Zdravo! Today is our second full day with the campers. Last night was one of the best nights of the trip for sure.
During the day we played every game imaginable with the students but still weren't really connecting with most of them beyond being teammates and learning a couple Serbian words (which I'll get to in a few paragraphs). But then night worship happened and things got crazy.
After a few worship songs and the usual message, one of the Serb leaders came out with a game that he had organized pitting the Americans vs. the Serbs. First was a trivia. The Americans had to answer trivia questions about Serbia and the Serbs had to answer questions about America. Each team got every answer right. We the moved to tongue twisters. I was selected from the American group to attempt two Serbian tongue twisters and actually did pretty well! The students loved it and from the sound of James' applause I had done better than I thought. The Serbs selected a girl who spoke perfect English to do the English tongue twisters so she knocked those out with ease.
After those we had a "Name that Song" competition with American and Serbian songs. The Serbian kids were surprisingly good at the American songs and killed us on the Serbian songs because none of us had heard any of them. The biggest hit of the night though came right after the songs.
They asked for five Americans and 5 Serbians. I was selected on the American side and when all 10 of the students had come to the front they instructed us (Americans) to teach the Serbs the dance to whatever song they played. My heart stopped. It could have been anything. I started praying it wasn't something like the dougie or the stanky leg. It was neither, but what did come out was just as shocking. Cotton-Eyed-Joe.
Shelby actually knew the dance but the other four of us started grabbing our belt loops and kicking our legs out side to side like a bunch of hicks. After the Serbs started kicking we hooked our elbows with theirs and made some circles. Then switched arms. Then kicked some more. The kids were ROLLING. After a few minutes of that the music stopped and they did it again with five different volunteers from each camp and the SERBS had to teach the Americans a dance. They linked arms and danced side to side while the most hilarious Serbian music rang out under the cover of the tent.
It was in that moment when I feel like the Americans and Serbians became one big group. It was no longer us vs. them, but rather just "us." The leaders talked about it this morning at our meeting and we all agreed, that night changed everything. We've had breakfast and quiet times and will be playing around until lunch time and still we can tell a difference in the attitudes of the kids as compared to the first day and a half. I'm excited to see what happens now as we have seriously gone to knowing one or two kids well to having friend status with every single camper.
I see this as an answer to prayer. Our group admitted feeling discouraged by our lack of relationships with the Serbian campers. Despite our efforts there was still a disconnect and the language barrier has been a lot higher and thicker than we had originally expected. But it's like that barrier has been smashed to bits and kids are wanting to speak English and are good at it, and we are remembering our little bit of Serbian and everyone is well. Pray this continues and improves. This opportunity is critical to the lives of these kids.
Some fun news: Shelby and I were talking with one of the Serbian leaders and a couple campers and asked them which Serbian words were the most fun to say. They taught us two; Kikiriki, which means peanuts, and "sheeshmeesh" which means bat, the winged animal kind (or as our Serbian friend would say, "mouse with wings"). We've been practicing these almost nonstop since learning them and have integrated them with our regular speech. Shelby is now "moj sheeshmeesh" (my bat) and I am her kikiriki. The Serbs love it.
I've also been called Limp Bizkit by one of the Serbian boys because I apparently look like one of the musicians. Limp Bizkit has evolved into just 'Limp' as the camp has progressed. I really hope that nickname doesn't spread.
All is well here. James and Katy and their friends left this morning. We'll see them again on Tuesday when they come to take Tyler and go home. It was awesome getting to see them for a little bit and they were a huge encouragement to us while they were here.
Pictures should be posted by the end of today :)
During the day we played every game imaginable with the students but still weren't really connecting with most of them beyond being teammates and learning a couple Serbian words (which I'll get to in a few paragraphs). But then night worship happened and things got crazy.
After a few worship songs and the usual message, one of the Serb leaders came out with a game that he had organized pitting the Americans vs. the Serbs. First was a trivia. The Americans had to answer trivia questions about Serbia and the Serbs had to answer questions about America. Each team got every answer right. We the moved to tongue twisters. I was selected from the American group to attempt two Serbian tongue twisters and actually did pretty well! The students loved it and from the sound of James' applause I had done better than I thought. The Serbs selected a girl who spoke perfect English to do the English tongue twisters so she knocked those out with ease.
After those we had a "Name that Song" competition with American and Serbian songs. The Serbian kids were surprisingly good at the American songs and killed us on the Serbian songs because none of us had heard any of them. The biggest hit of the night though came right after the songs.
They asked for five Americans and 5 Serbians. I was selected on the American side and when all 10 of the students had come to the front they instructed us (Americans) to teach the Serbs the dance to whatever song they played. My heart stopped. It could have been anything. I started praying it wasn't something like the dougie or the stanky leg. It was neither, but what did come out was just as shocking. Cotton-Eyed-Joe.
Shelby actually knew the dance but the other four of us started grabbing our belt loops and kicking our legs out side to side like a bunch of hicks. After the Serbs started kicking we hooked our elbows with theirs and made some circles. Then switched arms. Then kicked some more. The kids were ROLLING. After a few minutes of that the music stopped and they did it again with five different volunteers from each camp and the SERBS had to teach the Americans a dance. They linked arms and danced side to side while the most hilarious Serbian music rang out under the cover of the tent.
It was in that moment when I feel like the Americans and Serbians became one big group. It was no longer us vs. them, but rather just "us." The leaders talked about it this morning at our meeting and we all agreed, that night changed everything. We've had breakfast and quiet times and will be playing around until lunch time and still we can tell a difference in the attitudes of the kids as compared to the first day and a half. I'm excited to see what happens now as we have seriously gone to knowing one or two kids well to having friend status with every single camper.
I see this as an answer to prayer. Our group admitted feeling discouraged by our lack of relationships with the Serbian campers. Despite our efforts there was still a disconnect and the language barrier has been a lot higher and thicker than we had originally expected. But it's like that barrier has been smashed to bits and kids are wanting to speak English and are good at it, and we are remembering our little bit of Serbian and everyone is well. Pray this continues and improves. This opportunity is critical to the lives of these kids.
Some fun news: Shelby and I were talking with one of the Serbian leaders and a couple campers and asked them which Serbian words were the most fun to say. They taught us two; Kikiriki, which means peanuts, and "sheeshmeesh" which means bat, the winged animal kind (or as our Serbian friend would say, "mouse with wings"). We've been practicing these almost nonstop since learning them and have integrated them with our regular speech. Shelby is now "moj sheeshmeesh" (my bat) and I am her kikiriki. The Serbs love it.
I've also been called Limp Bizkit by one of the Serbian boys because I apparently look like one of the musicians. Limp Bizkit has evolved into just 'Limp' as the camp has progressed. I really hope that nickname doesn't spread.
All is well here. James and Katy and their friends left this morning. We'll see them again on Tuesday when they come to take Tyler and go home. It was awesome getting to see them for a little bit and they were a huge encouragement to us while they were here.
Pictures should be posted by the end of today :)
Praying for you guys! Proud of you all for being intentional. Just keep going and share the Word and the Lord will take care of the rest. Tell Tyler he was a blessing and to have a great trip. Look forward to seeing how the Lord work in and through you.
ReplyDeleteAgain so awesome. It is so wonderful when you get that moment of breakthrough. Hoping as I read on you will have more of those moments to share. Sorry I'm so behind, we've been very busy here packing to move. Later, Vanessa
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