We woke at the Volga Hotel - many of us earlier than we wanted because of jet lag. The night before we heard that the electronic gate that allows buses in and out of the transportation company's lot was broken. We were unsure when the bus would come to get us for the 3 and 1/2 hour drive north to Soligalich. Welcome to the world of international mission. 'Flexibility is your friend, expectation is your enemy.' The bus arrived around 9:30AM and we started the drive.
We had orientation on the drive up. Remember that we had just met 2 days before and had been totally engaged in travel for the last 32 hours. Now our feet were on the ground in Russia and we could spend some time getting to know each other and getting to know the context and culture of orphan care in Russia with Children's HopeChest.
Soligalich is, as Greg Arthur said in his blog, Holiness Reeducation, a village that time forgot. It does feel like you're walking back in time 100 years when you roll into town. 80 orphaned children with special needs live in a boarding school here that has been sponsored by a church through HopeChest for 7 years. Conditions leave much to be desired (including the local hotel), but the hearts of the children are warm in large part due to Nastya's visits. She's the discipler that goes to Soligalich weekly as part of the church sponsorship program with Capo Beach Calvary in Orange County, CA.
I have friends in Soligalich. It was the first orphanage my wife and I visited on our first trip to Russia with HopeChest in May 2004. My wife and I became good friends at that time with an 8 year old boy named Arsen. He's always smiled a lot, but he hasn't grown much in the last 4 years. He doesn't eat well. He asked me several times to return for his 12th birthday in January. Another boy in Arsen's class, Kolya, also holds a special place in our hearts. He loves to sing and he's very well-behaved. This summer we went on a walk with him at camp. He told us about the alcoholism and abuse that was part of his family. We didn't even ask. We asked him if he has any brothers and sisters and how long he had lived at Soligalich. Then he held our hands as we walked and told us stories that horrified us. On this most recent trip I met a 14 year old girl named Lena. She caught my attention because anytime I saw her during the day, she was humming or singing a song under her breath. I can relate. Bob and I spent some time with her and one of her friends, Alla. We ended the day singing songs and exchanging letters. As we did so, I noticed the scars up and down her arms where she had repeatedly cut herself.
Choice and control. These are the characteristics of wealth, opportunity, and security. Orphaned children have neither. This is why eating disorders and self-mutilation are so common among them. It is something in their life that they can actually control. But in doing so, beautiful children like Lena and Arsen are destroying themselves.
As difficult as these circumstances were, the day at the orphanage ended sweetly with songs, hugs and kisses.
I ended the night with my roommates, Jerry, Greg, and David, talking late into the night about anything and everything: theology, ministry, marriage, children, Russia, cheese, and chocolate.
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