Russia Trip: Days 8 & 9

Thursday: We loaded our luggage and said our final goodbyes. Who could have known that our hearts would be so deeply touched with these dear kids? We are amazed at the relationships formed in such a short time. We stand in awe that God chose to work through us to touch these lives.




Slava (that big Russian teddy bear of a man), the husband of the orphanage director


Cheryl & Daniel


Phillip & Olga (the garden lady)


Micky & Karina


Vivian and one of the caregivers


Shaun and Nastia


Maxim and Jenya with Ishmael (our translator and Director of the Follow-Up team in St. Petersburg)


We traveled about 30 minutes to the town of Lomonosov and visited a Baby Home that housed about 90 children. The house was very clean and well stocked with furniture and toys for the children. And even though there were many caregivers, you can imagine that these children are greatly deprived from loving, physical touch. This is a place where Buckner has begun the Grandmother Program - having people come and just hold the children. We played and loved on these kids for only a short time, but they left a deep impression on each of us.




















We headed back to St. Petersburg, had lunch and then visited orphanage #15 - the hospital. This is where children are brought when they first enter the orphanage system. While not all the children were sick, this is where they receive medical care and attention before being sent to the different orphanages. It was fun to just play with the kids - coloring, playing with balloons, nail painting, making things and running around.













On Friday, we visited Orphanage #2 in the middle of the city. The orphanage was amongst many apartment buildings, but had great play areas. This is an orphanage where Buckner has had a presence for about 14 years. We found out that many of children who are adopted through Buckner come from this orphanage. It was a fun morning playing with the children.










That evening we enjoyed a great Russian tradition and went to the ballet - Swan Lake. Jeremy said that it was 'time I'll never get back' while others reported it was 'simply breath-taking'.