Parachutes and Prayers...

After breakfast on Thursday, the  team drove to Johvi with Artur to visit the soup kitchen where church members lovingly prepare the food each day, so folks can get a hot meal and a change of clothes as well as secure warm shelter from the cold.

On the road back to the Camp Gideon, there was much excitement as we anxiously awaited the arrival of a group of youth from south of Tallinn.  Singer and concert artist Siiri Sisask, brought about 50 young people to the camp. Her foundation Let There Be Light serves about 500 children.  In a matter of minutes, some were jumping on the trampoline screaming with delight as they bounced four to five feet up in the air with no fear. Others were busy trying out all sorts of riding toys, swinging, and enjoying the views of the Bay of Finland.

Lunch was fast and furious, and they were out the doors to enjoy the sunshine and the free time.
And then, the games began... Red Rover was a new game for most but one they found fun as their friends changed sides.  Kelly's soccer game provided lots of action and fun as they cheered their teammates.


The parachute provided laughter and exercise as campers manipulated five balls bouncing all over the chute.  At one point, all of the students were under the chute singing songs and moving from one side to another under the chute.

Across the field, cheers and shouts encouraged runners in the relay races. At the same time, Wick and Ted had a kickball game going with kids quickly learning the rules.

After dinner, everyone gathered at an outdoor stage where the Johvi praise band played songs including Open the Eyes of My Heart and Here I Am  to Worship. Next, Siiri Sisask entertained the group with her original music and songs. To the delight of the children, she had some of the girls join her on stage.  Then our own Vicki Jud joined Siiri on stage to sing Amazing Grace and then Vicki sang several solos including This Little Light of Mine and I Come to the Garden Alone. When the singing was over, Siiri led the students in some traditional folk dances as well as the Estonian version of the Hokey Pokey and the Chicken Dance.

 After a quick snack of sausage and salad, the children marched to the beach with their chaperones.  One by one, little bodies tiptoed into the cold water, and soon all 50 were in the water spalshing and shivering in the cold.

The cold air and water were no obstacle to taking advantage of the first opportunity to enjoy and swim in the bay.  Even the most hesitant found his way into the water

 In the background, a golden sun glistened on the water as the waves gently rolled in.  Tired and covered with goosebumps, the group slowly made their way back to the dormitories and dry clothes.

As the day came to a close, team members were
weary but filled with praise for the children and the events of the day.  Smiling faces and special
hugs were answered prayer for the team and the camp. We ended our day observing God's magnificent beauty and blessing.

A Special Sumbeam...

Wednesday we awoke to beautiful skies and sunshine at Camp Gideon.  A morning walk revealed God's beauty in this special place.  Birds flew overhead building nests and searching for food as I walked around the grounds.  The sounds of the water could be heard as I passed the soccer field and headed to the beach where huge rocks have sprung up during the long snow-filled winter.

Ursula and Lena display artwork done for the Open House
by local school children.

After breakfast, the team drove to Johvi and visited Sunbeam which will be a place of sanctuary, fun, and education for handicapped children and their parents.  We toured the facility that is being renovated by members of Artur's church.  There we met Ursula and Lena who will work with the children in September when Sunbeam officially opens.  In this facility, parents will be able to have assistance with their special needs children... another example of this pastor's vision and love for his congregation. Before we left, we prayed with these ladies for their success and good health as their prepare for this new     responsibility.

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With the tour of Sunbeam over, Artur took us to his church where we will attend services on Sunday.  With a membership of over 200, they are already dreaming of expansion and a new church building.

Earlier in the day, Artur's daughter Liana took us to the Narva Museum and castle which is right on the Russian border.  It is filled with historical information about the region.  From high up in the tower, we were able to see across the river into the Russian territory.

It is so inspiring to see a family totally committed to working together doing the Lord's work.  Christian, Artur and Valentina's fifteen year-old son is comfortable greeting and hosting guests just like his dad. Liana, Artur's daughter was our guide and driver today, and she has many responsibilities at the church and at Camp Gideon. This family made us feel at home from the moment that we arrived.  All during the day, this family welcomes workers, church members, guests, and friends from all over the community.

Our day ended with reflections of the moments that we saw God at work in this amazing place.


April Halberdier presents cards from kids at Chapelwood to Artur Pold, his daughter Liana, and the two teachers for Sunbeam.

Watermelon and Blessings...

Tuesday morning, we checked out of the Old Town Hostel and headed to the Lighthouse where we enjoyed another day with the children.  As they arrived, some participated in a game of soccer while the girls enjoyed nail painting. As Estelle Tees remarked, "It was a really good day from the moment the kids arrived because of all of the smiles and hugs."

 Wick added,  "The kids seemed much more comfortable with us today, and I was so impressed with their knowledge of digital cameras."  Monday afternoon, the team turned over their cameras to the kids and let them take photos of one another and the team members.

One of the highlights of the day was watching them learn the game of kickball and how quickly they caught on. Ted and Wick explained the rules, and the game was on...

Students use team cameras to capture special moments of the day and their friends.

Decorating a cross and meeting new friends was the favorite
part of Monday for many.  

After a delicious lunch of typical Estonian fare, the slideshow reviewing our day Monday began.  One could hear laughter as the students viewed their friends on the screen.  Next, each young person illustrated his favorite part of the day.  Many drew cameras while others illustrated the game of musical chairs.

 After a slideshow of Texas showing the students a longhorn and the Houston Ship Channel as well as steer wrestling at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the kids began a scavenger hunt around the Lighthouse.  Once the item was located, the student teams photographed the item and their group.

Watermelon and strawberries purchased at the market were an afternoon treat for the childen. 

Following the scavenger hunt, children and adults enjoyed delicious watermelon and strawberries that we purchased in the local market.  At the end of the day, the team presented gift bags to the students filled with candy and gum and Bible coloring pages. Chapelwood sent a beautiful cross signed by each team member for Mall Tamm.

 Before we said our goodbyes, the team prayed for the women at the Lighthouse...Tina who teaches the children in Russian and Mall who gives her whole heart to this ministry.  To watch her with the children is to see Jesus on earth                 once more.

As we loaded the van and left Tallinn, we passed lush green fields with wind turbines.
Pastor Artur Pold sent his son Erriki  and his fiance Nadia to pick us up.  On the way to the camp, we shared a delicious dinner in the forest at an Armenian restaurant where the meat was cooked outside on a large pit.
 Artur Pold  who is the pastor of the Methodist Church in Johvi and director of Camp Gideon stood waiting at the door waving a warm welcome.  Our evening devotional brought reflections of God's presence in our day and the blessing of being in this beautiful place.

God's Disciples in Mission

Our team woke up to beautiful sunshine and the steeple of St. Olaf's church.  After breakfast, Mall Tamm met us, and we attended an inspiring worship service at EMK Tallinna and the home of the Baltic Theological Seminary. At the beginning of the service, our team and others were welcomed, and Wick Stuckey shared how we are all one body in Jesus Christ even though we may speak different languages.

The team pauses at the top of the stairs at the church before entering the sanctuary with the huge cross hanging above the altar.

Later, one of the ministers spoke about the characteristics of a disciple of Christ and challenged us to all to be willing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus by following his example.   After the service, we visited with the staff and visitors from Asbury in Tusla, Oklahoma.The music was especially beautiful sung under the massive cross suspended from the wall under the soaring ceiling.

When church was over, we toured the Lighthouse where we will be working for the next two days.The Lighthouse staff works with at-risk youth and provides a safe place for the young people to receive emotional and educational support as well as unconditional love.  In addition, the Lighthouse often provides basic essentials like clothing and food when needed.

As part of our introduction to the city, we visited the Tallinn TV Tower which provides a view of Tallinn and all of the surrounding area. It was built in preparation for the 1980 Moscow Olympics when Tallinn hosted the sailing events.  In 1991, this tower was the site of the beginning of the Singing Revolution, when the Estonian people joined in a peaceful revolution to expel the Soviets.
The road back to town led to lunch and a walking tour of Old Town.

In our devotional and planning meeting, Wick showed his expertise with the Hokey Pokey and Red Rover, Red Rover as other team members loaded team bags with materials for tomorrow's crafts and games.  Following our game planning complete with Estelle and April moonwalking on paper plates,  Wick shared a message of experiencing God's presence immediately challenging us to use our eyes and ears to notice God's activity in us and around us.   Filled with excitement about tomorrow and filled with God's spirit, we said goodnight.  

Packing and Weighing...

Today was a day of packing and weighing and excitement as we prepared for our Estonia Mission trip.
We checked the weather, packed the coffee and snacks and then weighed our suitcases.  And then weighed again and again!  Our first treat of the day was seeing old friends at the church to say goodbye and pray with us.  Kevin Hodges, Julie and Bill Bailey, Harold Block, Melissa Maher, and Rita Stuckey arrived to send us off with special wishes for a safe and rewarding journey.  Our second treat was seeing all of the M&M's and other goodies that Chris Archer had brought us for the trip.  Our ride to the airport was filled with conversations of former trips and expectations for this one.  A quick count of the bags, and we waved good-bye to Doug Cheeves and headed into the airport to check our bags.

As we headed to security, a  young man noticed our shirts and commented that we were going on a mission to serve the Lord. Then, he recognized April as a former Alpha group leader at Carol Vance unit. This young man is now part of the worship team at a church in Angleton.  Like this group, he too is on a new journey and mission.

After a short stop in Minneapolis, we boarded our over night flight to Amsterdam.  After a few minutes of luggage drama, we were on our way.  We enjoyed a good dinner and hours of quiet time to reflect on lessons, new friends, and doing the Lord's work.  Our time in the airport gave us opportunity to read, rest, and reflect together.  The last leg of our journey was a short flight to Tallinn and rest.

Ena  met us at the airport with smiles and a driver, and we headed to Old House Hostel where we were able to unpack and get much needed rest.

Included with our luggage were team bags filled with games, treats, and crafts for the children at the Lighthouse and Camp Gideon.  What a blessing to be a part of such
important programs.

Planning and preparing for our journey...

In the past few weeks, much planning and preparation has taken place.  Ted has written and provided wonderful skits for drama with the young people we meet.  In our meetings, background material on Estonia and its people and culture has been shared with the team. We have enjoyed some of the country's music as well as a video on Camp Gideon.  Letters of testimony from campers have given us a sense of excitement and focus as we prepare to experience first hand God's plans for this country and its people.
April and Kelly have put together fun activities for the young people and the team to enjoy together.
Estelle has worked at making certain that we have mail from home with special prayers for each member of the team, and Janet has discovered the challenges and fun of writing a blog for the trip.

Ted Desforges shares letters and email from young people who have just attended Camp Gideon .

As we prepare to leave on this trip, we ask that you keep us in your prayers that we are flexible with unexpected changes that most certainly will occur, that we remember to be REAL with those we meet, and that we show our love for all.  Pray for our safety and good health as we travel.

Commissioning and our team dinner

What an exciting day... first our commissioning at the 11:10 service with Dr. Jackson and then in the Upper Room Service with Christian Washington where he challenged everyone present to be REAL.

 As friends and staff put hands on us and prayed for us on our journey and for ur safety, several thoughts went through my mind...we are disciples of Christ and Chapelwood going to work with special young people in Estonia.  It is our challenge to be real with them... to listen and to be present in the moment and to take them where they are in their personal journey with Christ.

Estelle Tees remarked, "How wonderful it made me and my team feel knowing that we had the support of our church!  Although I regularly attend the service in the sanctuary, the Upper Room was a new experience for me.  A REAL experience that will help me in Estonia to Restore myself and others, Encourage those around me, Accept people who are like me as well as different, and Love all of God's children."

After a delicious meal of fajitas and all of the trimmings, our team sat down to pray for those we will work with and for one another...that we will be able to offer ourselves to the people of Estonia on their mission pilgrimage.  As a result of our prayer time, our lives seemed bonded more deeply.

Ted Desforges summed up the team's feelings with, "What stood out for me today is the love and support of our entire Chapelwood community.  It is very inspiring to have people that I do not even know approach me and express their support for our team and mission."

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Our team prepares to share a meal together
along with Rita Stuckey and Harold Block.
Ted Desforges, Wick Stuckey, April Halberdier,
Vicki Jud, Kelly Musick, Estelle Tees, Janet Sims.
Afterwards, Ted shared beautiful letters of testimony from two young people who had just attended Camp Gideon.

Sharing a Meal...

As Sunday, June 3, approaches excitement rises as the team prepares for commissioning and a team dinner on Sunday evening at the home of Janet Sims.

Multiple feeding stories in the gospels echo a common theme.  As bread and fish feed the hungry crowd in the wilderness, manna in the wilderness provided daily sustenance for the Israelites.  Isaiah speaks of the abundance of food and drink for those without money to buy it. Jesus' actions over the bread echo customs of Jewish meals.

Breaking bread together is a communal and sacramental act that echoes through scriptures and through the centuries.  Sharing a meal is a primary means of creating and maintaining community.  When Christians gather to break bread together, we remember and repeat Jesus' words and actions.

Our team dinner will give us a chance to share our thoughts and ideas, review our plans and hopes, and most of all give us insight and understanding of one another as we prepare for this important journey where we will walk on the paths of mission team members and disciples who have gone before us.
We ask His blessing on our travels.

Mission: Estonia

Chapelwood will be sending a summer mission team to Estonia this summer. The team will be working with our friends Mall Tamm at the Lighthouse and with Artur Pold in Johvi at Camp Gideon. The team will be working with street children, a soup kitchen, in a home for disabled children, leading Bible studies and street drama as well as working in the local Estonian church. The team will consist of team leader Ted Desforges, Wick Stuckey, April Halberdier, Kelly Musick, Estelle Tees, Vicki Jud, and Janet Sims.

Excitement is in the air as the team reads scripts, creates questions for group discussions, and plans fun activities for the Estonian youth. Follow this Blog from June 8th -20th to experience Estonia with us

estonia mission