Community

The guys downstairs

This morning, I went downstairs and there were four guys sleeping in various places in the little house where I'm staying. Last week, six guys from the orphanage, who just graduated, came here so that they could take their college entrance exams.  Now there are 22 guys and girls here. Give or take one or two.

What's interesting is that most of the guys were ones who didn't come to the camps for one reason or another and who never really connected with us.

Last night, we had a Bible study and most of them came, including Vitya, who hung out with us at the first camp (Tiger used to call him Curly, which may be part of the problem...), but shut down after that. As Anya was asking the group to explain what it means to be a Christian, I saw Vitya listening intently. I'm not sure what got through, but that he was listening was a bit of a miracle.

Family, celebrating my birthday.

The study was on Acts, and as we were reading  how the earliest followers of Christ freely sold their possessions and lived so that no one was in want, it was a reminder that we often miss out on the blessings that such living can bring. It was also a reminder that God gives us a place to belong, a place where we can be loved. Seeing the 22+ kids, thinking how they were all abandoned, abused or neglected, and are now finding a place to call home, made me think that this is what the Church should be about.

Maybe that is what Vitya was experiencing for the first time.