LOVE 4 THE CHILDREN

October was full of events and positive emotions. We hosted sports competitions where children showed character and teamwork. This time, two teams tied as they were equally strong, with Nadya and Nastya supporting and helping participants. At the end, all children received sweet awards, as per tradition. We always encourage those eager to help, making sure everyone feels important.

During other meetings, we discussed the issues that everyone faces at different periods of their lives. We were discussing storms in our lives and the tools that God has given people to navigate such periods. We talked about prayer, the Bible, and church during the previous month. And when we were talking about life hardships, we mentioned how these tools help us. The next meeting was devoted to the topic ’Our thoughts’. Vlad was telling the children how our thoughts affect our behavior and our lives in general. He used the biblical examples to show them how evil thoughts can lead to dangerous and serious doing. For example, the thoughts of the Pharisees affected them in the way that they started to search for the opportunity to kill Jesus Christ, and as a result, they crucified Him on the cross. Moreover, Vlad was giving practical advice on how to stop negative thoughts on time and also taught to turn to Jesus Christ for help, who is mighty to cast His light upon our thoughts, hearts, and any sphere of a person’s life.

Then, we talked with the children about sin, which is presented as something nice and attractive. In her Bible lesson, Nastya was using different candies as a visual illustration. The candies in beautiful wraps were not delicious at all, and, on the other hand, the candies in simple, not bright wraps were delicious. That is how sin works in our lives. At first sight, everything looks appealing, bright, and pretty, but the consequences are always bitter and sorrowful. Also, I would like to note that the children from Rudensk make an effort in reading the Bible, and when we have Bible lessons, some of them try to find the extracts from the Bible that we use during our meetings right away.

Moreover, they learnt to boldly share not only their prayer needs but also the things they struggle with. For example, Sasha was asking us to pray with him to stop using swear words, and Polina is now asking to pray not only for the healing of her leg but also that God could change her character and help her not to fight with her friends and not to be rude and disobedient with the teachers. In all these moments, I see how God takes care of these children, wants to transform their characters, and give them both physical healing and healing of their spiritual wounds, and change their destiny. That’s why we still need the prayers of people who are not indifferent to the future of the young orphans! Thank you, dear friends, for being with us!

Greetings, brothers and sisters,
I thank God for the opportunity and privilege to be a bridge of communication and to share news from the ministry.

The new school year has begun, and we were eagerly waiting to meet the kids again. Memories of the past camp in Rudensk and all the blessings still stir our hearts with joy. When we arrived, the children were already waiting for us outside. Joyful shouts and the calling of volunteers’ names filled the air, sometimes even drowning out the excited conversations of those who had run up to us first.

We noticed how much the kids had grown over just a couple of months — not only physically, but also in awareness. And yet, they remained just as wonderful. They were eager to share everything that had happened to them. It became clear to us that we are not just volunteers — we are friends, we are family. The camp we held brought us very close, and now the children are more open and affectionate — this includes the teenagers as well. There were also new faces — children who had just arrived. Recently taken from their families, they were now in a new and unfamiliar environment, full of fear and uncertainty. But our volunteers already knew how to approach them, to be an encouragement and a blessing. “Are you believers?”
This was one of the first direct questions we were asked. “Everyone talks about you.”
Yes, we are believers. God found us, and now we are here to share His most important message: He loves you.
We began the month with the topic “God exists.” For many of the new children, this was a kind of revelation. We shared our testimonies — how God came into our lives and what changed in us and in how we see the world. The children also shared their thoughts and how they often had a wrong image of God, thinking He was harsh or cruel.

During another visit, we spoke about prayer — what it is, why people pray, and why it matters. Some of the kids asked how to pray properly and what they could say to God. It was a beautiful time — after the meeting, several children eagerly said, “Let me pray!” Glory to God that there is desire and understanding! Their prayers were simple, but so sincere:
“God, restore my family. God, bless my health. Help me with school.”

On another trip, we talked about the importance of God’s Word — the Bible. Why can we trust this book? It was amazing to hear the kids who had been coming for a long time say things like: “It’s not just stories — it helps us understand God’s character.” “It’s the most important love letter from God.” One teenager said, “When I read the Bible, I find peace and calm.”
This was a unique lesson because it was the kids themselves who testified to the power of the Word of God in a reader’s life. At the end of the month, we spoke about the church as a place to meet with God. Many said, “I’ve never been to church… but I would really love to go because I want to see others who are interested in faith like me.” We explained that church is a community of people who seek God and serve others together — it is an expression of God’s love and care through people.

Church is the family you’ve been dreaming of.
This touched many of the older children, especially those who feel unwanted or unadopted. Many said, “If church is a family — then I want to be there.”Dear brothers and sisters,
Thank you for your prayers and support.
We ask you to continue praying for open doors into the orphanage and for the children’s understanding of the Gospel. We are grateful that, together with you — despite the distance — we can serve and spread the Gospel. May God bless you!