Arefino

We took the bus to Arefino today. It is a village about 1.5 hours east of Rybinsk. The bus was an experience in itself. Very rusty, rickety and run down, but it did have ruffled curtains, go figure? Michelle bought our tickets early to ensure we got a seat. If not, we would have been standing, since the bus was jammed with people. The roads everywhere outside of Moscow are in horrible condition. Some of the potholes are so big, I think you could lose a small child in them. Our bus bumped along through the countryside. I love the quaint village houses which I have discussed in this blog on our 1st visit here. There are a very few that have seen some repairs in the last several years, most are very shabby and almost uninhabitable.

The orphanage in Arefino is one of the most run-down and bleak. They do not get much funding for anything. As we walked through the gate, I couldn't believe the state of the playground. There was only a couple of rusty metal poles to climb on. We went in and set up to do a craft project with the children. We started with the younger children. How sweet and beautiful they were. They were so excited to have the little craft project that we brought. Even though, once again, I couldn't understand what they were saying to me, they sure seemed like they enjoyed my attention and help. There was one little guy, who looked like an elf that was very attracted to Ken. He giggled and laughed as Ken helped him with his project. We found out that he just recently came from the orphanage that Ruslan is in. In fact, he said he remembered Ruslan. The children in Ruslan's orphanage all graduate to this one in Arefino when they turn 7. This is where Ruslan would have gone in just a couple of months on his birthday. That knowledge really shakes me.

The older children were lining up chomping at the bit to get in for their turn. We barely had enough seats for all of them. There are 51 children in this orphanage from 7 to 16 years old. We only worked with some of them today, since about 18 have gone home for spring vacation. The rest (33) are true orphans. The ones that went home to family, are social orphans. There parents are just too poor to care for them, so they live in the orphanage. The children we worked with all enjoyed making the key chain projects we had for them. I was surprised that even the older boys seemed to enjoy it. At every step of the process, they looked to us for approval on what they had accomplished. They were so unsure of themselves. The small amount of recognition we gave them, really seemed to lift them up. I can't express how much my heart goes out to them.

I really admire Michelle for being able to do this wonderful ministry week after week. It is heart breaking work, but she brings such hope and joy, even if for only an hour or two. These children deserve so much more. I truly hope that we can help her with some of the goals she wants to achieve for them. This summer she is hosting a mission team that will come and build some decent bathroom stalls. Right now, they just have an open room with windows. No privacy at all. Thank goodness I brought my own TP because I noted that they had old books next to the commodes so that the children could tear off a page to wipe themselves. One of Michelle's goals is to be able to get them some decent playground equipment. I hope that we can come home we will be able to help do some fundraising to support that effort. What a miracle it would be for these children.

As we left the children were lined up outside to walk us to the taxi that was waiting for us. They were all so grateful for our short visit. You will be in my heart, bless you children of God.