Archive for December 30, 2025

In December: “Belinichy orphanage”

Posted: December 30, 2025 by Dzmitry Nachyna in Belinichy
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Greetings, dear brothers and sisters,

December is coming to an end. The year has passed so quickly, and we thank God for the wonderful time He has given us in our lives. This month was special because not only adults, but also children were joyfully anticipating the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. At the beginning of the month, we completed a series of lessons about relationships—how to build healthy relationships, how to respond to pain and betrayal, and what to do with our hurts and offenses. These topics addressed very important issues, because every child carries their own pain and often does not know how to respond to it in a healthy way.

How do we know this? Every time we visit, the children come to us and openly share what is happening in their lives—their victories as well as their struggles. Normally, parents help children learn how to respond to life situations and even shape their reactions, but many of these children have no parents and no example to follow. As Christmas approached, we also talked about what the birth of Jesus brought into our lives. We shared that the birth of the Savior brought joy to the world. At that moment, Sasha, a teenager, asked a very honest question: “How can you rejoice when you are sent to live in an orphanage? How can you rejoice when you are alone?” This was a challenge for us—to help him feel that he is not alone. We explained to all the children that throughout life we will always face challenges, but what truly matters is how we respond to them.

You are not alone because you have God and friends who come to visit you and spend time with you. An orphanage is not the worst place—there is food, care, and warmth; you are not on the street in the cold. After the meeting, we offered to pray for Sasha and the other children so that they could feel our love and care. We also talked about how sin steals our joy, but Jesus restores our joy when we ask Him to forgive our sins. Our closeness to God helps us regain joy and a positive outlook on life. When we visited again, we spoke about how the birth of Jesus Christ brought light into the world. We explained that light reveals dark places where bad habits, hostility, unforgiveness, pain, and disrespect can hide. When light comes, it becomes easier to live in friendship and peace, because you are no longer seeking personal gain. God’s light frees us from the chains of bondage and gives us hope.

On the eve of Christmas, we talked about how the birth of Jesus Christ brought God’s love into the world—an extraordinary love. As the Bible says: “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). Together with the children, we recalled the Christmas story. We held quizzes, and many of the children actively participated, sharing what they knew about Jesus’ birth—how the angel spoke to Mary, how there was no room for them at the inn or even in a regular home. Some children were hearing the Christmas story for the very first time. It was clear that they were deeply interested, and their reactions were very touching as they listened and wondered: “Oh, I would be so afraid if I saw an angel!”

As we concluded, I asked the children: “What do you think Jesus would like to receive as a gift from us?” They mentioned many things—our hearts, good deeds, the best gift, a dedicated life—and one child simply said, “Our time.” Indeed, spending time with God is the greatest gift we can give Him. Dear friends, we are truly grateful that you have been with us throughout this entire year. Thank you for your prayers, your messages, and your support. May the new year bring victories and wise decisions. May God bless you, and Merry Christmas!

In December: “Smilovichi orphanage”

Posted: December 30, 2025 by Dzmitry Nachyna in Smilovichi
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Hello, my friends. I’d like to share with you how we spent time with the kids this month. Currently, there are three kids, ages 10-13, in Smilovichi. They are quite grown up, so it’s easy to connect with them. First, in December, we made a craft from cotton swabs. They were really nice winter snow scenes. The craft required meticulousness and perseverance, but the kids coped with it well. On the next few trips, we taught the children the significance of Christmas: that through Jesus’s birth, we receive happiness, light, and love. Sasha used figurines to help the kids imagine the Christmas night. Katya turned off the light and lit a candle to show how Jesus shines for people in this world, like a candle in the darkness. Such illustrations help them understand difficult concepts perfectly.

I noticed that the oldest, Violetta, was interested in reading these stories in the Bible. So we found one for her and saw that she was actually reading it. I was especially impressed when she mentioned the prophecies about the birth of Jesus. It’s heartwarming to see that the children are friends who help and support each other. We notice this when playing with them. Their favorite games are active ones, like ball games. December is one of my favorite months because the kids receive gifts. It’s impossible to describe their emotions. They are so happy getting those huge boxes filled with things they have never had before or maybe never even dreamt of. Personally, I get a lot of joy from their happy faces at these moments. On the last trip, we celebrated Christmas, ate cake, sang “Happy Birthday, Jesus,” gave gifts, and danced in a circle around the Christmas tree. It was a really wonderful month! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, friends!

In December: “Rudensk orphanage”

Posted: December 30, 2025 by Dzmitry Nachyna in Rudensk
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December trips to the children were especially joyful. Every Wednesday we prepared lessons that revealed the true meaning of Christmas and gave answers to many important questions: Why did Jesus come into this world? Why did God choose to be born as an ordinary human being? How did the birth of Jesus Christ change humanity? It is encouraging to see that the number of children is growing. We also see new children who have recently arrived at the school, and they especially need support. We are grateful that our Wednesday team now consists of ten committed members, which means there is enough attention and prayer for every child. Very often the children ask for more team members to come. We tell them, “Pray, and God will answer your prayers.” And it is such a joy to see how God answers them. The children say, “Faith is not something we invented — it is something that truly works.” One evening at the school, Ilya shared about how Jesus brought joy to everyone — a joy that does not depend on circumstances, new purchases, or what we own. This joy flows from our hearts and from a personal relationship with God. To live in this joy, it is very important to forgive those who have hurt us, to ask forgiveness if we ourselves caused pain, and to repent of our sins. We do all of this so that space can be freed in our hearts for true and genuine joy, because our hearts are often filled with pain, hatred, jealousy, and other darkness.

The children responded to this message, and we prayed together. They sincerely asked forgiveness from their Heavenly Father, opening their hearts to Him and confessing their sins and wounds. Sasha, a 16-year-old boy, came up and apologized for his behavior and for often being disruptive during our meetings. Already the following week, he was attentive and very obedient. It brings us great joy to see how the Lord heals their hearts and transforms their lives! What inspires us to continue serving these children is their hunger for God’s Word and prayer. This year, without exception, all the children come to the meetings and genuinely desire change in their lives. Glory to God!

I taught a Bible lesson on the topic: Jesus was born to bring us Light, and that our choices determine how we live — in the light, joy, and His love, or in the darkness of sin, offense, and harmful habits. I shared my personal testimony about how for a long time I blamed my parents and did not want to take responsibility before God or confess my own sins. It was clear that a personal example sparks interest and helps the children see how to practically apply what they learn during our meetings. Testimonies give them confidence that with God they can experience freedom from addictions and unforgiveness, and that His unconditional love will heal their wounded hearts. On the last Wednesday of December, we answered all the children’s questions about Christmas and once again shared the full biblical story of the birth of the Savior. This was especially important for children who had recently arrived at the orphanage, because many believe that Christmas is simply the birthday of Santa Claus or just the New Year celebration.

When they heard the truth, their eyes were filled with hope and faith that only Jesus can help, that only Jesus can fill their lives with love and meaning. When we asked the children, “What gift do you think Jesus would like to receive?” they excitedly answered: friendship with us, more joy, and some said health. One teenager, Sasha, said, “Our attention and deep faith.” We are grateful that the children and teenagers came to this understanding on their own. Dear brothers and sisters, we thank God for the opportunity to serve Him and to be a light where it is so deeply needed. Please pray that in the new year even more children’s lives will be transformed, and that each one may experience God’s love. Thank you for your prayers and support. May God bless you!