The last meeting with children from Vileyka is over. Almost all our friends from the orphanage are somewhere having fun in camps, 
taking the sun and revitalizing. We miss them already and hope they remember our talks and discussions.
On the last day we decided to play a quiz to refresh what we have learnt during the whole year. Children looked at the pictures and tried to guess what a biblical story they depict. 
We’ve learnt a lot of biblical stories taken primary from The Old Testament. This quiz was interesting to children but some stories were difficult to guess and we helped children by giving hints. We talked a lot and even didn’t have time to complete the quiz! At the end children got candies and biscuits. We were staying there and couldn’t move for a long time as children were hugging us, trying to tell at least a word before let us go. 
How difficult it is to say good bye till September after such warm visits! We hope that this last meeting will be in children’s minds till our next visit. Even now children write to us in FB, asking when we come again. 
At such moments you understand your work is not in vain because in children’s heart there is already love and you became a part of this little family in Vileyka. How much I want these children to open their hearts to God to become HIS big family!
Summer starts together with the end of the academic year. It means that it’s time to make plans for the next academic year. Next year we want to finish the started – to make a camp for children who don’t go to any camps or travels abroad because they are 15-17 years old already, or have bad behavior. Such children need this camp so much! We need to give them a chance to have a rest outside the orphanage and to visit a Christian summer camp. We still have some worries about this camp, such as getting the license to make a camp abroad and also the financial problem. We ask everybody to pray for the good cause. Who can help us financially we ask to help and contact us. May God bless you!
The month of May was special and we thank the Lord that Sasha and Alina were adopted. We are so glad to see how more and mor
e children are adopted into families or are accepted into foster families and there are less and less orphans left.
At one of our meetings we told the kids how the Universe was created, about the fist people on Earth – Adam and Eve – and about the fall. Many of the orphans heard this for the first time in their life and they asked a lot of questions. We noticed that they were drawn
by the truth and they confronted the lie that used to be taught to them in school, the misconception of that people originated from monkeys was completely beaten.
Another special day at S
milovichy was when we organized a trip to the circus in Minsk. It was the first experience for some of the kids and they were really impressed and thankful. The performance was so amazing, there were plenty of diverse astonishing animals that the orphans only knew about and had a chance to see them live for the first time. We pra
ise the Lord for this good opportunity to organize this event for the orphans.
This week we taught about sin. We discussed what sin is and how to stop sinning. We heard some confessions. One of the kid shared that he d
oes a lot of bad sins: he smokes, curses when he gets angry at people. He asked to help him out with struggling with these sins. We tried to explain him how to get freedom from this slavery of a sin.
We want to thank all of you who pray for the ministry to orphans. We bear witness of the real changes in the lives of orphans and their salvation as well.
In May we had many memorable meetings with kids from the Rudensk orphanage. The month begun with the w
onderful holiday: Passover. All orphans and educators could hear once again about great act of bravery of Christ at The Calvary. The meaning of the holiday was communicated to the kids in a theatrical play. After the play kids had an opportunity to talk with each actor. Probably, somebody even got a new friend!
At other our meetings we talked with children about fears and explained how God advices us to fight them. We found out that the children had many fears which follow them from their early childhood. And this is not surprising because the closest people to them – their parents – abandoned them. On top of that some orphans had been victims of violence, humiliation and insults from their parents. Therefore almost ever
y orphan has a fear to remain forever alone, to be abandoned and to be betrayed again.
Also we had an opportunity to organize for the kids a trip to a professional circus. It was a bright and joyful time because some of the children were in circus for the first time. Fanny clowns, acrobats and a multitude of various animals ent
ertain kids with their talents, abilities and skills. We are very thankful to those who helped us organize this trip! Children were satisfied – it means we had reached the goal!
We also had a sport event. At our last meeting this month we had organize an “apple relay” that was conducted in unusual way. The relay had as sport assignments as creative assignments. Mandator
y to all the assignments was a connection to apples. And at the end all children who participated in the relay received apples as prizes. After the relay all boys together with the man from our team went to gymnastic bars. Despite children enthusiastically performing physical exercises they were able to talk with
the team members on various interesting for them subjects.
School year is coming to the end. There are about 4 meetings remain with the kids in the orphanages in this school year. After that we and the kids are going to have a break for the two months until the beginning of the next school year. Therefore we want very much that our last meeting with the kids would be unforgettable for them and that the kids would not forget about God during the summer break! We would be thankful to everyone who would pray about this!
This month was eventful and rather diverse for the children. The first meeting was held with puppet theatre, we were talking about Easter. At the end of the meeting the children were given presents and of course all of
them left the meeting being happy and delighted. The warm spring days came an
d the children started to spend more time outside. We decided not to deprive them of a walk in the evening too and to hold a class outdoors. It was a fascinating and special time because there are more opportunities to play different interesting games outside. The special thing in this day was that a group of children with Down syndrome joined us. During camp time we were able to spend more time with such children. During usual visits we see them seldom, that is why I was happy to pay more attention to them, as they are deprived of many things, and at this meeting we were talking about friendship. We had an opportunity to surprise the children with little presents which were received with joy. The younger children had a class about Zaccheus, all of them were attentive and active while answering the questions. 
On the pre-last Thursday of May 50 children from the orphanage had a chance to visit the circus, that gave a lot of different emotions to the children. 
Everyone was happy. We are very thankful to everyone who participated in organizing the trip to the circus. It was an unforgettable time.
The elder children had discussions on rather serious themes. We were talking about “The Christ’s endeavor”, about sufferings and the meaning of Easter to us. There was also a theme about fears. The elder children also saw the puppet theatre performance and joined the trip to the circus. And the last theme this month was very serious, Dima talked about suicide and the “Value of life”.
This month one more sister has joined to our team for the ministry to orphans. 
Her name is Kristina. For the month of April she has been going to Smilovichi orphanage with us, played with children, helped with leisure activities. 
When we held lesson about prayer, importance of attending church and reading Bible, we were inspired to see how children remembered what we’ve taught them. Their answers were quite extended and full of thoughts. Its so good to realize, that our labor is not in vain!
Last week little Kiril was taken by his grandmother, she was allowed to be his caregiver. 
All children were encouraged to pray to God and ask for family, for this is the biggest dream for all of them, every one wants to have parents. Last Tuesday we invited puppet theatre and do presents for Easter. The actors demonstrated the true meaning of this Great Day. Our team was blessed to have this time with children in a friendly atmosphere.
Jesus is risen!
LOVE 4 THE CHILDREN 