The Third Wish

The last of the Three Wishes from Sovietsk staff was this:

Please pray for the boys and girls who need to finish this school year well, for the graduates to find their way in life, and for the director and staff who take care of the children.
Ben's brother often quotes Tito Colliander, saying "Prayer is action." I know we have a diverse group of readers, and I expect no two of us pray the same or even believe the same. So I am pondering what 'prayer is action' may mean to our kids at Sovietsk . . .

The boys and girls need to finish this school year well. Some of our kids are on the verge of leaving school without graduating--we have17 and 18 year old ninth graders, on their last chances. A 15 year old girl wrote she was having difficulty with her studies, but she is working hard and 'hop[ing she] will cope with everything.' She has so much to cope with . . . here in the US, we hear all the time how parental involvement is a huge factor in academic success. The kids at Sovietsk deal with developmental challenges and emotional barriers, with so many of their basic human needs lacking, and without parental support. They need love, encouragement, and help. They are trying to learn not only math and language and science, but discipline and problem solving and a healthy mix of trust and independence. They need strong, dedicated adults as mentors, tutors, cheerleaders, and unconditional friends.

For the graduates to find their way in life takes more of the same. They are so young, and they are expected to navigate an adult world without the emotional or financial support of a family. The odds are truly stacked against them: 50% of orphan graduates in Russia live on crime, 30% eat with money earned through prostitution, 60% cope through drugs or alcohol, and 15% are unable to cope and end their own lives.

The directors and staff know this, and they do all they can to help the children learn to live and love. I can hardly imagine the burden of filling a mother's role for 28 children with extreme emotional needs. This is why the directors partner with other people who care, and this is why they send special requests for letters, for warm clothes, for extra prayer and support.

So, through the prayers and actions of Sovietsk supporters, our kids have more adults in their lives: coaches, tutors, music and arts and crafts teachers, and disciplers Lena and Ann. They have friends a world away who express genuine and unconditional concern. They have opportunities to study within their strengths, whether medicine, science, driving, or language. They have a place to come home to when they go on to tech school, as Galina maintains an open home for the graduates. But there is so much more to do . . .

I have focused quite a bit on the positive things happening at Sovietsk, and we are so thankful for the positive impact you have had as generous donors and supporters. But I think it is time to unveil some of the more painful realities of institutional living. As I begin to share more and more about our kids, please consider how our prayers, and our actions, can shape their futures. We would love to hear your thoughts about what else we can do to help our kids at Sovietsk meet a brighter future.