After days of travel and a brief weather delay in Moscow and a 4-hour night flight, the Novokuznetsk team was so thrilled to arrive in Siberia on Monday morning.  That afternoon the group went to our host church in Novokuznetsk where we unloaded items from storage containers and assembled more than 1,000 CarePacks school supplies, toiletry items, and Ty Beanie Babies as gifts for the children we’ll meet.  Each of the Beanie Babies included a gospel bead necklace with a printed gospel message attached.

Following all our preparations, travel, and prayer we finally began our ministry outreach visits on Tuesday morning. We started by visiting the Social Rehabilitation Center for Children of Limited Abilities. The children there were mostly affected by muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy. We witnessed many of the children getting physical therapy as well as a variety of cutting-edge treatments to help the children stand, walk, or talk.  Also many parents were there with their children and we were able to minister to and give them and the staff workers Bibles and evangelistic books—this was an additional blessing for us. We were very impressed by the facilities and the quality care that the children received. Despite the physical problems afflicting the children, the atmosphere was one of courage and hope. We enjoyed the concert as well as meeting in small groups with the kids.   During the visit the American mission team was able to see a variety of humanitarian aid items that had been provided from a shipment received in February from Global Aid Network that included:  baby cribs, mattresses, fleece blankets, and walkers for disabled children. 

A special moment was when Austin J., 16 from Dallas, TX, shared his presentation and showed a picture of his baptism. He explained to the kids that Jesus had been his lifelong friend, and all of the kids looked very surprised. That was the perfect segue to ask the kids why they were surprised that Austin had said that Jesus was their friend. This gave an opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and many of the kids seemed engrossed by this new thought. 

                  Our next meeting, the summer camp for Orphanage #3 in Targai, was a fabulous ending to our day. We were greeted by a dozen little faces peering from the upper-story windows, waving and blowing kisses. About 70 children from ages 2-10, played with balloons, sang songs, received endless hugs, and bonded with our group in a marvelous summer play-time. The American team fully engaged with the kids to show and share the love of Jesus Christ to the children who were warm, energetic, and open.  Each member of our team took away the memory of at least one specific child and perhaps even that will be the memory that will be the mental picture we’ll take away from the trip. It was extremely hard to leave, but our excitement and anticipation about the rest of the trip spurs us on to continue to faithfully serve in other places during the mission.