I received good news from Russia yesterday morning.  Anya sent an e-mail filled with Christmas good-wishes.  Anya is one of the talented and dedicated staff persons at the Ministry Center in Ivanovo.  Anya and her co-workers provide programs and support services for orphanage graduates living in the city. 

Anya mentioned Grisha in her letter.  You might recall Grisha from one of my earlier articles, Grisha’s Story: You didn’t forget about us (For more articles, visit the Orphan Care article category to the right), or read more in the daily travel log I posted during last May’s mission to Ivanovo (See the Orphan Care Project page).

Anya reported that Grisha has been coming to the Ministry Center more often, and that he agreed to deliver some of the letters I had written to his friends.  This news is encouraging because the entire purpose of our work there in May 2009 was to motivate orphanage graduates to begin utilizing the Center and its staff.  Grisha’s use of the Ministry Center is evidence that he wants to connect with people who care about him and can guide him as he finishes school and seeks employment.  This is huge!     

Relative Blessings

Today is Christmas Eve, a time when we tend to reflect on the many ways God has blessed our lives.  This is especially easy for most of us.  Consider this, if you are reading this article it means you own or have access to a computer connected to the internet.  Grisha’s only access to a computer is at the Ministry Center.  With the help of the staff there he can access the internet for his studies. 

This time of year we also tend to reflect on how blessed we are to have family and friends we trust and who love us.  It is sad to consider that many young people, like Grisha and his friends who are orphans, do not have family members they can count on. 

Where Will They Spend Christmas Eve?

Where will Grisha spend Christmas Eve?  Anya mentioned in her letter that the Ministry Center is hosting a Christmas Eve party today!  I hope Grisha goes.  And I hope our other young friends go to the party too — Yana, Vova, Anya, Slava, Alyona, Andrei, Sergei, Ira, Natasha, Nastya, Zhenya, and others — to connect, and be reminded that they are not forgotten.  To our young friends in Ivanovo, Russia I write this short letter –

To the young graduates of the Petrovsky orphanage and others among you,

I wish you a warm and happy Christmas.  I wish you a Christmas filled with hope.  I wish for you a new confidence that the coming year will be better for you than all the years before.  Most of all, I wish for you a confidence that I will never forget you.  I am proud of your hard work, I hope you are too!  Do not ever give up on your future — God will never give up on you.  I hope to see you again soon.  In the meantime enjoy your holiday, and trust that God loves you, and I love you.

Grace to you, and peace,

Jeff (Christmas Eve, 2009)

© Copyright by Jeffrey Y. Harlow, Ph.D (2009).