Mission Trip: Tatarstan Region of Russia
Purpose: Evangelism through teaching English as a Second Language
Dates: June 28-July 12, 2012
Church Partner: Church Revival in Chelny, Russia
VRBC Member Participating: Angela Benge...Sims/Struffolino ABF
Prayer Points: Travel safety....it is a LONG way...by plane, train, & bus!
Endurance for team......fast-paced & rather non-stop camp setting
Open & receptive hearts....Tatarstan is a Muslim region with less than 1% Christians. God must open hearts for us to plant seeds of salvation.
Neighboring church, Coppell Bible Fellowship, has been partnering for
several years with Church Revival in Chelny, Tatarstan Russia for a
church-sponsored language camp. (I have learned that in Russia, adults often go
to focused camps in the summer.) The big draw is that Americans teach the
classes! The popularity & size of the camp has grown & more teachers
were needed, so Coppell Bible Fellowship reached out to other churches in the
area with ESL ministries. Since I LOVE teaching ESL at VRBC & with
this trip being primarily in a camp setting and my YEARS as a Girl Scout, I
signed on. I am one of only 3 "newbies." The rest of the 11-member
team have been before & know what to expect & are so organized. I have
been amazed at all the planning & preparations that go into the trip! Along
with English classes, we will be teaching American baseball & football
& America's culture of Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, & the 4th of
July...from a Christian perspective.
I will be teaching about the 4th of July & the devout Christian faith of
our Founding Fathers & the Bible as the basis of our Constitution &
laws. Marshmallows are not known to Russians, so on the 4th we will have a
bonfire by the river, toast marshmallows (that we will bring with us,) &
make S'Mores! :)
As a fun activity to build vocabulary, classes will compete at
"Family Feud." I want to thank VRBC's 86:12 for being a large part of
the survey group. We received 188 responses to the survey! Awesome! Thanks too
for the prayers & support of my VRBC family!
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