This post is written by Susan Ripley
After our return from our trip in 2008, we asked if they had any specific needs at the orphanage. We were told that new winter coats would be an incredible blessing for the children. (While the orphanages in Russia are government orphanages - they receive very little funding or support. The Director is tasked with finding donors and support for the repairs/upkeep of the campus, activities and needs of the children.) Because of your faithful giving to our church budget, we were able to send $3000 in the late fall. Representatives from Buckner assisted by purchasing 60 winter coats for the children at Lopuhinka. This year, we were able to see those coats and how much the kids appreciated your generosity.
I had hoped to have the opportunity to ask some of the kids about their coats. However, when I inquired about them we were told that they were well taken care of and that the new coats were given to a child whenever their own wore out. Now if someone had given me a new coat, I would probably toss aside my old one and wear the new one all the time. However, differences in culture makes a huge difference in how they treat material items. We did learn the coats were kept in a storage room, neatly stored in plastic - some even with the tags on them.
A great thing happened one day when the oldest kids, those who had graduated and were moving out, were taken to that storage room and were able to pick our their BRAND NEW COAT and A PAIR OF SHOES (that were supplied by Buckner). They proudly modeled their new coats for us and told us how relieved they were to not have to worry about that once they move out of the orphanage.
Thank you for being a generous church that allowed us to do that. I truly believe that God worked in that moment to remind them that He knows their every need. I ask that you pray for those 15-17 year old kids as they will soon be leaving the orphanage to attend to trade schools or university. Pray that they will find a place to live and that they will find friends who will be a good influence in their lives.
After our return from our trip in 2008, we asked if they had any specific needs at the orphanage. We were told that new winter coats would be an incredible blessing for the children. (While the orphanages in Russia are government orphanages - they receive very little funding or support. The Director is tasked with finding donors and support for the repairs/upkeep of the campus, activities and needs of the children.) Because of your faithful giving to our church budget, we were able to send $3000 in the late fall. Representatives from Buckner assisted by purchasing 60 winter coats for the children at Lopuhinka. This year, we were able to see those coats and how much the kids appreciated your generosity.
I had hoped to have the opportunity to ask some of the kids about their coats. However, when I inquired about them we were told that they were well taken care of and that the new coats were given to a child whenever their own wore out. Now if someone had given me a new coat, I would probably toss aside my old one and wear the new one all the time. However, differences in culture makes a huge difference in how they treat material items. We did learn the coats were kept in a storage room, neatly stored in plastic - some even with the tags on them.
A great thing happened one day when the oldest kids, those who had graduated and were moving out, were taken to that storage room and were able to pick our their BRAND NEW COAT and A PAIR OF SHOES (that were supplied by Buckner). They proudly modeled their new coats for us and told us how relieved they were to not have to worry about that once they move out of the orphanage.
Thank you for being a generous church that allowed us to do that. I truly believe that God worked in that moment to remind them that He knows their every need. I ask that you pray for those 15-17 year old kids as they will soon be leaving the orphanage to attend to trade schools or university. Pray that they will find a place to live and that they will find friends who will be a good influence in their lives.
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