LOVE 4 THE CHILDREN

This December we didn’t have a lot of trips to the orphanage in Belinichy. It was because the director of the orphanage died. Both kids and the personnel of the orphanage need time to overcome this loss and the administrative personnel asked us to reduce on our visits. But nevertheless, we managed to teach some lessons. Senior kids had lessons dedicated to anger and greediness. We also ran some sport activities and a lot of kids came to the event. Sometimes we can see orphans compete and even being hostile to each other as they want to be the best. Our volunteers are encouraged to play with orphans in order to teach them the importance of unity and team. At the end of sport activities all participants got sweet presents. Orphans adore them.
Junior orphans had a different plan. They focused on studying Bible stories from New Testament. This month they learnt a story about how Christ calmed a storm and a story about the lost sheep. Orphans understood there is nothing impossible for God and even nature obeys God. Another idea we tried to underline is that each person matters for God. Orphans had a chance to watch a cartoon about the King Solomon and from this cartoons kids could learn that sense and wisdom come from God.
This December was quite rainy and dull. We were so glad to see the orphanage building all decorated and bright, with a Christmas tree. Our great desire is that orphans could understand not only the beauty of Christmas decorations but also the meaning of Christmas. We sang Christmas Christian songs and played games that refer to the topic of Christmas. At the beginning of January we are going to make a Christmas performance for kids and give presents. We ask you to pray for making our plan come true and so that the whole performance was clear to orphans as they have some mental and physical disabilities.

Another month of our ministry in Belinichy orphanage is about to end. From the one hand, what can happen during such a short period of time? From the other hand, all the guys became older and closer to adulthood. What persons are they going to be? What values will regulate their behaviour? What will be important in their life? Moreover, they have got another piece of faith during this month.
God blessed us, so we could work well with the guys. With the older ones we touched upon such topics as Condemnation and Humor. As for Humor, it was an actual issue for them. But not everyone understood that normal humor is if no one is offended and disappointed, especially God. Besides, we watched the cartoons devoted to such topics as Faithfulness to friends and God.
The ministry among the younger guys was quite interesting. All the lessons should be special as children can be attentive not for long. This month we have discussed some parables of Jesus, for example “A good Samaritan”, and also the story in which Jesus fed five thousand people. In order to tell the children about the Samarian and pay the children’s attention, we sat on the floor. It was an interesting parable. We named actual names of the characters and the children played by roles. Then we asked some questions about this story. We were glad when some children could tell this story with their own simple words and express the idea of it. Next time when we discussed the second topic mentioned we prepared pictures on the topic and the children coloured them. Except the lessons, we sang a lot, played games, watched cartoons about biblical characters and devoted time to creative work.
We are extremely grateful to God for the opportunity to visit this orphanage! Thanks to everyone who is not indifferent to the orphans of our country!

Serving  orphans  changes you cardinally. Especially when you think that your life is bad. This is the one of few ways  passing which we can learn true unconditional love, which doesn’t expect anything in exchange. Communicating with children, I can’t tell that they ideally obedient and kind,  there is even everything on the contrary. They are malicious because they are glad and happy that somebody comes to visit them, spend some time and organize lessons. I am constantly thinking that we can do something to improve conditions of their life at least slightly, we can organize for them some actions to see the smiles on their faces, we can find some time for them . But will it bring real changes in their life? Working with children, I see God’s hand in many respects, his blessings, support and favor. Every trip of this month  I worked with small kids. We showed  them animated cartoons  “Elisha”, “Daniel”, “Prophet Elijah “. We always sing with the children before a lesson and  when you ask them – “Will we sing your favorite song?”  I love when they ask  to sing the Christmas song -“Let’s light Candles”.
After an animated cartoon, we draw a conclusion and receive feedback, and I understand that is interesting to them, and children understand. All of them understand!!! When time passes  from  trip to trip analyzing myself I understand that the children are not indifferent to me. When they write to you, you always find a minute to answer. Children became like a part of your family, and with each trip you understand how much you love them and trips to a boarding school become an integral part of life. The senior children have had  remarkable discussions about  “Despondency”, “Pride”, “Thirst of revenge”, and “Condemnations” this month. I was at one of them (Thirst of revenge). I liked how Dima could present interestingly this subject trying all possible keys to hearts of the children. Dima did accurate comparisons and a conclusion, I saw that the children were interested, but even more important that it was clear for them and understandable. I am very glad that I can serve children. God does the work in my heart through this ministry.

   A new study year has just begun. Children returned back from summer camps and now they attend lessons. We started to visit them again after a short break. We were glad because the children looked happy. We felt that the children missed us; they wanted to share their experience from their trips to summer camps and Italy. There were much fewer teenagers because there had been many graduates this year.
But the younger ones are still in the orphanage. They have grown up and we are happy to notice that they make some progress. This month we discussed advantages of obedience and the power of forgiveness with the older ones. Besides, we devoted some time to sport activities. We arranged a funny relay race, so the children from various age groups were able to participate. This month the younger ones again met new biblical characters through the lessons and cartoons.
Today, we try to invent new formats of our meetings at the Belynichi orphanage because the level of development of the children is worse than it was the previous year. But the great thing is that those children, who used to ignore our meetings, attend them now.
We ask those who are interested in our meeting to pray for our team to grow and for having new ideas for the work with the children.

June became the month rich in ministry to the orphans from Belynichi. We continued learning biblical stories from the New Testament with the seniors and managed to cover such topics as “Treason”, “Not as others”.

Juniors learned biblical lessons from the Old Testament and also had some creative work. More often they surprise us with their behavior and willingness to answer the questions that we ask after the lessons. Sometimes it seems they have grown up during this year! But we understand that still they are children. It’s just God who works in their hearts!

One of our meetings was the most remarkable for me by its friendly atmosphere. That evening we divided our team into several groups. Some people worked with the younger children, some – played football where children of different ages could participate, and some talked to children face-to-face. Besides, Ira (was one of our leaders 2 years ago) with her husband came to us. She worked with these children, giving biblical lessons, serving with music and also giving some tutorial lessons in fine arts. Ira is a painter and that’s why it was a pleasure for her to teach the children to draw and also to unlock talents. We saw how many children are here with such talents. God blessed Ira with an amazing husband and she left for another country. And now, 2 years later she visited these children. We were surprised that they didn’t forget her and run to hug her! Then, children who attended her classes, brought her their pictures to show their achievements. This meeting once again showed that the time we spend with the orphans is precious and also that it’s so important to evince care, serve these children with patience and also to unlock and develop their talents. Later, children got acquainted with Ira’s husband whose name is Andrew. It was his first time in the orphanage where there are children with different diagnoses. He was so impressed that came back with Ira next day.

Such a blessed month we had! At the moment children are in different summer camps. Some of them are abroad. That’s why our next meeting will be only in September.