I Don’t Recognize My Grandson
Many orphan children feel abandoned and unwanted. Especially when their parents are still alive but have decided to give up their rights to their children or selfishly live for themselves. This leaves a child with a lack of understanding, and a burden that weighs heavy on their hearts. When their hearts are weighed down, loneliness and depression can easily set in. It can even lead to a state of despair.
However, as we read in this story, that state of despair can be replaced with the love of our Heavenly Father. Sasha was introduced to people from an SGA supported Orphans Reborn team and his heart was lifted up. Through the excitement of a sports camp and fellowship with the family of God, Sasha began seeing life through new eyes. He learned more and more about the love and compassion of his Father in heaven.
Joy has replaced despair in this young boy’s life. Please continue to pray for the many orphan children who long for a mom and dad to love them, and for the family of God who display Christ to these children in order to satisfy that longing.
Sasha is 12 years old. We met him this summer when we held a football camp for boys from the village. Sasha lives with his grandmother in this village.
Sasha is an orphan with living parents. His mother abandoned him in the maternity hospital. When she gave birth to him, on the same day she wrote a renunciation statement and left. Since then, no one has seen her. Sasha’s father abandoned his mother even before Sasha was born. He left for another city and started another family. Sasha’s grandmother (father’s mother) took Sasha straight from the maternity hospital. She has been raising and caring for him for 12 years now. Sasha has never seen his parents. When he was little, he did not understand anything. When he began to grow up, he realized that every child has a mom and dad and saw that he did not have either. When he reached adolescence, he felt even more abandoned and unwanted.
Sasha’s grandmother, Galina, says:
“Recently, Sasha sits by the window every day and cries. Cries about how no one needs him. Says, what is the point of my life if no one needs me in this life.”
Sasha began to suffer from deep depression. He did not communicate with anyone. Around this time, our team had visited the poor, large families, widows, orphans and the disabled. One day, we visited Sasha and his grandmother. Their story really touched our hearts. Sasha was very withdrawn and did not leave his room. But when he heard that we were going to have a summer soccer camp for boys, he left the room to meet us. For the first time, he showed interest in something. Grandma was happy and happily let him go with us.
Sasha arrived, his shyness, brokenness and lack of self-confidence were visible to the naked eye. This camp had a big impact on him. In addition to learning sports skills, Sasha received a lot of mentoring about the character of an athlete, about love, compassion, and a unified team spirit. Sasha started smiling, getting to know other kids and he changed a lot. He looked like he came alive.
Sasha says:
“This football camp is very special. The people here are especially kind and very friendly. I found a real friend here. His name is Joseph. He became like an older brother to me. And now he is my coach. I am very happy. I don’t want to miss training. I want to be like the Biblical characters that our mentors tell us about.”
After the football camp, we started holding football lessons every Sunday. This idea came from our eldest son Joseph. He holds football training for more than 20 kids from different villages. Sasha started coming to these trainings every Sunday. Two hours together. Training, mentoring, games, and treats.
Sasha’s grandmother says:
“I don’t recognize my grandson. He has become active and cheerful. Every day he does the sports exercises that they are taught during training. He started communicating and helping around the house. He reads the Bible every day and he counts how many days are left until he will see all the guys again”.
We believe that this is the beginning of good changes. Please pray for Sasha and that God would come into his life and he would become a faithful and devoted Christian and never feel lonely again.”
Central Asia
Orphans Reborn Ministry
