Global Aid Network Mission Reports

MOST TOUCHED MY HEART

All the kids we visit last few days are so precious, but one little three-year-old boy on the first visit seemed so quiet and shy. He didn’t smile. Then after we interacted and played and shared the care bags he grabbed my finger and pulling me into his room with a big smile talked a lot, which I couldn’t understand, but which showed that God’s love touched his heart. I hugged him so tightly in my arms. How love changed this little boy’s heart!  Praise the Lord!

POSITIVE NOTES

1. In the mentally physically disabled center the enthusiasm of the kids for the fun games and competitions, but especially their interest in caring for each other and sharing little things.
2. The same in the new shelter even enough they were there temporarily they helped each other and were very polite. They really enjoyed our teenagers’ photographs.
3. As for many trips before the staff in these institutions must be very caring judging by the kids’ behavior.
4. Our team teenagers as last year ever truly a team to be proud of in their much needed helplessness and in quality of sharing in the institutions and entertaining too.
5. Our interpreters were excellent for us and for the institutions as well.

PS. I would encourage others to take teenagers on these outreaches to benefit the mission as well as their own growth in important ways.

PRAISING GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY

Being on a GAIN Western Russia Summer Project is a good thing. I think if it were possible, every Christian should be part of such a trip.

As an older "Grandpa" of 81 years old I wondered if I should come along and what purpose could I play. Well, I did come and it’s been a trip to remember!

It surely changed my perspective of life. Instead of thinking of the "Dow-Jones" or the price of gasoline, or the political race back home, my attention has turned to the words of Jesus in Math. 19:14: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." My concern becomes: "Can I make this little blonde girl with terrible scars on her arms smile as I open this bag of goodies for her?" I am praying that she will remember the meaning of the colored beads after we leave.

I do my silly Yo-Yo tricks for the kids and they smile and I feel good!

It’s hard climbing up the 3 flights of stairs to our Hotel Room; the bus-rides are bumpy and scary as we pass so many accidents along roads. But I feel safe and happy as I draw strength and faith from others in the team and feel the love bonds between us all.

My sincere thanks to all the stuff of GAIN that plans these trips. Jon W. is an excellent leader, we all appreciate Igor and his humor, Marilyn has been most helpful to my wife and me as we go through each day.

I thank the Lord for all who made it possible to come on this most important mission.

Sometimes email is a bit slow in getting to us - Marilyn K. reports in on the Western Russia team.

7-12-2008

We have arrived with our entire luggage too!
As we were waiting at Moscow airport for the last of our group to come through the Customs we had the chance to talk with a young man who had asked what we were doing. When we shared with him he told us that he was an orphan and someone came to his orphanage where he learned about Jesus. He was at the airport meeting a group of American missionaries. He shared how much we are doing. Our work is making this world different.