We thought Andrey wouldn’t make it to the States. It almost seemed like nobody would. The newly made regulations about orphans travelling abroad gave a good excuse to the municipal boards to say no to the hosting program this Christmas, but two orphanage directors really saw it as a chance their disabled children couldn’t miss, so we were getting fifteen through the border December, 13.
I didn’t know I was going to get stuck in Munich with Andrey. The flight to Chicago got cancelled and his host family was waiting for us in Denver.. Andrey didn’t know about delay too, so he kept running up and down the moving escalator, showing me tricks and not saving his energy for the many hours of wondering in the airports of Germany. We shared the yogurt with muesli and fruit and I didn’t have a joy of feeding someone from the spoon in a long time. He liked the whip cream on my latte and would make sure I got to try all the fruit in his bowl.
I should have known that the arrangements that a smart UA manager makes in Munich actually require a transit visa to get to Frankfurt. Well, Andrey had fun playing with my cell while border guards around us were getting him a transit visa.
I had no clue chewy teddy bear candy helps when ears hurt at airplane take off and land. I also didn’t know you need to do splits to pick something from the ground if your hands are not operating.
He wanted spaghetti at a Sheraton restaurant Luthgansa magic fairy ended up putting us. They usually don’t put passengers there for free with food coupons. But here we are enjoying our date among business men and dressy ladies. Andrey makes sure his plate is clean and loves to smile at the waiters every time they pass by. He wants to make the bed before we leave the hotel room because things need to be kept in the right order. Just as his care-giver taught him.
Andrey calls me every day first thing in the morning to report me on how much he loves going to the swiming pool and how the two dogs in the family are lovely and why the other boy in the family is sent to his room. He rememebers everyone by name. He still wants that pass from the Sheraton hotel room with his name on it. He said he’ll be back to that room once he is rich and famous. I won’t doubt it, seing how passoinately he follows things through.
I haven’t seen God at work so clearly in a long time. I want my heart to rememebr that as it makes my Christmas time real and meaningful. I wish the same to you!
Sunday November, 28 eagerly anticipated annual Winter Charity Bazaar was happening at Hotel Astoria..Welcome to the Hotel Astoria, such a lovely place… Well, since my experiences with Astoria are limited to the knowledge where it is on the map of Saint Petersburg, it was fun for me to have the doormen open the massive old door and let me in to the hall full of pleasant smells, excitement, bright little things and noisy foreigners.
“The proceeds raised from this event will support various charity projects. Charity organizations helped by the International Women’s Club during the last year include the St. Basil’s Youth Offenders Program, Everychild, the ACCR Union of Christians, Sunflower Parents’ Center, Upsala Circus, Perspektivy and various orphanages” – says the Saint Petersburg Times.
Well, the truth is I should be raising funds for orphanages on an event like that, but here I am taking a break from the end of year struggles and enjoying the fun, tasty and creative ways our foreign community uses to raise funds for orphanages and children ministries in town. The truth is I enjoy such events only in case I’m not planning them out. So I thought I’d still do it, add some multi-cultural flavour to the day-to-day work that I do.
“It’s a fake world! The foreigners are like children playing around! They are having their clean family-oriented fun for which they can later complement themselves!” – say some of my friends… Yes and no. We all realise healthy family is what these children really need. But when the consulate workers are serving you dessert and nodding with sympathy as you reach out to put your money in the box- it tells me something. First, this people have enough inner freedom and compassion to do it. Then, the idea of helping children is not alien to them, they doesn’t think it’s a waste of their time. There is unspoken power in it.
Everything from national cuisine to Christmas gifts, good quality second-hand clothes and hand-made decorations can work to draw people’s attention to helping children in need. Even if I come simply souvenir shopping – there is a chance I learn something meaningful about children in need and my money can benifit some of them. When there is dilemma “to help or not to help” you can vote and say “da!” by where and how I choose to spend my rubles.
According to the IWC management, the key purpose of the event is to engage the local and international population of St. Petersburg in raising funds for charitable purposes to help those in need. Well, they managed to engage me as I was at the moment…. a tired and sceptical Russian. Yes, it’s just Winter Bazar, not even Christmas. Didn’t one of our classic writers say one has to remain a human in order to be a Christian? God is teaching me another lesson through general revelation in the world around me. Good things can come from bazar.
Last week, Russia celebrated “Unity Day,” which coincided with school vacation week.
During this time, our dear friend David Hulley came for a visit. As per tradition, he wanted to spend some time with kids from the “Fairy” group from orphanage #32.
Out of a few different options, the kids decided that most of all they would like to go bowling.
The time flew by; the younger children quickly learned the game and a friendly competition was soon underway.
While waiting for their turn,
the kids chatted with David and looked at the photographs that he had brought from home.“A Holiday During the Holidays!”
David’s daughter, Liz Hulley, who serves children in various orphanages, also attended the event. Although David knows a few words in Russian, his communication was aided by Olga Cantrell, our expert interpreter. Katya Plusnina was also on hand, helping out.
After bowling, the group went to McDonald’s as usual to eat lunch together. The younger children were especially glad to sample a burger and fries, and of course to receive the prize that came with their Happy Meals.
And so continues a long tradition of friendship between Americans and Russians…
One of the orphan graduates at the Kohla-Nimme orphanage in Estonia got his first real home this August. He now needs to take care of it and be responsible for utilities, keep up with his job and become a good neighbour. If everything goes well for the next 2 years he will become an owner of this place.
Please meet Rihard Kangur, the orphanage director of a home-type Estonian orphanage near the Russian border. He is among a few who welcomed two short-term teams this year and sees a lot of value in relationships that were established.
But as the time comes near to graduation his anciety grows. By law each graduate gets only 9 square meters at a dorm, were it’s a direct way for crime and drug-abuse. As a good guardian who has invested many years in saving his kids from addictions and prison he can’t allow this to happen to them as they leave home. So Rihard got a plan. He was able to find some property that city ownes at a minimum price and with help of donors turn it to a place a young man can start his life in.
This year Riharg got it all covered for the three kids that he had finish school. But next year he has six more. He needs lot’s of help with this. If you are interested to learn more on how you can help other children get a real home for the first time in their life – contact us.
On Friday ( October, 29th) was a celebration of Orphanage’s birthday! The staff of “Mir” were invited to be a part of it.
Long time we are working with the Kronshtadt Orphanage #35, many children have been in the US. Some of them twice.
It was really nice to see well-dressed, joyful children!
They were especially prepared for this day.
We have seen various performances.
Children also recieved different presents from Local Administration, Urban Administration
and other organisations which helps the orphanage.
There are only 26 children, but they are very friendly and they are live as a big family!
Few months ago the orphanage was almost closed, but thanks to the efforts of the leaders he still continues to exist.
We hope to invite more children this Christmas program and to open more opportunites for these children!
Special thanks to Charlene, she gave money for the children and we bought big chocolates for each child and four boxes of chocolate
Here is a Before and After slideshow of Camp Elama. It’s great to see so much life and growth there.
This Saturday we’ll host a pilot ecological program, an ecologist from the UK will teach children from a shelter in the city. In November, a local church will run a youth sports camp. So, the work at Elama is expanding beyond just the summer. Even in difficult financial times, our work continues to expand.
Last week, we had the opportunity to help a group of children from orphanage #32 get ready for September 1st, the first day of school in Russia.
Pictured in front are (from left to right): Maksim (9), Alyosha (8), Ilya (6), Tatyana (their counselor), Gena (9); the girls pictured are (from left to right): Katya (16), Vika (13), Nastya (11), Katya (15); next to Katya in the back is Liz Hulley, a volunteer from the U.S. We were joined later by another girl, Vika (there are two Vika’s and two Katya’s in the group). In this group, three of the children are recent additions: Katya (younger), Lyosha, and the youngest-Ilya. Ilya has just joined a preparatory group (similar to kindergarten) at school.
We spent about three hours at the market looking for clothes for all the kids. The older girls bought jeans and were very satisfied. We got the boys pants, shirts, sports shoes for school, and also ties and bowties so they could look dressier. They were really wishing for these last few items and hadn’t gotten them in the orphanage.
The clothing that the orphanage gives out is usually out of style and doesn’t fit, but this time, the kids were able to pick something that suited them personally. This shopping trip was a real holiday for them, and we paid a visit to McDonald’s afterwards, which for some of the kids was their first time.
The children are very thankful for these wonderful gifts, and their counselor is also thankful for this generous participation in their lives.
The June, 25 our team consisting from Russian orphans and chaperones went from Moskow to America. We had two groups, one of us arrived to Atlanta, another one to New York.
This program is not only for Russian orphans, also for orphans from Ukraine and Latvia.The June, 25 our team consisting from Russian orphans and chaperones went from Moskow to America. We had two groups, one of us arrived to Atlanta, another one to New York.
This program is not only for Russian orphans, also for orphans from Ukraine and Latvia.
During the program children are living in American families. I was one of chaperones and had lived in American family with two children from Ukraine.
It was the first experience for me, I have never been in the US before this time. I had knew about Hosting program only from stories another people.
Everything was so interesting and amazing!
The life in the US is absolutely different from the life in Russia.
I could see that every child was surrounded with care and attention! During this time we have been in various states and cities. We have seen a huge lake in upstate New Hampshire, were riding on boats, and in a canoe. We have seen the Statue of Liberty and walked around the historic sites of Boston.
We were spending time in the pool, were going to the Atlantic ocean, played bowling and many other games.
But I think the most important thing for a child it is a life in the family, and to see relationships between family members.
It is not easy for a child to live in an Orphanage, difficult to live without the support of close people. It is hard to be alone and fight their way in a life.
The time in America makes children happy, helps to recover from the difficult past and gives a great hope!!!
Last week, Russia celebrated “Unity Day,” which coincided with school vacation week.
the kids chatted with David and looked at the photographs that he had brought from home.“A Holiday During the Holidays!”
