The latest of four trips that the Yoests have taken was perhaps their favorite yet.
Beginning with a few days at the Vladimir dacha, the team met Andrei who runs the dacha program and Masha the talented cook who with only one hot plate and an outside wood stove was able to create some of the most incredible food they have ever eaten. Masha was an orphan deemed to be a special needs child due to having crossed eyes (which have since been surgically repaired). She cooked constantly and joyously and at times fed up to 20 people. She is a very talented in the areas of needle point and painting.
They also met a number of orphans who really opened up to them. Katya was a 21 year old who the day before we got there, had just learned how to ride one of the bikes at the dacha and on our second day there, she shared with us her pictures and a bit of her history. It appeared that Katya had some emotional and physical disabilities so was on a government pension which is barely enough to pay for housing. Her story was a very sad one and the dacha was a great sanctuary for her.
Another orphan, Sasha, had a daughter, Leeza, a beautiful little girl – Holly was able to help her with some mothering tips. The orphan girls with children do not have any sort of role model for raising their children and although they truly love their children, they desperately need motherly guidance. In the evening they told Bible stories which seemed to enjoyed by all.
In Ivanovo, Munro and Beth did a young married couples presentation which was very well received. They also had the opportunity to have dinner with young couples at their homes which was a great opportunity to see how and where they lived. The families were incredibly hospitable and thrilled to have them in their homes. The food once again was great and they were treated with wedding and baby pictures. The apartments were one room with no kitchen and a communal bathroom and shower.
The kids were more attentive this year than any years in the past as they went into the theme of “Doing the right thing”. The ten commandment test was very interesting and entertaining as some of the answers were quite unique- such as “don’t beat your wife”, “do not fight” etc. The Ten Commandment skit was a hoot with both Beth and Holly giving Oscar winning performances.
They had the opportunity to meet a lot of boys who had just left the orphanage and were at the Ministry Center for the first time. It was at the Ivanavo center where they were asked by the boys- “what is your favorite thing about Russia?” In their minds they were thinking the answer would be the food or the cities or the many sights to visit, but without hesitation they said- “it is the orphans” and it was like they had all been mildly struck in the face. To see their reaction was very touching!
In Kostroma, they again did dinner with the staff and also had dinner with the young married couples. Both programs seem to be well received and the meals with the young families was very touching. The discussions in the breakout sessions were very good and hard hitting as they touched on many of the issues that effect their daily lives.
In all three regions they were able to touch the lives of the staff and translators. They had the joy to hear that they were instrumental in one of the staff members understanding the saving grace of Christ, enjoying the company of a translator that feels working with orphans is his mission field and encouraging this extremely dedicated group of people.
One more story from Holly-
“Five years ago my husband Bill and I made our first trip to Russia. We met a beautiful young girl named Natasha. Natasha was an orphanage graduate and wanted to become an actress. She was our tour guide at the Kostroma ministry center and was so animated and full of personality, we immediately fell in love with her.
We had brought over some bibles and Natasha had gotten one through one of the translators. I felt led to ask her if I could pray for her and she agreed. Most Russians are not open with their emotions, but Natasha wept like a baby when the translator, her friend Luida, spoke the prayer over her. We exchanged phone numbers and left the next day for Moscow and then back to the U.S.
Fast forward six months…….. I receive a text message in the middle of the night (we are 8 hours ahead) written by Luida, the translator for Natasha, “ I am so HAPPY, now I know that God loves me!”.
Of course I was up the rest of the night praising God for His goodness!
We have seen Natasha on three more visits to Russia, she says that she knows that we love her, because we come back to see her! On the last visit, we spent some great time with her and she shared about her concerns for an apartment. She is currently unemployed and is very emotional about finding a safe place to live.
While speaking with Natasha she shared with me that she never knew that she was an individual until the Americans came. She said that she felt that she was just a part of a group, labeled as an orphan. Having grown up in an orphanage, she simply did not have any individual attention or encouragement that she was special and unique. By the grace of God we hope to return to Russia to continue to minister to these young people who so desperately need to know that God is their true Father, who will never leave them or forsake them.”