Not so long ago we had a very interesting and heart-warming meeting. We went to a little town of Marjina Gorka where six former wards of Slutsk orp
hanage study. Those young people graduated from orphanage two years ago. At present Slutsk orphanage is closed and its wards were redirected to other different orphanages. Elder orphans were sent to colleges.
Besides our weekly visits to orphanages we reg
ularly meet with orphanage alumni. We don’t get such meetings often as we can’t visit all Belarusian towns. We all hope that God will create new teams, will find new people eager to serve abandoned children both during their time at the orphanage and outside its walls.
Such meetings are usually equally full of joy and sadness because when we get to
gether we learn how former orphans are dealing with their lives. We are happy when we hear that they could get into college or get a good job, create a healthy and strong family and we are delighted when we get to know that they attend church. However, not everybody can get on with their lives. Sometimes we learn that someone from the orphanage has become a single parent, got into prison, abuses alcohol or drugs. Sometim
es we learn about premature deaths of orphanage alumni. Why does it happen? May be it is because too often those youngsters are left alone with their feelings and problems. There is nobody to support them, to give good advice and help them overcome their hardships. That is why we call upon you to be more considerate and compassionate towards the people who are around you and especially towards orphans. It is God Himself who promises to bless those who care for at least one orphan.
Youngsters we met at Marjina Gorka are currently senior students at college. And again they face the question what to do after they graduate. That’s why, our foremost intention is to keep in touch with them and help them out with such social issues as housing and further education, we direct them to churches where they can get support and help.
We genuinely thank everybody who supports us in our ministry!
I want to greet you with good news – Jesus arise!
As usual we are happy to share wit
h you the joy and positive that we get to travel to an orphanage in Smilovichi. This month we visited the children in the orphanage twice. Our meeting
s were filled with socializing, games and creativity. Each of these three components of the kids devoured with such joy that we were simply amazed! All that we offered them, they did with such enthusiasm and joy that is not inspired, it was not real. For example, when the first meeting, we decorate pictures, but not with pencils but with modeling clay, kids did it with such zeal that many turned out much better than suggested example. 
And even those who are older, in the end asked for more pictures, to continue the pleasure. I can’t even tell you how nice to see through their masks of the older, adult children (as they consider themselves) a child who needs love, affection and attention.
At the second meeting, we told the children the story of Noah and the flood through which children learned that God always keeps His 
promises. Then we decorate with a picture-fan in the form of a rainbow, ark and all the heroes of history, which was also seen by children with great enthusiasm.
This orphanage is in need of financial assistance. Whenever possible, we are bringing them from time to time children’s clothes, toys, and even just toilet paper. If you have a desire to somehow help these children and this orphanageyou can leave a comment and we’ll let you all possible assistance.
In early April we began our work with kids from 1-3 forms at Grozovsky boarding school. There were about 10 people. Some of them were already familiar to us.
The aim of our first lesson was to get acquainted with the children, to tell them that during our lessons they will learn very interesting facts from the Bible. Moreove
r, they will find out many interesting and exciting things, and the most important is the fact that the Lord loves everyone, and He is able to help everyone turned to him for help.
We began our evening with my prayer; I immediately draw the attention of the 
children on the importance of prayer for us and on its simplicity. Then we learned a song about a giraffe and started to get acquainted closer. The topic of the lesson was “You are special”. The kids have learned from the game that all the names are different, but each of them is a unique one and the best for a man.
Children also took a mirror, looked at their faces and described themselves. We were happy to tell them that every person is unique and unrepeatable, because God has made all of us special, everyone has a lot of virtues and everyone has a talent given by God. They have drawn themselves on the hearts. We have collected the hearts and glued them on a sheet of paper.
Then the children
looked at their hands. They found out that the fingerprints of all people are different. Each print is special to God. We offered the children to check it theirselves, allowed them to make fingerprints on the poster.
We ended our lesson with sweet candies)))
During the lesson the children were excited, they took up any task lively and noisily … and we were very pleased to see the joy and happiness on their faces. They surrounded us and asked to promise that we will come to them again!
This month we watched the movie “Saving Lives”. The film is about a boy who witnesses the suicide of his childhood friend. He was tormented by the fault because he had played well in the school basketball team, his popularity among students had increased, and he had ceased to communicate with his friend. Later, he began going to church and often talk with the pastor and his life began to change. 
He’s soon realized that popularity in school, a party for the “elite” – are not the most important things in life. He decides to save other children from committing suicide, which as well as his friend suffer loneliness and contempt. This film was relevant for the children, because their lives have much in common with the characters of the film. There are leaders and there are those who are considered outcasts. There are probl
ems that can be solved together with love. Many were able to do the appropriate conclusions for themselves, particularly regarding relations with each other and God.
We also talked about loyalty in the relationship between boys and girls. This topic was touched on such questions as: why people are unfaithful? Can we compare infidelity and betrayal? And Can we to evaluate the benefits of being faith?
These issues concern all ages. We have shown that to be true, be a mature man – is always an effort. 
In this sense, the pleasure, which receives a man from loyalty – is the pleasure of creating his own inner and outer space, in which he can live and grow, enjoying the love and deep relationships. And also loyalty – is a point in the search. It is when you are happy the person whom you have found. You love him not for what he prepares delicious meals, dressing fashionably, or drives a cool car. You just love him for what he is and accept him. You perceive him as a whole, like his personality, and you’re happy with that person.
Generally, the topic turned as the conversation, where everyone could express his opinion and talk about his relationship.
In one of the Wednesday we played volleyball. In game has been involved both the guys and girls that is not always possible. Cool, when there is unity between the sexes, the unity of the team. We just have some fun, laughed, and played for fun. At such moments we are all one and we have a common passion that unites us more! Thank God!
In April, as usual, we visited Rudensk every Tuesday. We watched the film “Save the Life” several times and held a sports competition. We also celebrated Easter during one of our visits.
The children liked the film as it tackles issues that are most important for them such as bullying, outcasts, losers. Some of the children managed to draw the right conclusions and that gave us hope.
Children are always eager to play sports. That’s why they enjoyed the sports competition greatly. They got fountains of emotions.
We also had a good Easter party. The children learnt about the holiday’s origin, about the Resurrection. At the end of the meeting we posed questions to the children and they surprised us with their answers in a good way. For example, they managed to name all the Egyptian curses. Some children were interested to continue the discussion. It was obvious that God has started His work in their hearts. Praise the Lord!
Some children behave wildly in the orphanage, I have to admit that. They always mess with each other, get into fights, smoke and drink alcohol. There a
re “aces” and there are unpopular children who become scapegoats. When you see this your heart is bleeding. The children who are bullied don’t get a lot of support and I wish so much to share with them the good news about their best Protector.
The orphanage life makes the children believe that they are destined for failure. And what is worse they adopt this vision. It is my ardent desire to break those prejudices. I wish that God touches the hearts of those children so that they could understand they have a great and strong Patron above.
LOVE 4 THE CHILDREN 