LOVE 4 THE CHILDREN

On the 12th, 19th and 26th of September, our team visited Smilovichi orphanage. Now there are 12 children: 5 boys and 7 girls. They are in 5 to 15 age range. At our first meeting, we met with the children, played fun games to get to know each other. The children tried to get to know and remember us. We did the same thing. We dedicated our second meeting to get to know children much better. We had paper hearts, which every child could use to write what he/she likes and does not like, and tell about his/her dreams. Some of the children wrote something interesting. For example, one of the dreams: to love mother and father, a world in which there is no evil, and to get back to my parents and others. Because some kids do not know how to write, we helped them, so we can get closer to them and to know them. We finished our second meeting with the song “Wave your hand to others.” Our dream: to use time, which God has given us, to become a part of their lives and to tell them about God. The third meeting was more devoted to the creativity and close personal contact with the children. While younger one were engaged in creative work, older children had personal conversation with our team members in a more intimate and personal atmosphere. We had a great opportunity to communicate with them in a quiet environment, to talk about their concerns and makes them happy, to get to know them, and give them a piece of our care and love! At the same time, the children had the opportunity to paint the plaster magnets and keep them as a souvenir.

Hello! I will tell you a little about the shelter in Smilovichy.
This month we have had only two trips to the shelter. But each of them was interesting on its own way. This time almost all children were newcomers. Also, you know, I looked at these children with such grief and pain. And I have high worries about their destinies, because they have been crippled in the childhood. They are deprived of normal childhood, love, warmth of mother’s embraces. Nine year old boys smoke, swear bad words and are very aggressive.Their aggression is caused by their internal pain, feeling of despair and loneliness.
During one of the trips I asked them: “Where does God live? ” I received very a very interesting answer. Practically all children said that God lived in the wood. And when I wondered why they think so? One boy told: “Because there is moss in the wood!” Certainly, later I told them about where actually God lives. Many of children were surprised because a lot of them heard about God for the first time. I told them that God was much closer than they thought and moreover, he wanted to live in their hearts and to be their friend!
I am grateful to God for the opportunity to be in this shelter and to tell the truth to the children! And we also could play soccer with the children. They love when adults play games with them. The children like songs with actions. We spent good time there!

I really love this time when I get a chance to visit it; the kids over there are so happy like a sunshine, they’re happy to see all those who come and visit them and they can easily find a topic to talk about. Orphanage has a small number of kids, it doesn’t go over fifteen children, it’s easy to know each kid individually, to spend time with each one of them, and most important to hug them individually.

In one of our visits to Smilovich, we took girls from another orphanage, that were visiting us at that time, and I was very surprised to find out that one of the girls use to live in Smilovich. The day we came to visit orphanage, the girl’s teacher was there. All time, that we were at the Smilovich, they spent together. You could easily see that they were both happy to see each other and talk to each other, because usually teachers don’t know what happens to the lives of the kids after they leave orphanage and go to another one.
This month is full of good news. Some of the kids were adapted and six kids returned to their homes. It’s a double-sided feeling; from one side, it’s sad that I’m not going to see them anymore, and more likely that I won’t hear anything about them. However on the other hand, I’m happy that they’re back in their families. It doesn’t matter what kind of family they have, they always missed their parents. Once when we were doing cards as a craft with kids, they were supposed to give it to their best friends and most of them were dedicated to their mothers. In those kind of moments you clearly realize that they need family, tenderness and love.
Not too long ago when I was walking home from work, I’ve seen this picture, when mom and a little boy were playing in the park; when little boy fell, his first reaction without even thinking and may be even understanding if he’s hurt, was to call for help his mom. Right away I thought of the kids from Smilovich orphanage that when they’re hurt or scared of thunderstorms they have no one to call for help. Yes, they do have good teachers that look after them, but they all still need their individual mom.
Once again, I will repeat myself, even though those kids experiencing hard time in their lives, they’re always smiling and happy to see us and share the news with us over the week when we come to visit them. Older girls like to sit us down and braid our hair, when little ones just jump into our arms and hug us with their little hands…
Our girls that teach bible lessons always try to come up with something unique to make the lessons interesting for them, and that helps them to remember even hard biblical names. Last a few lessons we were learning how to not be grumpy all the time but instead to be thankful.
I’m really hoping that those little seeds that we’re planting in their hearts, will grow. I really wish that it’s only their beginning to know Almighty God!

Hello! I would like to share my concerns about the kids’ ministry in the Smilovichi orphanage in the past month. This month we continued to share Bible stories from the Old Testament with the kids. At the end of each story we made some practical conclusions that they will be able to use in their lives.
This month we talked to them about Ruth’s faithfulness, about how she made the decision to stay with her mother in law, leaving everything for her. We also talked about kind deeds. When I was spending time with the kids, talking to them, observing their behavior; how they treat one another, I saw a lot of cruelty and rudeness in their relationships with one another and I wanted to tell them and show them what are kind deeds and how important it is for us to be kind to one another and respect each other. Also, as many know, kids this age especially need attention, support, and care. That is why we are trying with our team to show these kids the kind of love and care that God fills us with. The kids really enjoy doing various interesting crafts and making cards with kind words for their friends, playing games and singing. They really love to sing! Often they sing so loud that it seems that the walls could collapse! These are our kids and how we spend time with them.

There are specific memories that bring joy as well as pain. I want to share my thoughts about visit to Smilovishi orphanage! Each visit is particularly special and interesting; we remember them because we expect to see familiar people who are looking forward to meet us, they joyfully run up to meet us with sincere smiles. Only from time to time, it possible to notice someone with pensive look! Children who have adult look always wait that people will betray or leave them, however they want to be loved and to be in embrace of natal person. Children dream about parents, however in their dreams parents are usually not drunk and they are not hungry.

Smilovishi orphanage is not a wealthy establishment and it doesn’t have constant sponsor, that’s why we help them to meet their needs and bring textbooks and paint books for children. Recently we brought warm knitted socks. The children have started to fall ill and get flue. I had seen that children worn several pairs of thin socks and that’s why we decided to bring knitted winter socks for them. Children’s joy and supreme praise, and smiles makes us fall in love with them more and more.

Behind statistics are hidden surnames, names and destinies, which we can change, and the adult world can change the formed tendency of social orphans. These children might have chance for their dream to come true because they have great desire to have real mom and dad. Sometimes it is hard to express all that heart and mind are filled with.

If you read my reflection, I want to ask you to join us in prayer for the children, and if you have an opportunity to come, we will be glad to be with you people who are used to restore the ruins of people lives.