Vlad is 10 years old. His older sister and brother were taken to a family living in the Murmansk region, which is very far away from Vlad. That family didn’t want to take Vlad, and I don’t know why. Vlad then developed a complex: he began to fall into hysterics and say that nobody wanted him and that nobody loved him.

The director of studies shared her concerns with me. And I suggested to her that I would take Vlad to my house on weekends. I started taking Vlad to my family on weekends, and Bogdan became friends with him. We started praying together before going to bed and before eating. Vlad and Bogdan started going to Sunday school at our church together, going shopping, and buying him food and toys.

Vlad “came alive” and there was a twinkle in his eye. Even though we warned him in the principal’s office that I would only take him to visit me on weekends, he started calling me “mom.” Every weekend, he says the word “mom” so many times, as if he wants to make up for all his lost time, “mom, mom, mom!” He tries to include that word in every sentence.

Every time I come to pick up Vlad, thereare 12 other children looking at me with a questioning look that says, “What about me?” God, if only I could, I would take them all to my place….”

Luda Yatsko

Orphans Reborn Ministry coordinator 

Ivanovo, Russia