Do you see it? The sadness, fear, distrust behind these hooded eyes. Whether on the streets or clustered behind concrete second-story classrooms, the “throw-away” children of Russia’s orphanages and boarding schools are easily identifiable by their wary pain. Many have parents, but they are in prison or rehab, or just on the street as drug addicts, unable to care for them. Well, at least these kids aren’t on the streets too. Yet.
Lack of interest breeds lack of trust. Lack of love, coupled with strict discipline, leads to cutting, smoking, stealing, drug abuse and desperate lonliness.
“We’re worried about our future,” one girl about to graduate says. “Who will take care of us?”
“Why have a graduation ball? Who will take pictures of us? Who will come?”
I will. Monday at 10:00 a.m.
I think those kids had fun with you visiting them:)
Just have a look at some of those smiles, they are so real!
Not just for me…I have often seen them come to life after an hour with someone who truly cares. They resist the attention at first and try to act disinterested. You’ll see how they smile for Tanya when I have time to post the pictures from the “Last Bell” event today.
i would go with you if i could…. monday at 10 a.m.
my heart literally hurts when i think of all the kids aging out of the system every day… every day… every day.
i’m so glad you can go.
Today I watched 20 age out (graduate). Only 3 or 4 family members attended the graduation “last bell” party. Hard to imagine the pain of this kind of loneliness.
Loneliness hurts, but we manange to overcome it knowing that Jesus is with us.
Alfred’s mother had a heart attack. He left on Sunday morning and will return on June 15.
The horses will be leaving me too. I just don’t have a date yet. The yard will never look the same without them in it.
All my love to everyone in Russia,
Denise
I admire you for taking your time and going there to be present for those kids, as you promised to them you would! I can imagine how hard it is to find that time (and energy!) amidst all the other demanding things going on around you there…
Just think of the rest you will have at home soon:)