When they can’t share their problems with adults, they tell it to a toy
May the Lord bless you abundantly with His goodness! Thank you for your thoroughness, for your giving heart, for your empathy, for your prayers!
We continue visiting the fatherless to bless them during a wonderful time of Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The weather is balmy, with no ice on the ground, which usually makes it difficult to drive. This year we did our best to prepare a festive program with a Christmas-themed puppet show. Again, we told the children a miraculous Nativity story, while they answered the questions and received prizes. We see their happy eyes, because they learned about God, each of them received attention and a gift. What joyful moments, which we relive every year! Every winter we play a “snowball” game, it’s funny that no one is ever tired of it. It fills the hall with cheerful children’s laughter, as there is no snow outdoors, and you can’t play with snowballs. Praise God for this wonderful time! We especially enjoy seeing smiley faces of normally sad children, and we always give them special prizes. After all, we come to tell them about the joyous news: Christ is born!
We have a game where one of the presents is actually a copy of the New Testament. This year, my former orphaned graduate Olga received it, she pressed it to her and said that it was a very precious gift for her. She faced many difficulties in her life, when she ended up alone with a child, as her husband was a drug addict. She had heard a lot about God since she was a child, as we often visited her, but she was drawn closer to Him only when she experienced these challenges. We are praying for all the children who have heard the Gospel, so that when they face difficulties, they could remember how God loves them and turn away from evil.
The children were rejoicing at receiving presents. We bought many soft toys, lanterns, and thermal mugs. We thought that older children would prefer thermal mugs, but they chose both toys and mugs. Many immediately identified the soft toys as their friends and gave them names. It was surprising to see that the older boys also took soft toys. The caregivers say that when they cannot share their problems with adults, they tell it to a toy they consider their friends.
We also extended visits to low-income families. In one family in Zmievka, Angelina had a new child, whom they named Ivan. We met the baby boy whom the whole family loves very much.
We were also happy to see our orphaned graduates with their children at our Christmas celebration. It was a very enjoyable time. We prayed for those who were sick and could not be with us at the Christmas celebration.
Praise be to our Lord for such an opportunity and resources that allowed us to make the orphans feel so happy.
With prayers for you,
Lena L
