Progress Report 4_03
Tallinn, September 16, 2003
The biggest news in our country is the Sunday’s near 70% popular vote in support of joining EU. Whether it was the „Estonian enthusiasm towards EU“ or just voting for the „lesser evil“, time will tell. Time will also tell what joining EU will actually bring about but for now, we need to go on with our everyday lives.
Lighthouse is „back in business“—as I am writing this letter, sitting here in my cosy office and looking out of the window, I frequently hear a buzz and another child/youngster is coming from school—to do his/her homework, then play on the computers, take part in activities (the newest of which is music therapy that starts today), take a shower, have a decent hot meal, play ping pong or just hang out, feeling there are people who care. A new teacher Tiina Peterson is working alongside the Russian teacher Alla Gluhhova. Tiina is a member of Oleviste church and has long ago felt the calling to work with children. We now officially have a certified caretaker Maie Mossin who is a valuable addition to the staff. And yes, the SMS did come and a healthy boy Marko Martin was born to Kristiaana and Marko on July 31st, making our board member Enn Laansoo a grandfather.
Much has happened since I last wrote. For the children, the highlight of the month of August, if not the whole summer was the camp at Ahja. Many know the place as „the former sausage factory“. We went there for the second time in the row and had a super time. This year the curriculum we followed was a „computer game“ MegaQuest—the greatest story ever told and the greatest plan ever conceived. Like in regular computer games we had levels—there was one level every day. The mood, the decorations and the activities changed each day. The first level was GARDEN, where everything was pretty and life was good before disobedience ruined it. The second level was MOUNTAIN, where we learned about God’s plan to be among His people, Moses’ role and the golden calf. As a craft, the children chiseled commandments on plaster slates that Hannes, Martti and Hendrik, our wonderful counselors and sports instructions had made the night before. The third level was HILL and it was the saddest day for we talked about Jesus and his death on the cross. The fourth level was the ROAD, where the emphasis was on Resurrection and the hope it gives to us. In the fifth level we were all transported to the the CITY of heavenly Jerusalem and we talked how nothing impure can get inside there. In addition, we did a drama with children where the evil Logoff wants to get control of everything and is about to win when the Programmer himself comes to rescue by programming himself to the program and lets himself be deleted for the sake of the others. Yet, since he had known it before, he had already reprogrammed himself back to life after being deleted and the „game“ can continue to the higher and ever better levels.
Bible study, although central was not the only thing we did. There were a lot of sports activities, an orienteering game which in the US would be a „scavinger hunt“ although they had to answer the questions in the checkpoints which had to be found according to the map. The map and the route as well as most of the questions were again made by the three teenage counselors. The boombox was often perching on the windowsill and Pipi alias Regina had usually turned it up whereas the whole group was singing or sometimes yelling „Five loaves and two fishes“ –a chorus of a song by an Estonian Christian band. I was sometimes wondering if real estate prices were dropping around the neighborhood :-) for people wanting to move out.
For disciplinary reasons, everybody had three „camp lives“ and all the counselors myself and Kaidi Nõmmik in addition to the three young men, had „monster cards“ that Eedik had drawn for us. For minor offences and bad language there were 10 push-ups. For very bad behavior or insubmission you could be shown the monster card and if that happened three times total during the camp, you had an opportunity to „play again“ next year and the bus left for home twice a day at the bus stop. We did have to send one boy home who, at the age of 17 would not understand that it was not appropriate to throw half a basket of potatoes into the river, bang on the glass wall just for fun or sneak in and eat half of the cookies that had been left for the night snack for all the group, plus a few of some other things. So, we ended up with 25 children.
There were several quizzes and as always some things come out funny. For example,
Camp fire on the last evening proved to be a success, too. The site was 2 miles away and we walked back and forth, some guys ran back for they had wanted to beat the van. Since we were fewer on the staff than planned, the hidden agenda always was to get everybody tired, so they would sleep at night. There was yet another accomplishment that was achieved that night after the many kilos of grill sausage, bread, juice and salad . The food at Ahja is known to be excellent. However, the lady who was cooking for us wondered why 10 potatoes per person for lunch was not enough and she had to increase the portions all the time. Finally, on Friday we had some food left over, so we figured they had eaten enough and finally felt full. The weather was not as warm as last year and not even close to the really warm days in July, but of course that wouldn’t stop the children from splahing into the water or jumping from high or just swimming when we, the counselors were shivering on the coast just at the mere sight of it. With all things considered, at the end of the five days the campers said it had been the best camp they had ever had. So, thank you so much to all of you who were praying for our camp!
Right after coming back we had a very special privilege to welcome a VIM team from Tullahoma and Nashville, TN. These people-Doug and Linda Thomas, Jerry Lashlee, Jim McClure, Blossom Merryman, Anna Roberts, Jule Nyhuis and Lee Parkison took two weeks off their schedule and spent it scrubbing the floors as well as walls, spackling and painting them and doing all kinds of other odd jobs. Consequently, the inside of the main building has been renovated at least once in the past two years. But there is still some work to do and I can get a list of them.
In addition to the appreciation for the work they did we also had a super time of fun and fellowship. Here I would have flunked miserably had I not had a good helper. Rebeka Norak was the group’s designated guide in hardware and grocery stores as well as driving around the city and in many other . Together, we also had a grillout party together with children and some parents where we ate together and sang some songs and the children asked our American friends to join in the dance. The lighthouse is definiteley shining brighter now because of the work and love that was invested. But we also miss you and remember you fondly!
Last but not least, we are grateful to each one of you who responded to the appeal in the last newsletter and sent donations. The updated 2003 list is posted on www.lastekeskus.ee/lighthouse/partners.html. Special thanks to First UMC/Tullahoma, TN, First UMC/Pulaski, VA, Mt. Bethel UMC/ Marietta, GA, Asbury UMC/Tulsa, OK, Mayodan UMC/NC and Thomas Ritchie/ Birmingham, AL. You are the reason we can continue our work. Many thanks to those who are praying for us faithfully.
God Bless each one of you and Reward you for your work of love,
Kersti Raudsepp
But there was one thing they would always know—5000 were fed with five loaves and two fish.
Children Center Lighthouse