Katya is a girl from Minsk Family home whose mother died when she was a teenager.  She is a very helpful girl and likes to serve in the orphanages.  While we were there, we also met a girl named Ksusha.  Katya and Ksusha became friends. Ksusha is 3 years old.

It’s very sad, but her mother is an alcoholic and her father was killed 3 weeks ago.  His name was Tolik and we knew him as he also graduated from the orphanage and we shared with him about God years ago.  He was in his early-twenties.

There is also another child in the shelter, whose parent graduated from the same orphanage.  We continue to see the cycle and the statistics that are given about the orphans do not change; still, many orphanages are being closed, like Slutsk , for example.  It really doesn’t change the situation here.

Please continue to pray and cry out to God for those kids together with us.

~Olga

Related posts:

1. Minsk Family Home — in depth
2. Minsk Family Home
3. New Pictures from the Minsk Family Home

The first of September is the official day of the start of school and each child gets a list of things needed as far as school supplies.  Orphans need them, too.

So we had a privilege to provide for the orphans of Stankovo shelter some  pens, pencils, crayons, note-books, albums, as well as soap, detergent, and socks.

Some orphans also received shoes.

There are 20 children at this place 3-18 years old.

They are the ones taken from the very risky families or after the parents have died or were taken to prison.

They can only stay in the shelter for up to 6 month at the most.

The difference between these orphans and those in a traditional orphanage is that they stay there for years, while the shelter gets new kids every few months.

When they come there they have nothing (no shoes, or clothes, no papers, no opportunities to go to camp), so we help the shelter to meet some of their basic needs as well as make kids life happier.

~Olga

Related posts:

1. Minsk Family Prayer
2. God’s Love in Shelters, Orphanages and Hospitals
3. Belarus Slideshow — Sharing the Birth of Jesus

As summer is coming to an end, we are finishing up with all the ministries at our camps.  We want to share with you about the Vacation Bible School that we did for 40 kids, ages 5 1/2 through 12.  Though it was for the first time in the history of our church, the the challenge was taken.

We want to thank the team from Holden Chapel, MA, who came to show us how to do it.  It was a four day camp from 9 am till 4 pm, where we had not only Bible lessons, sports, crafts, and English lessons; but we also learned several great worship songs in English with the kids.  Besides all that, we also did all the cooking.  The kids really liked VBS, even though the team had to work really hard.

Minsk Family home girls had opportunities to grow spiritually through their service in different camps as well. Masha was counselor for other orphans at a Christian camp, Katya helped by cooking, and Alla was a helper at a camp in Belarus and in Poland.

To finish up with the camps, I can add that two groups of 63 kids each that went to a Christian camp in Latvia had a very blessed time there.

Related posts:

1. Belarus Camp Time
2. Camp Time in Belarus
3. News from Belarus — Summer Camps 2009

Our third child (a baby girl) was born on July, 28th 2010.

She is adorable.

Her name is Erika.

We thank God for her and ask His blessings on her life.

~Olga

Related posts:

1. A Personal Update
2. Blessed in Belarus
3. Life and Service in Belarus

Dear friends,

We are glad to share some personal news as well as camp news with you!

The month of July was very fruitful. We had a team from MA, ran two camps, and our third child (a baby girl) was born on July, 28th. She is adorable. We are still working on the name. We thank God for her and ask His blessings on her life.

Camp for orphans from Sluytsk and foster families. (The story continues below the slide show)

From the very beginning this camp was God’s real miracle. First of all, we got a team of 12 wonderful people from Holden Chapel, MA. The team was led by Pastor Tom. It’s the only team we had in two years. Secondly, as we started looking for camps in the spring, it was not easy to find one that would accept us and the team. But our God is so good that we found a camp on Braslav Lakes. We have never been to that area, so we didn’t really know what to expect. It turned out to be a wonderful place; the lakes were great, but the most important thing was that we had complete freedom to do whatever we wanted and to run our own program. One of our translators, Lena Lisovich, said that have not had such freedom since 2001, when we ran our very first camp.

And thirdly, the group of teenagers was also a great blessing. From the very beginning we were planning to have orphans from Sluytsk. But at the end of May it became obvious that the orphanage would be closed, but no one knew when and until very last week we didn’t know if Sluytsk orphans are allowed to go. In the end, everything worked out very well.

The camp was for 7 days and we had 30 teenagers. The program was prepared by the team from MA and it was great. The team was very well prepared and organized. We learned a lot from them. The teenagers were divided into 4 groups. Every day was full of many events: soccer stations, craft time, small group Bible studies, big group activities, swimming time, etc.

The whole program was based on the message of Salvation. The key verse was Romans 10:9 and everyone learned it. It was really great to see older boys participate in all the activities. At the end everyone was given an opportunity to accept Christ as their personal Savior. It was precious to see those who made the commitment.

As the camp came to an end there were many tears, but everyone knew that it was a great time blessed by God and no one will be the same after it.

Related posts:

1. Belarus Camp Time
2. News from Belarus — Summer Camps 2009
3. Life and Service in Belarus

Dear friends,

We are glad that we are in the summer season now.  It’s a great time to reach out kids through camps.

Here is the update about the camp Zhemchuzhinka (“pearl”):

The camp started on the 28th of May and was over on the 14th of June. There were 180 children at camp, who came from all over Belarus. The camp had a very good Christian program. Every day there were Bible classes and every Sunday it was a church service where children also participate.

The food at camp was also really good. Children had 5 meals a day. During the camp the children also had good medical care. The campers got their teeth filled in and also they had an ultrasound of their thyroids, which is very important for Belarusians because of Chernobyl radiation.

In the beginning of July all the children of the camp were taken to an indoor water park. They had a blast there! Most of them have never been to a water park, so they really enjoyed it. Also the children had an opportunity to go to an amusement park where they went on merry-go-rounds. That was a good time for them.

During the camp the children earned special camp money and at the end. There was a fair for them were they purchased a lot of gifts and useful things for themselves. At the end of the camp there was a good-bye party for the kids and a big camp fire.

All the kids were really blessed to spend 18 days in a Christian atmosphere and to learn about God and how to pray. It will be an unforgettable experience, especially for orphans.

We also wanted to introduce to you a few kids, who were there with us so you can pray for them:

“The Nukhtikovs”

Two weeks before the camp started three sisters were brought to Stankovo orphanage: Christina 13 years old, Dasha 10 years old , Nastya 7 years old.

Prior to that time, they spent 6 months in a shelter near Minsk, where one of SOR volunteers worked as a counselor; as soon as their parents lost their rights, the girls were brought to Stankovo orphanage.

When we asked them what they liked the most, they answered all the games and Bible classes.

“Mozyr girls”

Another three girls, who came to camp from a town Mozyr were: Yana,13 years old, Yuliya and Nastya 14 years old.  These girls stayed with host families in USA in the summer time on a recuperation program several times.

Since the program has been shut down , they were given an opportunity to go to camp instead. In the beginning they did not like the camp because it had a Christian program.  By the end they were changed and did not want to go home.  They spent a wonderful time there and made many new friends with other children.

Please continue to pray for all the kids who came to camp Zhemchuzhinka, so God will continue to work in their hearts. Also, please be praying for us as we are now in the middle of VBS for 40 kids ages 5-12. A team from Holden Chapel, MA, is here to minister to the kids. You will hear about it in our next newsletter.

Blessings…In Christ,

Olga

Related posts:

1. Camp Time in Belarus
2. More Camp News
3. Life and Service in Belarus

There are 180 children at camp. We have brought 40 kids: 20 of them are from Stankovo orphanage (7 girls and 13 boys) and 20 are from Mozyr area that remains polluted by Chernobyl (8 girls and 12 boys).

Days at camp are full of different events. Every morning the children get up at 8 and then they do morning exercises. After that they get ready, clean their rooms and go to breakfast.

When breakfast is finished the children go to Bible class (there are 3 classes for different ages 7-9, 10-12, 13 and up).

When Bible class is finished it is time for a big game, in which the whole camp takes part.

Then it is lunch and after lunch it is quiet time when children stay in their rooms and read or take a nap.

Following nap time is snack and then it is movie time or time to play different sports, such as volleyball, golf, running, rope-jumping, etc.

Next, it is dinner and group time; afterward it is ’second dinner’ time.

At the end of the day it is a meeting for the whole camp, where the director tells the results of the day and wishes everyone good night.

The children all sing together a good night song and go to their rooms.  Then they get ready for bed, read Bible, talk and pray together. And then they all go to sleep.

That is how we spend each day at camp. The children learn more about God and Bible and also they get to have a good time.

Related posts:

1. Belarus Camp Time
2. More Camp News
3. Life and Service in Belarus

Here are a few words about our wonderful Minsk Family Home.

We would like to thank you for your prayers and financial support as our Minsk Family Home continues to develop and grow.

We have five girls there now. As this school year coming to the end, we would like to share about progress that happened during the first 9 months of the Minsk Family Home existence:

Cooking — The girls know better how to cook and they can cook wonderful meals by themselves. Their favorite meal is lasagna.

Dealing with paper work — The girls are able to take care of the bills, prepare necessary papers, and fill in job applications.

Spiritual growth — Every week the girls attend church, home group and other church’s events.

Conferences — This month I participated in a 4 day conference and training, that was dedicated to Christian camps. I learnt a lot about sporting events at camps, attended camp coordinator seminars, Bible lessons for teenagers as well as crafts at camp.

It was a very profitable time not only in learning new things for camps, that is very actual for us this summer as we are preparing for our own camps, but also a great opportunity to meet new people. About 70 people participated.

The girls attended one day women conference (see the picture at the top) and learnt a lot about how God sees women and what is their role in church and family.

Cultural events — The girls attend movies and theater. This week we all went to the opera Nebuchadnezzar

Also the girls read different literature.

Retreat — This month we go on a special retreat to Poland. The retreat will take place in a nice city of Krakow and also the girls will be able to visit Auschwitz (camp for war victims in World War 2)

Studies — The school year is almost finished. The girls did their best at school. Soon they they will have exams.

Two girls Tanya and Alona will be applying to colleges this summer, so please pray for them to be accepted and also for the other girls’ exams that they take in June.

Blessings to you all,

In Christ, Alesya Kuleshova

Here are more pictures from Alesya –

Related posts:

1. Belarus — Families, Cooking and Conferences
2. Minsk Family Home — in depth
3. Minsk Family Home

We greet you in the name of Jesus from the Belorussian land.  Here is the update from our ministry.  And there is a slide show with many more pictures at the end of this report.

Orphanages

We are very busy with the preparation for camps. This summer we will have two camps, one for Stankovo kids at the end of May—beginning of June and the other one is in July– for Slytsk kids.

You can see pictures of Stankovo kids, who will go to camp with us. Only 4 girls, and the rest is boys. It’s a Christian camp for 18 days.

Meanwhile we continue to do our regular programs such as crafts (He holds the whole world in His hand, was the last one.)

Some kids didn’t know who is He, so we explained and finished with the song in Russian that He holds everybody (we called every child by name) in His hands. It was great.

We also did a seminar for teenagers at Stankovo. The topic was “How do I spend my life? What is important for me in life?” We had some teenagers, who are believers participate as well and at the end, they shared their testimonies over the tea with cookies.

Slytsk orphanage is in the last few months of its existence as the government has decided to use the building for something else and the kids will be spread all over the place. It’s very sad for everyone, but we do hope that our camp that will take place in July will be a blessing. The camp will be on the lake and will go for 7 days and we’ll have a team from Massachusetts.

Sponsorship program

We continue our sponsorship program to help poor, needy children and families to get basic needs met. Right now we are working on getting about 5 kids from our program to go to a Christian camp in Latvia, together with other kids from all over Belarus. It’s a third camp we are involved in this summer.

Raisa, 65 year-old grandmother who takes care of Vlad, 14 years old, (at left, with Steve Singley from the USA) whose parents are alive; the father is an alcoholic and was in prison for many years, and the mother has another family and another child, so she doesn’t care for Vlad anymore.

The family is in great need of what to eat daily and how to have their needs met, but with God’s help and with the help of a sponsor, they are able to go on.

Another family is Lilya, a single mom, with two boys: Lesha (Alex) and Vlad. The need is there and we have been helping them to get food, as well as go through difficult health issues for the boys. Also with our own efforts (just the girls) we made complete repairs of her flat, and you can see the results in the pictures as well.

It took us about three week of every day work there at the flat, but we wanted to encourage her as well, as she is single, we showed her that it’s still possible to go on, even after her husband left her and the kids, with no support.

Minsk Family Home

Our service continues. There are 5 girls: Masha, Alona, Katya, Alla and Tanya, as well as our counselor Alesya.

Three girls have started to attend a bible school at church.

We are planning a retreat for them at the end of May. Two girls will be applying to colleges this summer. Besides, they are very active in the orphanage ministry.

Personal news

Our family is doing well and we are going to have an addition to our family, a baby girl, at the end of July. Please pray for us.

Prayer needs

• Camps for Stankovo kids, Slytsk kids and two groups for a camp in Latvia. Pray for God’s protection, health, for His glory and changes in kids. Also for all the finances to come in and for God’s anointing on the counselors and volunteers.
• In May there will be graduation parties, that we’ll take part in. Pray for all the kids, who leave, especially for Slytsk since they do not know where and when they are going to be moved and for finances for us to do something special for those graduation children.
• For MFH and the retreat, for the girls to be accepted to colleges.
• For health and provision, God;s wisdom and strength for the Goncharenko’s family.

Thank you very much and all the blessings of Heavens and Earth be upon you,

In Christ, Olga and the team.

[[Show as slideshow]]

Related posts:

1. God’s Love in Shelters, Orphanages and Hospitals
2. And Chocolate Potatoes for Dessert
3. Belarus — Families, Cooking and Conferences

Dear Friends,

Greetings in the name of Jesus! He is risen! May He be glorified in our hearts and deeds.

Here is an update from a country of Belarus.

The MINSK FAMILY HOME is doing great. Five girls and Alesya, the counselor are really enjoying the atmosphere at the home as well as ministering to the other orphans.

In March we celebrated birthdays of two precious girls Masha and Alona (19 years old now) as well as the 8th of March, women’s day. Three celebrations in one. We made it special for them and had a day out: first the indoor swimming pool with a slide, then a lunch in a Belorussian buffet-cafe, where each MFH girl was able to choose what she liked.

For Easter week-end, the girls have invited their friend Zina from Slytsk orphanage. She is in her last year, so it was great for her to see MFH as well make Easter bread, paint eggs and come to Church for a special Easter service.

SLYTSK ORPHANAGE. Cooking classes have become a tradition there.

But it’s so special to have our family home girls go there to do a cooking class.

Four girls were teaching eight kids how to make macaroni dinner and “chocolate potatoes” for dessert.

It’s always so very special for orphans to cook and to sit down at the table as a family does.

The boys are enjoying cooking as much as the girls do. And our Minsk Family home girls have learnt a lot by now, so they are not afraid even to do classes. (we still supervise them a bit on that).

Spring break was also the time we took Slytsk orphans on a day tour to MIR and Nesvizh, two places telling a lot about the history of Belarus.

They loved it and we enjoyed them having a special day during their break. Alona from MFH and Alesya have joined in the group for the day.

STANKOVO. In March we had a fair at the shelter in Stankovo.

Again we do it to encourage the kids to do well at school and at the shelter, to be obedient and to get something nice for them, such as toy, or a chocolate bar.

We love it to see little ones with their coupons, trying to make a choice.

They are all so happy, no matter what they get.

ESTONIA AND RUSSIA. At the end of March we also were able to go to a retreat of SII. All our three workers, myself, Alesya (our family home counselor) and Masha (our accountant) were able to get away for a week and meet other workers of SII. It was a time of rest, prayer and fellowship. We enjoyed it.

SUMMER. We are now into our summer preparation and we ask for your prayers and support for our summer programs, such as camps for orphans and sending kids to Latvia.

If you are moved to pray and donate, may God bless you. It’s a great time to change lives of kids.

1. We are looking for a donation to purchase chickens this spring. One chicken is about $3. We would like to get a least 100 chickens for foster families with orphans.

2. Stankovo orphanage is making a  kitchen for kids, so that they can cook. So far three out of 5 groups have their own kitchen. Two more are needed. We are looking for a possibility of getting them kitchen cabinets or a refrigerator or some pans, pots, dishes,etc.

That’s all for now. God bless you,

Thank you for all your prayers, your friendship and support.

In Christ, Olga

Related posts:

1. News from Spring of Revival
2. Cooking, Museums and Cows
3. Life and Service in Belarus