Report from Gilles and Helene #7

Thursday Sept 20

From the boxes that were received from home, Tanya and Ruslan sorted out some clothes to bring to the orphanage in Lopatin.  We made a pit stop at Metro and bought some laundry soap as well as enough bananas for all the kids there...approximately 70 kids from kindergarten age to 16 or 17 years old. 

The kids were in class when we arrived so the director gave us a short tour of the kindergarden section where the children were all having their afternoon nap.  Slowly but surely the other children started filing in the auditorium.  Some were about 7 years and they sat in the front.  They seemed fascinated with Gilles and I who were standing there waiting for the director to return.  These younger ones were looking at us and giggling and we heard one of them refer to Gilles and I as Baba and Dido loosely translated as Grandma and Grandpa!!!  

So finally when everyone was in and quiet ended down Ruslan spoke to them a bit and introduced Gilles who spoke to the kids. He related a story about a soldier who had been shot but the small bible he was carrying in his breast pocket saved him from the fatal shot as it took the bullet thus saving him.  Since he had realized his need of a saviour at a younger age by reading his bible, the bible had in fact saved him twice. 

There were about 35 children and 6 adults.  The children listened really well.  A few of them were able (and willing) to recite John 3:16.  We know that they know this verse but perhaps they were just shy to stand up and say it.

We gave them each a book marker with the save verse John 3:16 written on it.  We also gave them each a banana.  It might seem strange to give them a banana but that is something that is a real treat for them.  The budget in these places does not allow for the luxury of bananas.  Other fruits such as pears and apples grow in the many fruit trees around.  

Afterwards when we were speaking with the director she was telling us that she has fresh honey at her house, so we told her we would be interested in buying a litre.  Well, after Ruslan got off the phone asking several people he knows if they wanted fresh honey, we were purchasing five litres.  We drove to her (Maria the director) house and met her mother who is the one who takes care of collecting the honey.  We had been told that the mother had problems with one knee but we were taken aback with what we saw.  This poor woman has a running sore on that same leg, but her knee left us in disbelief.  She wears a brace on the bad knee but her leg is out to the side from the knee down, at about a 45 degree angle.  We were told she needs knee surgery, but because of the sore that does not heal, the doctors do not want to touch her leg.  She was using a cane to walk with great difficulty.  We have a walker at the apartment and will be making a special trip there in the near future to bring it to her