Our team experienced significant blessings during the Christmas holiday! We greeted about 500 children in various places, including orphanages, hospitals, and hospices. Particularly valuable was our venture this year with a puppet theater, allowing children to see a Christmas story performance of this kind for the first time. It was thrilling; the entire medical staff watched along with the children, holding their breath! Then we gave gifts to everyone, which led to many questions and conversations.
God opened another door for us in the hospital’s endocrinology department, where children with diabetes are treated. Every Wednesday, we meet with fifteen teenagers, spend time with them, and invite them to continue to connect and socialize in our loft space and at our venues. The children gladly agree, and already 8 teenagers regularly meet with us. Christmas is always a precious time for people, with hearts open and receptive.
There are also needs and requests. Two girls, Lisa (7 years old) and Dasha (9 years old), need an urgent bone marrow transplant and must fly to St. Petersburg. We need to help them prepare and buy tickets soon. The girls are raised by single mothers who cannot afford the tickets and medication for their children!
We heartily thank you for your open hearts and help. And we ask you to participate and share the blessing!
I want to share about what we are experiencing together with the parents and children in their difficult fates. This month, two children passed away. Anya was 11 years old, and she did not return from St. Petersburg after a bone marrow transplant. Her body couldn’t cope, and her organs failed. I accompanied this family, and we had a serious conversation with Anya and her mother; we prayed, and I shared hope and explained the Gospel. I hope a choice was made.
The second child died in Omsk in the hospital, and we prayed with him, and I am still communicating with his father, helping them cope with the loss of their son. Overall, our ministry is to be there where there is need and where it is difficult. This month, we were with children in orphanages, hospices, and pediatric oncology; everywhere we served as usual.
But a particular joy for me is that we accepted 22 graduates from orphanages in our city. They enrolled in educational institutions and live in dormitories. The first month is the hardest for them; they still don’t have allowances and their life is not yet organized, so we fed them and helped. We also had a meeting where last year’s graduates and our team of teenagers were present; for three days, we lived and communicated together, and on Sunday, everyone was at the church gathering.
Two children prayed the prayer of repentance, and one girl, Sofa, wants to be baptized; she signed up for mentorship. Finally, I saw with my own eyes the fruits of five years of trips to orphanages, our prayers, gifts, and time spent have borne fruit. Over 30 children during this time have given their lives to God and can live according to the Gospel.
Praise God, thank you for your prayers and help! Sincerely, with prayers for you.
Greetings to you, brothers and sisters! The ministry of mercy and care for children continues successfully. The number of children in need is increasing. When you see the need, you want to help everyone, comfort everyone, and heal everyone. We understand that we can pray for everyone, but can only help a few.
This month we visited three children’s homes and welcomed 17 graduates to the city. They are now students and have started living independently, and we have managed to build relationships with them. These young people now have a great chance to survive and become good people and Christians. We also visited a hospice 10 times and participated in the lives of many children, especially in the life of Apollon. His condition has improved, and we hope he will recover! A special need is for children in oncology. The department is overcrowded with children who need care, encouragement, and prayer.
Rita and Yaroslav are on hormones, and their condition is severe. They are looking for donors for a bone marrow transplant, and in the meantime, they need expensive medications and special nutrition. We try to participate in their lives prayerfully and financially. Every day, buying medicines and food costs up to 100 dollars. The family cannot afford this and needs help! Therefore, we ask you to pray and participate with us in the lives of these children! The children are very kind and want to live! Today, much depends on us. I want to express my gratitude to you for your participation in the lives and treatment of the children. Glory to Jesus for the honor of serving sick children and accompanying families on their difficult journey!
We continue to develop ministries for children facing difficult circumstances and see a tremendous need and blessing. We want to convey a huge thank you for your prayers and financial assistance! This month has been particularly busy as more than 30 children were admitted to oncology and hospice care.
I have also started a small group with parents. While the children have their one-hour sessions, I gather the parents in the kitchen, and we talk about their fears and concerns. They listen to the Gospel in a special way.
There is a special need for Rita and her family! She is 8 years old, and they are preparing her for a bone marrow transplant, which requires a lot of strength and finances. Currently, the child is on hormonal treatment, and at this moment, the children are particularly downcast.
In the hospice, we visit Dasha, who is 12 years old. When she was very young, she received a vaccination with an incorrect dosage, which caused her paralysis. She requires round-the-clock care and is confined to her bed, unable to do anything independently. Dasha’s mom is very tired and in despair. She is raising Dasha alone and needs a lot of strength, finances, and emotional support to keep going and not give up.
We decided to help this family and support both the mother and Dasha. Dasha’s mom has started listening to the Gospel and praying, which is very encouraging for us.
We have also gathered 250 children from three orphanages into our school and welcomed 20 graduates in the city, participating in their placement in dormitories near educational institutions. Thank you for your involvement in serving underprivileged children!
Jesus not only practices mercy but is Himself merciful, and that’s why His actions and deeds are merciful. Serving children greatly helps to instill this virtue and enables them to experience these feelings and transform them into character.
I received a letter from the father of a child we worked with two years ago when they were undergoing treatment for bone marrow transplantation in oncology. We provided assistance during those challenging days, and he mentioned that he remembers the sense of support and calmness we offered. I can’t recall all the details, but he remembers everything. What touched me the most was that he values what I taught him about prayer and trusting God. The parents united by this problem have their social media chat group for exchanging information. They refer to me as the priest who is always in touch. When I learned about this, I realized how important it is for these people to feel supported during times of sorrow!
This month, everything went as planned with many visits to children’s homes, hospices, and oncology wards. I want to share some joyful news: I previously wrote about a child named David who had speech issues and urgently needed surgery. We welcomed him into our family, successfully treated him, and he was able to start first grade in a regular school.
A huge thank you for your participation in this ministry! We welcome any assistance and request your prayers for the children and our team.
I am happy to share some news with you about our work with children at risk. On June 1st, which was Children’s Day, we were able to reach out to 400 children in various places: orphanages, pediatric oncology, hospices, and homes for disabled children. We spent quality time with them, gave gifts, played games, and had heart-to-heart conversations.
For some of these children, this celebration might be their last in this earthly life, and we talked to them about hope and trusting in Jesus. There are many positive moments. Lera’s health has improved; for over three years, we have been caring for this child. There were times when we prayed for her life when she was in very critical condition. Now, I am thinking about how to help her get an education, find meaning in life, and avoid repeating her mother’s life story.
However, there is still a need. In the hospice, there is a girl named Lyuba who has been there for two months. She is in a very difficult physical and emotional state and is being fed through a special tube in her stomach. She behaves aggressively, like a little “beast.” But she has started getting used to us and can communicate on her own level.
She needs special feeding supplies and many other small things like diapers, wipes, and more. I ask for prayers for her; she is in a very critical condition. Thank you so much for your support!
