Wednesday on the Gulf of Riga

Have I told you we've discovered Estonian chocolate? We just can't get enough of it, so be prepared for an extra 5 lbs per person. Ice cream is actually a necessity, not a luxury, because it's the only really cold thing here (so maybe we should make that about 7 or 8 lbs!). They apparently don't believe in ice, or don't really like it, because it's very hard or next to impossible to find in the stores, and you have to ask for it specifically in a restaurant, and then they only bring you a few pieces. And they don't have ice cube trays, just these plastic bag things that are hard to fill. And the refrigerators don't get as cold as ours. Listen to me whine! Other than that, the country is perfect! :) Today we had almost 60 kids for VBS!! We were running around setting up craft stations at the last minute, but it was great! The smiles seem to get bigger and given more readily every day, and they just love when you remember their names - I think they have a sense of how hard it is for us to pronounce them and then commit to memory. We had even more adults come today than yesterday, and they stayed for most of the time, too. We're praying that all these people continue to come to events at the church, that will lead them to services at the church, that will lead them to Christ. This afternoon we went to the orphanage for a bell concert and to hang out with kids. We brought beanie babies for them, too. Not a big turnout, but that's OK. A couple of the kids there had been at VBS today, so that was great make a second connection with them. They seem to have a good life there, and they get lots of 'stuff' from people who want to make charitable contributions, but they don't get interaction with the same people on a regular basis, other than the teachers/house workers. One girl (she came to VBS with her 2 siblings) seems very sad all the time, and hardly ever speaks except to her brother/sister. She looks like the oldest of the 3, so we wonder what their home life was like, and what responsibilities she feels for the others. I'm sure there are many stories there, and things that only God knows how to heal. Please continue to pray for them. I hope they can find a way to connect with Agape regularly to get that 'love fix' that they seem to need so desperately. Tomorrow is the last day of VBS, then a concert in the evening, with each group of handbell kids playing their song, my duet with Rauno, etc. We of course hope for even more kids tomorrow. Kuuli and Meeli have been pleasantly surprised that most of the kids who came on Monday have come every day again, and we keep adding more new kids. Yay! Carolyn gave us bad news today...Monday we leave the hotel at 4:15 AM (yes, AM), have a 2 hour flight to Brussels, and then we're not supposed to sleep the rest of the trip in order to get back on USA time. Bummer! Oh, well, I don't have to worry about that for another few days. Please keep Vicki and Missy especially in your prayers, as their kids start school tomorrow and the moms are sad that they're not there for that. Speaking of Vicki, she wins the prize for losing the most stuff, but not on the trip here, just since we've been here in Parnu, at one place, where we eat, sleep and work all in the same building. At least so far she hasn't lost her mind. And here's a word of advice: don't say anything funny around Carolyn when she's drinking water, or at least wear waterproof clothing. This afternoon I saw Russ sitting down, watching Josep (an 18 year old Paul Newman look alike who does work around the church for free, just because he loves the church) do some tile work that we all thought Russ was going to do....hmmm.... Missy and Marilene have become my bell boys...bell roadies...bell caddies - I like that one! They tell me I have to say something bad about me, since I've tattled on them, so I will tell you that I'm ALWAYS the last one to breakfast. So much the last one, that I'm eating by myself, and they're waiting to have the prayer until my cereal is finished so it doesn't get soggy. We're going to have to find a white-chocolate-covered-almond supplier for Victoria's breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, evening snack and all those between meal times, too. And Mom Marty doesn't want us to eat ice cream at 4:00 because it will spoil our dinner. Plus she fusses at Russ and me for not eating our vegetables. Oh, mom! Oh! I have to tell you something funny about our trip to the orphanage. Marika is a 28 year old blind girl who is the youth leader for Agape. She went with us to the orphanage, along with her friend Moira. We wandered around trying to find the right building, the right entrance, the right room, until Marika said, "It's this way" and she led us back down the stairs, outside and around to exactly the right place. Then she got in the van with Marilene and I and gave us driving directions to the closest entrance to unload the bells. She doesn't speak English, so Moira interpreted for her. I don't know if it's more irony or a picture of God...someone who sees and speaks the polar opposite of you showing you the way. Ah, Lord God!

More later...

-Sheryl Bob