Of the hundreds of people that enter Russia each year,
this is a mere handful of testimonies of lives that have
been changed as they stepped out of their comfort
zones to share the Gospel of Christ. Approximately 2000 Aussies and Kiwis have made the trip so far!

Jenny
"It was possible to track where our team was in the camp by the chorus of "hellos" that greeted us everywhere, from kids and counsellors. They seemed genuinely pleased to see us."

Claudia
"I've enjoyed meeting the kids. They are warm, loving and a pleasure to be with. Knowing the Russian language certainly enriched my experience."

Brett
"Entering the gates of the camp to a guard of honour, with over 120 kids smiling and clapping – calling out your name, was a very touching welcome.
It was wonderful to see many of those kids I'd invested time in previous visits as well as multiple new faces.
Many children were showing off their gospel bracelets from last year, and even the year before.
Clearly, seeds sown and nurtured, were beginning to show signs of bearing real fruit!"

Christine
"Even though it was hard settling in, the days that followed made it all worthwhile. Having kids yell your name and run up to you and hug you is the best memory I will take away from this camp.
One thing that really touched my heart is how quick these kids are to accept and love you.
When we were waiting outside for a concert, a little girl came up to me (whom I have never seen before) and she just hugged me, she wouldn't let go, she just held on so tight. After while she ran off. I didn’t see her again the whole time during camp. I don't know her name, but I hope she'll always remember the foreigner that was there when she needed a hug."

Jesse
"•A number of kids remembered me from my winter trip.
•Was wonderful to see them again and find out how they have grown."

Marinus
Running the police program and it being a great success. The opportunity to help develop a schools-based policing program with the Russian police.

Benjamin
"I had the opportunity to do the relationship programme with the two teenage groups and I found this enjoyable because I feel comfortable around this age group.
Another experience I found enjoyable was telling the Bible stories and handing the bracelets and Bibles to the young people.
I also found that UNO was a favourite amongst the young people and they/we could have played for hours at a time."

Ineke
"For me it was a life changing experience and even though the accommodation was bad, it was extremely encouraging to be with the kids and the other team members.
The translators were great!
A very special moment for me was when this very sad little girl sat on my lap, and finally relaxed and put her head against my chest and showed us a little smile."

Rebecca
"I feel so privileged to have been on outreach this year. It was incredible to see the kids change during our time at camp as at first they were shy and uncertain but by the end they were asking if we would be coming back again.
Getting to spend my holiday with those kids has been the biggest blessing and I feel that it’ll be hard to stop me coming back!"

Amelia
"One of my highlights was being able to see the joy and anticipation in a Russian boy's eyes when I asked him if he wanted a Bible. He wasn't there the day we gave them to his group, but when I asked he said yes without any hesitation and started flicking through straight away. I believe God has an incredible future for him."

Greg & John
"Our two final groups: teenagers and middle group, today were with a Bible stories (with permission). No public appeals were made, but at least four teenagers expressed a desire to trust Christ as their saviour. I had the privilege of praying with them and commending them to the Lord.
The middle group came to our camp from another camp. They had received 'gospel bracelets' but did not know what they stood for as that group was not allowed to share the message. Here they heard it clear and plain.
A number of Bibles were received by children who did not own one.
All the camp staff were given "thank you" cards and some presents.
The camp would like us to return."

Jenny
"When asked what words I could say in Russian – Jesus loves you!!"

Gwen
"I came prepared with stories from the Jungle Doctor series and after we offered to tell one of the stories to the two younger groups of kids, the leaders came and asked if we had more. What an opportunity to tell them of Jesus and His love for them. Also being able to befriend the leaders and let them know that God loves them.
Kids kept coming and asking to play games – UNO, frisbee, soccer, twister, snakes & ladders (drawn on the ground) – and asking for face painting and Aussie tattoos.
It was a wonderful experience and I thank God for this opportunity to show Christian love to others."

Clara
"I really enjoyed being with the children, to be able to give them a hug and a cuddle, play with them, do crafts with them. Also being in the team was great, special when we had some tough times, to be able to say to each other, "Let’s pray about it." And we did, and God answers prayer. To be able to see a lonely little boy crying, go to him and say, "What is the matter? Would you want your mum?" and he said yes, so [I gave] him a hug and a lolly and then to see a smile: that is great. Hope that the Lord will give me strength to keep up this work."

Isabel
"Making friends with a girl who was very isolated from her group and seeing her small face develop a smile and then the relationships develop within her group.
Having the head counsellor ask for 16 children's bible story books after we had been refused permission to hand out Bibles to the children and seeing her agreement as we shared the good news with each group."

Des
"The kids really enjoyed my life story about my life on the drugs and alcohol and prison and to know that I got through to a couple of them was very emotional for me because they really took in what I expressed to them how God really changed my life."

Alyssa
"I had a few personal challenges at camp. I found I was allergic to the grass and had a personal home issue come up. It drew me closer to God though and made me lean on him. God was awesome and showed his love and care for me in tough times when so far from home, through not only my team members but the children. Unexpectedly and much needed I received hugs from some of the children. They had no idea what I had been through and they were giving me hugs as I was a friend to them. I believe God was in this. I not only got comfort but realised what I was doing here was valuable and that God meant me to be here for this time. I felt God has used me and blessed me at the same time."

Emma
"The kids here are not loved enough so it was an honour to show them love they deserve and about our culture. We weren't able to share the message about God through words but I believe our actions reflected our beliefs."

Daniel
"Got to have a deep conversation with one boy on second last day. [It] was special to communicate a bit more than a greeting and a hug."

Jenny
"Parents' day was real highlight for me.
We decorated a small wooden kiosk with Aussie flags and displayed our Bibles on a table. Lots of children were around the building doing various colourful crafts – it was fun with lots of laughter.
Parents began arriving at the front gate and their children took them by the hand pulling them to our little spot – eager to tell them all about the Aussies and wanting our Bibles. We handed out many Bibles and story books that day and talked to many parents!"

Louise
"•Always the children's smiles and hugs, love given.
•The very warm welcome from most of the leaders and staff
•Some think of us as family and greet us as such
•Special one-on-one moments with the children and some staff
Being able to pray with the children and staff"

Dennis
"What has happened to the orphan children? The director at camp asked. She had observed an immediate change in the orphans, who were accommodated in a separate part of the camp. "They are much better behaved since you have been with them," she told us. We noticed the change too, but knew it was their new found faith in Jesus. We would return daily to their dorm for games and to teach them new songs of praise. They soaked it up like a sponge. The camp had a lot of orphans this year, but sadly they were kept separate from the rest of the kids and were not included in any of their programs. (Simply because they were orphans.) We all took a shining to an orphan boy of about 12. His face seemed to glow with the love of Jesus. I gave him my watch as a token of our visit and he was overjoyed to receive a gift that we would treasure forever. Giving him the watch took me back almost a decade ago to a camp in Vladivostok. It was there that God prompted me to give my "tweety bird" watch to a little orphan girl. She was devastated that her parents had abandoned her, but was so happy to receive a watch, something her father had promised but never delivered."

Linda
"The moment the Director said, "You have changed the orphans, please give out your Bibles."
And praise and worship with the orphans in the sunshine was like God was joining in and the angels were singing with us.
I give all the praise to God."

Rebecca
"I really enjoyed getting to know the children through playing games and spending time with them. One orphan presented me with a picture of a rose that he had drawn; a highlight for me."

Charles
"One of the things that God had revealed to me while I was here, because it was a huge struggle at times is that I was like when a parent teaches their child to swim. At first they hold them in the water and teach them to paddle and do arm strokes to swim. But when they have done this for long enough, the parent lets them go to swim on their own but still they're saying "come swim to me". This was like that in a way, God has been teaching me to swim by faith, perseverance, works, and love etc and now He let me use these skills to keep my head above water. This has been a great journey and experience for me and is just the beginning of many to come."

Suzanne
"When children would come to talk to us.
Seeing God work on counsellors and director, softening their hearts.
Working with another team member from Western Australia."

Rachel
"A big highlight at camp for me was just spending time with the children and getting to know them better."

Blake
"Inspiring, very challenging but a fantastic opportunity to grow as a Christian on a mission. I feel God has truly called me too.
•My first day I instantly felt like I was supposed to be here
•One-on-one talks with kids
•When someone gave me a home-made bookmark
•Day in St Petersburg
•Sharing my partial testimony. I was petrified but it was from my heart
•Team leader taking time to encourage me when I felt like [a] fish out of water around day 4."

Wayne
"The kids were drawn to us and God's blessing was there to share the message of Jesus especially after moving from good accommodation to poor. Thanks all to God's love."

Bronwyn
"This whole trip has been a highlight. It has been such an awesome experience serving God's kingdom and watching him move in the lives of so many people in the camps, not only the kids' but also the leaders and management staff.
The friendships I have made are so special to me. I praise God for this amazing experience. He has shown me great things over the past few weeks."

Carla
"•An experience I had was one day down by the lake with a couple of counsellors at midnight. We went for a swim and then sat around talking about God, His creation and answering any questions. God was present and it was so beautiful to be sitting before his creation, talking about him.
•The children are so beautiful; they just smile and want to say hello. I have received countless gifts including crafts, bracelets and drawings. They are so happy. It was such a joy to share God’s love with such beautiful kids."

Inna
"This year I was asked so much about God, Bible and Christianity. The most of the kids have a great interest for what we speak about in classes. It always makes me excited."

Jonathan
"One of my highlights was spending a night in the Russian forest with the counsellors from the camp. We went out for a midnight swim in the lake and then had a fire and celebrated a birthday for one of the counsellors. The three of us that went were able to share our testimonies with a few of the counsellors and they were asking deeper questions about why we believed what we do. This built upon friendships that had already begun to form and will now stay close friends with many of these young leaders."

Sam
"This year I saw many kids in the camp who I had met in previous years. It makes me happy when they remember me and I remember them. One kid I was really happy to see. When I first met him last year he was unhappy and so I started a friendship with him. I've been praying for him since last year and this year he is so full of joy. We talked about our families and also about God. I can see a difference in his appearance now because he is so full of joy."

Stephen
"On our last day we had a group of kids and one of the girls told us how much she loved the Bible we had given her a few days earlier. The girl went on to say that she and her friends have been reading their Bibles a lot, and that it made her happier and changed her perception on her life and the world. The girl expressed how happy she was that we came and told her about God."

Leigh
"Instant acceptance after 3 years was amazing.
Seeing the older teenagers accept Bibles so enthusiastically was a blessing.
Even though the mostly said, yes heard this before, they listened attentively and were keen for bookmarks from Australian people.
The love from the little kids is always a blessing."

Vika
"The children were very open, and we had so much freedom in our time with them.
The good news and the love of Christ."

Tynan
"•Having my fingernails painted carefully, with purpose and design, blowing on them to dry before applying next layer by boys in the compound. Boys are 15/16 taken in for stealing or living on the streets with nowhere to go. To treat a stranger, female and older with such care was heart-warming and encouraging.
•Watching the Jesus video with a group who were very unsettled throughout the whole movie. One little boy in & out of the room, yet settled halfway through started to cry his heart out unashamedly as he watched Jesus get nailed to the cross. One of our team members cuddled him close to console him. How my heart ached to see his pain, crying because he saw someone he knew little of die – when he shouldn't have. He calmed down and prayed the Jesus acceptance prayer at the end of the movie unashamedly out loud. Oh Lord grant him peace in your death so that he might live. May we who know him much more remember what it took to put you on the cross and to unashamedly cry out for forgiveness.
•Children's minds are heavily influenced at such a young age by many things. During the discos we have been involved in over the 5 trips, we have noticed the way young and old girls dance. From watching music videos and those before them they have seen what it takes to get attention. I love to dance and have recognised the opportunity to show boys and girls how to dance for fun and not promiscuously. Guess what, they seem to enjoy themselves more because they are carefree and there just to have fun. How simple things like dancing, which God created, can be used to give Him glory, is joy! What freedom they had when they danced for themselves and not to impress someone."

You can read more testimonies here