The habit to be joyful
A habit is a strange thing. People say: “You get used to good things easily”. For example, you may be rejoiced by something, but as time passes – months, years your joy exhausts…
At Belynychi’s school it seems that someone has cancelled such habits! We visit it each Thursday, this initiative counts about 10 years and I’ve joined the team only a year ago or so. Anyway, I’ve noticed that each day we come children rush out to meet us with pure excitement! And follow us when we’re leaving, so that sometimes guys have to ask them: “Please, children, stop following us, return home!”
Most of all I like two girls, Dasha and Yulya, we’ve became close friends with them. Especially with Julia, she’s a very sweat, open girl, always smiling and happy to see everyone. Last Thursday the girls asked to take a photo of them and than – a photo of three of us too.
I like to see that they can’t wait to meet me again. Surely these children are always happy to see any visitor, however I’m pleased to notice that they recognize me now as well as the other members of our team.
In March one boy, aged 11-12, approached me, carefully put a letter into my hand and said, a bit confusing: «Please read when you’re at home». I must confess it was not really pleasant – such a confidentiality. But at home I’ve read the letter: this boy wrote that he’s always happy to see me, that he loves me very much. Although this message was written with dozens of mistakes, but how touching it was to read!
At my first visits the only feeling I had to these children was pity. Usually I was leaving this place with a great sorrow, being depressed. I prayed that God would have made me love them. And today I feel that I do love them! Well, 
sometimes they behave strangely, show aggression… but in fact I can’t think of more honest, more frank children than these ones. And they never play a role – that’s for sure!
Sometimes you may think that children do not pay attention to what you say, but it only seems!.. For example, you tell a story and think: «They do not understand what they hear!» But when you start asking questions on the story – suddenly children give the right answers. I was impressed by a boy named Andrew: although he seemed to be a hooligan and was known to foil our lessons, once he turned out to be the only one who took an active part in discussion!
And there is Roma, who’s always very attentive. Sometimes it seems to you he’s not listening, but just try and ask him a question – you’ll get the right answer straight away!
Watching these children, you come to think how blessed you are in your life. God gives you so much! And these people lack such common things… And it makes you want to embrace them with love and care to fill up what they lack.
I hope that our visits are not useless, that they will help children make the right choices in their future lives, gain faith and find a real support, friendship and love in this world. Because Love is the only thing which can fill up absolutely any lack.
There are specific memories that bring joy as well as pain. I want to share my thoughts about visit to Smilovishi orphanage! Each visit is particularly special and interesting; we remember them because we expect to see familiar people who are looking forward to meet us, they joyfully run up to meet us with sincere smiles. Only from time to time, it possible to notice someone with pensive look! 
Children who have adult look always wait that people will betray or leave them, however they want to be loved and to be in embrace of natal person. Children dream about parents, however in their dreams parents are usually not drunk and they are not hungry.
Smilovishi orphanage is not a wealthy establishment and it doesn’t have constant sponsor, that’s why we help them to meet their needs and bring textbooks and paint books for children. Recently we brought warm knitted socks. The children have started to fall ill and get flue. I had seen that children worn several pairs of thin socks and that’s why we decided to bring knitted winter socks for them. Children’s joy and supreme praise, and smiles makes us fall in love with them more and more.
Behind statistics are hidden surnames, names and destinies, which we can change, and the adult world can change the formed tendency of social orphans. These children might have chance for their dream to come true because they have great desire to have real mom and dad. Sometimes it is hard to express all that heart and mind are filled with.
If you read my reflection, I want to ask you to join us in prayer for the children, and if you have an opportunity to come, we will be glad to be with you people who are used to restore the ruins of people lives.
Hello to everybody, who’s reading this letter!
We want to share with you our achievements, 
that we’ve had this February. In spite of the fact, that many children were ill and some orphanages were closed during the time of the treatment, from 10 to 15 children attended our meetings. We try to pray for the children’s health constantly, because they fall ill very often, especially in winter. God answers our prayers and shows His mercy not just to us, but to all the children. This month we discussed different topics. One of them was – “How to cope with the suffering from bereavement”. We spoke about the causes of losing something or someone in our life, about our reaction to it and the way we manage it. It was obvious that the children had strong feelings on this topic, because many of them hav
e already faced such situations. There were different opinions and arguments whether it is good or bad to lose something or someone. Everyone had an opportunity to share his or her opinion. 
Also we told them, why we read the Bible and spoke a lot about it. We constantly share with them thoughts from this book, so many children were concerned, why the Bible is such an authority for us. The children were interested in knowing about the special purpose of the Bible and its influence on our lives. Besides, we always sing. Everyone enjoys this! Especially, when we learn something new. Songs melt the ice in their hearts, calm them and help to create friendly atmosphere. When we ask the children, why they come to our meetings, they say, they miss us, they want to know something new, they like the atmosphere, where everyone is valued and loved. It is pleasant to hear and, what is the most important, to see how they change. We are very grateful to everyone who supports us in prayers and kind words!!!
In February, we continued to travel to Rudensk boarding. In this boarding all of our meetings have focused on thematic dialogue. We had three main topics: “How to survive the pain of loss,” “right relationship between guy and girl”, “What is important to study the Bible for?”. At the end of the month, we were divided into two groups: boys separately, girls separately. The boys talked about how to aspire to be a “real man in the eyes of God,” and the girls were talking about what is “feminine”. Each of these themes seemed to us quite complex to understand these guys, but at the same time, it is very urgent. Because each of them has experienced the pain of loss, some in their 15-16 years have made a lot of mistakes, creating a wrong relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend. 
Many of the children today are in a very active search for God, so it is not superfluous to tell them, which is the believer to study the Bible.
If to talk about the “Bachelor” and “Bachelorette Party” – what we call the meeting, when boys and girls are going to separate, they passed under a special blessing! After all, a lot of guys – teens, live in that humiliate the weak, beat younger and consider it a normal way of life. 
The sad thing is that in this way they are trying to prove to others that this is manifested their masculinity. The girls, in their turn, dressed in men’s clothes, smoking, are rude, thus eventually losing femininity that they contain God. Because of this, we took the chance to speak on these, sufficiently complex topic. But we believe that in the hearts of these guys in any way anything left! During the lesson, we have seen just how many guys tried to carefully listen to what we says, and in the end they could even ask questions! Most of all I ask you to pray that the word sown in the boarding school at the right time has brought value results to God!
In February we made our usual trips to Grozovo Orphanage. I am in charge of the smallest groups. And together with the little children we discussed the stories of Jonah, Samuel and Esther. We also talked about the importance of good works in our everyday lives. A lot of kids got really interested in the topics and took an active part in the discussion. We also played various games and had a wonderful time together.
We have made really good friends with the children, we love them and they open their hearts to us. We try to show them that loving and trustful relationships do exist in this world. We talk with the children about how to be good friends and help other people. We do our best to make them feel loved and needed both by God and us.
We have also noticed the change in the kids’ attitudes. Now they trust us a lot more than they used to. They learn to pray for each other and our ministry. It is so inspiring when they come to us and share the stories how they seized to fight with each other and learnt to forgive others. We are happy to hear them say they miss our meetings, our hugs and prayers. It is so pleasant to see the kids enjoy themselves and know they do their best to stay grateful even in the disadvantaged environment they have to live in and deal with.
LOVE 4 THE CHILDREN 