I want to share the story of a boy—an orphan from a hospice named Matvey. He had a cleft palate (“wolf’s mouth”)—a congenital condition caused by the failure of the tissues of the palate to fuse. He has already had his first surgery and was fitted with a temporary plate that closes the palate. He is now learning to eat with the new plate, and our team takes turns staying with him in the hospital every day and caring for him. Soon he will be able to live independently, and possibly we will find a foster family for him.
There is also Nastya, who is in very poor condition. She is very scared and is waiting for an exact diagnosis. One thing is clear: for this child, it is a matter of life and death. She loses consciousness from weakness and is under constant medical supervision. We ask for prayers that God would comfort her and show a way out. Thank you for your compassion and involvement in our ministry.
Also in the hospice is Yarik—he is 9 years old. He suffers from severe headaches, but he responds well to human kindness and attention. We have been caring for him for more than two years, and doctors say this is vitally important for him.
There have also been changes in the pediatric oncology department. The hematology unit has been merged with other departments, and now we have twice as many days in which we care for the children. We teach them to pray, play with them, and introduce them to the Gospel. They especially need faith in God, who loves them and is waiting for them!
Ministry in Omsk — Sasha Melnikov