Let's go to the beach and eat peaches with Russians!

Hello from a very exhausted girl living it up in Athens!

This Friday was our ever-anticipated Kid's Day Camp! We woke up early to be at the ARC by 8:10 (the kids were due to arrive at 8:30). Of course, they were all there to greet us (it's unclear how long they had been waiting...we're guessing quite a while). We got all our gear packed up and after loading the bus we headed out to the CosmoVision Center (a center for playing soccer, basketball, you name it!). There was an emphasis on bringing an abundance of barf bags. I thought it was said in jest, but unfortunately I was proven otherwise. I suppose you can't blame them, most of these kids haven't been in a car in months, nevertheless a bus! It was gross, but most recovered once we hit dry land.

Once at the center we ran around and played football (their preferred game), basketball, jump rope, hoolahoops and then the cup game at snack time. They loved the chance to get outside and run in an open field, but the beach was what was on everyone's mind.

Most of the kids don't own swimsuits (it's not the most popular thing to do in Afghanistan), so we went to the store and rummaged through donations and found what we thought would fit them best. The girls had a hard time wearing just the suit anyway, so with the shorts (sometimes under the suit), fitting ended up not being an issue. They were all so excited to be going to the beach, but putting on that swimsuit and actually getting in the water ended up being quite the challenge. They were scared to death and it took one adult and a floaty to get them past where they could touch. It was actually the 11 and 12 year-olds that were most hesitant, but even they couldn't resist the chance to grab a floaty and be dragged around the beautifully blue water.

The day was a success and so was the ride home (no need for barf bags when everyone falls asleep right away). It was tiring and I got a whole new sunburn, but a small price to pay for a day of normalcy (well, for someone living in Greece) for these kids. And actually, a day away from the kids likely made the mothers happy as well.

Today (well yesterday...it's almost 2 in the morning here) was Saturday, so another tea house day. We were all exhausted, but the day went smoothly with the kids all a buzz about their swim the day before. After tea house (and pork chops for supper...a Saturday tradition) Almira asked us to join her at Russian fellowship also held at the ARC.

The night basically consisted of prayer, special music, worship (lead beautifully by Almira herself) and a message. All in Russian of course, but with the help of translator Almira we got the most out of it. The best part came while eating some delicious peaches, cherries and watermelon. Everyone asks where your from and then I have to explain where Iowa is, but give up after a number of blank stares... It's not a big deal I say. One man, Mr. Albert (who I know from English class at the tea house) quizzed me, What was New York first called? New Amsterdam, I say. He gives me the thumbs up and I know I'm alright in his book. Other questions included, How many people live in America? How many Russians are there? Why do all Americans shoot each other? Do you like GWB? I was, of course, intrigued by the last question and reminded of how interesting/important American politics are to the rest of the world. (By the way, they didn't like Bush, liked Obama and thought Hillary Clinton was a little crazy. Eh, two out of three isn't bad!)
Saturday ended up being a long day (we ended up at a Christian evangelistic concert in front of the Parliament building until about midnight...If I'm feeling bold I'll share my thoughts on all of that later...I'm too tired at the moment...it would be a rant, for sure), but it was a good day. I'm reminded of how deep and wide the body of Christ is and how God is at work at all places and in all people and for that, I am very thankful.