Update from Camp Babochka

Dear Friends and Partners,

We are just coming off a wonderful Saturday (the 21st) with so many positive emotions its hard to know where to start. The Soccer Match was a huge success on all levels.

To start with, God answered each and everyone of the prayer requests we made to you:

1)  safety - our ref Lewis, who has been our ref for almost seven years, said that he had never refereed a game with so much energy but without so much as even one dangerous moment with the wheelchairs;

2) the MiniPeople Club and the City Administration were both shocked by what they saw Saturday, they had never really seen the spirit of love that pervades our time with our kids, and they both could not help but comment on its beauty and power;

3) planning and details also went down without a hitch, with the MiniPeople even getting all the kids to the field early;

4) male volunteers - God found us five more volunteers the night before the match, right when we were just giving up hope, it was incredible!

But God went beyond these requests and provided us with some treats we had not expected. The soccer match was also the most team-oriented we have ever played. Often times in the past the kids in wheelchairs end up with much more "ball-time" than those who walk with assistance but not this time. Team members valued each other and at several points the match almost came to a standstill as players waited for those who were slower to kick the ball. It was truly beautiful to see the kids and counselors respect and love each other through giving each other this kind of time even in the middle of a competitive soccer game (the final score was 1-0).

Saturday morning it rained. But by the time we were gathered together to play the sun was out and shining, something very rare here in St. Petersburg. And the weather continued to be great for the rest of the day. This too was surely from God.

To list all the blessings of Saturday would take recounting the entire day, blow-by-blow, because God surely was with us through it all. I would just like to once again thank you for your payers.

You can view some photos of the event on the photos page of this blog.  The kids' expressions are priceless!

- "With God" (as we say here in Russia) -

Club Babochka Staff