Back in Tambov!

Ah! Internet access! When was the last time that you were completely CUT OFF from all communication!?
No phone, no internet, no ability to speak or read basic signs! That was the case at our remote camp location near Lipetsk. Of course, the inability to speak or read is always the case for me in Russia,but it was new to be completely cut off from contact with family and friends!

Todd and Jen and I were talking about WHY we've made this return trip to Russia, and surely part of it is this PERSPECTIVE! To feel absolutely small before a great and awesome God. To feel out of control,but to know that He is in control! To see how our great God transcends language and cultural barriers.
As camp was concluding last night, the camp director, Sasha came up to us, and through Jenni, told us, "Thank you for coming. Without you, our camp would have been worse." (Had to laugh at the phrasing.)
He added, "We do not speak the same language, but we worked together as one. And this is not because you have a translator, but because we serve a great God who unites us."

Truly EXHAUSTED from a very FULL five days of games, crafts, and NOISE! We have collapsed in our familiar rooms at Truth Church in Tambov, and it feels like a palace! An inner spring mattress is A-MA-ZING!
Can't wait to go to sleep. (We slept on mats at camp that have a very interesting history...let's just say they're a tad worse for the wear. Jenni explained that they are the mats that the trains got rid of because they were too old and worn!) Most of us placed our mats on wooden bed frames, but Jen had a special metal hammock
that I'll let her have the privilege of describing!

We're off to get dinner, and then I'll work on posting some photos from camp! Thank you for praying despite the absence of our communication! We miss you! Hard to believe that Jen and I only have three more nights in Tambov,
and then we will begin the journey home.

Megan!