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!

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!

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!

говорите по-англииский?

Do you speak English? That's among the first questions I ask when trying to communicate in Russia.

In Russia, we would be lost without our translators--many of whom speak multiple languages. Our feeble attempts at the Russian language are met with some level of enthusiasm, simply because Americans are not known for making much effort to communicate in other languages. It's fun to ask the kids "Что это?" "What is this?" and then try to repeat back to them what they said. There is usually a lot of giggling involved, and it gives our hardworking translators a break.

The translators and disciplers become some of the biggest role models for the children in the orphanages. They are well-spoken, well-educated young adults with good jobs. They help build connections between American friends and the kids. They are young enough to still be "cool" but old enough to share some wisdom. Most importantly, the disciplers are committed to the children and spend quality time hearing their stories and offering support. Misha, here, was called "Uncle Misha" by the end of our week at Sovietsk. We are grateful for our friends who have such a direct, positive impact on these young lives.

Last visit, when I asked the children what they wanted to be when they graduate, among the most common answers was "a translator." Of course, it makes perfect sense. What a wonderful goal. But, there are no English lessons at the orphanage.

So, we looked into it. We discovered that hiring English teachers for the next school year is a feasible option. Galina suggested 18 hours a week would cover lessons and extra tutoring for all 29 children, and that would only cost us $43 a week. To cover the whole school year, we would need about $1720.

It's no small number, but it really is doable. We've funded recreational activities, arts, tutors for necessities like math and grammar, and important enhancements like university preparation and driving. Imagine the opportunities that would come from English lessons--increased language skills in general, better prospects for university, maybe even a career working where most orphaned children can hardly dream of. Galina feels strongly that English lessons would help the children, and she said that there is a lot of motivation to study English, especially among the older children.

A few children from HopeChest programs have grown up to become translators and help children just like themselves. Not every child will, but one of our children might. Just imagine the possibilities for Lena, Katya, Sergey, Andrey, all of our boys and girls, if met with this opportunity.

SO, we have a new project going. We are attempting to collect $1720 in $43 increments before August 2009, so the funds can be used for the coming school year. Could you help us out? Donating is easy--click on the badge to the right. Or, could you please consider posting the badge on your blog, Facebook, etc? Just email me and I'll send you the code. Any suggestions about finding funds are welcome!

And Большое спасибо, big thanks, to all of you who care for the children of Sovietsk.