Orphan: What does that word mean to you?

There's a book entitled "Orphanology" by Tony Merida and Rick Morton. I highly recommend it to anyone serious about obeying the Lord's commandment of helping the widow and orphan.

When most people hear the word orphan they think either:
a. The world is full of orphans but it is not my problem.
b. The only way to help an orphan is to adopt him/her.

But neither one of these thoughts are true.

Did you know that there are 750,000 Russian children living in institutions, and only 17% of them are actual legal orphans (where both parents are deceased). Most are social orphans for various reasons such as economic hardships, health related hardships, both parents being incarcerated, and the list goes on and on. For these kids, they hope to one day be reunited with their families, and that is the goal. Unfortunately, all too often, these goals are never reached. Many children are simply abandoned and left to age in the orphanage until they graduate around the age of 16 or 17.

The future for these institutionalized orphans is particularly bleak. They are vulnerable children released into the world to live independently when all they know is how to accept what has been handed to them. In the orphanage they had little experience with the outside world. Many spent their short lives segregated from society. They were confined to the institution for sleeping, eating, schooling, playing, and rarely had visitors. Now, on the outside, there is little opportunity for emotional support, further education, or employment. These kids are lost. They lack the life skills and support necessary for survival. Many turn to crime or prostitution to survive. Statistics show that 10% of graduated orphans will commit suicide before they reach their 18th birthday.

So, no, adoption is not the only way to help orphans. it is a wonderful way to help, but not the only way.

That is where Friends of Children comes in. Friends of Children and their workers visit orphanages monthly. They build loving friendships and offer a glimpse of hope to these kids. They take the children out into society on field trips and try to better prepare the children for the "outside" world. Best of all, they offer Christ's love to them.

Friends of children also runs the Grace Center which helps graduated orphans transition to mainstream society and provides some of their housing needs, financial needs, and material needs. They do what they can with what little they have. And when I say with what little they have, I mean very little. There are so many young people homeless, hurting, feeling hopeless, and lost. The need is great and the workers are few.

Are you ready to obey the Lord's command to help the widow and orphans? Are you willing but don't know how to start or get involved? Are you feeling the Lord's call on your heart to help, but adoption is not what he is calling you to do right now? Or ever? Then the answer is to see where the Lord is already working and to join in. Simple. As the Nike slogan says... "just do it." If you would like to join Natasha in her efforts to serve the orphans of Russia please contact Ken Dockery with Big Family Ministry and let him know you want to support Friends of Children. The harvest is great and the workers are few. Won't you come work with us? www.bigfamilyministry.org

If you are already a partner with Big Family let me say Thank you. You are making a difference!

Brightening up the summer for Russian orphans

Bolshevo home

The joy of picking berries and eating them!

What does one expect to see on an Ostrich farm?

Luga children at farm

Natasha comments:  Why did I bring a knife instead of a fork?

It's time to cook!

Summer is often a difficult time for a Russian orphans.  Most, but not all orphans, have the opportunity to go to a government-run camp for up to three weeks.  Unfortunately, many of these camps are not well-run and supervision is minimal, so the camp becomes an opportunity for the children to “run wild” and experience drugs, alcohol, and… the list goes on.

Natasha Kirillov recently sent us a wonderful report on how the lives of children in their Mother’s Project are being impacted and changed by the spending their summer at the village house in Bolshevo.  The Mother’s Pproject helps young (usually single) mother’s keep their children and prevent them from becoming orphans.  Natasha also sent us photos and a brief report on how the orphans at Luga were treated to a picnic.  For children who must sit around their orphanage all summer long, the picnic was a heavenly experience.

Natasha reports: “Bolshevo was a wonderful opportunity for the children we help support.  Children stayed under our supervision, in fresh air, participated in all activities of the family life in the village:  cooking, cleaning, working in the garden and ending up with playing and swimming. We see that children change while they live in Bolshevo.  They eat good healthy food, learn to behave, to take care of smaller ones.  Many of the children lack those things at their homes, when they see their mother only early in the morning and in the evenings. Christian fellowship, church, prayers…all that brings good seeds that will grow into healthy life in their future. Children and mothers stayed together with the Grace Center children.  If you would have visited them you would feel the atmosphere of a real God's family!”

Enjoy the additional photos of children at Bolshevo and Luga.

If you are not already involved with our mission to Russian orphans, we invite you to join.  Click here to learn how you can partner to help Russian orphans.

Ostriches and a lake

The children of the orphanage/internat of Luga had a wonderful time this past July when Natasha visited them. They were able to leave the orphanage for five hours. Can you imagine not leaving your house which is also your school but once in an entire month? No trips to the grocery store, no little errands to run, no where to go to be alone for a little while, no change of scenery. Well, that's how it is for the children of Luga. That's what makes Natasha's ministry Friends of Children so special. She was able to take them out to an ostrich farm. Then they went to a lake for a hot dog lunch and a swim! Exciting stuff for these kids. Fun times! But then reality all too quickly the day is gone and the kids have to head back to the orphanage/school. Here's a description in Natasha's own words.

"We visited Ostrich Farm where they saw different birds and domestic animals, had a chance to shoot at a target which was alot of fun. After that we went to the lake and had picnic, swam and played games. The only sad thing was that time went very fast and when the bus came pick up children we all thought that next time we should bring them out for longer period of time ( this trip was 5 hours, but this wasn't enough!).

When it was time to say good buy, they hugged us and felt really sorry that such day is finished. They say that it's so boring for them to stay all the time in internat and thanked us a lot for not forgetting them.

When they went to the bus, it was hard to say good-buy and we went to the bus with them. I told them about you, that you think about them, remember and send money to support such events. They all kept silent and listened attentively. One little boy said "Send my hello to Jodi!", others started to say "Say our thanks to this wonderful lady", the adults said that they appreciate what you do for those children whom you have never met! I felt that knowing that their life attracts people from far parts of the world is very surprising for the children and touches them seriously."

One part of this quote really speaks to my heart. It is when the kids told Natasha thanks a lot for not forgetting them. These kids feel forgotten, like no ones knows them or cares. Like no one loves them.

Doesn't that break your heart? It should. Rembember, these kids do not have loving parents to give them hugs and encourage them. No one to tuck them in at night and pray with them. Natasha is the only Jesus that these kids might ever see. Please consider helping Natasha in her ministry Friends of Children. Your help will enable her to take the children of Luga out on more day trips, send them to summer christian camps, provide them with clothing, games, school supplies, and fresh fruit (a luxury). Or what about just writing these kids.. you can mail them letters so they know that someone really does care about them, loves them, and prays for them.

With some organizations you send money and you never really know if your child is receiving the funds. I can tell you from first hand experience that the support I give goes directly to these kids. I have seen God take the funds I send and turn them into special memories for these children as well as provide hands on items that the kids needed.

If you would like to become more involved in touching kids lives, and see monthly exactly how your donations are changing lives, e-mail Ken Dockery with Big Family Ministry at info@bigfamilyministry.org or check out the website http://www.bigfamilyministry.org/ and sign up to be a "Family Friend".