“November 09 is the World Day of Prayer for Orphans. If you care about the futures of orphans, you can make a difference! You may not only pray for orphans during the day, but also visit them in orphanages, run charity campaigns at you local church or organization. Besides that, during your church service you may devote sermons, songs, poems etc. to this issue.”
Each trip to the children’s home reminded us that even in autumn, warmth can bloom — like summer. 
The warmth of smiles, conversations,
games, and God’s presence. Our October visits began with lively, laughter-filled relay games. There were balls, challenges testing agility and teamwork. The kids competed, cheered for one another, laughed, helped, and supported each other. It was a day when everyone felt like part of a team — needed, strong, and seen. Throughout the month, we held three deep and heartfelt meetings, each opening space for reflection and honest conversation:
“Hard Times and Storms”: 
We spoke about storms — not just in the weather, but in life. And how important it is not to face them alone, but to cling to Jesus and be part of the church — like a ship that doesn’t sink, even in the fiercest waves. “Our Thoughts”: We explored how thoughts can take hold of our lives, shaping emotions and actions. Together, we walked through six steps that help “reprogram” our thinking and keep us from drowning in anxiety or lies. “Sin in a Beautiful Package”: We talked about how harmful things can look appealing — like a candy wrapped in shiny paper but filled with poison. And we remembered that there is One who always waits for us and loves us, even when we’ve made mistakes.
On one of our trips, we were joined by an incredibly gifted young woman — Masha, a professional theater director. She shared with the children about the world of theater, how performances are created, and the importance of teamwork and listening. Together, they tried articulation exercises, and then — to everyone’s delight — Masha performed a juggling show. First two, then three, then four balls soared gracefully through the air. A few children even joined her for a mini juggling workshop. It was joyful, inspiring, and unforgettable. I especially want to share Danik’s story. During one visit, he quietly came up and told me he was going to be hospitalized soon — his test results were bad, and he was very afraid. We talked about how he’s not alone, that God is with him every moment.
Then our whole team gathered in a circle and prayed for him. A week later, Danik greeted us with a wide smile and joyful news: “God heard the pray! I’m okay now. It was definitely God! I even prayed myself and thanked Him for healing me.” That was our October — vibrant like autumn leaves, and warm like summer. Each meeting wasn’t just a program, but living connection, relationship-building, support, and love. We’re deeply grateful to the Lord for open hearts — among the children, the caregivers, and the administration who join our meetings and hear the Truth. We’re already looking forward to November, trusting that God has filled it with blessings and bright new moments.
In October, I visited a orphanage in Smilovichi. There were children who had already been there for a long time — Roma and Masha. And there were also two new children who had just arrived — Violetta and Vadim. I was struck by how different these children were — and at the same time, how similar!Masha and Roma are so open and free — they run to meet you, hug you, try to show themselves, to stand out, to say something.
And then there are Violetta and Vadim — so closed off. Violetta avoids eye contact, shies away from touch, and feels very tense in a new situation. It seems that it’s a little easier for Vadim, but only until you start talking with him. We were reflecting on the topic of good and bad thoughts. And it turned out that all the children’s thoughts were about one thing — going back home. These children are here because life at home was very difficult for them. But despite everything, they want to be with their mother — they want to give her flowers, to hug her, to help her. They love her and miss her deeply. Lord, please preserve this genuine childlike love in their hearts for their whole lives! May it be stronger than all human hurts. Heal their wounds. May they never be orphans, because of knowing a loving and caring God the Father! Amen.
October was full of events and positive emotions. We hosted sports competitions where children showed 
character and teamwork. This time, 
two teams tied as they were equally strong, with Nadya and Nastya supporting and helping participants. At the end, all children received sweet awards, as per tradition. We always encourage those eager to help, making sure everyone feels important.
During other meetings, we discussed the issues that everyone faces at different periods of their lives. We were discussing storms in our lives and the tools that God has given people to navigate such periods. We talked about prayer, the Bible, and church during the previous month. And when we were talking about life hardships, we mentioned how these tools help us. The next meeting was devoted to the topic ’Our thoughts’. Vlad was telling the children how our thoughts affect our behavior and our lives in general. He used the biblical examples to show them how evil thoughts can lead to dangerous and serious doing. For example, the thoughts of the Pharisees affected them in the way that they started to search for the opportunity to kill Jesus Christ, and as a result, they crucified Him on the cross. Moreover, Vlad was giving practical advice on how to stop negative thoughts on time and also taught to turn to Jesus Christ for help, who is mighty to cast His light upon our thoughts, hearts, and any sphere of a person’s life.
Then, we talked with the children 
about sin, which is presented as something nice and attractive. In her Bible lesson, Nastya was using different candies as a visual illustration. The candies in beautiful wraps were not delicious at all, and, on the other hand, the candies in simple, not bright wraps were delicious. That is how sin works in our lives. At first sight, everything looks appealing, bright, and pretty, but the consequences are always bitter and sorrowful. Also, I would like to note that the children from Rudensk make an effort in reading the Bible, and when we have Bible lessons, some of them try to find the extracts from the Bible that we use during our meetings right away.
Moreover, they learnt to boldly share not only their prayer needs
but also the things they struggle with. For example, Sasha was asking us to pray with him to stop using swear words, and Polina is now asking to pray not only for the healing of her leg but also that God could change her character and help her not to fight with her friends and not to be rude and disobedient with the teachers. In all these moments, I see how God takes care of these children, wants to transform their characters, and give them both physical healing and healing of their spiritual wounds, and change their destiny. That’s why we still need the prayers of people who are not indifferent to the future of the young orphans! Thank you, dear friends, for being with us!
LOVE 4 THE CHILDREN 