Update from Jessica July 3, 2012
Here’s an update from Jessica. Ashley and Nerissa leave tomorrow morning for St. Petersburg.
The time I spent at camp was amazing! I was able to bond mostly with the little girls. We had such a fun time doing silly things (teaching each other songs and dances). Thank you so much for your prayers-we were blessed with staff that let us come teach their cabins English and Bible lessons. My high school team is still at the camp and I am able to have a few days of transition with a great friend in St Petersburg. Ashley and Nerissa will fly out tomorrow and we will be together on July 5th! I feel so blessed to have been able to come to Russia this summer.
Update from Jessica June 28, 2012
Jessica is in St. Petersburg a week ahead of the rest of the group, helping at a summer camp with a team from her high school. She sent this update:
We arrived safely in Russia! The flights went smoothly, although we didn’t sleep. We arrived at beautiful Camp Chaika and we are staying in the same room as I was before-same bed in fact! The mosquito’s are pretty bad this time around haha.
There is a new camp coming today, so I am excited to see if I know any of the kids-I saw one boy from last time. We are busy preparing lessons and preparing to meet the kids!
Urgent Prayer! June 15, 2012
I (Jessica) was finally able to meet up with the Valley Christian team I will fly to Russia with-they are such a great group of people and I am so excited to minister with them for a few days before my trip actually begins. We are leaving in nine days, and unfortunately none of the adults have their visas yet! We know that all we can do know is wait and pray. Please pray with us as the paperwork issues are resolved!! Thank you so much for partnering with our team through prayer!!
Ash, Nerissa, and I had a skype meeting tonight and we thought of a few more prayer requests!
First, please pray for continued finances as the trip comes closer! Pray it wouldn’t be a burden or stress as we are preparing for the trip. Please pray for us to have genuine time to prepare mentally, physically, and spiritually. There are so many things to get done, and we constantly seek more time to devote to our preparation.
Lastly, we would love prayers devoted to our safety both in preparation and in country.
Thank you so much,
Jessica, Nerissa, and Ashley
Meet The Team: Ashley June 7, 2012
Preevyet for the third time 🙂
Hey everyone! I’m Ashley and I have the great privilege to travel to Russia this summer with my two lovely teammates! To serve and to be a part of the work that God is doing in St. Petersburg!
I am officially, as of today, finished with my freshman year at SPU! I am working towards a Bachelors in Special Education with a Minor in Psychology and Reconciliation. I hope to then get my training in Montessori after i graduate and teach in a Montessori classroom for kids with special needs. Children are my passion and my heart for them and for serving God is what led me on this trip.
Some of Ashley’s favorite things: Adventures, the Outdoors, Exploring
Kiddos- playing with them, loving them, and learning from them
My Family- They are goofy and strange some times but I love them anyway 😉
Reading and Learning
True Friendship
FOOD!!!
I am so excited to love on these children in Russia and to learn how to communicate love in different ways. God has already blessed me so much through all of the support I have gotten for this trip! Thank you to all of you who have supported me financially or in prayer! I love you guys, you are such a blessing to me and I am so thankful that you are journeying with us!
Jessica, Nerissa and I are so ready to experience all that God has in store for us in Russia and to go with open hearts and minds, to listen, to learn and to love!
Thank you for your interest in our trip and for praying for us and supporting us! It means a lot to us 🙂
Meet the team: Nerissa
Preevyet Everyone!
I’m Nerissa, and finals are OVER so the count down for Russia finally begins!
As of about 5 hours ago I am currently a senior here at SPU! I’m working towards receiving my bachelors in ‘Individual and Family Development’ with a double minor in ‘Psychology’ and ‘Women’s Studies’. It is hard to believe that my time here will be ending soon. Seattle and this school have been a huge blessing to me. Over these past few years I’ve had the opportunity to learn about myself and the world that surrounds us, while also accepting God’s love into my life.
Service is something that God has put on my heart and I’m hoping to one day be able to better the life of underprivileged children full time. I want to immerse myself into the pain that some kids have to experience on a daily basis, and be a light in their constant darkness. My heart is ready to go to Russia and love on these kids.
Some days doubt floats into my mind if I can really do this or not. If I’m prepared to work with babies infected with HIV and the disabled youth in Russia. I look at the expenses and wonder if this was a smart choice on my half, but then I remember that God totally has His hand in this, I was accepted for a reason, I know that by the end of July I will be changed.
Thank you all for your love and support it means the world to us. ❤
Meet the team: Jessica June 2, 2012
Preevyet!
Hey everyone! I’m Jessica and I can’t believe our team is leaving for Russia in about one month!!!
A little about me: I am studying Global Development at SPU with a minor in Russian. I love the Russian culture and language and can’t wait to go back and meet more beautiful people. The days are going by so slowly because I literally cannot wait to be there! I am blessed to have the opportunity to leave earlier by ten days in order to do outreach with Valley Christian School (Spokane) at a Russian camp.
The trip: The thing I am most excited about is meeting the children at the special needs camp. I can’t wait to be paired up with a child and get to know them through out our time there 🙂
SPRINT Russia 2012 