Well, we are down to our last day. During the first 2 days of Yasha's visit, I wasn't sure at all that we would be able to make it to the end, but here it is and it has gone by too quickly. I have already cried 2 times when praying with Yasha at bedtime, and he is so sweet to me. He wipes my tears away and says, "Don't cry Mama, please don't cry!"
I really wish I could have blogged more this week, because we had some amazing teachable moments and blogging is my therapy. We took Yasha & Alek every evening this week to Vacation Bible School (VBS) at our church. It was fun, but also VERY EXHAUSTING for everyone -- didn't get the kids to bed before 10pm any night. Just seeing the difference that studying the Bible has on kids is wonderful. God gives children such a clear understanding of Himself. It is simple stuff to understand, but somehow when we get older and more "wise in our own eyes" we close ourself off to this revelation. I guess this is why Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." It has been a privilege to see God reveal himself to Yasha and Alek this week, mostly through music since they both love it.
I also had the opportunity to teach Yasha many things as we had the rough week of a "love/hate" relationship. He would misbehave, I would teach him right from wrong, he would be sorry and remorseful, and I would forgive him. This pattern went on many times this week. Each time I got to explain how telling me he was sorry was only part of the way to resolve the situation. I explained that he also needed to tell God he was sorry because he had really sinned against God and not me. This was all new to him, but very enlightening. As crazy as it sounds, I think the conflicts somehow bring us closer and closer.
Today we will go to church and both of them will sing in front of the church all of the songs they learned this week at VBS. Tomorrow we leave for Atlanta. We will spend the night and then put him on the plane around 11am EDT on Tuesday. We will spend Tuesday evening with our friends and return Wednesday afternoon. It will be hard to let go.
It reminds me of two things we did this week. We let the tadpoles go that Yasha caught the first week he was here. Of course they are now frogs and letting them go was such a gift. I got to see Yasha's kind heart for animals. He was so careful to lay them gently back in the water, exactly in the place where he found them. It reminds me of this whole summer with him -- he started out as a tadpole and he has grown and developed, and now we are taking him back to the place where we found him. Please pray with us that our visit this summer helps him to grow into the young man that God desires for him to be -- a man after God's own heart.
Yasha also caught a HUGE butterfly this week and we kept it for a few days, but then let it go. What a beautiful vision of freedom this was. Here is the video and the joy Yasha had in letting it go! It is a priceless memory, just like the time we spent with Yasha this summer. Pray that we will have the same joy in setting Yasha free!!! Love to you all and thanks for taking this adventure with us!!!
I really wish I could have blogged more this week, because we had some amazing teachable moments and blogging is my therapy. We took Yasha & Alek every evening this week to Vacation Bible School (VBS) at our church. It was fun, but also VERY EXHAUSTING for everyone -- didn't get the kids to bed before 10pm any night. Just seeing the difference that studying the Bible has on kids is wonderful. God gives children such a clear understanding of Himself. It is simple stuff to understand, but somehow when we get older and more "wise in our own eyes" we close ourself off to this revelation. I guess this is why Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." It has been a privilege to see God reveal himself to Yasha and Alek this week, mostly through music since they both love it.
I also had the opportunity to teach Yasha many things as we had the rough week of a "love/hate" relationship. He would misbehave, I would teach him right from wrong, he would be sorry and remorseful, and I would forgive him. This pattern went on many times this week. Each time I got to explain how telling me he was sorry was only part of the way to resolve the situation. I explained that he also needed to tell God he was sorry because he had really sinned against God and not me. This was all new to him, but very enlightening. As crazy as it sounds, I think the conflicts somehow bring us closer and closer.
Today we will go to church and both of them will sing in front of the church all of the songs they learned this week at VBS. Tomorrow we leave for Atlanta. We will spend the night and then put him on the plane around 11am EDT on Tuesday. We will spend Tuesday evening with our friends and return Wednesday afternoon. It will be hard to let go.
It reminds me of two things we did this week. We let the tadpoles go that Yasha caught the first week he was here. Of course they are now frogs and letting them go was such a gift. I got to see Yasha's kind heart for animals. He was so careful to lay them gently back in the water, exactly in the place where he found them. It reminds me of this whole summer with him -- he started out as a tadpole and he has grown and developed, and now we are taking him back to the place where we found him. Please pray with us that our visit this summer helps him to grow into the young man that God desires for him to be -- a man after God's own heart.
Yasha also caught a HUGE butterfly this week and we kept it for a few days, but then let it go. What a beautiful vision of freedom this was. Here is the video and the joy Yasha had in letting it go! It is a priceless memory, just like the time we spent with Yasha this summer. Pray that we will have the same joy in setting Yasha free!!! Love to you all and thanks for taking this adventure with us!!!
3 comments:
Thank you for sharing your summer with us! I've wondered what it would be like to host a child and you have given me a glimpse into the joys and struggles of welcoming a child into your life this way.
Heather
www.russianblessings.wordpress.com
Your blogs could now be put into a book.
Well.....Yasha will certainly be taking a lot of loving memories about his "family" home with him. You've nurtured a little heart and shown him how to love his Lord. Hurray for the Lord and the Platter Family!!! LY
Lynn- That is the biggest butter-fly ever. It looks like a bird! I love how God uses the creatures to reveal messages and insights to us. Priceless!! I am really going to miss Yasha - even though he was here for such a short time and I did not get to spend a lot of time with him. We must have developed a special amphibian, beetle, bug bond???? Maybe it was the tender, funny, charming, sweet stories you would share. We saw him through your loving heart and eyes. So glad I get to journey through life with you as a friend!!
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