Transitional Homes in Russia
Transitional Homes in Russia |
Did you know?
More than four million orphans and homeless children live in Russia. Officially, there are 700,000 orphans living in 2,000 state-run orphanages. This means that Russia has more orphans today than after World War II! Statistics show that only one out of ten Russian orphans becomes a functional member of society. The others are lost to drugs, crime and suicide. Millions of Russian children are on the run, living on the streets or in underground sewers desperately needing basic food, medicine, clothing and shelter.
In Saint Petersburg and the surrounding area alone, there are 126 state run orphanages. Each of these "children’s homes" house about 100 orphans. These numbers continue to grow as the orphans follow in their parents' steps, not knowing how to care for their children, they place them in the orphanages.
These orphans need to experience a loving family and caring friends and to know that there is hope in a loving God. This is why we have started the Road of Life program. Today there are three family/transitional homes that are open to care for orphans. There are two volunteer counselors placed in each of these homes to help the orphans learn skills such as cooking, cleaning, budgeting, and personal hygiene, as well as providing Bible reading, spending quality time with them and taking them to church. The residents also continue to work on their schooling at the University or Technical Colleges.
The Road of Life program is a two year program, after which it is hoped that each orphan would be able to support him/herself and live by their own means. This year there are 2 Russian couples and one American couple as the counselors in the three homes. One of the American couples that were counselors in 2007 have now started their own Family Homes in St. Petersburg and Chita, Siberia, with the help of their church. There are normally 3 girls or 3 boys in each home.
We have growing relationships with seven state run orphanages. With frequent visits, we are able to get to know the directors, counselors, and especially the orphans. These visits produce bridges to cross social and superstitious gaps and create lasting friendships. These friendships help us to become acquainted with orphans that wish to receive help, hope and the new life that only Jesus can give them.
We are constantly involving kids from the orphanage in our Family Home programs, including orphanage graduates who have not yet chosen to live in a family home. We invite them to special occasions like New Years and Easter, take them to church, go on field trips and fun events together, and have them over for dinner during the week where sometimes our counselors will lead a discussion about an important life skill. Many orphans spend the night at the Family Homes on the weekend. When we have a retreat for the family homes we invite other orphans from outside the Family Home to join us. We share our testimonies with them. It is a really special time of getting to know the orphans on a personal level.
Sasha, a young woman of 27 years, works at Pizza Hut and is a very energetic and happy person. Liza and Nelly, 21 year old twins, have been studying English in the United States for 9 months and are hoping to enter college to become social workers. They have worked in a children’s hospital and gone on a mission trip toTajikistan to work with handicapped children. Ira got married and is about to have a baby boy at the end of May. She is a student of the Teacher's School.
Anya is a student of the Nursing School and works at a cafeteria. She wants to become a missionary doctor. Natasha is going to continue her education this year at the Teachers College. She has a heart that reaches out to many people. Natasha works very hard at whatever she puts her mind to do. Anya and Natasha have sewn beautiful purses and sell them to gain a little more income.
Anya Utusheva has been invited to work at a church day care next year in the United States. Misha, one of the first boy graduates from the Family Home is a student in the Cooking School and has learned sign language to communicate with his friend, Leasha. Leasha is a deaf student in the carpentry school. He has a talent in art and has sold a few of his paintings.
People have said that it is a miracle that all these girls and boys are successfully graduating from high school and going on to college. It really is amazing what the Lord can do.
1) Please pray for this growing ministry:
2) If you would like to volunteer, please contact Marina Topoltseva.
3) If you have any questions or would like to make a donation, contact Greg Sethness (Christ Episcopal Church, San Antonio, Texas) : 1-210-822-4160.
Psalm 68:5-6 A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families…
James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble.
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