LOVE 4 THE CHILDREN

Hello to everybody who is interested in the problem of orphancy in Belarus. This month we visited Smilovichi orphanage. Our lessons were very diverse: we told about Christmas, played different games, learnt interesting songs for children. Most of all I was impressed by the lesson about Job. The main aim of the lesson was to share  with the children the truth about the necessity to be faithful to God. It is significant that they began to compare Job’s attitude to God with relationship of people in friendship, understanding that it is impossible to preserve friendship without faithfulness.

I like very much to look in these kid’s eyes, to see how they try to take part in the lesson and do this very actively. However there are some children who just want to draw attention by their behavior. There was a boy, called Dima. He was eager to get all my attention. But I understood that children who were sitting there, also wanted to listen to me. I called Dima, embraced him, and after that he began to behave himself in a different way!  It is evident that every child needs love and care. We are glad that we can give them this small part of  love and care, which we get from God every day. Be in lives of these children people who will be able to accept them real personalities and present them their affection. God bless them with his Fatherly blessing!

If telling about the Christmas program, this year children heard about the Savior’s nativity through puppets. We organized the puppet play, because there are mostly small children. After that they could get gifts. It was funny and fascinating to look at the children when opened their Christmas boxes! But the most joyful thing was to see, when they got things they wanted!

We were once again utterly upset to see how many new children had arrived at Smilovichi Asylum. It means that a number of Belarusian families split apart leaving the children behind. I’d like to share with you the story of our last visit to this asylum. Out of all children there I knew only one boy Nikita. He has such cute freckled face. The teachers were also very happy to see us. In general we have been blessed with very good relationship with the asylum’s administration. At the beginning of our meeting with the children we have calmed them down first as they were overexcited and started with a get-to know game. They told us their names and what they liked to do most. Then I told them about myself and said that I love them all very much. One of the boys named Kolya asked me again if I really loved him too and was really happy to hear that I loved him with all my heart. It was sad to hear how little the children know about Christmas. Almost nobody knew its true meaning. So it was good we brought a film about Jesus with us. The kids watched it very attentively. The girl sitting next to me asked me a lot of questions about the film and seemed to have taken genuine interest in the topic. By the end of the meeting the kids’ hearts finally melted to us and they became very open. It is so heart-breaking to realize that all those cute, fine, smart and intelligent kids were abandoned by their own parents and left without parental love and care.

Of all our trips to Smilovichi Asylum I liked the one that took place on November 22 the best. My heart was full of contradictory emotions. On the one hand I was happy to see the kids running to us for a hug. But on the other hand I was upset by seeing so many unhappy new-comers. More and more kids are under risk of growing without a family. Smilovichi’s wards are those whose parents are alcohol or drug addicts and are under arrest or on medical expertise. During the six months of their detention until the court motions a decision, the kids would have to live at the asylum. All those kids dream of a family – whether it be their original or adopted one, and they all dread to be sent to an orphanage.
On November 22 we were discussing Samson with the kids. We talked how important it is to be obedient and what are the consequences of our being disloyal to God. Then the boys played a game where they playfully competed against much stronger adults. And the girls were on a cheering team. It was nice to see how the kids supported and encouraged each other.
After our main Bible study we had group discussions. In my small group there were three 8-year olds. We constructed a dungeon with them and had a talk. I asked them what wish would they address to God and their answers broke my heart. Vanya said he didn’t want anything or anyone after his brother had severely beat him with his friends. And Lera said she’d like to have her mother at all her Birthday parties. These were such sad words. There are so many wounds and scars on those little hearts.
The time flew on that memorable night. We had to say good-bye to the kids and go back home. When I got to my cozy house and kissed my husband, I still couldn’t get rid of the unhappy thought of what uncertain future was awaiting those little ones.

Hello, dear friends! Thank God that we have the opportunity to continue to serve children who live in orphanages! We have the pain for our nation, children’s future and I pray that your heart will imbued with the problem.
Smilovichi is an orphanage that we have been visiting for two years. For me, this year was special because we have been able to impart to a child more.  God showed me that the foundation of Christian principles must be laid down in a child since childhood. This month we have begun the Bible lessons where children can learn more about God how much each of them is important for Him. We did not have this opportunity last year. Now the main aim for us is to show children that everybody is special and unique, and also talk about the fact that they have Father in heaven who is always looking forward to meeting with them. We can talk them about God not only who He is but we show the example of the attitude towards them.
Sometimes we just play with them, so we know even more of their habits, their ability to take winning and losing. You cannot imagine how great it is to hug children and to serve them. I believe that sowing of seed will give good fruits in its time. Pray, pray with faith for awakening in the hearts of these children! Almighty God bless you!
Last month we told story about Sergei and Julia. For today these children are in foster family. We have not contacts with them, but our hearts believe that God does not leave and will support them in difficult times. Who read their story, knows that these children had been abandoned twice, and we really don’t want this to happen again. So we ask to pray for Sergei and Julia they need our support, it is the biggest support for them to date, although they may have not yet realized it…

I am very thankful to God that the next school year began. For children, it is not always an enjoyable time, but we all know and understand that the welfare of their lives depends on their learning and the level of knowledge. And for our team it is the next challenge!
Our dreams come true when the dreams of the children we serve come true. You might think that the dreams of children from orphanages often based on material needs. But this is false. Many of them have dreams that are hidden deep in the heart, to find themselves in this life, to be important for someone, to have a family. That’s why we dream and do everything possible to make their dreams come true. That they recognize the value and uniqueness of their personality, they saw the beauty of life and make the right decisions on their not a simple path.
We strive to ensure that children at risk, with whom we communicate, get in the right direction in life.
Throughout the year we attend Smilovichi shelter. There we met with Julia and her brother Sergei. In the winter, they were happy that they soon will be taken to a foster home. This hope they lived! But no one would have thought that five months later, they again fall into the shelter. It seems that all hope is destroyed! Cruel adult world again rejected the “inconvenient” children! But the pain and wounds that we sometimes inflict, left deep scars in the hearts.
During the talk, Julia disclose everything that happened to her and what she felt. Inflicted wounds of the heart are still being felt, because the pain is just in time! Julia and Sergey – children who have been rejected once and again, they again are deceived and disappointed, but – did not break. Yes, these children grow up very quickly and adapt, but inside they have a huge hole, they lack the love of parents, they lack the support of family members.
If you go back to the beginning, you can view the whole tragedy of life of Julia and Sergey. Their mother had cancer patients. She struggled to care for herself, let alone to care for their children, and especially to go to work. The father of these children for many years is unemployed. Besides – alcoholic. Houses were constant scandals and lack of funds. After a while, the children were sent to an orphanage, before the court decision. At the hearing it was finally decided, “termination of parental rights” parents of Sergey and Julia. Children could only wait, what will happen to them next? They face life in a boarding school. But in winter there were people who wanted to take them to the family. At that time we saw them shining with happiness eyes! Then we said goodbye to them in the hope that they have found a new family and be able to live a full life. But a few months later, we met again with them in the shelter. Julia shared with us the fact that life in the new family was very difficult and that a return to the shelter has become their great joy. At present they are again waiting for a new turning point in their lives. Once again, they are waiting for either a new foster family, or distribution of a boarding ...
What can I do to help this children? We overcome our difficulties, so that the children we serve, have learned to overcome their own. We win our fears so that each of them, look to us and have stayed in achieving their dreams. Through our work, we are trying to attract the attention of people around them to the children who are so in need.
We believe that with God the life of each child can be transformed and changed, because it is God who helps to get up, when you just can not do it. God gives hope. He gives faith. He gives belief that another family can be the ones to meet the parents, their dreams, which they prayed!