LOVE 4 THE CHILDREN

We are starting our February report with a prayer need. As spring approaches, we can see how sensitive children are to the season, both kids and teenagers are so distracted. Moreover, there is now free Wi-Fi in school, so many children stay where the signal is good and play games on their phones instead of going to our meetings. Those who stay in class with us can’t focus on the material we are going through.

Here is Vlada Mozharova, one of the volunteers sharing her impressions.

«At the last lesson, we tried to start working with the books that we handed out to 2 girls who came to the class. The first topic was about respect, the story about David and Saul was presented and eventually, it connected to the New Testament. When I was preparing for the class it seemed easy and understandable, but when we started talking we realised that children simply didn’t understand what we were talking about at all. It was really hard to simplify words so that they could understand the main idea.» As you can see, this is why we are concerned and need prayers, so we ask you to support us.

We especially would like to share with you about one event organised by the National School of Beauty that took place in Minsk on 2 March 2019. That was the truest fashion celebration. During the whole year, Belarusian designers had been preparing clothes for kids and teenagers. Children from different places with physical disabilities and those whose parents lost their parenting rights participated as models on the catwalk. We should mention that our friends were worried and extremely responsible throughout all rehearsals.

Without a doubt, being on the stage brings its changes to people’s behaviour. We knew some kids very well, and they showed us different sides of themselves. They were so serious, focused and so fashionable, you’d never say that they were naughty students. They were united by one thing: being modern, fashionable and full of purpose.

Our team came to support them during that exciting event. Children were so grateful, they smiled and were just so happy to see that someone came to support them. At the end of the event, we talked, took pictures together and said goodbyes.

Almost the whole month from mid December till the beginning of January children were enjoying warm Italy.

After their return we organised a trip to Minsk for them to see Christmas play The road to Bethlehem, where they could actually be a part of real immersive theater. The theatre where you are a participant or better say actor yourself. You can’t just stand indifferent when angry roman soldiers are yelling at you telling to move faster.

They are looking down at us and making sure that we are following Christmas route.

And here is Mary and Joseph, real and alive, just like from the children’s Bible.

Children saw Herod’s castle. This mean ruler hasn’t issued the decree yet, but mother’s sensitive heart is frozen in fear already.

Chidren were also met by robbers on the way. And surely what story of The Savior ‘s coming to the world can be without an angel, in white clothes, in the sky and with a loud voice.

Without doubt the atmosphere of Bethelhem fare should be mentioned as well. Here you can forget about everything in the world because of a special spirit that is present here. Lots of retailers, lots of stuff for selling, real treats, Jewish dancing. You forget about everything, you don’t even feel the frost. At the end of the way children heard the story from a preacher about the meaning of Jesus’ birth. And of course we had dinner made by Valery. During the dinner children shared about how scarry and the same time very interesting it was to be there. Teachers from the orphanage were pleased with the idea of this project, too. Happy and content, with lots of presents, kids went back to Vileyka.. To look forward to new meetings.

Traditionally December has been the season of anticipation of holiday festivities and gifts. And it is a special time for orphans as well. It is the time when the second school term closes and long winter holidays begin ushering Christmas and New Year.
During the whole month the children are overwhelmed with expectations of the forthcoming trips abroad. Already in the mid-December a lot of them leave for Italy and UK where they spend the holidays with their foster families.
And we also wanted to be engaged in making holidays for the orphans and created a real miracle for all primary school children – a trip to Minsk and a visit to the Circus. Dima Nachina arranged with the visiting circus troop from Yakutia that the children would be allowed to see the final rehearsal of their performance. We organized the transfer paying for the gas and on December 14, 2018, over 80 children, accompanied by their tutors, stepped into a breathtaking show-program in two acts.
Clowns, actors, characters from fairy-tales and gymnasts performed for the children for two hours. The show featured joyful music, interactivities and changing decorations. The children were especially excited about the animal tamers and acrobats who did incredible stunts.
Abeautifully decorated Christmas tree was the key of the festivities symbolizing coziness and warmth of the home – just the things that are missing in the children’s lives. And as in every children’s story – at the end the good overpowered the evil.
For many children it was the first trip ever to the city. And a lot of them could only dream about visiting the circus. That’s why they were simply taken away with the emotions and their eager applause attested to their excitement.
When the performance was over, the circus manager met with the children saying a lot of warm words to them and wishing them happy holidays. The children thanked him in one voice.
The trip to the circus left a positive impact on the tutors, who shyly thanked us for the event’s organization. They acknowledge the importance of making investments and contributions into the lives of the bereaved.
And the trip to church is coming up next!

On 7th November a great occasion took place in Vileyka boarding school. Culinary club organised a meeting for kids and administration with Sergei Saponenko. Sergei Saponenko was born in Gomel with a bad case of cerebral palsy. This illness took away his ability to move and speak. Now he lives in the USA, he’s got a wife and a daughter. Even though there are so many obstacles, he leads an active social life, writes poems, and many of them are made into songs. Sergei Saponenko is like Belarusian Nick Vujicic, he’s a motivational speaker who helps people to find faith.
Faith based on Christian values is the main generator and rescue from loneliness and futility for the author. That’s what Sergei was talking about in Vileyka boarding school. His support group also shared about his life and every day’s bravery. At the end of the meeting everyone got a present and books.
Alexander’s testimony about ministry in the boarding school, a volunteer who is about to go serve in the army.
We had a great time visiting the school this season, we were happy to see that kids were looking forward to our coming. They are in such a need of love and care, and they always met us with unhidden joy.
We also had some difficulties with administration, when they suddenly decided to do obligatory after-school activities during the time when we come. It once again proves that ” our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph 6:12) . So our team started praying and fasting for this matter, because our Lord” hears the prayer of the righteous ” (Proverbs 15:29) Only God alone could make it happen and we managed to talk administration into letting some of the kids come to our meetings instead of those after-school activities and we could keep on our ministry for the glory of the Lord! Praising His name we will serve even more fiercely, organising different activities for children. For younger kids we used “The greatest gift” books. They are colorful and easy to understand for kids, and practical tasks lead children’s hearts to Christ. With older kids we talked about topics that worried them most. During the lesson we always reminded them about the importance of God’s Word and Christ’s sacrifice in their lives. They think about it, ask questions and we are always happy and ready to answer them, to show God’s love, to explain about Jesus’ sacrifice and that if it was done for the whole world, it means He died personally for each of them.
Praise God for His help! May His hand be upon the kids and our team. We believe the Lord will still be making a way for us in this ministry.

Summer has flown by as usual, and it’s time to go back to children from Vileyka boarding school. Many of them have grown over the summer, have been to summer camps, have visited different countries, and it is still a great joy to see them. We could tell that they missed us and were looking forward to meeting again.
I’d like to share a little about one boy Maksim, who is 13. His parents are alcoholics, that’s why he happened to be in this boarding school, just like his brothers. He never gets a chance to go abroad during summer holidays like other orphaned kids, because he has a family, so he spends summer in the village with them. We deicide to make his summer fun and offered him to go to a Christian camp not far from Mogilev. For one week there was a lot of Bible-studying, sport and other activities. People helped Maksim and his mum to get to and navigate through Minsk, to get to Mogilev and and in general showed him care. He was really pleased with the time he spent among Christians and grateful for so much care that was shown to him.
Our regular trips to Vileyka started in September. Our team changed a bit. Olya is now a wife. And by the way, her husband, Misha plays the guitar, loves kids and tries to go with us to Vileyka whenever possible. There is also a new volunteer in our team, Masha. It’s nice that God Himself puts desires to look after those, He Himself looks after. We had a meeting for everyone in school on September 28. The atmosphere was great! Children really missed us, and they were so eager to do all the activities, to answer questions, to remember facts about volunteers, joyfully sang songs. Victor prepared an interesting talk about friendship, as this is the base of a happy life and long-term relationships. You are accepted in friendship and learn to give. Sweet corn sticks were the best ending for the evening.We have a prayer request : school administration started after-school clubs for kids on Fridays during the time we come, so some kids have to go to these clubs and can’t meet with us. At the moment we are talking with administration about changing the time for the clubs, so that we could have our meetings with kids the way we used to do. We need your support.