Read and learn why the Director of this mission helps children to orphans?

 Hello to everyone! My name is Misha (Michael). I`m not a writer, I`m not eloquent, I`m just a Christian but I would like to share with you all how Jesus Christ has changed my life and why I minister to orphans in Ukraine.

How Jesus saved me.

 I was born near Saratov, Russia in 1967 to a family of non-believers. The village I was born in was 120 kilometers from the city. We moved to the city of Saratov when I was 2 ½ years old. When I was 5 years old my parents divorced, and when I was 7 years old I was sent to an orphanage.

     When I aged out of the orphanage, I searched for a place to study or work. The place where I wanted to study cost a lot of money, which I didn’t have. Consequently, I couldn’t study. My mother began to drink and my father lived with another family at that time. Over 15 years I sometimes earned money, but it was very difficult. In the USSR at that time, there was a law that minors could not work. I needed to pay utilities for an apartment and buy food and clothes. During this time, I made friends with people from the underworld, where I started to get money in unjustifiable ways, to steal. I got used to this way of life and decided to live like all the people around me. I understood that if I didn’t find money myself, that no one would help me in this world. Nothing in life brought me pleasure, I was lonely. After leaving school, I had to visit a children’s shelter. While I was there, in the evenings I reflected on the meaning of life. What was I living for? What waited for me in the future? I could think of nothing good. I was constantly sad and depressed.

   By this time, my mother had left me at one house in order to live with a girlfriend at another house. I did not love the underworld in which I lived, but I needed to find money in order to survive. When I was in the orphanage, I had food, clothes and a place to sleep. Though I was deprived of many things that I needed, such as food, clothing and a warm place to sleep, I did what I could to survive.

    At first it felt terrible to steal, but as time went on I got used to it and I lost the fear that I might go to prison. I knew I was wrong, but I silenced my conscience with wine and vodka with friends at parties and in bars. During that time I went to the orthodox church and I gave money to the poor, thinking that those things would silence my conscience. In my understanding, God was only an icon, he was in a church dome, in a dagger on a neck. Hell for me was only a myth or a legend. Such religion didn’t give me fear that led to a life of repentance before God. I started to hijack cars in order to sell spare parts. I didn’t understand why I was living or what the purpose of my life was.

    After 15 years, I was caught for the first time. I was sent to prison for 3 years for stealing cars and other crimes. After being released, I went back to my old habits. After 14 months, I was again sent to prison, where I lost 4 more years of my young life. At this time, I began to ponder my life and what would come of it. Prison, some months of freedom, again prison, freedom, prison…
During the last part of my time in prison, I addressed God, without even knowing if He was really there. I even made a good luck charm to wear on a chain around my neck. I thought this would help me communicate with God. I started to hunger and thirst for change in my life, even my dreams were changing. I started to dream of unusually beautiful gardens. When I woke up, I was in a good mood. When I was released from jail at the age of 23, I once again went back to my old business of crime. I forgot about my reflections on God and eternity while in jail. I had many friends in the underworld and I didn’t see any real chances to change my life. The police often detained me, but every time I escaped consequence.

    In 1995 a group of my friends and I were detained once again and I assumed I would have to say goodbye to freedom for 5 years or more. By then I knew the criminal code enough to know that my punishment would increase each time I was caught. I had friends who helped me get out of trouble. In August of the same year I left to live in Ukraine hoping, after leaving my friends, to try and begin a new life.
    In 1999, I realized and came to the understanding that I should reconcile with God. I read every brochure, every piece of Christian literature, trying to find out more and more about the knowledge of God. I read the Bible more often and although I gradually grew in the fear of God, I still did not understand that He needed to change my heart.
    On one February evening, I read a part of the Bible in Luke about the rich man and Lazarus. I understood that I had a choice to make and my spirit was not at peace. Though this evening I was fairly drunk from drinking vodka, the fear of God was still stronger than the vodka, which I thought would calm me. Sometime around 5:00 in the morning, I woke up. My heart had been filled with fear and I realized that God was angry with me, and reconciliation with God was much easier than I had thought. I knew that I had to make the decision to be saved.

 

   For the first time, I knelt before God and sincerely opened my heart to Him, confessed my sins and errors and realized my full insignificance before God. In my head, I felt the hang-over condition, but God’s peace had filled my heart and had forever changed my life. After my reconciliation with God, I had a strong desire to study in a Christian college. The same year, God gave me that opportunity. During my studies, I consequently needed money from time to time and I earned it. In the second year of my studies, God called me to minister to orphanages and He gave me the understanding and the desire to do what I now do. I love this ministry and I love the kids. I am thankful to the Lord for calling me to this!

   I understand the hearts and minds of the children who live in orphanages, as I once did. I want to save them from the underworld that I was in.
   I often had the opportunity to preach and that made me very glad. I had a big desire to study the Bible and to teach others. In due course, a group of young people who also love the Word of God was organized, and they had the desire to study more. In my heart I felt the desire to be a pastor. I started to pray about it. In 2005, the Lord answered my prayer and I became the pastor of the local Bible Baptist Church Charity.

Neither my parents, nor life in an orphanage, neither prison, nor my friends, no one could change my life. Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God [is] quick and powerful,…”  

But only the living God and Creator of the universe could change my life and my heart completely. For that I am very glad and happy!

Philippians 3:13-14 «… I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."


Misha Glazov 

 

A Blessed trip!

    Our Lord is a wonderful Lord! He gave us the chance to visit one more orphanage yesterday, and to have a Bible lesson with nearly all of the children in the orphanage! We divided them into two groups, one with older children and one with young children In the younger group there were about 37 children. And in older group, where there was a ministry for teenagers, there were about 27-30 children. Our whole team of 6 people was able to go meet with the children.
   Last Saturday we couldn't visit this orphanage because many of the children were sick. We prayed for them. Thanks to all of you who prayed for these children. The Lord was merciful, all of the children were healthy this time and we had a GREAT meeting! Praise the Lord!
   When we arrived, the children gathered very quickly, everyone ran into the class. We were overjoyed to see that they were waiting for us, since we come to them every Saturday.

Class with junior

We told them the Bible story about the Tower of Babel, played games, sang songs, and did crafts.

 All of them enjoyed playing different games. Since there are so many children, it is sometimes difficult to select players. We try to make sure each child gets to participate in a game during the lesson.

 

We took cardboard boxes to construct the Tower of Babel, so the children could visualize the tower.

Nadya read the Bible story to the children. While she read, the other children built a tower.

 The kids really liked building the tower, so they wanted to use their imaginations and build more towers.

Here we study and we sing a new song, the Name of the Lord is a strong tower. They like the song, so we sang it several times.

When we told them that we would play a new game, each of them wanted to play..They are all sooo sweet!

We distributed sweets. The children love sweets very much! After the lesson, many children asked for more sweets.

 

   At the end of the lesson, the children did a crafts about the Tower of Babel. Many of the children like to draw, cut, and do things with their hands They really enjoy doing any crafts.
   The children are very talented. It is a pity that there is no one to help them develop their talents.

   There are many children who aren't able to read, write, cut, or do elementary skills. Therefore it is always necessary to help, explain and teach them how to cut. Very often it is physically difficult, because there are a lot of children, and not many of us. There is so much to do, and so many children who need individual help crafts, we are torn as to how to meet all of their needs at once.

  When the children make even small achievements, they are very excited and run to us hoping we will be glad for them.

  Here some children with their crafts. They like to have their pictures taken and consequently ask us to take their pictures often. Aren’t they darlings?







Meeting with teens.

At this time in the other class, there was a meeting with the older children. Sasha spoke with them about the uncertainties in a human life.

Throughout a meeting, they played games, sang songs, talked, asked questions etc. Everyone was very thankful for the meetings and the companionship!

Here the children asked different questions. Misha and Sasha answered.

 At this time, there was a meeting with the younger and the older children. Misha, the director of ministry, communicated and witnessed to the schoolmasters of children. There were 8-9 people, since there were 9 classes in the orphanage with one schoolmaster per class. The children were at our disposal. Misha communicated with the schoolmasters, and after speaking with them, he left them some Christian literature.

The children didn't want the meeting to end. We arrived home later than usual, but we were soooo happy about our meeting and our companionship with everyone! We are so grateful to the Lord for this possibility! Our Lord is sooo Good and Great! We serve a wonderful God! We were sooo happy to see all of the kids!

 "Who [is] this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift [them] up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he [is] the King of glory. Selah."   Psalms 24:8-10

" Some [trust] in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God." Psalms 20:7

A Great time!

God gave us the chance to teach a Bible lesson in an orphanage yesterday. We had a blessed time! We were all glad to meet with them! I (Alla) will begin in sequence.

The bus station we use to travel to see the children is very small and simple in this town.

                   





 This is a building at the orphanage.

  

We told about Abraham, about God’s promises for him and other believers, and about his promised son Isaaс. During the lesson we sang songs, played games, learned a verse from the Bible, talked, and at the end of the lesson we made a craft. It was very amusing to the children to hear a Bible story about a woman who gave birth to a son when she was 90 years old.

To help the children understand God`s promises for Abraham, we gave the children a pinch of sand and they tried to count the individual grains. It was amusing to them.

 

Here we played a game. The children tried to place stars where they wanted. Then we counted them and taught the children that we can't count the stars in the heavens. After that we showed the children a very short video about the stars in the universe. They were surprised and admired the many stars the Lord has created!

                                                                  

We also taught them to swaddle. Nadya showed them how to correctly swaddle a child.

The children competed among themselves to see who could swaddle the child in the quickest and best way.

The girls have never played with dolls because they never had dolls. Therefore for them it was interesting and amusing to learn to swaddle. The boys enjoyed it very much too.

 

We played a game to help them memorize the Bible verse.

 

 

                   At the end of  the lesson, the children made crafts about Abraham and Isaac.

Each time it is very difficult to leave and to hear the children ask us to stay with them and to come more often. The teachers told us that the children wait for us every day. We cried when we heard that and when we had to say goodbye. The children appreciate the time we spend with them very much!

I would like to add one more moment.There is a boy named Paul in this Sunday school class, who doesn't talk, but he can hear. These are symptoms of cerebral palsy. We also found that he couldn't walk when we visited the orphanage. His feet are curved and crossed over each other.
He isn't able read, write, sing a song with us etc. He can't tell us if he is ill, sad or joyful, he can't tell us if his heart is hurting or if he enjoys something. You can only tell by looking in his eyes or at the expression on his face. At the end of  the lesson, when we had gathered everything to go home , he suddenly and unexpectedly took our hands (mine Alla`s and Nadja`s) and led us to a craft which they did earlier in the class. Then he started to try and help us by fixing our hair, cleaning one of our shirts and fixing the collar on one of our jackets. We were surprised. After that, he asked us to pat him on the head. We were even more surprised. Each child wants to be loved, hugged and kissed! We hugged him and patted him on the head, and we thanked him for "putting one of us in order".
The children appreciate the time we spend with them very much and we wish we could do more for them to make them happy!
Imagine a life led within four walls of a building for 9 or 15 years! You can't leave, have a rest somewhere etc. It is like a jail.The children don’t see much of what is in this world, all the beauty of nature, different cities, parks, swings, zoos, etc. We can only bring a limited amount of joy to the children’s lives. Please pray for these children and ask the Lord to help us to bring pleasure into their lives and help them to be happy!

Ephes.2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

Orphan with Down`s syndrome in Ukraine

Sick children

It is so sad but we could not visit the children in the K-v orphanage today, because many of them are sick.Please, pray for their health and that we can visit them next time.We miss them very much...

"...and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16

The Babel tower

   How many people in the world try to glorify themselves, but not the living God their Creator? How many people in the world use different methods to glorify their name, but not God who has created the sky, the earth and all that has been given to us for pleasure?

    Today God gave us the chance to tell the children in an orphanage the Bible story about the tower of Babel. We did not have pictures to show them, so we found cardboard boxes and the children tried to imagine people of that time constructing the tower of Babel. We had the opportunity to teach them a new song, The Name of the Lord is a Strong Tower. We taught the children that when difficulties come to their lives, they can take cover only in the tower of the Lord. Only He can help and protect them. As we spoke with them, we played games. At the end of the lesson, we made a craft tower which will remind them of this meeting.

   The majority of the children aren’t able to read and write, even though they are 9-12 years old. This orphanage is for mentally disabled children. We try to teach them a Bible verse or a Bible truth each time we visit. During this visit, the craft included a Bible memory verse from James 4:6 "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."

 

A wonderful blessing!

      We have had a wonderful blessing! Recently one of the orphans, named Misha, accepted Jesus Christ. He studied in one of the orphanages where we have our ministry. As a result, Misha invited his friend Roman to our church. Roman graduated from Misha’s orphanage. Today Roman accepted Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

    "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." Luke 15:7

Orphans with Down`s syndrome in Ukraine

How orphans live

         Many orphanages are struggling for the most basic 

        needs of food, clothes, medicine and many other. 

               Every orphanage has difference needs. 

              Here are few photos shows orphans life.

    







  



Many orphans are malnourished and need medical care.Poor diet and health problems are a common for orphans.

This is a building what belongs to orphanage.

  








  



We have orphanages regularly ask who need help in vital areas. They need repair some buildings, roofs of buildings and improve the childrens bath/toilet facilities and etc.

 

  









  


 Orphans don't receive any Birthday presents, celebration, or the care they need.

 

                                                     





                                                    

                                                        

  










storage for shoes

  








  



The storage for clothes. Orphans often have very worn  out clothes and shoes. It is a real need and joy for these children to get new clothes.

 bedroom

   





 In the winter, most hands cold and many of the children need new jackets, sweaters and coats. Most are wearing their coats in the building.

  












Warm blankets needed for orphans in cold climates, who sometimes have to sleep under simple blanket.

            


                                      


                                                              no hot water and no light at bathroom

  

              


    

                                                 Shoes are one of the Big Needs for Orphans.  

                                              Their shoes often have holes, as in picture, 

                                               or are too small and hurt their feet.