Mission to Russia 2005

We have been waiting for God to show us our mission for the June 2005 trip.  We believe He showed us today! 

With God's help, we have provided a healthy, safe environment for our Barskoe Gorodische kids until they reach the age of 16.  At 16, they are ushered into the world as prepared as an orphaned sixteen year old can be.  The staff works hard to find technical schools for them to attend.  But, some of the kids have a greater potential than tech school.  They desire to attend college.

Our dream has been to provide a Treasures' Home for these kids, where we could find house parents to care for them. They would have a home setting and a church family.  We have found generous sponsors with the same vision and have been willing to sponsor orphans.  It just has not worked out.  When a dream does not happen, we stop and wait.

We have partnered with a church in Vladimir to care for three street kids.  The oldest girl left the home for places unknown, but the two boys are thriving.  They are smart kids and are doing well in school.  The house mom is a precious young woman who has put her life on hold to care for these boys. 

Zhanna "graduated" from BG this year, and her brother, Andre, has one more year of school.  He is living in the school dorm.  A couple, who joined us on our 2002 Dental Team, fell in love with these two kids.  They have taken care of their needs for the past three years.  By providing birthday and Christmas gifts, trips into town to visit with Vitaly and his family, meals, and school needs, the couple has shown them what family can mean. 

Zhanna and Andre are very devoted to each other and their little brother, Roma, who lives with their mother.  When Zhanna and Andre were given the opportunity to come to America, they declined, as they refused to abandon their little brother. 

It is common in a Russian divorce for both parents to abandon the children. Each go off to start new lives and make new families. 

Last year, their father died and left them an apartment.  Today, we received photos of the apartment.  It was so disturbing, we knew we had to do something to help Zhanna and Andre.  They have heat, but no beds or any furnishing.  They have no bathroom, only access to a filthy outhouse.  They must visit their aunt to shower and it is unclear for far she lives from their apartment.

We can't change the whole world, but we can change theirs...