Dacha welcomes guests

On a beautiful sunny Victory Day, our ragtag group rode the electrichka (suburban train) out of Vladimir for a day at the dacha. After a bumpy taxi ride from the train station, we arrived to the small village. Our dacha was at the end of the road, giving way to an open field beyond lined with evergreen and birch trees. Andrei put us to work immediately--Christiana and I breaking up soil for future potato planting, Sasha preparing the fire for our shish kebob lunch, and Eric helping Andrei construct a gate for the entrance to the dacha. There was something about working the land and the accompanying fellowship that really had an impact on me that day. I can see such wonderful benefits a place like this will be for orphan graduates who are looking for a place to be needed, to be given responsibility and to thrive in such an environment. As the day came to a close, we boarded the train bound for Vladimir, sunburned and tired, but flushed with a sense of accomplishment. Andrei's love, experience and determination to see these young people contribute and succeed is an inspiration to me and it is my hope that more partners will come alongside him and catch the same vision for such a meaningful project to impact change in the lives of Vladimir region's orphan graduates.(as told by Mary Louise)