Last year, Lena came to us. At that time, she was seven years old. Unfortunately, Lena’s mother did not arrange for her to go to school. We never know how long we will have the children with us. This year, we were among the first in line to submit an application for enrollment in the first grade. We have even passed the medical examination with the future first graders.
And then we encountered a surprise in the form of a refusal, as it was also necessary to pass a psychological-medico-pedagogical commission. In short, our eyes twitched, and our brows turned gray, but we passed the commission. And the child was enrolled in school. When a child enters the first grade, the requirements for their speech, behavior, and way of life change dramatically. It’s an exciting moment for every parent and future first-grader.
Lena is eagerly awaiting the day when she will go to school. So we don’t waste any time: we study, learn to read and write, solve problems, and much more. And from September, our socio-developmental center will open its doors again, and the children will attend additional developmental activities.
Everything in the world starts small, everything is born small, and then it grows: a small seedling becomes a big tree, a stream joins a river, words turn into sentences and great novels, a few notes compose great melodies.
We thank you for your heart and prayers, for your cooperation and assistance in serving the social orphans! May God bless you abundantly!
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.
On July 29-30, 2023, in the Vorkuta tundra at the foot of the western slope of the Ural Mountains, the traditional gathering of indigenous believers from paganism took place—Nenets, Khanty, and Komi.
The beauty of the Polar Urals is truly mesmerizing! The purity of mountain air, crystal-clear refreshing streams from melting glaciers, and the uniqueness of the region attract many tourists from various parts of the country.
For the local inhabitants, this is their historical homeland, the place of their ancestral migrations, where for centuries, the designated territory for grazing reindeer herds has been silently preserved.
The Arctic land… These places hold many sad and well-known stories from the past… Today, the younger generation can barely recount the events of the Stalinist era that occurred 80 years ago. But forgetting one’s history is detrimental to the future!
Even today, occasionally at youth gatherings, we can hear legendary lines from wartime:
“They cannot be found in the dust of paths,
Amidst the taiga and the Ural ridges,
And on the little hill, a friend’s hand,
Will not place a bouquet of violets.”
A militant atheism annihilated thousands of living Christians in the first half of the last century… But the law of “sowing and reaping” was never repealed, and as a result, today’s youth confidently echo in their hymns:
“Oh, distant North, do you see the barrenness,
Holy seeds are already growing!
And on your abandoned fields,
Fruits will be harvested in future times.”
Thanks to the prayers and sacrifices of many faithful Christians, people in the far north are turning to God!
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!
He and his sister were brought to some new building with lots of children and adults. And no one understood them. “I’m the eldest, I should find out why we’re here!? Everyone approached us, hugged us, smiled. But I wanted to cry, I wanted to go home…” These thoughts, probably, visited Oleg, who came to us.
“Moo, yes, I, uh…” These were the words we heard from Oleg and his younger sister Sonya (3 and 4 years old) when they arrived at the “Children’s Ark.” Their speech was practically absent, and we couldn’t understand them. With time, we began to guess what they were trying to communicate, thanks to their expressive gestures!
“Moo” was the first word that Oleg learned to say. And when people told him, “We don’t understand what you want?” He would earnestly and as loudly as possible say, “MOO, MOO!”
When new children arrive, most of the time they come with a whole bunch of problems. We started speech therapy sessions and visits to doctors. But not only that, the children also participate in developmental activities in the art studio and creative workshops for woodworking and metalworking. The caregivers also invest a lot of effort and heart into the children’s development.
Now, looking at the results (maybe not noticeable to outsiders), you realize the “leap” that Oleg has made. And, of course, this is not the end; we continue to fully develop the child. This is not just the result of our staff’s work but also thanks to your support. Since we are not a state shelter, the staff’s salaries come from donations. Your help is an invaluable contribution to our work! Thank you!
Greetings, brothers and sisters! Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This means that when we give, we receive true joy and fulfillment through serving others, and ultimately, serving God.
I am grateful to God for revealing this simple truth, and I want to share the blessings from our collaborative work and express immense gratitude for the prayers and financial assistance. This month, we have been involved in ministry at orphanages, an oncology hospital, and a children’s hospice.
The fate of Dasha particularly requires attention and prayer. She is a 12-year-old girl who is paralyzed. We got acquainted when I was asked to transport the child from her home in the Omsk region to the hospice in Kormilovka, which is approximately 250 kilometers away. During the journey, we had time to get to know each other better. Dasha’s mother, Lena, also has a 5-year-old daughter, and she is raising the children alone without a husband.
Dasha was born as a healthy child, but when she was four months old, she received a vaccination at the local clinic, and she became unwell and started lagging behind in development. Later, after medical examinations, it was discovered that the pediatrician miscalculated the dosage, resulting in damage to the nervous system, and Dasha is practically unable to move. She never learned to crawl or walk. Her mother carries her in her arms. Dasha was admitted to the hospice because they have the necessary equipment for further diagnosis and treatment.
Now we have become friends with Dasha and her family, and we will help them. The mother is facing financial and emotional hardships. Dasha requires special nutrition, hygiene products, and medication. I ask for your assistance and prayers. Thank you for your participation!
