LOVE 4 THE CHILDREN

Greetings, brothers and sisters!
This month we resumed our trips to the orphanage in Belynichy after the children’s summer break. Praise God that the doors of the orphanage are open and we can continue sharing the Good News. The first trip in September was truly unforgettable and special for me. I missed the children so much, and I was very glad to see how mutual that feeling was. The kids welcomed our team with great love and warm hugs.

This was our first visit without seeing our beloved graduates, who left the orphanage at the end of the academic year and began their adult and independent lives. We ask you to pray for them, that the Lord would protect and bless them in this new chapter of their lives. This summer, I had the opportunity to serve at one of the Christian camps for teenage orphans in Belarus, near Mogilev.

Some of the children from the orphanage in Belynichy came there. In that moment, I realized what a great blessing it is that during the summer holidays, the orphanage administration allows the kids to attend Christian camps and hear about Jesus Christ. It was a blessed time – another opportunity to share God’s love with these children. In September, new children arrived at the orphanage from other small towns in Belarus. Many of them came to our first meeting with a huge interest. We immediately got to know them and continue building relationships. I already knew some of them from before, so our first meeting after a long time apart was especially warm. One of the greatest joys was seeing how many children attend our gatherings. During one of our visits, when Dima was teaching a Bible lesson and I stood in front of the children handing out prizes for correct answers, I saw their eyes light up and their genuine eagerness to hear about Christ. 

For me, it was an absolutely incredible moment – it was clear how good God is and how favorable this time is for spreading the Gospel. This moment became a great testimony and encouragement for me. During our first trip, we talked with the kids and reviewed Bible stories we had shared with them previously. The children were very engaged, and to our joy and surprise, they remembered even the smallest details. In the following visits, we focused on general topics such as “God Exists,” “Prayer,” “The Bible,” and “The Church.” We wanted to remind the children of the foundations of our faith and introduce the new kids to the basic truths—things they might not have heard before or might not have fully understood.

We were also very happy to see the caregivers again. We’ve noticed how their attitude toward us has been changing, it’s becoming warmer and friendlier. The caregivers have also started participating more actively in worship when we sing, which is a blessing to us because the children see this and join in with even more enthusiasm.

Please also pray for the caregivers, that their hearts would be open to receive the Good News and that our Lord would be glorified through this.

May the Lord bless you!