In September: “Smilovichi orphanage”

Posted: September 30, 2025 by Dzmitry Nachyna in Smilovichi
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In September we resumed our trips to visit the children. Altogether this month there were four kids: two new ones—Violetta and Ignat, who are brother and sister, as well as children we’ve known since last year—Roma and Masha. As before, we spent time with them, sang Christian songs together, played various games, and discussed some Bible topics. During one of these visits, Roma shared that his greatest desire was to return home to his parents while still being able to see us.

It sounded quite funny because technically it’s impossible for Roma to be both at home with his parents and with us at the same time but it was very nice to know how much we had become important to him. The teachers told us that the children look forward to our arrival and that meeting with us is a real celebration for them.

It was a pleasure to meet Violetta and Ignat. We tried to be friendly with them, talked with them about their lives, and found out what they would like in the future. Unfortunately, their mother has problems with alcohol, which is why they were taken away from her. Earlier, they were in another orphanage, but then they were transferred to Smilovichi. Perhaps soon they will be moved again, this time to a family-type children’s home. Fortunately, we managed to get Violetta’s contact information so that we could continue supporting communication with her. They also have a younger brother who is two years old, but due to his young age, he is placed in another institution.

Violetta mentioned that she looks forward to finishing school and entering college where she can live independently. She also spoke about her relationship with her mom and the difficulties they face. It was evident that Violetta finds this path challenging. Thank God, despite not knowing each other long, she openly shares her thoughts and feelings with us. This was especially noticeable during the Bible sessions. She said that she doesn’t believe in God, yet always listens attentively and with interest when we talk, and remembers everything well. In childhood, someone from her relatives forced her to read the Bible, so now she has negative emotions towards faith.

However, during one session, we tried to convey that believing in God isn’t foolishness but rather something reasonable and logical. Additionally, we discussed what prayer is and how to communicate with God, explaining to the children what the Bible is, why it’s unique, and why it truly deserves to be called a treasure for all humanity and personally for ourselves. The final topic of the month was “What is Church?” While covering this subject, we also mentioned its impact on our own lives and explained why it is indispensable. Throughout almost the entire month, the main thought was that God loves when we’re happy and doesn’t want anything bad for us, emphasizing that prayer, the Bible, and the church are God’s best gifts to us. This point was highlighted even more considering some of the children, including Violetta, developed the rejection of faith over time.

To sum up, September turned out to be very productive. Thanks be to God for those trips already made, and we sincerely hope to keep visiting these wonderful children, befriending them, and telling them even more about what kind of God we have.

In September: “Rudensk orphanage”

Posted: September 30, 2025 by Dzmitry Nachyna in Rudensk
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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!

 

In September: ”Belinichy orphanage”

Posted: September 29, 2025 by Dzmitry Nachyna in Belinichy
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Greetings, brothers and sisters!
This month we resumed our trips to the orphanage in Belynichy after the children’s summer break. Praise God that the doors of the orphanage are open and we can continue sharing the Good News. The first trip in September was truly unforgettable and special for me. I missed the children so much, and I was very glad to see how mutual that feeling was. The kids welcomed our team with great love and warm hugs.

This was our first visit without seeing our beloved graduates, who left the orphanage at the end of the academic year and began their adult and independent lives. We ask you to pray for them, that the Lord would protect and bless them in this new chapter of their lives. This summer, I had the opportunity to serve at one of the Christian camps for teenage orphans in Belarus, near Mogilev.

Some of the children from the orphanage in Belynichy came there. In that moment, I realized what a great blessing it is that during the summer holidays, the orphanage administration allows the kids to attend Christian camps and hear about Jesus Christ. It was a blessed time – another opportunity to share God’s love with these children. In September, new children arrived at the orphanage from other small towns in Belarus. Many of them came to our first meeting with a huge interest. We immediately got to know them and continue building relationships. I already knew some of them from before, so our first meeting after a long time apart was especially warm. One of the greatest joys was seeing how many children attend our gatherings. During one of our visits, when Dima was teaching a Bible lesson and I stood in front of the children handing out prizes for correct answers, I saw their eyes light up and their genuine eagerness to hear about Christ. 

For me, it was an absolutely incredible moment – it was clear how good God is and how favorable this time is for spreading the Gospel. This moment became a great testimony and encouragement for me. During our first trip, we talked with the kids and reviewed Bible stories we had shared with them previously. The children were very engaged, and to our joy and surprise, they remembered even the smallest details. In the following visits, we focused on general topics such as “God Exists,” “Prayer,” “The Bible,” and “The Church.” We wanted to remind the children of the foundations of our faith and introduce the new kids to the basic truths—things they might not have heard before or might not have fully understood.

We were also very happy to see the caregivers again. We’ve noticed how their attitude toward us has been changing, it’s becoming warmer and friendlier. The caregivers have also started participating more actively in worship when we sing, which is a blessing to us because the children see this and join in with even more enthusiasm.

Please also pray for the caregivers, that their hearts would be open to receive the Good News and that our Lord would be glorified through this.

May the Lord bless you!

 

In June: ”Rudensk orphanage”: One Step Closer camp”

Posted: June 30, 2025 by Dzmitry Nachyna in Camps
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Dear brothers and sisters! With gratitude to God, we share the fruits of the Christian summer camp “One Step Closer”, which took place on the territory of Rudenskaya boarding school for orphans with mental and physical disabilities. We have been praying and preparing for a long time, dreaming of bringing light and hope to every child at this school. There were 23 volunteers in our team — people who love God and these guys, people who work and have dedicated their summer vacations to serving at this camp. The camp program was designed to take into account all the children’s needs and to make it easy for them to understand simple but very important truths.

Our camp themes were “One Step Closer”: to joy, to love, to hope, to faith, to victory, to freedom, to forgiveness, and to God. In most families, parents help their children develop their feelings and skills, but who will help an orphan? These children live in groups of 15, and a single teacher cannot teach them how to behave or respond to situations. Every day we discussed one topic.: “One step closer to…” For example, on Freedom Day, the guys shared what they want to get rid of — bad habits, anger, obscene language. One teenager asked: “Please pray for me, I’m tired of living in this sin, I really want to be free!” After him, all the other teenagers from his class began to ask for prayer support and opened their addictions to God.

Also, when we were discussing the topic of forgiveness, many said that they live in non-forgiveness to their parents for not being able to overcome their weaknesses and addictions to alcohol, drugs and a criminal lifestyle. When we opened the topic of forgiveness Sasha, he is 16 years old, said: – For the first time I prayed for forgiveness of my parents and it was so relieving. During the camp, we developed a very good relationship with the children and the teachers. Every day, we worked with the children in the garden, and during our work, they shared about their lives, what had happened, and why they were there. During one of our conversations, Lera (who is 18 years old) said, “When I graduate from school, I want to join your ministry and travel to schools like this one, giving children hope through Jesus.”

In addition to the Bible meetings, we also held art and craft classes, where we helped the children gain confidence in themselves and their abilities. Many of the children had low self-esteem, and by creating beautiful handicrafts, they were able to experience the joy of learning a new skill while also showing empathy towards others who had more difficulty completing their work. Sports games and unity games helped children to release their energy and emotions. After the games, they were more calm, attentive, and friendly. Each game was designed to teach the strong to help the weak and to stop humiliating others by encouraging and inspiring them to win.

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I am grateful to God that on the last day, when we were discussing the topic “One Step Closer to God,” more than 60 teenagers decided to pray a prayer of repentance and ask God to help them restore their lives and regain joy, love, hope, faith, more victories, freedom, and forgiveness. Additionally, some teenagers shared that they had prayed a prayer of repentance in the previous year. For example, Ksenia (age 17), who had repented in the previous year, reported that she had become more joyful and kind. She began to read the Bible and live according to God’s commandments. Her teacher said that Ksenia has become a different person, more calm, less aggressive, and more capable academically.

We are so glad that with God, children have hope and faith, and their lives are filled with deep meaning. The camp has come and gone, and many teenagers have expressed a desire to learn more about God through the correspondence Bible school program. Pastor Igor has started working with them. We have tried to build a good children’s evangelism service, so that every child is reached with the gospel and love. After the camp, we continue to work with the graduates, meeting one-on-one, communicating and being mentors for them, who help them make the right decisions in life. Together with the team, we come to their cities and villages, where we introduce them to brothers and sisters from the local Churches. Dear friends, thank you very much for your prayers and support! Let us pray together that the good seed we have sown will bear good fruit in their lives. With gratitude, the Belarusian Orphanage Ministry Team.

In May: “Smilovichy orphanage”

Posted: May 31, 2025 by Dzmitry Nachyna in Smilovichi
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In May we continued our trips to visit the dear children in Smilovichi. Some of the kids were known to us, but the new ones joined as well. Some of the kids were taken home. For example Nastya, who had only been in the orphanage for about three weeks, went back to her parents. Miraculously, during our last meeting, she wanted to exchage contacts with us. So now we can send messages to each other and stay in touch. Nastya comes from a difficult family and has some development problems but she still reaches out to us. 

Closer to the end of May, Kostya was also taken home. He is a very smart and attentive boy who listened very carefully to what we told them. What’s even more encouraging is that he was very fond of us. He hadn’t spent a lot of time in the orhanage —just a couple of months — and we hope that what he heard from us will stay with him for a long time. In May, new children arrived: Ignat, who is 2 years old, and his older sister Alina, who is 6. At first, they were very reserved and didn’t interact much with us, though they were present at the meeting. But over time, they began to open up more and more. During our last visit in May, they were actively engaging with us and even asked to take them up in our arms. It’s so joyful to see such changes. The kids who were already familiar with us continue to be our friends. The caregivers say that the kids wait every Tuesday for what they call “the guests” to arrive. 

During the Bible lessons, the older children actively – and often competitively – answer our questions. Artyom reads the Bible, which we once left for them, on his own. Sometimes it’s surprising how well the younger kids remember and answer our questions, like Roma, who sometimes does better than the older children. Of course, some of the little ones struggle  with remembering biblical stories, like Kirill, who has developmental challenges. Despite this he’s always with us, eager to connect, and waits for us just as much as the others. In May  we had a series of lessons about the life of Joseph. The kids learned about his story and the vital role of God in it.

We also discussed how they could apply these lessons to their own lives. Additionally, we encourage them to read the Bible by themselves. We hope that the vivid story of Joseph, which most of them remembered very well will leave a deep impact on their hearts.  We didn’t forget about the songs they’ve already come to love. They have their favorites, which they sing enthusiastically, knowing the words by heart and performing the motions even better than we do. What’s especially encouraging is that these are the songs with good Christian messages, using simple, child-friendly language to remind of important truths. Glory to God, Who has made possible these wonderful meetings with the kids.  With God’s help we hope to continue serving these diverse, fascinating, and wonderful children.

 

 

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