or ends up doing a DTS (Discipleship Training School). 

This year we had two completely different programs in two different nations. 

First, we partnered with a different organization called Youth For Christ. Every year YFC host different outreaches in ST.Petersburg area and one thing they've noticed is that people that facilitate these outreaches definitely needed more training. Well, this is what Mission Adventures is all about!

At the end of June, 16 participants arrived at our campground. 

We had a blast with them.   This was one of the best weeks we've ever had.  It was the first time we've been able to host a Baptist group and we LOVED this team!!  In the past the Baptist church has been hesitant to participate in MA but it looks like we've broken through a barrier and the church as a whole seems to be excited for more teams next year!  The break through came when our team left for their outreach.  One of the places they went was to a Baptist youth conference of about 200 people.  They performed their program and shared their testimonies and blew everyone away.  Everyone there was so impressed that they started asking questions about how to join for next year!!  It was great walking away from our time with them and feeling like we had truly accomplished something great.

We were also excited about Phase Two of MA where we were going to Latvia with the goal to help launch MA there.  We were supposed to have a team of 8 with a mixture of both Latvians and Russians.  We bought our tickets, jumped on the train and were off!!……….Only to arrive and find out that there were no Latvians that would be joining us.  Meaning, we had 3 Russian girls we were expecting in 3 days time.  Who had paid for visas, transportation, the program, etc.  Needless to say, it was a blow for us and our first thoughts were, 

"Do we cancel? "

We knew that canceling wasn't an option, but we also knew that our original program and plan was not going to work.  So, (little pat on our backs) in 3 days we came up with a completely different program and developed something specifically for these girls that were coming.  With so few participants it also meant that we, as a staff, also became participants with them.  Part of our 'tour' in Latvia was going to a home for people with down syndrome of all ages, visiting a center for street kids, an elderly home,working on a FARM!, etc.  Our time in Latvia was AMAZING!  We, as a staff, were stretched and challenged.  And all three of the girls are taking next steps in pursuing missions more seriously!  One just left for Georgia (the country folks, not the state!;)  And the other two want to do a DTS.  AND the Latvian YWAM base is more seriously pursuing doing MA themselves next year.

So even though there was some unexpected turns, MA this year seems to have been a great success!!  The difficulties we have each year in encouraging church youth groups to participate, has been disheartening.  But once again, we have been encouraged to keep focused and plugging along, no matter what our numbers are.  We have seen time and time again that God can take that few and do great, great things.  It's our job to just be faithful with what we've been given.  

FOLLOW THESE LINKS TO SEE MORE MISSION ADVENTURE PICTURES ON INSTAGRAM:   #maeurope    #malatvia2012 

Thank you for all of you who believe in us and pray for us along the way.  We never take your support for granted.

Raecrvtygnuhmjlk

Hey everyone,
This is a video of foreigners trying to read russian street names spelled in english.
This should fill your hearts with enormous respect for Heather, who has to read (and use) such words frequently.

Enjoy,

Zhenya

Design

Little design that I made for our church' last newsletter.

August Newsletter

We are so incredibly blessed to have our little girl home!!  We have had so much fun getting to know her these past few weeks.  Our feelings are mixed because in reality this only just the beginning and we at times feel like we are on a path of discovery with her, but at other times, it feels like she's been with us forever.

So while we are still getting to know her and will enjoy the process of seeing her little personality develop, we wanted to introduce her to you and give you a glimpse of what we are discovering.

Maya has a great little sense of humor and gets a mischevious look in her eye when she is "joking" with us.  She is the bravest little girl we know - There are so many new and scary things in her world now.  Things that you can see truly frighten her, but she is not easily spooked.  She tackles things head on and we together deal with the fear.  She is a survivor and a fighter.  She is strong willed and quite stubborn.  She is sweet, charming, affectionate and loves to cuddle.  When she is someplace new or with new people she becomes very calm, quiet and observant.  But at home and at our dacha with Zhenya's family she is very active and talkative.  The girl is also physically one active little wiggle worm.  Which after having one certain little Mr. wiggle worm, doesn't really phase us.  Her favorite thing to do is to talk on the phone.  I kid you not.  Give her a phone and she is smiling, laughing, and off and talking.

We have loved these precious few weeks we have had with her and are having a blast watching her adapt and grow.  We are amazed how smooth this transition has been and are so thankful for all of your prayers.  Please continue to pray for her and for us as we continue strengthen our bond.  Pray that each relationship will be sweet, special and strong, with her Papa, Mama and her brother.

ADOPTION update:

As we have mentioned before, Zhenya will be taking the first step and adopting Maya alone.  He alone will be legally her parent until I can do it later on.  This is, by far, not the easiest route, but the route we have decided on taking now.  We hired a lawyer and it quickly became painfully obvious how much will need her help.  As our represntative, she turned in Zhenya's adoption paperwork last Thursday.  Fortunately she caught the judge before she left on vacation and was able to talk to her personally.  However, it soon became clear that the judge absolutely does not want to take on this case.  For every ridiculus question and statement that the judge had, our lawyer was able to answer and represent us well.  We now have until August 14th to get a few more papers together and then if it's acceptable we'll be given a court date.
Please pray for the gathering of the rest of the paperwork, that it will be accepted and that we will actually be given a court date!!!

Thanks for hangin in there with us through all of this!

July Newsletter

What a whirlwind these past few days have been!!

Maya came home on Friday afternoon.  It still feels so weird to say that!  Today we are ending 4 full days of having her at home.  Her adaption and transition period is so far, going incredibly smooth.
The girl is one happy little trooper.  It has been a joy to watch her transform and relax in her new surroundings.  She is soaking up the love and attention, we are pretty sure that she has never been played with at the orphanage how we play with her at home and she LOVES it!

OVERSTIMULATION

That is to say the least!  She has been super happy and loving life, but at the same time you could see she was totally running on adrenaline and not sleeping as much as she needed to.  But she seems to have a personality much like Ryan's, that she can go and go and is still as happy as a clam even without regular naps.  We knew though, that this wouldn't last forever and thankfully yesterday and today you can see she's starting to come down a bit from her adrenaline high.

HIGHLIGHT

Pretty much everything about these past few days is a highlight!  We constantly look at this little miracle scooting around our house and are amazed at God's goodness.  Hearing her laugh and watching her discover the world around her are priceless treasures.  But what I am most thankful for is that she already recognizes Mommy, responds and reacts with sheer joy when she hears my voice or sees me and has even fussed when I have left the room.  Little things that you totally take for granted when you birth a child, that become even more precious with a little one who has to learn who and "what" Mommy is.

We find that we've had to re-educate ourselves in babyhood and are "happily" experiencing sleepless nights again.

We need your continued prayers in two ways.

1.  Zhenya is going forward with the process to adopt her, but alone as a "single" father (with my persmission).  The paperwork will be turned into the court next week.  Pray that everything will be in order, acceptable and that we can get a court date!!

2.  For Maya's continued adaptation into our home and family.  Zhenya will be leaving for M.A. in Latvia Wednesday night and will be gone for 9 days.  Pray for God's grace to help me through this next week.

With all our hearts we thank you,
The 4 Shulgins!

Maya's coming home SOON!

Ryan met Maya today! And Unlike yesterdays "meeting" they actually were able to be up close and personal. It was very cute to see the two of them. They both were a little unsure about this new person that has appeared in their lives. Maya couldn't stop staring at Ryan and Ry pulled out his very best "Peek-a-boo" faces. Such a sweet and special memory for our family to have.

The reason why they let Ryan in to see her, is because she is coming home very, very soon!! We turned in our final paperwork today and it was approved, accepted and the final paper will be ready next week.

So on Friday, July 6, 2012 Maya will be coming home!!

We are so excited, we can't stand it!! Thanks for all of your prayers!!!

First "Family" visit

Today all three of us Shulgins went to the orphanage. We had no other option but to take Ryan with us today even though he is not allowed to go inside. The video is of her orphanage and the grounds surrounding it. I sit with her at that fountain every day when we go for a walk. Because Ry wasn't allowed in, we staid outside the wall, but found a playground that we could climb up so we could see over the wall. This is Ryan and Maya's very first "meeting". It was very sweet, even if we were separated by that wall. Very soon though, there will be no more walls between us and she will be home!!