LOVE 4 THE CHILDREN

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!