SGA-Supported Orphans Reborn Team in Western Russia  

Peace, dear brothers and sisters! As we minister to the children in western Russia, we are seeing:

• trust gradually building,
• the children opening up, and
• something greater happening through simple things like games, crafts, and conversations.

We thank God for every encounter, and that He is at work even in ways that are not always obvious at first glance.

Our visit to the first orphanage kicked off with the usual activities, while some of the kids hung out outside chatting, having fun, and catching up. These spontaneous conversations are where trust and a genuine connection begins to happen. That is how our team member Anna managed to get to know a girl named Snezhana, who is 15. She is one of four siblings who all live in this orphanage. Her mother leads a reckless life, and her alcoholic father left to take part in the war and was killed. The kids were raised by their grandmother, whom they call “Mom.” Snezhana is a very open, kind girl but she hides behind a mask of either indifference or excessive brightness and noise. We had the opportunity for a one-on-one conversation.

We talked about relationships, about how God designed marriage, and why He created relationships between a man and a woman in the first place. Please pray for Snezhana and her entire family, as her father’s death had been a very difficult blow for her grandparents, who are the only guiding lights in these children’s lives.

Overcoming Hate With Divine Love

On another day, we received a call from the head teacher at another orphanage with whom we have had a warm, trusting relationship with for many years. They needed our help. A serious incident had occurred—several ninth-graders assaulted a teacher who ended up in the hospital. It came as a shock to us. We prayed for God to give us wisdom, the proper words, and the understanding of how to handle the situation.

Pastor Vladimir on our team was the one who took the lead in talking with the boys. He didn’t speak down to them, but as a man who had himself once lived a completely different life and came to God after much turbulence. His testimony truly struck a chord with the boys—it was clear that they were listening to him and that something was happening inside, even if not all of them showed it outwardly. We talked with the rest of the boys about the value of women — that they are God’s beautiful creations, and how important it is to cherish, respect, and protect them.

It was an emotionally challenging but very important trip. We see that such institutions really need support—not only in practical matters but also in prayer. Please continue praying for this situation, for the recovery of the educator, for the children’s hearts, and for all the staff at the orphanages. It is especially important here for God’s work to be continued and bear fruit!