Greetings, brothers and sisters. We want to thank you for your prayers for orphan ministry in Belarus. This month we have an 
update: Dasha, Yana, Vlad and Stas (which are siblings)
are leaving the orphanage. These children were taken from their families to an orphanage so that their parents could improve their living conditions. When they arrived at the orphanage, they watched and listened carefully to everything we said, in addition they didn’t know much about God and saw christians for the first time. The team tried to create an atmosphere where the kids could feel safe. This month we talked about Ruth and about the importance of listening to the advice of elders. We said that Ruth obeyed Naomi and as a result of her right decisions and deeds she became progenitress of Jesus Christ. The kids were amazed by the act of Boaz, who chose a poor girl as his wife and that Boaz became a relative of the Redeemer as well. In conclusion, we said that for all people Jesus is the Redeemer.
The next time we came, we made some crafts with kids. When the children entered the classroom, they were very surprised, because before that they have only seen crafts in stores (as Polina said). We told them that we are going to make some bracelets, as well as thermal mosaic. The kids were excited, full of joy and interest. Polina decided to make a cat, but she was too excited so some small pieces constantly fell out. Some children have great fine motor skills but unfortunately others don’t. This is so great that the kids can practice and develop new skills! It was nice to see when the guys united so quickly to collect figures of the same color without our help. We said to kids that it’s great how they act when someone of them has a need, because in this case they immediately left their work and helped each other as it should be. Making crafts that evening was really unifying, even the educators were interested in watching how the children enthusiastically were making them. During that, kids talked about themselves and their hobbies, it was a great time to get to know each other better.
When we came for another time, we were told that new children had arrived. There were 11 kids that evening. All of them came from a family where the mother was admitted to the hospital and the children were sent to this orphanage. After we met we played for a while. During the game children were distracted from the stress of moving to the orphanage. Loud laughter filled the hall, where we were playing. When we came back to the classroom I told them the story about Esther, that she was an orphan and how God blessed her that she became a Queen. Children were told that she had fears like each of us. Esther was also afraid when Mordecai asked her to go to the king and ask for the people. This story shows that we should overcome our fears and that it is easier to go through difficult situations with our God. At the end of this bible story we asked them about the most surprising part of it. One of them said: I like that she asked the king for the people despite the fact that she was afraid because there was a chance to be killed. Another child said: Fear is something that binds me but her example inspires me a lot. Thank God for busy February, for answering to prayers and for the fact that kids are leaving the orphanage and come back home. Thanks for your dedication!
orphanage Maxim and Alesya, brother and sister, reunited with their family. It has been more than seven months since they were taken from their family for the first time in their lives and placed in a orphanage. Their mother raising her children turned out to be unable to provide for the children and they were taken to a orphanage for some period of time. At our very first meeting Maxim and Alesya were scared and they were very slow with developing a rapport with us. But after some time they felt safe, they began to smile and said they could play with you. That’s how our friendship began. God blessed the team and when we were sharing with our friends about Ales and Maxim many believers donated clothes and when the children were taken away by their mother, she was very surprised at amount of necessary things her children used to lack.
I remember our last Christmas evening with the guys, when we celebrated the Nativity of Jesus Christ. I talked about the meaning of this holiday, that God gave the world the greatest gift — His Son and on the birthday of Jesus we can ask God to answer our prayers and needs. The prayer of the guys was to return back home to their mothers. I can say for sure that for everyone it was a great testimony of how God answers prayers. Alesya amd Maxim are finally home and we praise God for the answer to a simple prayer: – God help mom to take us back home as quickly as possible. There are also other children in the orphanage and we talked with them about the importance of prayer and how God answers prayer. An example of our lesson was Anna. We told about Anna’s life. About Peninnah who often offended Anna. After that Dima asked: Do believers have problems? We say: yes, they do, but let’s see how the story ended. God gave Anna the baby she asked for so much. What does this mean for us? To ask even when no one believes, to believe God even when you don’t see answer yet. It can be difficult to believe till you get the answer, but how happy Anna was when God answered her prayer and how happy we will be when God answers ours.
hearts to us. They trust us and tell 
their stories, share their joys or experience. We rejoice that God’s love flows through us and heals their hearts, fills the void inside every child! The first two weeks we completed a series of topics about the life of David and Saul, reflecting on where God was in the difficulties that David faced, because he loved God. The guys drew parallels between the reign of Saul and his character, as well as the reign of David. We realized that without a close relationship with God it is very difficult to be a king or other influential person, because only God gives wisdom, love for people and humility, which is so lacking for those who have been entrusted with power.
Before the feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ, Dima revealed to the children the topic of the birth of Jesus and what we actually celebrate. We broke false beliefs about Santa Claus, different heroes of fairy tales and spoke the truth. The children didnt know that the Savior was born on this day and that he was the Son of God, who agreed to live the life of a man, be brutally killed by people (his own creation), resurrect and continue to love us all. Alesya, she is 10 years old, she was very surprised that Jesus was born in a barn, because He could be born in the best palace on earth. We explained that God showed his accessibility to any person, that he loves not only rich, but also poor people, that for the sake of love for us, Jesus is ready for anything!!!
At the end of the month, we, together with everyone who supports the ministry, bought gift sets for children, with everything they need. We bought a cake and lit candles and thanked God together for His Son Jesus Christ. At the table, we talked, answered questions, ate and rejoiced that we could be with these children and show them how families celebrate Christmas.
are other children who are in a similar life situation and have similar experiences. At the moments of the arrival of new children we have ambivalent feelings. On the one hand, it is good that there is an opportunity to talk about God to new children, but on the other hand, it is upsetting that some more children are in a difficult situation and for certain reasons are experiencing separation from their parents.
Vladik, who is only 4 years old. Unlike Max
and Alesya, those children’s relatives often visit them and there is hope that the children will be able to return to their native family. Speaking about the guys themselves, Dima is a more open and cheerful boy who quickly became friends with our team. Polina also tries very hard to be sociable, but because of the stress and rejection that the girl has experienced, she often competes, envies other guys and shows aggression. And little Vladik most of all likes talking about the fact that he has a father and mother who will come for him soon. It’s feels like Vlad misses his parents especially much and seems to convince himself that he definitely has them and that he will be taken away from the orphanage soon. Our team is trying to support the children and direct their thoughts and dreams to God, because there is nothing impossible for Him!
In November, we told the children the life story of Moses, through whom God saved the Israeli people from Egyptian slavery. And the guys also learned the 10 commandments that God left to all people through Moses, which are still important and relevant for all mankind today. At the end of the month, we started introducing the guys to a new biblical hero – David. We talked about the fact that God, unlike people, primarily looks at the human heart, and also that God knows even the most hidden thoughts and secrets and sees the very depths of our hearts. To make the children remember the story better, we had a mini-play in which each of them took part. Someone was the prophet Samuel, whom God sent for a new king, someone was Jesei, among whose sons God chose a king, someone was the shepherd David, who once fought with a lion, and someone was responsible for the hearts that God pays so much attention to. We also told the children the story of David’s battle with the giant Goliath. We hope to continue further study of David’s life story with the children in December. At the very last meeting of November, we met two more new children. Two brothers – a 12 year-old Vlad, and a 2 year-old Roma. They are still a little closed and keep distance, but we really hope that we can make friends with them. Dear friends, thank you to everyone who supports us! This is very valuable! May God bless you!
the orphanage — Alesya and Maxim, they are siblings. They are waiting for a court decision, after which the fate of these guys will be known. Let me remind you that they were taken from a family with addicted to alcohol parents. These guys have never heard of God before. I am still surprised by the fact that in the Belarusian villages so little is known about Christ! That’s why we started with the basics. Namely: “The Creation of the world, the Fall, the history of the flood and Noah’s Ark.” In October we spoke with Alyosha and Maxim about the story of the failing construction of the Tower of Babel. 
We talked about people who wanted to reach God by their deeds, as a result, God’s reaction was a mixture of languages. After listening to the story Maxim asked why God did this to people? I told him that we cannot reach God by our deeds, because there is too much sin in our life. The only mediator because of whom we come to know God and can live with God is Jesus. After all if by deeds You can reach God and please Him, then God wouldn’t have had to send Jesus to us. The main goal of people would be to glorify themselves not God. Pride is a problem of people, as well as envy. They pass through generations and are still relevant.
Also after our lesson I offered coloring pages on the topic of the Tower of Babel saying: “Guys, if you colour these pages, you will get a prize.” The goal is to help get rid of an orphan mindset (everyone owes me), but to enhance the desire to take control over the situation and think what I can do to be rewarded. When we arrived another time Alesya ran up and asked: “Dima, where do you think Maxim’s drawing is, and where is mine”? I assumed it was the right one, and she said, “No, the left one”! Then the teacher, who was nearby said: “Alesya, you should always tell the truth”! Alesya blushed at that moment, and the teacher once again asked to tell the truth no matter how difficult it is. Then Alesya said that Maxim had a lot of homework and she decided to help him earn candy, so she coloured the drawing instead of Maxim. But she also lied in order to get her own benefit and because of this she was very ashamed at that moment. The teacher praised the truth and said that it was better to tell the truth and then people will be more open and even more willing to help. “The truth helps people to be friends and even God likes it when people are honest. After all God sees our heart as once, He saw the Cain’s heart. I was just surprised when the teacher came to such a conclusion! “Thank God, I thought!” 
Then we sat down and I told the story of Joseph. About his childhood in a big family, his dad’s love to him, and his brother’s envy against him. He told about Joseph’s brothers, their evil actions against Joseph when they sold him into slavery and then deceived Joseph’s father.
After Joseph’s story I said, “Guys, look, our reactions and actions are often similar to those of Joseph’s brothers. We also envy when parents take care of someone more than about us. When someone is given new and beautiful things but we have only old ones. And of course we get offended by this and get envy and anger.” And the guys admitted they are often jealous of one another. Also we talked about Joseph’s sincere trust in God that didn’t vanished when even when he was sold into slavery. Instead he relied on God and God helped him. Joseph was also like an orphan. He lived in a place that he did not choose. At that moment Maxim said: “Oh, an orphan like us”! I replied: “That’s right, Maxim!
cheat on her husband with Joseph, he didn’t want to betray his master Patiphar.” “Why did Joseph refused to do this? Because Joseph knew that if he did this, it would bring pain to God. Joseph did not want to upset God because he loved Him very much.” At the next meeting, we finished the story of Joseph’s life. Summing up, we reasoned that sometimes we do not understand much of what is happening in our lives. But if we trust God, He can turn any circumstances into good for us. “Today you are in a shelter, far from your parents and friends, but God has a plan for you. Therefore, if you learn to trust Him, then God will help you in your lives. After all, only God can greatly change your life and change orphanhood to loyalty and heirship. But you need to believe in God get to know Him better and have strong hope in God’s plan for your life”. Friends, thank you very much for your prayers! Let’s continue to pray that the guys return to their families as soon as possible and that God help all these parents to change their lifestyle to have their kids with them and not in orphanages.
LOVE 4 THE CHILDREN 