Russia schedule

I just received the schedule for my upcoming Vision trip to Russia. Thought I'd pass it on. I'll be sure to post it again right before I leave so you all can keep up with me and pray more specifically:

Tues, 2/19
Depart U.S. on Delta 30 through New York (JFK)

Wed, 2/20
Arrive in Moscow at 10:10am, drive north for about 4-6 hours (depending on traffic and weather) to a city called Kostroma, which is the capital of Kostroma Region ("regions" in Russia are similar to our "states"). Stay overnight in the Volga hotel in Kostroma City.

Thurs, 2/21
This is where we begin the first portion of our Vision Trip. We will be gaining an understanding of our programs and methods. You will see Children's Hope Chest ministry at work and meet some amazing people – staff, friends, and orphans. In the morning, we will continue driving north, this time to a little village with a special needs orphanage called Soligalich. This is about a 4 hour drive. Soligalich is sponsored by Capo Beach Calvary in Dana Point, CA. We will stay overnight in the Soligalich Hotel. Don’t expect a shower this night, but expect an experience you will remember fondly.

Fri, 2/22
In the morning, we will visit Kostroma Orphanage #1, which is sponsored by a church in Virginia. In the afternoon, we will have a pizza party at the Kostroma Ministry Center for the orphanage graduates, as well as the young people in our independent living, family center, and young mothers programs. We will be staying in the Volga hotel in Kostroma again.

Sat, 2/23
In the morning, we’ll spend some time resting, sightseeing, and shopping in Kostroma City. Then in the afternoon, we will visit an orphanage and HopeChest Family Center in Volzhsky, which is a short drive from our hotel. After visiting there, we’ll then drive about 1 hour to Yaroslavl and take an overnight train to Kirov.

Sun, 2/24
We’ll arrive in Kirov very early in the morning. We’ll get an early check-in at our hotel (Tsentralnaya Hotel), clean-up, and have breakfast. Then we will worship at a local Orthodox church. In the afternoon, we will gather supplies for our visits to the orphanages, as well as do some personal sightseeing and shopping. We will stay overnight in the Tsentralnaya Hotel in Kirov City.

Mon, 2/25
This is where we begin the second portion of our Vision Trip. We will be visiting six unsponsored orphanages over the next 3 days in Kirov Region. They will vary in context, size, need, location. This is a great opportunity for us to prayerfully discern the best way for your faith community back home to plug into long-term and holistic orphan care through Children’s Hopechest. This is when you will begin the process of assessing and selecting an orphanage for sponsorship. We will have breakfast at the hotel. Then we will be visiting orphanages in Yaransk and Tuszhu. We will stay overnight in the Tsentralnaya Hotel in Kirov City.

Tues, 2/26
Breakfast at the hotel. The orphanages we will be visiting today are both in Kirov city -- Kirov #1 and Kirov #6. We will stay overnight in the Tsentralnaya Hotel in Kirov City.

Wed, 2/27
Breakfast at the hotel. We will be visiting one orphanage today - Burmakino. We will stay overnight in the Tsentralnaya Hotel in Kirov City.

Thurs, 2/28
Breakfast at the hotel. We will leave at 7am for a bus ride to Sosnovka. After visiting there, we will board our overnight train from Sosnovka back to Moscow.

Fri, 2/29
We’ll arrive in Moscow very early in the morning. We’ll get an early check-in, clean-up, and have breakfast. Then we will tour Moscow. This will include a couple good meals, sightseeing, and shopping. Expect to visit Red Square, St. Basil’s, Christ the Savior Cathedral, and Arbat Street (which is a market where you can buy souvenirs). We’ll stay overnight in the Cosmos Hotel in Moscow.

Sat, 3/1
We will have breakfast at the hotel and then go to the airport, returning to US on Delta 47 through New York.