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!
Every day I hear words of gratitude from the parents of the children you help, and I see the eyes of children when they are in great pain, but we are there with them.
Currently, we have a special prayer for Karina and Dinara, two girls who are preparing for bone marrow transplants. The issue is that their tests are unstable, and their condition changes suddenly. In order for them to undergo chemotherapy and survive the flight to St. Petersburg, they need stable and good test results. For that, they need treatment, care, and the inner strength that God can provide through us and you.
We are also taking care of children from the hospice, where a new boy, Kirill, has been admitted. He is a full orphan and will not be able to live independently; he needs care and attention. I don’t know how effective we are for such children, but I know for sure that we cannot pass by. If God sends us such children, we must show them His love and care as a Father.
There is also good news: the girl, Nastya, from the hospice was transferred to a special boarding school. Her life is now safe, and we played a part in that, as we worked with her for a long time. Thank you, friends, for your prayers and financial support. We really need you.
This month, we visited three orphanages and organized three gatherings for orphanage graduates at neutral locations in the city. We are mentoring over thirty children who have graduated and remain connected with us. We assist them in studying, earning money, and managing their finances while providing guidance and mentorship.
A few years ago, we saw children dropping out of school, turning to theft, using drugs, having children at 15, or ending up in prison. Today, these same children pray and have a chance for a happy and meaningful life.
Our ministry in oncology wards and hospices remains challenging and energy-intensive. This week, I brought a young woman to the hospice for the first time, and she became unwell while there. On the way home, she had countless questions, such as, “Why do these children get sick?” I told her that I don’t have the answers to such questions, but I know that they all need God and our help, and we will continue to provide it.
A new girl, Nastya, who is six years old, has joined us. She responds to touch, tries to speak, and sings songs with us. Her mother left her in the hospice as she is unable to support her, and we are committed to helping her.
Thank you so much for your support and assistance. We need your prayers and involvement. May the Lord bless us all.
This month has been filled with joyful events as well as challenging situations. Our friend Saveliy was baptized and immediately joined a mission team. He can’t keep silent; he shares about Christ with everyone he meets and tells his testimony. His grandmother has also started attending church, and the brothers are reading the Gospel with her. When I see his life, how he finds joy and encourages others, even while on crutches, I am sure that he is a blessing for the church and society.
We had several trips to orphanages and spent quality time with the children. I can say for certain that they are no longer orphans; we live like one big family. Over the weekends, we placed more than thirty children in families. This is a blessing for everyone!
There is also a concern. A girl named Ksenia in the oncology ward has experienced a relapse, and her condition worsened suddenly, so she was taken to the hospital. For three days, she couldn’t even stand, and we visited her every day, helping and praying. She is feeling better now, and she is being prepared for a bone marrow transplant. Things are stable at the hospice; we brought a screen for the children to play music and movies about God, which has brought comfort to both the children and the medical staff.
I am deeply grateful for your prayers and support. Many of the children battling cancer have survived, learned about Jesus, and are learning to trust, believe, and pray. Praise God for His mercy!
Recently, I have witnessed how God miraculously heals children through our prayers. This month, we visited orphanages, paying special attention to graduates. Currently, we are supporting thirty-seven young people who have graduated and are eager to connect with us and seek help. Three of these young individuals will be baptized. This is God’s grace!
The children’s hospice has moved to a new location and is in need of renovation; we are diligently assisting the medical staff. We have special concerns about Yarik, a child who is practically immobile and relies on artificial respiration. His condition has worsened, and we have prayed and cared for him as best we can. Yarik is in critical condition; I understand these children are severely ill, but over the years, you become attached to them as family and fight for each day of life.
When we come and spend time with these children, we sing songs, pray for them, and see the sparkle in their eyes. We hope the Gospel reaches their hearts. In the pediatric oncology unit, there aren’t many children, which is good; those who are there receive our love and hear about hope, and they themselves ask us to pray for them.
We organized a big celebration on Children’s Day, June 1st. Over the summer, new graduates from orphanages arrived, and we are actively communicating and working together. Working with children transitioning to adulthood is, in our view, the most important and challenging task. If we don’t reach out and win their hearts, they may start living a life of crime. Two girls gave birth at 16, and we are now helping them to survive. It’s crucial to teach them to choose life over death.
In a previous letter, I wrote about a girl who suffered from epilepsy, and her mother asked for prayers for healing. After our prayer, the child recovered. God showed mercy, and we began to regularly communicate with this family. For two months now, the girl has been rejoicing and praising God! This is a great encouragement for me.
This month, Lera, a girl we had been caring for for about five years, was admitted to the oncology department. Her health had suddenly worsened, and metastases spread to her internal organs. She was in a lot of pain, so our team created a schedule to ensure someone was with her every day to support her. She desperately wanted her mother to be with her, but her mother had lost parental rights and squandered all her resources. Lera was very tired of fighting the illness. We prayed with her, and she understood that she was going to the Heavenly Father. Lera was buried on June 7th. This is a difficult ministry, but we are needed by these children.
