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!
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.
LOVE 4 THE CHILDREN 