More photos from summer church camp near Gatchina, Russia

Here's a link to more photos taken by the Russian church who sponsored the summer church camp for orphans and children at risk:  www.BigFamilyMinistry.org/RussianOrphanNews/SummerChurchCamp2012.pdf .

Serving and helping Russian orphans and children at risk will change their lives forever!

    Five teenagers from a Russian church in America and 20 Russian orphans and children at risk:  two weeks together in a summer church camp near St. Petersburg, Russia, have changed their lives forever!

     The five teenagers accompanied Nadya Morozova  (coordinator of  a “Big Family” ministry among Russian churches in America) to serve in the “Hope, Faith, Love” church camp, sponsored by the New Generation Church near Gatchina, Russia.

     Nadya and the teens were recently welcomed back by the Next Generation Church in Massachusetts, and they shared about their mission to spread the Light and Love of Jesus among Russian orphans. 

     Read the full report in our recent newsletter.

     The newsletter is also available in the Russian language:  click here for Russian newsletter.

Bolshevo camp near St. Petersburg, Russia: big blessing for orphans, Grace Center families and children

    Through the ministry of Help for Children and the Grace Center, mothers, children, and orphan graduates have a wonderful opportunity to experience nature and learn new skills at the Bolshevo summer camp, located about 40 miles from St. Petersburg.

    Big Family Mission partners with Help for Chidlren and the Grace Center in its programs for single moms and children at risk.

     You can read more about camp Bolshevo, including a complete report from Natasha Kirillov of Help for Children in our August newsletter.  Click here to read more. 

    If you prefer to read the Russian version of the newsletter, click here.

 

 

 

Final bell and graduation for Russian orphans

When orphans graduate, most have had little opportunity to learn how to do simple things like shopping for their own clothing.  Our partner ministry, Help for Children, took these three young ladies shopping for a dress and shoes.  The girls are graduating, but Vanya (from Ukki) got to go along on the shopping spree simply because he had no shoes for the summer.  The happy shoppers asked that Natasha send their photo to sponsors and say a big thank you!  Thank you, Big Family partners!
For more information on orphanage visits, and the plight of orphan graduates, read Big Family Mission June newsletter.  Or, read the newsletter in Russian language.

No fun in February

Natasha and Lena were not able to visit the Luga orphanage in February due to a measles outbreak. They were not allowed to leave the city (St. Petersburg) nor were the children allowed to enter into it.

They hope to visit the kids either this week or next. They plan on bringing them into St. Petersburg for a day of fun.

Please pray for the kids who do not get to leave the orphanage/Internat (school). Some get to go home on weekends to their families since it is also a school. But for the true orphans and social orphans, they live there, go to school there, and play there. There are very few opportunities to get away. Pray that the event scheduled in March goes as planned. The kids love it and it gives Natasha and Lena a chance to share the love of Jesus. Something they cannot do within the walls of the government run orphanage.

Continue to pray for a Christian director for Luga. They have been without a director for almost a year. Without a director, the kids will not be able to participate in summer activities such as going away to a christian summer camp. Many from other orphanages were able to do so last year. I would hate for the kids of Luga to be trapped at the orphanage for another long summer.

Lift their needs up to God. He knows them and has a plan. YOU are a part of that plan. The kids need your love, support, and prayers.
Pray for the kids' physical, social, and spiritual needs. That they would not feel unloved or unimportant. That Lena and Natasha can continue to tell them about God and how they are his special children. Don't all children need to hear that?

Please do not forget these kids. They need you to remember them, pray for them, and help provide for their physical needs. Your sponsorship helps in this area. It shows them someone cares.

If you would like to sponsor a child or sponsor an orphanage go to www.BigFamilyMinistry.org.

January activities for Luga

January activities for Luga:

In January, the children of Luga went to the Science Museum in St. Petersburg. It was quite an adventure. While there, the children learned how thunder is made. They learned about shadows and were able to manipulate their shadows. They played in soap bubbles big enough to fit a person inside! They also leaned how electricity is transferred, found their way through a maze of mirrors and other fun things. Needless to say, the children did not want to leave.

Thank you again for your support. Without you, these events of learning, and wonder would not be taking place.

Visit a Russian orphanage with our team in Russia

   What is it really like when a church team visits children in an orphanage that is under the jurisdiction of the Russian government?  In our monthly news update, you will go with our team, hear what the children have to say, and experience joy and heartaches.  Also in this month's news, some updates on Christmas programs and celebrations in orphanages.
Read the newsletter in English:  http://bigfamilyministry.org/RussianOrphanNews/bigfamilynewsjan2012.pdf  .

For newsletter in Russian: For monthly newsletter in Russian, please click here:  Чтобы прочитать новости на русском языке, пожалуйста, щелкните здесь .  http://bigfamilyministry.org/RussianOrphanNews/bigfamilynewsjan2012Russian.pdf  .

Thanks to all of our Big Family Mission partners!  Without your prayers, encouragement, and financial support, our ministry to Russian and Eastern European orphans would not be able to continue.  We are thankful to God and all of our partners that we can continue to be family for God's very special children in Russian orphanages!

If you are not already a partner... please consider joining with us in 2012.  You can help "adopt an orphanage" with a donation of as little as $5 per month.  Read more about "adopting an orphanage" here:  http://www.bigfamilyministry.org/sponsor_russian_orphanage.html  .

Have you found us on Facebook?  If not, we invite you to "like" us on Facebook and become a fan:  www.facebook.com/BigFamilyMission .

Have a blessed day!


Ken and Dianne Dockery

Sveta, volunteer from Kommunar Church, with girls at orphanage

BIG FAMILY MISSION

What do you say in Russia when you get your photo taken?

   Today, we share on Big Family Mission's Facebook page a video from one of our early visits to the Luga orphanage.
   If you haven't joined us on Facebook, you can find us here:  Big Family Mission on Facebook.
   This video was taken on our very first visit to Luga, when the director (Sergei) and his assistant lined some of the children up to have their photo taken.  Sergei is no longer the director at Luga... left last year to take another job.  The last time we checked, Luga is still looking for its new director.  Please pray that the new director will be open to our visits there.
   This is a very brief video.  Hope you enjoy it!
    In case you are not on Facebook, you can find the video on our website here:
                                              "Say Cheeeeese!"

Reunited!

I have great news regarding Lisa Kanova.

I've mentioned her previously on this blog. She has been sponsored and has been living at the Grace Center in St. Petersburg with her daughter, but she recently won custody of her first child Roma! He is now 4. No longer will he be in the orphanage, but in the loving arms of his mother.

Thanks to your generous donations and sponsorship of Lisa, she and her children have finally been reunited. You have helped to provide a safe place to live, food to eat, furniture for the kids, clothes, and access to medicine.

Lisa sends her thanks to each of you who participated in that process of helping her win her child back from the state.

Rejoice with us as a family has been reunited. I cannot express it better than Natasha did when she said:

"look how big is the difference that your support makes! What can be better for an orphan to be taken home by his loving mother? What can be more rewarding for all of us then to see the broken family restored? !Indeed, orphans do not need to have wings, they need a person who will help them not to fall down! And you became such person for Lisa and her two kids! We ask you to pray for Lisa's life and continue the support of her family. She will have to overcome many difficulties now on her way of becoming a good mother. Please continue to pray that she will become a christian, she is still on the way. And we believe in a valuable life for Lisa and her children! Because with God all is possible!"

You said it Natasha!

Learn how you can partner with Natasha and Help for Children and Grace Center.