LOVE 4 THE CHILDREN

We are still going to the Smilovichsky orphanage to serve children who had been taken away from families or their parents have died. Each of us tries to show love and care to everyone which they need very much. The Lord let us work with these great children and we use as much as possible this time and resources to tell them about Jesus Christ and about his family on this earth – God’s Churches.
In February, we spoke about David’s life: how he loved God, he didn’t stop singing songs of praise and worship despite of hard work and the attack of a lion and bear! We also gave examples from our life; hearts of children were opened and they told us about themselves and about that pain which their parents brought to them.
I want to describe great changes, which have happened with the boy Sasha (he has arrived to the orphanage not so long ago). At the beginning, he didn’t want to communicate with anybody, he was running away from everyone and hiding in the room. When we sang songs about God, he closed his ears, he was showing aggression and irritation. Before leaving, we found him and said that we love him despite of everything and we will wait him in our meetings. Now Sasha one of the most active in communication, waits for us and prepares an office for meetings, sings with us, answers the questions and shares the experiences. Thank God!!! We are very glad to see how these children are changing for the better and leave all bad, they are searching for close relations with God through prayers and reading the Bible.

Hello!
We are very glad that we had an opportunity to visit the Smilovichy orphanage this month. This orphanage is interesting because there are not a lot of children and all of them come to our meetings. It is very interesting to communicate with them. The fact that there are not a lot of children allows us to create special, confidential atmosphere between all of the children. For example, any game needs volunteers, in the Smilovichy orphanage we can make games for every person.
At the beginning of a month the Christmas program was carried out. A puppet theatre has arrived to children with heroes, colorful and different in character. They told children a message about Jesus Christ’s birth. After the performance children got a Christmas present.
In a week we talked with children about Samson. It was the person who had not only opportunities, but also he had duties. During the story we played a game in which children had to pass each other small objects without distracting. After that it became easy for children to understand why Samson did so many mistakes when he distracted from his duties.
At the next lesson we told them about Ruth. Children heard a story about the girl from other country which ate leftovers from wheatears which had left from reapers. We scattered clothes pegs and matches on the floor, we asked children to collect them, raising them one by one. So we could show Ruth’s humility, and humility which is so pleasant to God.
At the last meeting we talked with children about Anna’s prayer. How she asked God for a son and how she was happy about God who gave the answer for her prayer.
We are very glad that God gives us the chance to see children from the Smilovichy orphanage. Therefore we ask you to continue to support our ministry both by prayers and also financially.

For many people December is a month which is full of bright celebrations That’s why our team tried to make this time unusual for the orphans from Vileyka orphan school.
The first December Friday was devoted to sport. Older boys gathered a team of football players. It must be admitted that the teenagers play very well. They competed with Sergey Divokov’s team. Although students who were brought by Sergey are not professional players they are keen on football very much and attend trainings regularly.
The game finished up with friendly hugs and chocolate medals. The teenagers from Minsk got acquainted with the teenagers from Vileyka and talked to them. That was good time for making contacts. Unfortunately, not all of the football players from the orphan school could take part in the competition because of lack of time. But their new friends from Minsk promised to come again.
The game came out to be exciting because besides the sportsmen there were a lot of fans who actively took part in the process. They painted their faces and supported the teams from the stands.
We eventually watched the film ‘Coach Carter’ till the end. The children liked the film so we will surely discuss it next year.
December 16 became a great day for the children because Alla Smolyakova came and brought her wonderful crafts. This time the teenagers had to decoupage a Christmas cup. Each of them could choose a festive napkin for making a cup in an individual way. We tried to help everyone and thus become closer to them. The teenagers thoroughly followed Alla’s instructions and as a result everyone got a useful thing – a beautiful cup with a cover which can be used as a case for pencils or other small things.
During the crafts it is much easier to keep discipline and talk to the teenagers because they are so involved in the process. That’s why we also arranged a geographical quiz with sweet prizes.
At the same time smaller children got to know about the events which took place 2000 years ago. The real wise men came to them to share the Christmas story. As the real wise men they couldn’t come without gifts. The children were amazed by sweets, games and funny sketches.
However the main event is still coming. On December 28 the orphans who stay at school on holidays are going to visit oceanography museum, have dinner at church, do crafts and, of course, they watch a Christmas performance and get presents.
Let Christmas become a real holiday for the children from the orphan school too!!!

We are glad to have opportunities to go to our children in the Smilovichsky orphanage again and again. There we communicate, sing songs and play with kids. But the most important  thing is that we can discuss different interesting topics. So as there is a veriable group of kids in an orphanage we present different bible stories . Children are always happy to meet us. Though newcomers at first hesitate and are watching over us.

This month we discussed Hagar and Ismail’s situation when they got lost in the desert. We tried to explain children that God always hears them and has no breaks or the work schedule. Also we discussed Lot’s escape from Sodom, learned a verse from the Bible in which is told how we should behave and act in life, that we should be honest, full of love and patience, and not to be arrogant. Last meeting we said the story how brothers betrayed Josef. The children have experienced the feeling of envy and rage because of reason that they are loved less than somebody else. We discussed the reasons why brothers made this bad thing, and while next meeting we plan to read what happened in the end of this story .

During our communication children are engaged in a prettification of pictures according the topic of the lesson. Children with pleasure take pencils and paint situations from stories, fixing the main idea of a lesson once again.

We are very happy that we can visit children and spend the time together. Thanks God every our meeting unites us, makes closer , kids become more open for communication and we can tell them about God. Thank you for prayerful and financial participation.

Our team continues to visit children in Smilovochi hospice with pleasure. We do it to share our love and gospel with them. After Anzhelika has told the story about Noah’s Ark, it was nice that the most of children already new this story and actively took part in discussion. When we play together we try to discover aptitude of every child and encourage them. Very much the other way they had to hear a lot of criticism in their life, at school, from their friends, parents. This is one of the reasons why they felt a shame and guilty for their parent’s behavior.
Every child felt confidence and shared the story of his/her life. For example, Luba has two families. One is the real, the other is foster home. Her biological parents were so busy drinking alcohol, so they had no time to take care of her daughter. Guardianship service had to stand up for her as a result. The service officials took Luba away from her real family and placed her in the hospice, where she stayed almost for one year. Once upon a time some family decided to adopt Luba. That’s how Luba became a member of a foster home. We remember that day, her sparkling eyes when the girl shined like the sun, because she got hope for new life. When new parents finished with formalities, they took Luba at home. Unfortunately, all the things went wrong and joyful expectations were changed by new pain and frustration. Severe beatings, cruel treatment – were the part of what Luba had to experience in new family. At the end of all ends Luba was returned back in the hospice.
Our main goal is to help every child to accept God and the fact that God is the Father of all orphans! When we spend our time with them, playing games, being engaged in creativity, telling new bible stories, we try to show that God cares about every child. We hope that their lives will be saved and destinies will be changed for good and forever.