When I look at the children, the parents, and all the pain and despair they go through, I am once again convinced that we need each other. We speak to them about hope and faith, and they remind us to examine our values and priorities.
We visited three orphanages, a hospice, and a children’s oncology unit. What brings me joy is that the children wait for us, and most importantly, they understand that our relationships will continue even after they leave these institutions. One boy, Roma, wants to be adopted, and there are people willing to take him in — but he has two brothers with him, and they can’t be separated. Please pray that God would resolve this situation.
There is good news: we now regularly hold a small group for the parents of hospitalized children. Before, we simply provided meals and helped as best we could. But now, they themselves are ready for serious conversations and discussions about faith in God and the Church. Their number is growing, and seven moms have already attended our women’s gatherings.
I also want to ask for prayer for a girl named Kristina who has leukemia. She was going to be sent for a bone marrow transplant, but her condition is unstable, and doctors are afraid she may not survive the journey. Please pray for her family! They are also in need of financial support, as the treatment requires additional resources.
We had an interesting trip to the Artyn orphanage, and it stood out to me especially because I spent time with a new boy named Egor. He is 13 years old. His mother died, and his father is in prison. Egor used to do sports and had success in mixed martial arts. His foster family sent him to a psychiatric hospital, and from there he was brought to the orphanage.
He told me his story: his foster father humiliated and beat him, and Egor couldn’t take it anymore — he fought back and nearly killed him. People think the teenager is a thug and mentally ill, but when I became friends with him, I saw a little boy who lost his beloved mom and doesn’t know how to take care of his two younger sisters and little brother.
I want to take him home for the summer and give him protection and love.
We are also going through a special season ministering to children with cancer. Their numbers have grown — but so has our team. We have a special concern for a little girl named Anya. She is five years old, undergoing hormone therapy, and being prepared for a bone marrow transplant. They came to us from Ranga. Her mother is emotionally overwhelmed, and they have no money! We want to help them. Right now, they need help with housing rent and airfare to the clinic where the transplant will take place.
Thank you, dear friends, for carrying this ministry with us. Together we can do more for Christ! May God bless you!
Kristina is a little girl diagnosed with Down syndrome and leukemia. She is only two years old, she doesn’t speak, but she feels and understands everything very well. When I come to the hospital ward, she climbs into my arms, and we just walk around in silence. Then she starts communicating in her own way and playing with us. Her mother prayed with us during one of our meetings and decided to entrust the situation to God—this is very important for everyone! We support them both spiritually and materially.
Another friend of mine is Oleg. He is seven years old and is staying at the hospital with his grandmother. He is a unique child—every time he teaches me all sorts of fun kids’ things, and I teach him to pray and not lose heart. He will soon need to travel to St. Petersburg for a bone marrow transplant. They are struggling financially, so we will be raising funds for them and will most likely accompany them on their journey.
This month, I visited three orphanages and formed a team from orphanage graduates. This was very valuable because graduates are more relatable to the children and can work with them more effectively!
Brothers and sisters, my heart overflows with joy when I see God’s work in the hearts of these children. Thank you for being with us all these eight years, for helping and praying. I truly need you!
I understand that nothing is impossible for God, and He can heal instantly. I desire to grow in this ministry. But for people to trust us and turn to us, we need to take action and be involved in their lives. Jesus said, “Let Your will be done, not mine.” We do not know who will be healed or when, but we pray for the children in faith.
In Omsk, we continue to care for three orphanages, a hospice, and the pediatric oncology ward.
In the orphanage “Artyn,” there are three siblings—two brothers and a sister. They were all born in the same week, and we were invited to their birthday party. However, when our team was unable to come, the children canceled the celebration and rescheduled everything to wait for us. This shows how building relationships is a key factor in the lives of these children. In the oncology ward, we see progress in working with parents, many of whom struggle with the emotional burden and stress. We meet with them every week.
Right now, we are praying for a boy named Egor. He is five years old and was recently admitted. He is preparing for a bone marrow transplant, but the doctors say his illness is progressing very quickly. If all medical procedures are completed in time, Egor and his mother will fly to Saint Petersburg this month.
Thank you, dear friends, for your prayers and financial support. It is crucial for this ministry and for our team!
Many people have heard that Jesus was born, but they don’t understand what it means and how this event affects their lives! We decided to use this time and worked hard during the Christmas holidays.
We visited four orphanages, the children’s oncology department, the children’s hospice, and gathered orphaned children for three Christmas performances. In total, we distributed 600 gifts to children, and all of them heard the good news about the Savior. Over 100 medical workers attended the events and also heard the Christmas message.
On Christmas, we visited Apollo, a child who had been in hospice and was in critical condition. With your help, we managed to help the child get back on their feet and even return to their family. Today, we continue to help the child by visiting them at home. It’s truly a miracle. I prayed for Apollo to survive, and not only did he survive, but he also returned home to his family.
Just yesterday, we returned from another city where we visited Sonya! She is now 16, and it turned out that all this time, the girl had been suffering abuse in her foster family. We were able to help her return to the orphanage, and now there is no longer any threat to Sonya’s life.
Christmas is a time when people’s hearts are open to the Gospel! In our ministry to children, we try to use this time effectively, stocking up on gifts and literature about the birth of the Savior, and people are happy to talk and listen during Christmas Eve.
We plan to give five hundred gifts to children. For many, this is very important because they are deprived of love and care. Last year, we shared the Gospel and gave gifts to children in orphanages. The children are waiting for us, they dress up and prepare a performance for us, and together we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
We also perform a Christmas play with decorations, especially for children in oncology and hospices, where it is very hard for them. They may participate in the Christmas scene for the first and last time. Both children and medical workers receive gifts and Bibles. I remember that last year, when we talked about the meaning of Christmas, there were many children with whom I prayed for Jesus to be born in their hearts. I especially remember the story when a child’s mother, who was in the oncology department, came up to me and said that she had heard the true meaning of Christmas for the first time and wanted to pray too.
We are preparing, and we really need your help, both in prayer and financially. Thank you for always being with us!
