From Liz Hulley Sukhovskaya:
Hello, everyone!
This is just a quick note to share a little bit about how orphan ministry is going. There are some needs that are pressing, and it’s wedding/honeymoon time soon for me.
Orphanage #27 in Kolpino
Many of you know of this orphanage or have even visited there, or met the kids at camp several summers ago. This is where Nastia and Masha (Hulley) spent their early years.
It had been increasingly hard to organize any sort of continual ministry at this orphanage. Contact decreased as kids graduated and counselors grew distant.
After a visit in the fall with my dad, it didn’t seem like there were open doors, and I stopped going.
Meanwhile, through the Russian online social network “vkontakte,” a woman contacted me who had been visiting the orphanage. We confirmed that we were both Christians and seeking to reach the kids for Jesus.
There is a new director now and this woman (Irina)’s church isn’t allowed to visit anymore, but they are still in touch with many of the kids.
Now I know that at the times when I was praying, there WERE Christians setting their feet in orphanage #27. Pray with me that God would be working there now, even when there seem to be a lot of dead-ends.
Becoming a family, Part 1
Maybe you recall my newsletters from a few years ago when I was actively working to promote foster care/adoption among Russian believers. Where are the families for these kids? Surely they aren’t only in America? Don’t any Russian families want to open their homes?
Having caught a glimpse of how tedious and exhausting it can be for local people to take any sort of step forward in foster care/adoption, I’m now quite inspired when I hear of anyone who has risen to the challenge.
Here is an update from Alina, a foster parent who has worked hard and recently gained custody of two siblings, Danya and Nastia. Their older brother is of legal age and continuing with his studies.
Their last two newsletters [in separate posts] contain some specific needs. Alina mentions some tangible ways that you can help. Also, let me know if you’d like to be added to a separate mailing for her supporters.
Here are a few other prayer requests and news items that Alina asked me to share:
-Nikita (the older brother) has passed his entrance exams for the Polytechnical Institute, which will give him a full ride. The government has also given him a room, which is very close to the metro, and in a 2-rm apartment shared with another orphanage graduate.
-Their mom has schizophrenia and resides in Pushkin, a bit outside of the city. She lives with an elderly blind woman who attends a Protestant church regularly. Please pray for the children’s mom to visit this church also and to get to know Christians.
Becoming a family, Part 2
Andrei and I will be united in holy matrimony on July 30, 2011. We have just 2 weeks to go and virtually all of the planning has just gotten off the ground in the last few days.
But in the last few months God has seen us through our civil wedding ceremony and all the steps related to updating my documents. Those were no small victories! It is exhausting to even look back at that process at the moment, but you can read some more details on my blog.
Also, Andrei got a visa to the U.S. and I should have an exit visa by the beginning of August, so we’ll be able to make a little tour of my home country!
Thanks for all you do to support me and the work in Russia!
Love,
Elizabeth
