I am looking forward to my upcoming trip to the States. One of the sweetest parts of this journey will be visiting Daryl and Donna in California — the couple who were among the first Christians I ever met. They moved with their family to Moscow in the early 90s to launch Campus Crusade’s youth ministry there in 1992. It was a time of great openness and searching in Russia, but also uncertainty and real risks. For them, going there with their children was a step of faith.
Through their ministry, I was introduced to God and to the life of the church. A big part of that work were the English camps — my first experience of Christian camps. Using English as a tool to talk about life’s purpose and God’s love brought together language learning and deep spiritual conversations. Those camps shaped my faith and quietly planted the seeds of my future ministry, long before I imagined serving in Christian camping myself.
Now I have the joy of visiting Daryl and Donna again — reconnecting with dear friends who continue to support and encourage me, and meeting their friends and church community. There is even a chance to meet some who once came to those English camps as teenagers or served as leaders.
Another special highlight of this trip will be the CCCA national conference in the US, Go With Me. I have the privilege of attending as part of the CCI Worldwide delegation, together with dear partners in ministry. It will be a wonderful opportunity to see the scale and diversity of Christian camping in the States, gain new experience, make new friends and partners, and share our vision and stories of what God is doing in our region.
I am deeply grateful for this journey: for the people who first welcomed me into the Christian story — and for the chance now to tell the story of what God continues to do through camps, leaders, and young people on the other side of the world.
