Back in the USSR

More pictures from Matt

2005-07-26T13:34:00.000-07:00

Matt's keeping me busy with lots of picture updates. Check em out.

2005-07-25T23:54:00.000-07:00

Matt Update 2

2005-07-24T23:52:00.000-07:00

Hey,

Its 1:30 in the morning. I'm going to my first camp
in the morning.
I'm going to have my first encounter with the
children. I will be helping with different things.
Pretty much where ever they need me.
But please pray for Thursday, Friday, Saturday. We will be at a camp with teenagers. I'm going to be in a drama skit, also I will be talking to the guys about
lust and other things related.
Pray that God with prepare there hearts and that God will speak words through me for them.
We went to church this morning it was different, but were felt at home because it was Gods house. There was a interpreter there so we were able to understand.
I learned that people do not have the right of way here. Also you can't smile at people walking down the street because from a stranger it means your making
fun to them.
Well its much a long line to get on the internet here that by the time I get on its late. So I'm going to bed.
love ya'll
mmlehmann

Update from Matt

2005-07-24T23:46:00.000-07:00

NOTE: Matt Lehmann and Ron Shindoll joined Kathryn's team for 10 days before she returns to the states. Matt's e-mail updates will be posted here as well as at: jdblundell.blogspot.com.
===
Good morning,
Its morning over here right now. Ron and I are here.
The trip was smooth. I was up for 17 hrs before I got to go to bed.
God blessed us with very cool weather when we got here. So the room I slept in was cold and no mosquito's. I slept all night.
Its very different over here. I've already realized how comfortable we live in the USA. We walked around the town where Kathryn will live. She had already gotten some news about moving over to work full time teaching English and other things. She is really being obedient to Gods will.
Im just dropping a qick email before I go to devotion.
Love ya'll
mmlehmann

More Pictures

2005-07-24T23:42:00.000-07:00

Click here for more pictures

One more week in Russia

2005-07-24T23:40:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

I thought I would tell you a little bit about our week
at camp #2. Those younger kids are so much fun to be
with...and it did our hearts good to see how well they
were taken care of. The caregivers at #2 truly care
about these kids and do everything they can for them.

Who knew coming to Russia this summer, that we would
have a one of kind opportunity to also ministry to
teenagers from Siberia. As I said in a previous email,
there were two groups from the North who were also
staying at the camp. There hearts were so open to talk
to us and hear what we had to say.

Our first night there, we set up a meeting to just
hang out and get to know the kids. This went very well
and we had lots of fun as we ended the night with coke
floats. The next evening we presented two dramas. The
place was so full, they were looking for seats and
standing against the walls. The dramas were very
powerful as some kids were even crying. It was obvious
God was moving in their hearts.

Afterwards, we invited them to stay and talk with us. Wow...what an evening it turned out to be. Many of the kids stayed. They had so many questions. You could see the stirring amoungst them that had begun. We had shaken them up and taken away any peace they thought they had. Praise the Lord!!!...we even had one come to know Christ as her Savior.

That night, as we came together to reflect on the day,
it was so neat to see how not one of our translators
was with us. They had all been asked by kids and many
of their leaders to meet individually and talk about
their faith. What a work God is doing and I know is
continuing to do in their hearts!

Monday and Tuesday, we visit the little bitty kids in
the city at orphanage #2 again. Then on Wednesday,
we're back for another week of camp at #14. We did a
sports camp here with the June interns last month.
Please be in prayer as we bring a new group of interns
to their camp. We are excited as we are planning new
curriculum to better meet their needs.

Also, Dad and Matt arrived yesterday...YEA!!! They've
jumped in with both feet as we've planing and
preparing for the week ahead. I know God has big
things in store for them both.

Thank you for your continued prayer support. Our
hearts our eager to be available to whatever God asks
of us this week.

~Katya
-P.S. I'll be sending more pictures shortly! :)

"A man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

Pictures!

2005-07-17T15:50:00.000-07:00

Yardik at Orphanage #2

Pictures have been posted from Kathryn in Russia on Shutterfly. Check them out.

Provisions

2005-07-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!
We've returned from Camp #60 and will be doing VBS for
the little kids tomorrow at Orphanage #2 in the city.
What a week at #60 it was! We saw God working from the
minute we got there until the time we left. As we
arrived and began unpacking our supplies, word came
about conditions of how the kids were living. There
care-givers were not taking care of them....keeping
the key to the showers with the hot water so that only
the care givers could use it...kids having to take
baths in the creeks...and there was a bad case of lice
amongst them.
Announcing these conditions to the group brought looks
of fear and panic...mainly about the lice. We stopped
and prayed for the children, the hearts of the
caregivers, and wisdom in handling this situation.
During our prayer, God reminded me of the verse
Deuteronomy 31:8 that I had shared with the group
earlier that morning. "The Lord Himself goes before
you and will be with you. He will not leave you or
forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged."
We knew God had gone before us and prepared the way.
There was no reason to be afraid or discouraged. God
was faithful in showing us His promise throughout the
entire week.
Olga, one of the interpreters, and I decided to take
the two hour drive back to St. Pete to gather more
lice shampoo and other hygiene products from our
supplies. Not knowing our means of transportation, the
Lord quickly provided a driver to take us there and
back. He also supplied us with our own key to their
showers so that we could let the kids in ourselves. As
you can imagine, the kids were overjoyed, especially
the girls.
VBS went really well. Lots of good conversations took
place. However, beginning day one, not a single older
boy showed up. But as we continued to pray that God
would draw them in, each day more and more came. By
the end of the week, we even had some care givers
joining us.
This camp ground housed several groups of kids, not
just the ones from #60. Orphanage #2 was there as well
as several groups of teenagers from the North. Over
the week, we found ourselves not only ministering to
the orphans but to these other groups as well. They
were very curious as to what are purpose was and were
very opened to talk and get to know us.
Many of them attended the drama we performed,
including the director of the camp grounds and some of
her staff. Two groups from the North have asked us to
perform the drama again and talk with there kids when
we return in a couple of days to work with Orphanage
#2. Isn't God great! We are currently working on an
additional drama to show.
Please continue to be in pray as God is working in
ways we don't even know yet. Pray that God will
prepare there hearts for His message of hope and will
give us guidance as we prepare materials and as we
spend time with these kids.
Thank you! We feel your prayers! They are making a
difference!
~Katya

New month, new team, new adventure

2005-07-08T08:32:00.000-07:00

Well a new month has started, with a new team, and
many new adventures waiting for us ahead.
The July team arrived yesterday. Since they arrived,
we have been fervently working to prepare for
Orphanage #60. We will leave tomorrow morning and
spend five days with them. These kids are around the
same ages as #14 kids (ages 7 and up).
I am personally excited to go there because they are
at the same camp ground as orphanage #2 where my
little Sergie is. It will be fun to see all my little
friends again.
Your prayers have definitely been felt! Keep
praying!...for team unity, wisdom, discernment,
availability in our hearts, and courage. Most
importantly, keep praying for the hearts of the kids.
We have an opportunity to present a drama in front of
the entire camp ground...which includes over 300
kids...not to mention all of the care givers. These
kids come from all over the country, not just
orphanages. There are even some from Siberia.
You will hear back from me in about a week when we
return.
With much gratitude!
~Katya

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good
news!" Romans 10

Going to Finland

2005-07-05T01:31:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,
Just a quick update to let you know I'm back from Camp 14...what a week it was! I wish I had time to tell you about it, but I leave for Finland in about five minutes to renew my VISA. The rest of the team left earlier this morning to return to the states. Please be in prayer for safe travels and as few complications as possible with the VISA.
Thanks for all your prayers. I'll try to right more
when I return from Finland.
Love you all!
~Katya

Back from Russia

2005-06-25T11:23:00.000-07:00

We made it back safetly from Tombov. This past week at
the orphanage has been such a blessing. Again, God has
been so faithful in His provisions.
We were some what apprehensive traveling to Tombov,
being the first team going and not knowing what to
really expect. Arriving in Tombov after two grueling
nights on the train, we realized that we would have a
total of only two translators for our week of vacation
bible school with 45 kids. But with the Lord's help we
managed and were even able to witness to the
translator from Tombov who had never even read the
bible before.
The kids at Tombov were so precious. They had so
little and yet were so content with what they had.
They're budget only includes enough money for clothes
and food. Therefore they don't have enough money for
toys. They were so grateful for everything we had. We
left them pretty much all that we had.
Next week we will go to orphanage #14, ages 7-14. We
will be doing our first sports camp that Buckner has
done. Please pray for spiritual break through with the
orphans as many of these older kids have very hardened
hearts and that the Lord will guide us as we fumble
through putting on this camp. Pray also for the team's
health as some of us have been getting sick.
Thank you for your prayers!!!!
~Katya

God is working

2005-06-16T21:57:00.000-07:00

Hello My Friends,
It's so good to hear your encouraging emails. I have
looked forward this past week to writing you about
what has been going on.
We just got back from orphanage #2 camp. What a
delight! The orphans, as well as the caregivers,
welcomed us with open arms. Camp at #40 was great too.
A little rocky for our first VBS, but we soon got the
swing of things. The Lord has been so faithful in not
only working through us during VBS, but also, so many
times He has shown himself faithful in meeting our
physical needs at just the right time. I wish I had
time to explain further. Just know that we have seen
God's hand at work!
When I arrived in Russia, I asked the translators how
all of my special orphans that I had bonded with last
year were doing. To my dissapointment, the kids had
either graduated, gone back home, been adopted,...ect.
The point is, I would not be seeing a single one of
them this summer.
While at #2 this past week, I was walking to meet the
kids for the first time. I was thinking about how
dissapointed I was and basically having myself a
little pity party as I asked God why. His answer came
very clear. I could almost hear an audible voice
saying, "Because I have new children for you to share
my love with." It did not take long for God to make
his point very clear to me.
By then I was almost to the children, and as I
approached them I saw several familiar faces. I began
giving hugs and saying hello and then came Sergei. I
have never seen or met Sergei before, but he sought me
out. Sergei, a tiny five year old boy, came running to
me and jumped in my arms, as if he had known me
forever and had been waiting for me to come. He gave
me the biggest hug around my neck and several big
kisses on the cheek. From then on, he was stuck like
glue to me for the entire time we were there. I'm not
sure why Sergei chose me. But I knew he needed as much
of God's love as I could share with him.
It was always neat when we would first go out to play
with the kids. I was usually the last one, as I was
locking things up, but I could always hear Sergei from
a far, yelling out my name and searching through the
crowd of kids, Americans, and translators to find me.
There's not much that compares to hearing an orphan
calling out your name...searching through the crowd
frantically to find only you. What a wonderful feeling
to see the look on their face when they find you and
then holding their hands up high for you to pick them
up.
I was thinking about this and came to the realization
that this must be how it is with out heavenly Father.
We are all just orphans ourselves. What joy we must
bring to Him when we call out His name, searching for
him with all our hearts, and holding up our hands for
Him to pick us up. My love for these kids almost makes
my heart burst. I can't even begin to fathom how much
greater God's love is for me.
Tomorrow we will take a train ride to Moscow and then
onto Tombov. This will be the first team that has gone
to Tombov. Please be in prayer for us as many things
are still uncertain. Pray that God will work out on
the details, that He will bind Satan from distracting
us in any way, and that He will give us boldness to
share the gospel in whatever circumstances await us.
Pray also that as we pack, the Holy Spirit will lead
us in packing just the right things for the kids.
Thank you for your prayers and encouraging words. I
look forward to sharing again how God works through
this next week.

With much love,
~Katya

Finally arrived

2005-06-09T14:23:00.000-07:00

I've made it to Russia! Driving to the shelter from
the airport, it was hard to believe I was finally back
in Russia. It felt just like home away from home.
The last two days the team and I have been getting to
know each other better and preparing for our trip
tomorrow to Orphanage number 40 camp. These kids all
have vision problems and are from the ages of 4-7
years old. Still trying to get past jet lag, pray that
we will have enough strength to keep up with those
little balls of energy.
After three days at number 40, we will then travel to
orphanage number 2 camp with kids from ages 7-12. Be
in prayer that in the short time we have, we can build
team unity, prepare what we need for the camp, and
then have discerning hearts as to what the Lord would
have us to do.
We are all excited to finally love on some orphans!
Thank you again for your prayers and your encouraging
emails. I wish I had time to write you all back.
In Him,
~Kathryn "Katya"

Arrived Safelty

2005-06-08T17:23:00.000-07:00

Hello from BOCI:
I talked to Kathryn Shindoll, the Senior Intern leader for the Interns to Russia, and they arrived safely with all of their luggage and were with our Russian Buckner staff. They sounded so happy and excited and are doing great.
We are praying for y'all as well.
God bless you -
-Eraina

The trip over....

2005-06-07T22:07:00.000-07:00

Hey Jonathan: Hope you're doing well. We sent Katya (Kathryn's Russian name) off to Russia today, with mixed emotions. She arrived safely in Washington this evening and then was on her way to Germany. She should arrive in Russia by tomorrow at 1:40 p.m.
- Janet Shindoll

Leaving shortly

2005-06-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

Hello my dear family and friends,
In just a few hours I will leaving to embark on an exciting journey to Russia for the next two months. The road ahead of me is uncertain, long, and filled with hours of hard work. But I know the rewards will far outweigh the difficulties. I have already seen His hand at work just in the past two days and I'm looking forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for me, my team, and those precious orphans in the next two months.
As I seek to lead this team of 11 interns in a way that would glorify Christ and bring the good news of His salvation to hundreds of children, I earnestly ask that you would cover me with your prayers. Please pray:

God would work in the hearts of the children I meet, as well as the caregivers and translators.
God's fingerprints will be all over this trip, from beginning to end.
That I might have energy and good health for the duration.
That I will have the boldness of Apostle Paul as I share my own testimony of God's work.
That I might have wisdom and discernment in leading the team.
Safety in traveling.
Protection for loved ones back home.

Thank you for your prayer support for me during my trip. I cherish those prayers and find that I depend on them to do God's work. While in Russia, I will be checking emails from this address: keshindoll@yahoo.com. I can't promise I will write back but I would love to hear from you.
Thank you again for your part in this journey. I can't wait to share with you what the Lord is doing.
In Him,
~Kathryn "Katya"

"In spiritual conquest, the battle is won on our knees." author unknown

Back to Russia

2005-06-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

Kathryn is headed for Russia as of June 7. Hopefully this will be an inciteful blog as she journals her trials, struggles and victories as she works as a team leader with Buckner Orphan Care International (BOCI) in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Because of the lack of internet usage, most posts will be uploaded from the states after Kathryn sends her weekly e-mail updates. Thank you for your prayers and support. May God bless you all.