Summer in Russia:
After all the school exams are done, children with families leave the city for camps, travel with parents to the sea, and visit grandmas in the country away from the smoke polluted air of the big city. They have other friends to play with during the summer and different surroundings. That is how life goes for most Russian families. But it is different for the children we support. There are no doting grandparents or family trips. They are orphans. The state allows them to attend one camp during the summer months. A maximum of 21 days away from the orphanage or internat where they live and spend the entire year. The rest of the summer months are spent hanging out on the streets or doing nothing all day long.
That is where you come in.
Your funds are helping to purchase outdoor play equipment and toys for the activity rooms. With your help you are sending children from Jukki orphanage and the Family Center to the Western Ukraine (Uzhgorod) to a Christian Summer Camp. Your help supported children from Luga to go to St. Petersburg and see a movie and have Mc Donald's. Financial support has helped move two young mothers and their children into a summer home in Bolshevo where they will have a change of scenery and be taught how to take care of their new little ones. There will be a mother's camp in Bolshevo in July and lots of other activities are planned for the children of the orphanages as well as the Family Center. Pictures to come!
Please keep these orphans in your thoughts and prayers as you travel and spend time with your loved ones. Continue to support Big Family in their efforts to touch the lives of these kids and help them to have a memorable summer.
For more information on how you can get involved visit www.BigFamilyMinistry.Org.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
A new family!
Big Family/Grace CenterOlesya ( on the left) stopped being an orphan and was officially taken by foster mom Tina Pavlova (middle). Olesya now has a sister Nastya (right).
Olesya came to the the Family Center for a year because her mother could not take care of her. She lived at the orphanage hoping that her mother would get better and take her home. After a year it was clear that her mother could not stop drinking and Olesya's status officially became "orphan". She was unhappy, closed, and stopped smiling. She wanted to live at the Family Center, but since she was less than 18 and a ward of the state, she had to live in the state facilities. Olesya visited the FC regularly and participated in the activities, but it was only part time. Only a full time life there and a family would make her happy. Tina Pavlova decided to take Olesya into her home as a foster child. Now she feels at home in the center, attends a new school (private school that allowed her to attend for free!) and she smiles often!
Here she is with her new sister Nastya. Happy!
For more information visit www.BigFamilyMinistry.Org.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
McDonald's and a Movie
Earlier this Spring (2011) Big Family and Help for Children were able to bring a group of orphans and students from Luga and the Grace Center to St. Petersburg for a Disney movie and lunch at McDonald's. The bus company donated their services, and the movie theatre allowed the kids to enter for free! For some, this was their first time ever eating Mc Donald's or watching a movie. The kids were also taken to a church and were blessed. What an exciting day.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Christian folk drama group a big hit!
Children at Jukki Orphanage and Luga Orphanage were recently visited by a Christian folk group, arranged through our partner, Help for Children. The children had the opportunity to participate in the folk drama. The children thoroughly enjoyed the drama and being a part of the program. Thank you to our sponsors who make this kind of event possible!
Learn more about how you can help bring Light and Love to Russian orphans, click here.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
New Washing-machine for Luga!
Supporters provided Luga with a much needed washing machine, hair dryers, and irons.
Light and Love at the Supermarket
Big Family Mission helps the ministry of Grace Center through Help for
Children in St. Petersburg, which is led by Natasha Kirillov. Here’s is
Natasha’s account of the life story of Sonya Kasterina.
“Sonya has a walking disability, cerebral palsy. After her mother started
drinking hard, Sonya was sent to the orphanage Grace. She lived there for
a year. Then the orphanage was closed, and Sonya came back to her
mother. When she heard that we have Grace Family Center, Sonya asked
us to put her into the program. We regularly invite Sonya to the center,
where she has opportunity to attend the church services and fellowship with
the children of her age. She says this is the only good thing of her life.
She knows that there are people who care and accept her as she is. Sonya
is a good Christian: she prays hard and she was specially blessed this
Easter. When supporters from Finland came to visit other children in our
ministry, Sonya had 5 visitors who came to Russia with the only goal: to
see her, say hello, say that they remember about the girl! When we told
Sonya that they are coming, she didn't sleep 3 nights, so excited she was!
When Sonya comes to the Center we always talk to her to find out what
she needs the most, to be able to help her better. Last year she has spent
one month during the summer at Bolshevo (summer camp). We are
going to invite her to one of our camps this coming summer as well.
Recently when we were discussing what to buy for the Easter
celebration, it appeared that Sonya HAS NEVER BEEN AT THE
SUPERMARKET IN HER LIFE. The only store she has been to was when
she was 5 or 6 years old. Her mother has never been interested to take
Sonya from the house, and Sonya can't walk without support of a person.
She has always been thinking that people are ashamed of her being
disabled. When we found that out, we drove her to the nearest supermarket
right away! Sonya was amazed!
She was so excited that she spoke in a very loud voice near everything
she would see. The store was like a museum for her, and even milk and
bread was like an exhibit! "Oh, look how big is the store! I would never
think that food and clothes can be sold in one supermarket! Is it true that I
can touch everything! Wow, look at the line that can move when you put
products on it (she was saying that standing in front of the cash-register)! I
have heard about it, but saw it only by TV!"
We made Sonya's day and she was absolutely happy!
And how many of us think that the life is boring and brings no joy? Now
think about Sonya, and compare how many opportunities do you have! It is
amazing how little so many people in need require to make them happy, but
even this little support is absolutely impossible without our participation.
Sonya's life is not easy: her mother is drinking again. But she prays to
God so that He will bring her mother to the church and change her! Will you
help Sonya by praying with her?
Thank you for supporting our work here! It all is impossible without you!”
Sonya experienced the joys of shopping in a supermarket for the first
time in her life. And, of course, one of those joys is trying on the crazy hats!
Thanks to all of our Big Family Mission partners!
Children in St. Petersburg, which is led by Natasha Kirillov. Here’s is
Natasha’s account of the life story of Sonya Kasterina.
“Sonya has a walking disability, cerebral palsy. After her mother started
drinking hard, Sonya was sent to the orphanage Grace. She lived there for
a year. Then the orphanage was closed, and Sonya came back to her
mother. When she heard that we have Grace Family Center, Sonya asked
us to put her into the program. We regularly invite Sonya to the center,
where she has opportunity to attend the church services and fellowship with
the children of her age. She says this is the only good thing of her life.
She knows that there are people who care and accept her as she is. Sonya
is a good Christian: she prays hard and she was specially blessed this
Easter. When supporters from Finland came to visit other children in our
ministry, Sonya had 5 visitors who came to Russia with the only goal: to
see her, say hello, say that they remember about the girl! When we told
Sonya that they are coming, she didn't sleep 3 nights, so excited she was!
When Sonya comes to the Center we always talk to her to find out what
she needs the most, to be able to help her better. Last year she has spent
one month during the summer at Bolshevo (summer camp). We are
going to invite her to one of our camps this coming summer as well.
Recently when we were discussing what to buy for the Easter
celebration, it appeared that Sonya HAS NEVER BEEN AT THE
SUPERMARKET IN HER LIFE. The only store she has been to was when
she was 5 or 6 years old. Her mother has never been interested to take
Sonya from the house, and Sonya can't walk without support of a person.
She has always been thinking that people are ashamed of her being
disabled. When we found that out, we drove her to the nearest supermarket
right away! Sonya was amazed!
She was so excited that she spoke in a very loud voice near everything
she would see. The store was like a museum for her, and even milk and
bread was like an exhibit! "Oh, look how big is the store! I would never
think that food and clothes can be sold in one supermarket! Is it true that I
can touch everything! Wow, look at the line that can move when you put
products on it (she was saying that standing in front of the cash-register)! I
have heard about it, but saw it only by TV!"
We made Sonya's day and she was absolutely happy!
And how many of us think that the life is boring and brings no joy? Now
think about Sonya, and compare how many opportunities do you have! It is
amazing how little so many people in need require to make them happy, but
even this little support is absolutely impossible without our participation.
Sonya's life is not easy: her mother is drinking again. But she prays to
God so that He will bring her mother to the church and change her! Will you
help Sonya by praying with her?
Thank you for supporting our work here! It all is impossible without you!”
Sonya experienced the joys of shopping in a supermarket for the first
time in her life. And, of course, one of those joys is trying on the crazy hats!
Thanks to all of our Big Family Mission partners!
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