Chuk-Chuk *edited*

We tried it! Our lessons learned in italics.
My favorite Russian dessert is Chuk-Chuk! I think that's because the honey in Kirov is soooooo good. (We never leave without a jar--this time, we took 3!)
I think I am going to try to make some for New Years. I don't think I can match what they make in Dolbiylova, but I'll let you know how it goes. Here is the recipe I am working with:

Chuk-Chuk dough:
4 eggs
3T powdered sugar (could add a bit more, but not much)
2 t butter (melted)
1/3 t salt
1/4 c milk (could easily double this!)
17 oz flour by weight (about right, but could easily skimp)

Syrup:
1 1/2 c honey
4 t sugar

1. Blend egg, butter, sugar, salt, milk, and flour and knead until dough is smooth. Add more milk if dough seems dry--don't want it to be too tough!
2. Let dough rest 30-40 minutes.
3. Heat honey and sugar in a double boiler and stir until sugar dissolves. Cook until it turns an amber color, but don't burn it!
4.Break into pieces and roll into small balls--the smaller the better. They don't have to be even!
*Some people recommend cutting small noodles or running it through a pasta maker. Your choice!
5. Heat canola oil in frying pan over medium heat, until very hot. Fry dough balls until golden brown, up to 5 minutes, and drain on a paper towel. We used a slotted spoon to place the dough into the oil without getting burned. Don't be afraid to get them really brown and a little bit crispy!
6. Mix fried dough and syrup in a big bowl.
7. Serve! Either mold and serve in some kind of shape, or serve in piles. Can garnish with nuts or powdered sugar. Good warm or cool, I found it best on the second day. A little goes a long way!

This is also called Tatar, because it is from the Tatar people. I think it would be good with chocolate, or cinnamon, or maybe some berries as garnish . . . I will let you know how this recipe turns out! Happy New Year!

Our version wasn't as delicious as in Russia, but pretty good! Thanks, Nancy, Nolan, and Georgia for being guinea pigs!

Home for the Holidays

It feels good to be back! I have been in a different world for the last few months, swimming in all kinds of wonderful things. I've been working on a trafficking prevention program for Doma International, which is pretty exciting, and working on growing my skills and expertise as a youth & child social worker. It's been wonderful, but I am thankful it is winding down and I am able to spend some more time at HOME, where I am able to just be me.

This weekend, I spent time with my big, wonderful family and made some great memories. Our choir shared a special moment Sunday singing Богородице Дево (turn up your sound to hear it!) and thanking our Precentor, who is moving on to new opportunities. And we received a surprise package from Sovietsk! We received letters, letters, letters and a copy of the full-length documentary shown on Kirov News. Tonight, I will be sorting Christmas and New Years cards sent from Sovietsk Supporters to the children at the orphanage. I have spent the last few days with people and activities which are central to me being ME, not a professional or a student, but just plain Sarah.

I've been thinking a lot lately about a special evening we spent in Sovietsk, largely thanks to you, Sovietsk Supporters. While Ben, his dad, and Mischa were boxing with the older boys, we ladies stayed back to paint faces and make bracelets. Jen and Katherine were face painting pros, and Barb was our jewelry queen. While they did their thing, I had the privelege of sharing a special moment with each of the children who were there. We called the children to a private room one at a time, and Sveta helped me present them with their special gift packets. Each child received plenty of gum, chapstick, lip gloss for the girls, hackey sacks for the guys, stationary, a special pen, and a mirror, all bundled up just for them. I wish I could share with you the look of delight each face had when they received their gifts, and the pride they had when they heard the gift was special, just for them. It wasn't so much the gifts, although they were welcome and much appreciated, but it was the thought that someone cared enough about just them to send a gift. They weren't one of 30 when I gave them your gifts. They were just themselves. It was a special night, and I saw more life in those young eyes than I had ever seen before!

Last week, we put together birthday Smile Packets for each of the children at Sovietsk. We are sending them early so each child will receive one on his or her birthday. We are sending a special picture, a memory of them which makes us smile, and wishes for the happiest birthday yet, specially made for each child. We hope this small gesture will have a big impact, and the kiddos will know they are remembered and loved on their birthdays, just for who they are.

These are tiny ways we can remind these young people of how special and important they are, just themselves. Some of them will have special moments over the holidays which help them grow in who they are, as I am so thankful to have had already this season. Some of them will go home fo the holidays. Some of them will not, and that will hurt.

If any of you would like to send a special holiday card or email to one of our children, just reminding them that they are important, remembered, and not alone, please email me. We sent many letters, but we have a few children who could use some extra love.

Thank you for all you do for these children! I wish each of you a Christmas week full of special memories and love, just because of who you are.

Happy Holidays

I love Thanksgiving. It's a great opportunity spend time with family and eat delicious food. Christmas is great for many of the same reasons, plus we get to sing some really good songs at church on Christmas Eve. And then we wake up the next morning and spend a relaxing day with family. The holidays are a always a great opportunity to spend time with the people you love. Unfortunately for our friends at Sovietsk, they don't always have this opportunity. We're asking everyone to chip in and write some holiday cards to the kids and let them know that we're thinking about them during the holidays.

The biggest holiday of the season in Russia is New Year's. (They place the same level of importance on New Year's that we place on Christmas). The Russian Orthodox church celebrates Christmas on January 7.

If you're interested in sending a card, please contact us and we'll let you know how. Happy holidays to you and yours.

From the October Newsletter

The following is from the October edition of the monthly newsletter we receive from our friends in Sovietsk. The note below was written by one of the young ladies who was relatively new to the orphanage. Over the course of our time there she developed a close bond with two of our travelers in particular.

Dear American friends,

Today it’s me who will send you all our love and I will tell you what’s new in our orphanage. So it’s already October and we all study hard. I had some very bad marks but I’ve managed to improve them. By the way, thanks to your visit my English has become better, even my teachers admit this fact.

We had much fun in September. We had a Disco. Now I also have many friends here in Grehovo and in Sovietsk. I feel at home. Though of course there were some hard things and feelings and so on…but now everything is great!!! Soon I will have my 15th birthday. I nearly can’t wait!!!!

I miss Sarah and Ben, Steve and Barb, and especially Katherine and Jennifer. We all miss you here and want you to return next year!!!

Kisses, hugs and much love from us all and me especially,
Sasha

Stay tuned for more excerpts from the October newsletter...

Bummed.

Well, we just learned that four of our kids lost their sponsors. Big bummer. We certainly understand when things get tight, especially in these times. But it's hard to think about our sweet kids losing out on these great relationships and resources.

Can you help us out? This is what we're asking:

1) Please send me an email or comment here about what could improve the sponsor program for you. I know it can get tough when you haven't met the kids and haven't heard from them, and we'd like to find some ways to make up for that.

(When I get over the homework hump this semester, I'll be blogging a lot more and sending individual info to sponsors, which I think you will enjoy.)

2) Please help us spread the word about these kids. If you know of anyone who would like to be a pen pal or a sponsor, send them our way! Or, maybe ask for it as a gift . . . I know I couldn't get a better gift this Christmas than to see all these kiddos sponsored. The pics you see are some of our kids waiting for sponsors.

3) Please keep our kids in your thoughts and prayers as the holidays approach. Send an extra note, an extra contribution, something that communicates your love and care for these sweet kids as they face the holidays with us as their family.

THANK YOU for all you do!

Vadim Petrovich

Here's a guest blog from my parents, Barb and Steve Clark. about their experience visiting Russia as a member of our team.

We enjoyed a trip to the Sovietsk Orphanage that was filled with new experiences and adventure. We met many wonderful people, both staff and children at the orphanage as well as really great folks in the local community. The interpreters were exceptional, speaking several languages in some cases. We would like to single out one individual to write about in this blog because he did something so nice for us that we will never forget. Vadim Petrovich Antsygin is the Technology Instructor for the Sovietsk Orphanage. He really, really cares about the children. He devotes a great deal of energy helping the kids learn some basic skills with tools and achieving an understanding of how to do some things that will prove useful throughout their lives. He is a craftsman, especially with wood. He teaches crafts, basic carpentry and even electrical wiring. Steve really enjoyed touring the shop and engaging in lively conversation about the things that Vadim has a passion for. The shop was so versatile with many opportunities and with tools and machines that Vadim made from whatever was available. He is very resourceful. Steve was very glad that he had spent time with Barb’s dad, Kilby Davis, who was an excellent craftsman with wood in his own right. Steve’s background is engineering, welding and metal working, but he had just enough understanding to really enjoy the time in the shop. Later in the week, Vadim appeared in Galina’s, the director’s, office with a special gift for us. He had prepared a presentation speech which he delivered with heartfelt emotion that really touched us. He gave us a beautiful piece of his own personal work – a handmade frame and handmade picture of winter snowbirds made from shaped pieces of colored bark. It is gorgeous and hangs in a very prominent place in our home. The caption has blessed and inspired us more than we can say: “For the people who give part of their good hearts to children”. We pray to live up to that statement. Thank you, our friend, Vadim!

It's a Small World, After All

So, you'll never believe what we saw in a small children's store in Sovietsk:

That's right! 6,000 miles away from Indianapolis, our home, right after we missed our favorite NFL team on opening day, Ben's lovely mother makes this discovery.

Sovietsk has a population of 20,000.

Lucas Oil Stadium (for our Russian readers, that's where the Colts play American Football) seats up to 70,000.

We talk a lot about how different life is between here and Sovietsk, but this is just more proof that we're really more alike than different.

I knew we found a good home away from home! GO COLTS!

They Grow Up Fast

A handful of kids at the orphanage have recently entered their final year there before graduation. One of them happens also to be my pen pal, Sergey, who turns 16 today. While Sarah and I will be eating blini to celebrate his birthday, we will also be thinking about what faces him as he graduates this coming spring.

We've touched on this subject before, but I would like to emphasize that graduating from an orphanage does not carry with it the same sort of excited anticipation of something bigger and better ahead like it did for most of us. For most of these kids, leaving the orphanage can be as frightening as when they first arrived. Through no fault of their own, they face an uncertain future of limited opportunities and marginalization. Sergey faces some difficulty stemming from his past and present situations. He wants to be a truck driver, but his circumstances may limit him. He's been at the orphanage for 8 years. Sergey has told us he grateful for everything he has, and you can imagine that he would love to stay in his home awhile longer.

We will be his loudest advocates to make sure he is given a fair chance and that his options are not limited. Our goal is to get him some help dealing with his feelings, like most of us need. But we're also hoping to help the graduating class to gain some crucial life skills. We're looking into a program, somewhat like a summer camp, that would give these kids some necessary skills for living in the real world. We're doing everything that we can to make sure that these kids are not marginalized and rejected, but empowered and loved.

Community!

This trip was different than some of our other trips. While we had too many wonderful moments to count with the children of Sovietsk, they were in school during the day. This gave us opportunity to spend time with community leaders and begin forming bonds for the benefit of the children, much like we did last year in Dolbiylova.

We observed speech pathology lessons and soccer and boxing demonstrations, seeing sponsored programs in action. We visited a tech school where two of our grads attend, studying welding. We visited 3 schools in the community, sharing tea with teachers and administrators, and even watching our teachers teach. We visited the main arts school in Sovietsk and enjoyed a special concert by the students, complete with a bayan duet, and a special presentation from a touring group. (Our girls thought the boys in the group were pretty cute!) We returned to a few stores in town and the history museum. We met the director of an orphanage for children who are hearing impaired, the Father of the largest church in Kirov, and many, many educators who contribute greatly to our children's success. Galina had us very busy, and there was definitely a purpose in her plan.

This was an excellent opportunity for us to see the children beyond the orphanage, visiting them in lessons and having them share their friends and activities with us. Little Olga was just beaming with pride as we made the rounds at her arts school. At tech school, Andrey had the perfect adolescent mix of embarassment and pride as Galina and the rest of us fussed over him in front of his friends and teachers. It was so hopeful and heartwarming to see the children embraced as a part of a community beyond the orphanage walls.

Even more amazing was the community response Galina has reported over the last year. Examples: We were prepared to buy graduation gifts for everyone this year, but we received word that wasn't necessary. Galina told us why--last year, word spread that 'the Americans' purchased gifts for all the grads. So, this year, a local group of business people decided to do the same. Last year, we purchased a guitar for the orphanage, both for Ben to use when we visit and for the children to use for lessons. When we returned, there were four guitars. And when we visited the music school, International Charitable Programme "Music of Life" made a special presentation of an additional guitar for the orphanage. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all was the playground. Last year, I took photos of an open field and a few rusty swings the kids used to play, and in my wildest dreams, I would have found a way to have a playground built for the children. But, in the last year, a group of local tax collectors rallied together and built the playground, together with the children. I met Tatyana from this group, and we talked at great lengths about our hopes for the children and how we could continue to work together.
I could write volumes on each of these subjects, and in future posts, I probably will. But for now, I wanted to share just the surface of the exciting developments in the Sovietsk community. Research on youth development tells us that the more connected a child is to his or her community as he or she enters adulthood, the greater probability he or she has for success. Ben and I are only there once a year, though our hearts are there constantly. But from halfway around the world, there is only so much we can do. I am so thankful for the openness of the people of Sovietsk, and my deepest hope is that they will embrace every one of our children as their own.

The Importance of Playing Soccer

After our third visit to Sovietsk Orphanage, it was nice to see yet again how the kids are progressing. One boy in particular is a great example of the hope for success that we have for these kids. Through a soccer program at the orphanage, he was able to prove that he has no small measure of athletic talent. Before he started playing soccer, he was considered one of the "naughty boys." While he still has some trouble now and then, he seems to have turned it around and improved his behavior as well as his performance in school. He now has a goal of attending university so that he can become a Phys. Ed. teacher when he grows up. This might not sound like staggering news to the average American, but for an orphanage kid in Russia, this is nothing short of amazing. About 4% of orphanage graduates attend university. It's not that these kids lack the talent to be able to attend university, it's simply that they lack the opportunity and the means.

We're so glad that, through past sponsorship and the funding of this soccer program by Kids First Foundation, this young man now has a goal to achieve, the motivation to get there, and the moral support if he falters. This is the kind of support that we're trying to offer to all of the kids at Sovietsk. Some of them want to be truck drivers, singers, artists, beauticians, welders, etc. Whatever they want to be, we want to give them a chance.

We are trying to fund soccer for the remainder of this year. Along the right side of the blog, where it says "Sports and Arts Change Lives" you'll see an opportunity to contribute towards this and other critical programs for our kiddos.

Must-see TV, Russian Style

Remember last year when we posted about unexpecting the expected? Well, we expected to have a short interview with the media in Sovietsk. What we got instead was 4 days of cameras and mics, personal interviews and written statements, and candid footage by award-winning documentary filmmaker Tatyana Khalezova. What a surprise, and what an honor! We were glad for the chance to spread the word in Russia about our special kids. We're hoping this builds even more support from within Russia. We're thankful for any way to get the word out!

The link below is an excerpt from Kirov Regional news, following our outing to Dolbiylova. (While we might have looked more camera-ready when we weren't hiking through the woods, we are glad that Sovietsk Supporters Galina and Volodya were featured!) Please, follow the link below to watch our news segment. (I haven't figure out how to embed Russian video. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen to watch.)

http://www.gtrk-vyatka.ru/vesti/7657-amerikanskie-volontery.html

While it loses something going from English to Russian and back to English, the translation is below. You, Sovietsk Supporters, get a major mention! Between our family and friends, Bethlehem Lutheran, KidsFirst Foundation, and Evangel PCA in Kansas, not to mention people who have found us via blog, the supporters are well over 200. So thank you!

(Also, this is just a portion of what will be featured on a "full-length docu-drama" television show about Sovietsk orphanage and our involvement there. Something along the lines of Dateline Kirov, it seems. Stay tuned for even more!)

AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS
A group of American volunteers arrived in Kirov Region. They visit orphanages. The charity help that the guests from abroad render is measured not in money equivalent only. Relations and interaction are the key for the orphans regardless of the language of this communication.
Sarah, Benjamin, Katherine, Jennifer, Steve and Barbara . They came to Sovietsk orphanage from Indiana, USA.

Sarah Clark, social worker [student] (Indiana, USA): «Today here you see only 6 Americans. But there are a lot more people that participate in this program. They are about 200, more than 200. We are happy when we can raise some money to help these children. On the other hand, I have been writing to a girl from this orphanage for three years already. We have become friends. We are very attached to one another and I hope that after she graduates we will be able to continue keeping in touch».

Sarah Clark is a social worker [student]. She works with foster care children and children from correctional facilities learning to live at home independently.

Sarah Clark, social worker [student] (Indiana, USA): «The children that I work with at home are in no way different from these children. Of course, there are only a few children's homes in the USA. Most children live in foster families. Both the systems: orphanages and foster care have positive and negative sides».

But the problems, unfortunately, are the same. When the children leave the orphanages, they are hardly able to deal with everyday life. Every child must have an adult that s\he can trust.
The charity foundation “NADEZHDA” works with volunteers from abroad and Russia and helps to find these people.

Galina Plotnikova, Principal of Sovietsk sanatorium type orphanage: «They write letters to each other, make sure to send a birthday card greeting, check on the children’s health. They can ask whether the child’s cat has become bigger, for instance. They pay attention to all the details and small things».

The orphanage was able to hire a speech pathologist and many tutors with the financial assistance. Some boys were able to get their driver’s licenses.

Galina Plotnikova, Principal of Sovietsk sanatorium type orphanage: «We were able to start a drama and guitar club. And overall, our children make better progress at school because of the tutors».

The week of personal interaction with the adults lets the children feel like they possess equal rights with other members of society. When they are together, walking hand in hand, there are things to talk about.

Planting Trees

In Russia, they say there are three things necessary in order to be a man: build a house, raise a son, and plant a tree. I'm two-thirds of the way there.

During our visit, my dad, our interpreter Misha, and I had the opportunity to help some of the young fellows at the orphanage take a step toward becoming men.

Because of a carelessly discarded cigarette, the orphanage lost about a dozen trees along the perimeter of its property last year. We planted some trees to replace those damaged in the fire. During this process, I became acutely aware of how fortunate I was to have a man like my father teach me to be a man. These young guys at the orphanage aren't so lucky.

One boy in particular comes to mind. As Misha put it, "He hasn't learned to keep his word. He hasn't learned to be a man." He will graduate soon and have to set about life on his own. When I was his age I wasn't ready to be on my own; I couldn't imagine being in his shoes. But this is why Sarah and I are working so hard and partnering with our Russian counterparts to help all of the kids at Sovietsk Orphanage find their way.

We're home!

Returning home from our Russian home is always bittersweet . . .

The whole team arrived in Indianapolis last night without a single travel glitch, safe and sound, to many hugs and kisses from the families who missed them. We had a great time, we learned and laughed and hugged as much as we could. We dug in to the Sovietsk community, visiting schools and tech schools, connecting with local supporters, even earning a major feature on Kirov region news. We saw how our investment is paying off, inspiring more local people to invest in Sovietsk as well. We saw how individual sponsorship touches individual kids, and how program sponsorship touches the orphanage community. We saw how this year's sponsorship improved the atmosphere--an updated hallway and bathroom, cozy drapes for the children's rooms, little things here and there that make a big difference. We supplied textbooks, school supplies, garden and sports equipment, winter gloves, and lots of fun treats sent from all over the country. We worked, played, adventured, and were treated to the finest hospitality on earth. We didn't say goodbye, we said see you next time.

Seeing hard work pay off in the form of truly changed lives is encouraging to the core. Sponsors and pen pals, I'll be sending photos and information about your special children in the next few weeks. We also learned of many more needs and gained a better understanding of some of the challenges our children face. I can't say enough about the people who came along with us--I am so thankful for our invested and creative team of travelers whose wheels have been turning all week and who are excited to broaden the web of support for these kids. Stay tuned--there is so much more to come.

The stories will unfold bit by bit, and we are excited to share with you! You'll hear about each of our special programs, more details about the kids and their needs, and more about the Sovietsk community. You'll hear about all of our wonderful surprises--teachers getting to teach lessons, our nutritionist learning and sharing with the orphanage nurse, professionally-oriented conversations about our kids, and all of it filmed by an award-winning director for a special documentary. We'll share how to make vetrushki, how to play banana, and what to expect if you're ever at a potato festival. You may hear from some of our other travelers as well--fresh perspective is a beautiful thing!

Especially, you will hear a resounding THANK YOU from the people of Sovietsk, and from Ben and I, who are so honored to represent you and bring your love to them. The impact of another year of sponsorship hit us squarely in the face--there is no question that all of your love, support, and generosity is changing lives. We are so inspired to do even more--so please, continue to join us along the way.

It's coming...

Our house is a flurry of activity in preparation for travelling. We're busy tying up loose ends before setting out on our next trip to Russia.

But something interesting dawned on us today that led us to pause and reflect. It never ceases to amaze us that we always get exactly what we need for our trips to Russia. From our very first trip over four years ago, when we had no money of our own to speak of, we raised the exact amount of money we needed to pay our expenses for the trip. Several months ago we started a drive to raise supplies and money to donate to the orphanage for life-giving programs for the kids. Now, going in to our fourth trip, as of this morning, we have exactly the right amount of supplies and money that we asked for. I don't know why or how it happens this way. It's Providence perhaps. Whatever it is, we gladly accept. We like to think of this as affirmation that we're doing the right thing. We know that it's not because of us, but we're glad to be the ones who are tasked with looking after these kids, in some small way, for this period in our lives.


So to all of the donors, letter writers, and anyone who offers support, we say a resounding Thank You.

Northwest Media Inc. publishes lots of social learning material, including this poetry book. As I am working with teens in Indianapolis who are leaving foster care (or corrections) to live on their own, I have been trying to enter their world a bit. The poets in this book are all foster youth or former foster youth. Their work is impressive on so many levels, revealing great hope, pain, fear, despair, gratitude, resilience, and determination. These kids are not unlike the kids at Sovietsk, so I thought I would share some of their poems here and there, sharing a window into their worlds.

Escape From Reality

Isn't there a place

I can go

far away

from here

where I can find

peace and love and nothing troubles me

Where everyone

loves me

for who I am

and welcomes me with open arms

Is there such

a place on earth

Will you

show me the way

This is a place

I long to be

far away

from reality

Christina

Funding 2009-2010

We're excited to announce that KidsFirst Foundation will continue to fund the following crucial programs for the kids at Sovietsk this school year: speech therapist, math tutor, Russian language tutors, foreign language tutor, general tutor (all subjects), massage or cosmetology school for the grads. We are grateful for and encouraged by their support, which we know will have lasting impact on the lives of the children at Sovietsk.

However, there are a number of equally important programs from last year that are still in need of funding, so it's time to get creative. We are in crunchtime since the school year starts September 1 and these programs aren't yet fully funded. We need your help!

The orphanage director has identified the following financial needs for the upcoming academic year:

Soccer coach: $636
Boxing coach: $636
Touring instructor: $636
Guitar instructor: $636
Dancing instructor: $636
Drama teacher: $636
Music School: $240
Transportation fees to and from extra curricular classes and clubs: $804

The total for these programs is $4,860.00 .

We need your help! Any one-time donation of any size will assist us in covering these programs. We need your creativity! Any suggestions for fundraising, or grants available, or any employers who match contributions could help us meet this goal.

There are 2 main reasons we are committed to meeting this goal.

First, the children have had these programs for the last 2 years, thanks to generous funding. We have seen the success bred by these programs, and it breaks our heart to remove something that has become so meaningful in the children's lives.

Second, these programs have immeasurable value. It's easy to see why tutoring is important--we all know that education is key to success all over the world. But extra-curricular activites have value far beyond fun-and fun itself is a worthy pursuit for any child! Sports and music spur brain development, physical development, coordination, confidence, problem-solving, a whole host of life skills that translate across life domains. Most children in orphanages struggle with developmental delays, and the value of music, arts, and sports in increasing developmental competency has been proven time and again. The opportunity to take tours and fieldtrips helps children see a world beyond the orphanage walls and imagine greater possibilities for themselves. And obviously, the programs are useless if we cannot transport the children to participate! :)

While we can measure the practical impact of academic programs, we can never express how deeply these supplementary programs have affected the confidence and self-esteem of the children involved. These children are often overlooked, discarded by society, and expectations for them are quite low. Challenges on a stage or in a competition lead to encouragement and success, which builds over time to help these young children begin to realize their worth and potential. Add to that the knowledge of people who care from the other side of the world (who are willing to support these programs), and the impact is immeasurable.

SO, we would love your help with this. Please spread the word. Please ask anyone who may be interested. We know so many of you have donated toward the trip activities and supplies, and we thank you for that. This is why we need to cast a wider net . . . any help or suggestions are appreciated!

(Checks can be made payable to Children's HopeChest and mailed to 9240 Explorer Dr., Colorado Springs, CO, 80920-5007. Or, visit http://www.hopechest.org/, click on Give, and donate by credit card. Please be sure to mark all donations Sovietsk programming 2009-2010. and THANK YOU!)

Triple Update!

So, for the time, the blog has gone utilitarian. (All energies are going toward trip preparations!) Here are 3 updates:

Requisite Supply Update

Still hoping for 11 lipsticks/lip glosses, 35 bubble pipes (or a box of dixie cups and pack of straws to make our own), 28 small hand mirrors, face painting supplies, sugarless gum, stationary, $250 for school supplies, $150 for gardening equipment, funds for English lessons (see right), and LETTERS!

The supply drive has been so encouraging. Thanks to everyone who's contributing and to the kids of Bethlehem for writing tons of letters today!

Trip Plan Update

We have definite plans to visit some Tech schools where some of our graduates are attending. This is an excellent opportunity, both to open our eyes to the tech school experience and to build some long-term connections to be able to support the kids in the schools. We ask for prayers on this endeavor--opportunity awaits!

Update from the Discipler (who we will meet in September)

Dear Friends,

I don’t really want to worry you, but last time when I was in Sovietsk many of children there were ill. Most of them had high temperatures and running noses. Some of them were even in the hospital. But, the caregivers feel that everything will be alright very soon.

The life in the orphanage is in full swing. Every year in the spring they have “best of the Best” celebration where the students with the best grades and most achievements are honored.

Now the children and caregivers are occupied in the garden. They are planting vegetables, and also planting flowers in the flowerbeds. Each group arranges their flowerbed according to their own design. Even now, when they are only half done, they look very creative. I’m sure that when they finish the project, the director will choose the most beautiful. But this will be a very difficult task! The children told me about their visit in Yaransk on Victory Day. They liked the parade very much!

They also ask me whether Sarah and Ben are going to visit them this summer or not. They really hope to see you soon!

Summer is practically here. The children are looking forward for it. They are going to spend their summer in different camps, while some of them will be taken in the families in Dolbilovo. They are planning to go hiking throughout the summer, and of course all of them want to relax and recover from a somewhat difficult year.

From Ann Butorova

Supply Update

Thanks to all of you who are contributing to the supply drive for Sovietsk Orphanage! We have received lots of great support and some very creative ideas. We love that! Based on what I've heard and received from donors, we're still hoping for the following items:

16 lipsticks/lip glosses--for pampering time for our girls
20 hacky sacks--good bonding and gross motor building
35 bubble pipes--fun and soothing, good for stress and breath regulation
33 small hand mirrors (unisex)--for use in activities and for them to keep
face painting supplies--fun and nurturing!
sugarless gum--dental hygiene
dollar store stationary--to encourage letter writing
funds: $325 for school supplies, $350 for graduates, $150 for gardening equipment, and $43/child for English lessons (see right)
LETTERS!!!!!!!!!!!

See below for details, or email me if you'd like more info.

Graduates

We have 6 kids who are graduating from Sovietsk this year! Some are going to be welders, others machine operators. One will study to become a veterinarian, which is pretty uncommon for our kids. But they love animals at Sovietsk, so there is at least one example of someone following their interests. This is a bittersweet time for the graduates (and us) because they are now on their own. But it's also exciting because they are trying to make their way in the world. Fortunately, the orphanage's director, Galina is kind and supportive of the graduates. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they cross the Rubicon into adulthood.

Olga - Lyceum #1 to learn to be an operator
Oksana - Lyceum #1 to learn to be an operator
Alberto - Tech School #18 in Kirov to learn to be a facing worker
Andrey - Tech School #39 in Sovietsk to learn to be a welder
Ilya - Tech School #39 in Sovietsk to learn to be a welder
Svetlana - Tech School #38 in Urzhum to learn to be a vet

Supply Drive!

We have been very busy preparing for our September trip. We got the whole team of travelers together last night, and Ben and I are both now more excited than ever. We also have our supply drive going strong! We are still hoping for people who want to contribute in the following ways:

Donate items: We’re still hoping for: 2o lipsticks/lip glosses, 20 hacky sacks, 1 bag of balloons, 35 bubble pipes, 35 small hand mirrors (unisex), face painting supplies, and as much sugarless gum as we can carry. We could also use dollar-store stationary to encourage letter writing.

Donate money: This is currently our greatest need. We are still hoping to raise: $375 for school supplies, $500 to help new graduates get on their feet, $150 for sports equipment, and $200 for gardening equipment. We are also raising money for English lessons--$43 pays for a whole year for one orphaned child (you can donate toward this on the right of the blog). You can donate with a check payable to Children’s HopeChest—please mark ‘Sovietsk supply fund’ in the memo line.

Write a letter: Letters bring so much joy to the children! If you'd like to write a letter to one of the children at Sovietsk, email me.

If you know of anyone who would like to join these efforts, we'd love it if you spread the word.

We are so grateful for the donations we've received--a huge box of winter gloves, tons of nail polish, supplies for games, and some money and letters. We are so excited to visit these children, and we are SO excited to bring your love to them! Thank you for all you do, Sovietsk Supporters!

July 2009 Sovietsk Newsletter

Here's a note from our friends at Sovietsk...

Dear American Friends,

We are glad that you are writing to us! Thank you very much for your interesting letters and for you care and support. You have helped us discover a whole different world. Don’t forget about us! We are missing you very much. We want you to come to visit us again. We wish you a very good and sunny summer without clouds or heavy rains. We think about you very often. We hope to see you or hear from you soon.

Sarah and I are very excited to be heading back to them very soon. We're also looking forward to introducing them to some of our friends and family on this trip. Stay tuned for more from the July newsletter.

What we'll be doing in Russia

The trip is getting very close. The excitement at our house is nearly palpable. We've recently heard from the orphanage director about her plans for our time there. Here's a rundown:

-Help the kids with garden work
The kids raise their own vegetables and I think they're very proud of it. And it's so delicious and fresh. I'm sure I could learn a thing or two about how to raise a garden.

-Mushroom hunting
On our last trip, we had an unforgettable day at one of the nearby parks going after some mushrooms. But you have to be very, very quiet so you can sneak up on them. After gathering mushrooms we had a fantastic picnic. We're very excited to do this again. It's a great way to have fun and to connect with the kids.

-Visit Dolbiylova, the village
This is the place where we spent the day having a picnic (another one, yes), climbing rocks, hiking, and then having a second huge meal. They had to roll me back to the orphanage. But it was a lot of fun and our hosts were very gracious.

-Banya
Quite an experience. We've written a bit about this before. Suffice it to say it's certainly an interesting and culturally enriching way to bathe.

-Visit the schools and observe classes
We're very excited to see how they do school over there. Being a big supporter of education, I'm always interested in seeing this sort of thing. Visiting classes will also give us a chance to talk with the kids a little more about school and their education/career goals.

The director told us a little bit about what to expect from the kids and how to interact with them during less formal activity time.

-Older boys will like guitar, soccer, crafts in wood shop
-Older girls will like makeup, nails, etc
-Younger kids will like anything!

Needless to say, activities like this are a must. When you have a language barrier on top of emotional barriers, having something to do with the kids is a great way to connect and build a relationship.

doma international

Hey, have a look at this! It's from my brother and sister-in-law's non-profit called doma international:


"At doma, we are looking for 50 people to commit to just $50 per month for just 6 months. Help us lay the foundation for exciting things happening in HIV/AIDS baby houses in Ukraine, vulnerable kids and pregnant women in Uganda, and trafficked teens in Ohio. Contact me at daniel@domaconnection.org.

At doma we believe that care and compassion is more contagious than disease and despair. Be contagious."

For more, check out my brother's blog:

danieljclark.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/07/make-a-small-commitment-to-a-big-change.html

Weak = Strong

It's easy to feel tiny and inadequate when dealing with the fundamental and heart-wrenching effects of children growing up without a family. Through sending letters and visiting once a year with material, financial, and emotional support, there is really only so much we can do. The first time we visited Russia, we visited 7 orphanages, and I cried the entire trip for one fundamental reason: no matter what we do, these children don't have a mother or a father.

The reading and sermon at Bethlehem last week was over the text we chose when asked to lead a team session on our second trip to Russia. In 2 Corinthians, Paul is thankful for for his weaknesses--when he is weak, he is strong. I get that. When we get too caught up in ourselves, our plans, what we have to offer, we lose sight of our true goal: sharing peace and wholeness with 29 precious children. Our goal is not flashy or impressive. It doesn't command media attention or draw thousands of people to the mission. In the words of Pastor Felde, it is pretty unremarkable, really. We are simply hoping to be a part of restoring basic human dignity to a few sweet little souls.

Now that we have some people joining us (yay!), it's easy to feel a bit more pressure to impress. We want to show them the beautiful Sovietsk we've experienced. We want them to look into the eyes of the children and see what we see. We hope we can share the life-giving experience of spending time with our Russian family. We want them to fall in love, just like we have.

But in acknowledging how small we really are, in understanding our weakness, we don't have to 'strain for effect,' either in creating an experience for the travelers or in reaching out to our children in the orphanage. We can simply, humbly keep our eyes and hearts open and find ways to meet some needs.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Whenever I am weak, I am strong.

Day Three

On the third day of our trip, we typically get up kinda early and have a good, hardy Russian breakfast before departing the hotel for Sovietsk. The drive from Kirov to Sovietsk takes somewhere around ninety minutes. It goes by quickly because of the anticipation of seeing the kids and orphanage staff again and besides, the scenery is pretty nice.

When we first arrived at the orphanage on our last trip, the kids were very shy (some of them never stopped being shy). But it didn't take Katya long to warm up to Sarah again. She remembered Sarah from our previous visit a year and a half before. I had never met Sergey in person, but had exchanged a few letters with him. I wouldn't consider either of us to be conversationalists, but I was happy to meet him and I think the feeling was mutual. We also met some of the caregivers, orphanage staff, and of course, Galina, the orphanage director. She led us on a tour of the building and its grounds (a beatific setting, I must say) and then showed us to our rooms.

By then it was midday and time for lunch. We shared with our hosts a meal of borscht, potatoes, fresh vegetables, and fish. As is customary, following the meal I delivered a (somewhat awkward) impromptu speech telling them how excited we were to be there and how very delicious the food was. Galina also delivered a speech thanking us for coming. We were then directed to follow Galina to her office for a meeting to plan to the upcoming week. There wasn't much planning, really. She mostly just told us what we'd be doing for the next four days, which was fine with us.

Then we divided up by gender. I went with Vadim Petrovich, the wood shop teacher, and Sarah went with the sweet-voiced needlecraft teacher, Yelena. Part of the plan for the week was for the two of us to learn some skills from the kids. I would learn how to make things out of wood and Sarah was supposed to learn how to make things from thread and needles. Vadim Petrovich, who's an older gentleman, treated me and Misha (our translator) to a thirty minute PowerPoint presentation about all of the skills he teaches the kids in his shop. The presentation was unexpected, but actually quite informative.

After the presentation, we were able to spend some down time with the kids. There weren't many around at the time (most were away at summer camp) so we just sat down in the common area where the boys were hanging out and tried to strike up (and sustain) a conversation. Not a terribly easy task, but I think it was a good start toward getting to know each other.

One More Update

Director’s Notes… (slow to cross the ocean!)

Dear Friends,

I hope the New Year will continue to bring us happiness and joy. Since January we have much to do. We are preparing for coming holidays: the Shrovetide and the Women’s day. Let me tell you about the 23d of February, The Day of Country Defenders. We had a group of friends from Kirov. Seven students of the police college prepared a Zarnitza (orienteering), after it we had a tea party with presents and singing and playing the guitar. The children liked the holiday very much. I hope that the further holidays will be only better. I also want to let you know that all of us appreciate your financial support of the orphanage. This is a lot of help. We managed to buy skiis and bikes with the funds that you had provided to us. Thank you from all of us that take care of these children. God Bless you all, Anisiya Pavlovna Vachreneva

Prayer Requests… Please pray for all of the children at the orphanage and for the orphanage personnel.

It's a few little things that make a big difference. A guitar and extra funds means a special tea party with special guests--and special memories for our precious children. Bikes and skis mean exercise, fun, and transportation to town and to work for the older children.

We're getting ready to travel and planning how we can best continue to meet needs. We are hoping to be able to fund crucial programs and provide necessities as we have for the past 2 years. We are hoping to raise enough funds for English lessons in 2009-2010 (you can contribute on the right side of this blog!). Of course, we'll have a letter drive, as well as drives for little things that make a big difference (nail polish, supplies for therapeutic games, sports equipment, and the like).

All of this is thanks to donors like you! Believe us, we have no windfall of cash with which to support these children at the orphanage. Somehow, through partner organizations and individual generosity, it always comes together. We'd love for you to join us in thinking and praying, finding creative ways to care for our children and meet needs. No ideas or contributions are too small. They are so thankful!

Travelling: Day Two

We commonly begin our second day of a trip by waking up in Kirov City after spending the night on the train from Moscow. We're met at the train station by the local HopeChest staff, led by one of the nicest ladies in Russia, Olga. This first full day is usually relatively easy so as to acclimate to the time change and the surroundings. We check into a nice hotel, Gastinitsa Tsentralnya (that just means Central Hotel) and take a much needed shower before heading out for some food, acculturation, and buying supplies for the coming visit to Sovietsk. We spend some time walking around Kirov City. In the past, we've visited a beautiful Orthodox church within walking distance of the hotel. There is a department store where we buy the supplies we need for the orphanage (a quite interesting experience in itself). We can exchange our dollars for rubles there, too. Our team will get together and review the plans for the week and make any additional preparations. In the evening, we have a nice meal either at the hotel or at a nearby restaurant--last year we heard some pretty solid jazz at a local club, a pleasant surprise! The important part is getting some sleep before the real adventure begins. Next, we'll tell you about what it's like when we first get to the orphanage. Stay tuned.

Travelling in Russia

As we think about our next trip, we thought it would be good to go into a bit more depth about what it's like to travel through Russia. Here's a day-by-day breakdown of a typical trip with Children's HopeChest.

Day One-ish: In the morning, we leave our house and head to the Indianapolis International Airport. We fly from Indy to either JFK or Atlanta for a short layover before boarding the nine hour international flight into Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. On the plane I try to sleep (and fail) and Sarah snoozes off and on. After arriving at the airport, we go through customs and get our luggage. (Whatever you do don't make eye contact or try to be friendly with the customs agents.) We then meet up with one of HopeChest's Russian staff members and emerge from the airport and into daylight. The eight hour time difference means that it's already the next morning in Moscow. That's when the jet lag sets in and you realize just how upside down you feel. But it's okay, we know we'll adjust.

From the airport we head to the train station to drop our luggage in a locker and have Sbarro's for lunch (yeah, weird, I know but it's right by the train station and the food is decent). From there we head out for a little sightseeing. On our last trip we visited a picturesque monastery in the heart of Moscow. Sightseeing is a good way to ease into the new timezone and learn a bit about the country you'll call home for the next week and a half.

From there we head back to the train station and board the overnighter to Kirov. We usually book second class cabins. It's less expensive than first class but we still get some privacy, a bed, and a place for our luggage, which you don't get in third class. There's a dining car that sells drinks and food, but we usually eat bread, cheese and fruit that we picked up at a grocery before boarding. Each train car has its own attendant who brings you tea or coffee in the morning. The train rolls into the Kirov station early the next morning, but because of the jet lag we're usually wide awake an hour or so before we arrive.

I admit that the train takes some getting used to, but once you acclimate to the space and the feel of rail travel it can be really enjoyable. I usually sleep pretty well (it probably helps that I haven't slept for awhile) and you get to see some really beautiful and interesting countryside along the way.

Coming soon... what we do on the first day in Kirov City.

Caregiver's Corner

Another update!

Again, let me thank you for all your care for our children. Letters make their lives brighter. It’s a pity not all of the children get letters from their U.S. friends. They really wait for their letters. Not very long ago in our local newspaper there was an article about our summer guests Sarah and Ben. Children read and re-read this article. They miss Sarah and Ben very much! They send their love to them and ask to come to them this summer again. Thank you for your support,

From Irina Nikolaevna

First, we can't believe we made the newspaper! We had a few jokes from our trip to Dolbiylova about being ready for the media, but apparently we should have been. I am so curious to see the article when we return. We are so excited to visit again (have we mentioned that?) and bring more friends to love on these kids.

About the letters . . . it is so hard to have a few kids who are not getting letters and a few who are. We have 2 children left who don't have a pen pal at all, and we just have no way of knowing who is writing to their children regularly and who isn't. Every time we hear from the caregivers, they say they wish everyone would receive letters. We do, too! If you have a pen pal or are a child sponsor, please try to write each month--why not write today? If you know someone who is writing, ask them when they last wrote. Let's help each other! It's hard to keep up, our lives are so full. Not so for our children, who wait anxiously for the letters and ask for them each time the discipler visits.

We'll have another letter drive very soon. Last time we went, we brought so many beautiful gifts, but the letters were the biggest hit. Our fellow travelers will vouch for us after they see it themselves.

If you'd like to be a pen pal or a child sponsor, drop me a note and we'll get you set up.

Speaking the Language of Love with an Accent

Just the last year of MSW studies has increased the depth and range of my understanding of children who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect, as our children at Sovietsk have. Dr. Bruce Perry's The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog offers explanations based in psychiatry--brain science--and explores the long-term effects of early childhood experiences on development. I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about these children.

In the chapter called "Skin Hunger," we read of Laura, a little girl who was literally wasting away. She had plenty of food--she was on a high-calorie feeding tube diet--but her body could not metabolize the food because of emotional neglect. It is like a human runt syndrome. Without nurture and stimulation, the body's growth hormone shuts off. She was 26 pounds at age 4.

What I find extremely fascinating is that Laura's mother, Virginia, was truly doing everything she knew to nurture Laura. She knew to feed her, bathe her, change her. But she didn't know to hold her, sing to her, smile at her. She didn't know how to experience love herself, so she didn't know how to share it with her daughter.

Virginia had no attachment at infancy--she was moved from home to home until the age of 5, well after her brain had been 'programmed' with how human relationships work. Virginia never experienced the repeated, patterned stimuli children need to learn emotional give and take or empathy. She didn't even learn to associate human contact with joy. However, from ages 5-18, she lived with a kind, caring family who taught her strong values and moral direction. Her cognitive brain developed with an understanding of right from wrong, but her emotional foundation was weak and incomplete.

The hope in this is that with proper intervention, Virginia learned to give Laura what she needs. Laura grew into a healthy young woman. But as Dr. Perry says, the scars for both of them remain. Dr. Perry tells us that if a child doesn't learn a new language before puberty, the child will speak the new language with an accent--the brain cannot accommodate the information as completely as it could have at an earlier developmental stage. He says the same for Laura and Virginia--while they have learned how to smile and relate in social situations, their natural language is more withdrawn, reserved, even sad.

This guides our work at Sovietsk. Some of these children experienced attachments as infants, some never have. Some have experienced pain and fear that I can never understand. Most of them missed some important emotional developmental milestones, and they've had to learn to function with pieces of themselves missing. Those who grow up to have relationships and families of their own may find themselves lost in a foreign language--they truly, honestly do not know what so many of us feel as natural and fundamental. They speak the language of love with an accent, if they can learn the language at all.

When we go, we hope to expand their love vocabularies. We look them in the eye. We touch them gently and appropriately--no violation or threat involved. We respect them unconditionally, simply for being who they are. We are patient when they struggle with conversation, we remember that they are learning to navigate a new world. We listen when they finally can share. We just love them. We cannot fill the void in their hearts and minds, but we pray to the one who can. And we hope, hope, hope they gain enough understanding to find a way to love again, even just enough, so their children can experience what they have missed.

Photo Credit: David Madison

Discipler's Update

Here is a letter from Ann, the new discipler at Sovietsk:

Dear Friends,

I am glad that I continue working with Sovietsk as it is very rewarding. The children are healthy; two of them went to the sanatorium to have some rest in January. During their winter holidays, they went to Kirov several times for charity New Year and Christmas show in a café. They also had an exhibition of their handmade works. The headmaster was really proud of the results. Some orphanage graduates came to visit their teachers and friends.

On February 23rd there was a marvelous party for all children. There was a group of guests from Kirov who organized the event. Children liked everything, and I’m sure they will be eager to share their emotions. Now the orphanage is preparing for the Shrovetide and the Women’s Day holiday. Shrovetide will take place on the 1st of March, and it will surely be very bright and memorable.

Thanks for your writing and continuous support. Your support means a lot to all of us.

From Ann Butorova

We are looking forward to meeting Ann on our next trip. She has a lot of enthusiasm and is very committed to the children, which is just what they need!

Sponsor funds pay for Ann's visits to Sovietsk, as well as for special events and celebrations like you read about above. They also pay for arts and crafts lessons, which allows them opportunities to meet other kids and have the exhibition. Trips to the city and extra visitors are wonderful for all children, and they are special and rare for children in the orphanages.

February 23 is Defender of the Fatherland (or Motherland) Day, and Shrovetide is similar to Mardi Gras (without the raucous party atmosphere) in that you eat pancakes and Lent begins, and of course, Women's Day is March 8.

Our kids go to the sanatorium fairly often, as some of them have some health challenges. In Russia, though, sanatorium is quite different than we think of. It's a place for the children to go when they are ill, so they can rest, relax, receive treatment, and keep other children from getting ill. Above, you see some of the special treatments the children at Sovietsk receive, as many of them have latent tuberculosis--though they are not sick while at the orphanage.

More letters to come!

Re-emerging

Looks like May 2009 was a sparse month for blogging--but it was full of personal and professional activity. With that winding down, we'll be diving full-on into preparations for our 2009 visit to Sovietsk. Our team is settling in to be an excellent group of individuals whose skills and strengths will complement each other well. And the kids will be so excited to have more visitors!

We just got another update from the orphanage--as always, heartwarming and hopeful. I am ready to get back to see them!

Here is the first part, a sweet note from some of the littlest children:

Dear American Friends,

We want to congratulate you on the past St.Valentine’s day. We celebrate it, though it is not our holiday. We exchanged handmade valentine cards. Now we want to congratulate you on this holiday with a small poem and we want to wish you lots of love.

Roses are red, Violets are blue, You are so kind, We love you.

Vova L., Lesha K., Larisa K.

We just got that last week, so there's an example of how long it takes our letters to travel.

Here is the sweetest part, though: none of these children have sponsors! Both Vova and Larisa have pen-pals, though, and Lesha is brand-new to the orphanage (I believe--this is the first I have seen her name.) Sponsorship is so important, and we are thrilled to share that 18 of 29 children now have sponsors. But letters are the MOST important!

Have we said that enough here?

Of the 29 children, 4 of them do not have pen pals. 3 of those children will graduate soon and must face the world, and 1 is a sweet little boy who has overcome many challenges in his little life. Sponsorship is wonderful, and it requires a financial commitment of $34 a month. But letter writing can have an immense impact, and it is FREE! It only requires an email or a letter every month.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a pen-pal for a child in the orphanage, please drop us an email. For those of you who are already writing, the kids said it best:

You are so kind, we love you.

English lessons

We're in the midst of trying to raise support for a year's worth of English lessons for the kids at Sovietsk. During our most recent visit, Katya told us that she wants to learn to speak English so that when she grows up she can be a translator. We realized that she probably came to this conclusion because she really looks up to her discipler, who also serves as our translator. This is not a far fetched goal. There is a young lady working for Nadezhda Fund (the Russian arm of Children's HopeChest) as a translator who is also an orphanage graduate. Because she took English lessons at the orphanage and proved proficient at the language she was able to continue studying at university, eventually earning a college degree. That is not something that many kids in her situation are able to do for myriad reasons, but we want to give them options and opportunities. English lessons can make the future wide open for the kids through employment, education, and confidence.


$43 pays for a week of English lessons for all 29 children at Sovietsk Orphanage! We already have two weeks paid for, but we need more. Please consider helping us meet our goal. If you look to the right hand column on this web page you will see a badge through which you can donate for a year of English lessons. It's really easy to do.


Please designate funds towards Sovietsk English Lessons. Thank you!

Happy Mother's Day

In Russia, they don't celebrate Mother's Day today--it's all wrapped into Women's Day in March. But on Mother's Day, I think of our children at Sovietsk, and of their mothers, and of the 4 million children worldwide who are without their mothers, and of their mothers, and of the children of all ages who miss their mothers, and of the mothers around the world who are longing for their children.

I also think of my mother, of the example of grace, wisdom, and courage she has given to me, and I am humbled and grateful to be her daughter. I think of my grandmothers, my great-grandmothers, my mother-in-law, my sisters-in-law, my aunts, my cousins, the grandmothers and foster mothers I work with, the orphanage caregivers, my friends who are mothers--young mothers, experienced mothers, mothers-to-be, and I am thankful for all of the women who give of themselves so that children can grow into strong, loving, and giving adults.

And, I think of the Sovietsk Supporters--some who are mothers of growing children, some with children who are grown, some who are soon-to-be mothers, some who are mothers at heart, some who are individuals with love to give--who give of themselves to nurture hurting children, and who expect nothing in return.

To each and every one of you, thank you for giving your heart. And Happy Mother's Day!