Global Aid Network Mission Reports

The team has uneventfully left the hospitable city of Grodno and arrived in Minsk, the Orbita Hotel, where we overnighted and then headed on to the Minsk International Airport for a flight to the USA.

Praise the Lord for all that He has accomplished through the GAiN’s Summer Project 2007 in Grodno!

Today we had meetings with 2 groups of special children that gathered together in the Baptist church “Hope”: parents with children from public organization of families with many children in the morning and children with disabilities in the afternoon.

GAiN supplied several metric tons of food items, such as rice, flour, sugar, buckwheat and oat meal. The Baptist church “Hope”’s volunteers re-packed all the items into smaller bags suitable to be distributed to families. Children and adults received lots of love, care, attention, smiles and much aid desperately needed for them! Both children and adults listened very attentively both to the volunteers and to Pastor Pavel as he greeted them and later encouraged them to take steps toward God, as some people expressed their interest in the church and its Sunday school for their children.

Varvara (Barbara) came to the church in desperate need of a wheelchair. When she was given one - exactly what she needed - she kept crying and crying and repeating that she has not been able to get out of her house for over 2 years, and the first place that she has been able to go to is church. She said that as soon as she approached the church building she started crying. She sensed that she was such a sinner to be going to a such a holy place. She said, “I’m not even worthy to be here.” In the end, Barbara found peace with God through Jesus Christ and smiled big and said that now she senses some peace!

Sveta is a 13 year old girl. When she was being born, she suffered brain damage during birth. When she was 3 years old, her father ran away from she and her mom. Her mom later got saved in a local church and when they came to receive a wheelchair that was perfectly suited for Sveta, they both admitted it was an answer from God to them that He used such an organization like GAiN from far away to meet their need!

It was a very busy day for the wheelchair team today. Nicolai and Musa have been married for 53 years old and Musa has in the past year suffered a stroke which paralyzed her left side. Nicolai walked 3 kilometers to the church looking for a wheelchair for Musa. As the team was occupied with fitting wheelchairs for children, Dana C. walked to Nicolai’s apartment and climbed the 5th floor as there was no elevator there. There was Musa on the couch wrapped in a thin blanket. After pomegranate juice and coffee Nicolai sat Musa up and her assessment began. “Though neither of us spoke the other’s language, we were still able to communicate.”

After leaving Musa and walking back to the church to locate a wheelchair for her, we were able to give Nicolai gifts such as books by Josh McDowell and gifts of hats and shampoos for both Musa and Nicolai. With an interpreter we were able to share the love of Christ and how the marriage of Nicolai and Musa was like the love of Jesus for all those that belive in Him.

Today, on June 20 we visited a camp near Grodno for the whole day!

There were 170 children and about 30 care-givers and teachers. It looks like being at a camp for the whole day provides for a better opportunity to create better and lasting relationships with children there. Frank S.’ group shared the Gospel with about 65 children. The GAiN group used the Gospel bracelet as a sharing tool and when they got done, Frank said “I bet you all have heard that before”! The children replied - “No, we did not know any of it”. “Then please share it with your friends and family” - chimed in Tanya Y. of Wichita Falls, TX.

The Purple Bus Dingalings performed today for the very first time! The First Baptist church of Danville, PA has donated 2 sets of children color-coded handbells. Lori G. is the one that will be delivering the Dingalings. The handbells will be given to 2 church in Minsk and Grodno area. In the meantime, Donna O., Barbara M., Tanya Y., Claire J., Mike C., and Steve W. are having a lot of fun playing the bells at various camps as the Purple Bus moves thru the Grodno area.

The wheelchairs team spent the whole day at the Baptist church “Hope”

In the evening we were blessed to go have dinners at families of local believers.

Tuesday June 19, 2007

Leonarda is 83 years old and spent world war two in a German slave labor camp.  She broke her hip three years ago and going to the doctor is the only time she leaves the house or her bed.  In the cramped little house, I had to ask her if she wanted a wheelchair and why?  She told me to go outside was like paradise for her. Of course, I fitted her for one and we brought it to her.  Her grand nephew comes in several times a week to see that she is fed, that her bedside needs are cared for and to run errands.  Now he will be able to bring her out into the sunshine.  Before leaving I prayed for Leonarda.

Coming to an almost sitting position on her bed and sitting beneath an old picture of Jesus on the wall she prayed for me.  If you were to ask who was the most blessed today Leonarda and I each would have a different answer.

“The GAiN group” visited a public school in a village near Grodno in the morning. We were able to present a clear message of love and hope, as well as give out much needed aid. The children danced and leaped for joy when they saw how much we had brought to give to them! GAiN was able to provide funds to purchase needed sports equipment, balls, nets and etc!

In the afternoon we ministered to a group of children from foster families, social shelters, a correctional center and disabled children. They were gathered in a local house of culture by the Ministry of Education in the afternoon. Besides providing them aid, sharing our lives and affecting their eternal destiny, GAiN was able to provide funds to purchase desperately needed educational and development materials, special recreational tools and games to help children re-gain lost abilities!

On June 19 we visited a camp in Grodno the entire day.  The Lord softened everyone’s hearts and our volunteers, children and teachers had a great time of sharing and being together! Even though it rained cats and dogs, it did not affect the relationship that was being built there! GAiN was able to provide this site funds to purchase needed sports equipment, balls, nets and etc!

“The Wheelchairs team” spent the whole day in the Grodno Baptist church “Hope” - cutting plywood, making wheelchair seats, measuring foam cushions, fitting people to a wheelchair according to their personal needs. Most importantly, we presented each person not only a much needed wheelchair, but also the Good News that Jesus Christ loves and cares for them!

Ivan is 75 years old, and an amputee. Due to diabetes soon he will be a double amputee.  He was on a list to receive a wheelchair, which could come in three years. 

As representatives of Christ Jesus, and as professionals in the medical field, we wanted to fit each person individually for a wheelchair.  Ivan, accompanied by his wife and son, was brought to the church for a wheelchair. 

Though skeptical about the need to be personally fitted for his wheelchair, he and his family watched for almost two hours as we tried several wheelchairs for Ivan. Finally we fit him into the best wheelchair for his needs.  From our introductions and initial prayers this family gradually softened and realized that we had Ivan’s best interest at heart.  A day that began in skepticism was transformed into one of warmth, trust, and opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.   Ivan is pleased with his new wheelchair and now can rejoin his family in daily activities.

Ivan, and his wife Evgenia said they have passed by the church “Hope” several times, but never went in for various reasons. Now, having been to the church to receive a wheelchair, and felt the love, care and attention from volunteers; they have changed their mind and said that the church is the best place in the world to go!

“Monday, June 18 Public school near Grodno:

Nancy C.’ small group had 40 children, ages 8-13. The children received CarePacks that were inside wonderful full-size backpacks. Inside each Care Pack there was a letter from American family that sent the CarePack to this particular student. It was a very pleasant surprise when one of the letters in a Care Pack was from Donna and Jim O. of Danville, PA! Both of them are on this trip to Belarus and were in that classroom when the letter was opened! They had their picture taken with the young lady who received their letter!

Afterwards, in that same classroom, four of the teachers came to Nancy C. and Barbara M. with a question. “While you were talking with our children and sharing with them, we noticed a special light in your eyes and on your face as well. What is it?” Barbara answered that it is God. And you can have the same light too”. Copies of More than a carpenter by Josh McDowell were left at the school for staff. It’s our prayer that the teachers will read them and gain an understanding of the gift of salvation.”

All,

the team has safely arrived into the Minsk International Airport on July 16 with no lost luggage (!) Praise the Lord, and checked into the Orbita hotel. We had a wonderful and refreshing dinner altogether and then a short cultural orientation.

On July 17 we had a full morning orientation with Ambassador Training and practicing in small groups, as well as meeting our 6 interpreters.

We safely travelled to the city of Grodno (western Belarus) in the afternoon and checked into the Belarus Hotel there, had dinner there and met 2 ministers (each one called Dima) of the Baptist church “Hope” that we are going to be working with.

All is going well.   The entire Belarus team has arrive as well as all the luggage.  After a good night’s rest, we began the day with prayer and orientation.  We have a mixture of return volunteers and new volunteers but all are equally eager to begin ministy.  We were reminded this morning that “His grace is sufficient” - and in our weakness He is strong.
 
We’re excited to see what God is going to do through the efforts of our regular team and our wheelchair team as well.  In a few hours we will be on our way to Grodno.