Saint Mark United Methodist Russian orphanage mission trip

Saint Mark United Methodist recently completed its annual Russian orphanage mission trip.

 “Our visits mainly encourage the children in their studies and to share the love of Christ with them,” said participant Debbie Morris. “We carry bags of letters and small gifts from their sponsors.”

In addition to letters and small gifts, the church group took pinewood derby cars for the children to construct and decorate, scarves for tie-dying and pennants for dorm room decoration. All activities focused on the theme “Team.” 

The Belaya Kholunista Orphanage is home to 58 children ranging from first through ninth grades. It’s located in a small town of about 14,000 residents approximately 650 miles east of Moscow. 

Saint Mark Mission funds help to buy craft supplies and items from a wish list, such as school supplies, socks, toys and medicines. 

The outreach is coordinated through Children’s Hope Chest, a faith-based organization in Colorado Springs, Colo., that helps orphans in Russia, India and several African countries overcome poverty and abandonment.  

For the past five years, Saint Mark members have volunteered to be American Pen Pals to one or more of the children and to send them an email at least quarterly. Sponsors are asked to commit to $408 annually to underwrite Children’s Hope Chest representatives in those countries who visit orphanages each week to help the children develop life skills such as making good choices about relationships, who to trust and how to spend their time. The support also covers small birthday and holiday gifts for the children.

Morris said the letters and photos from American Pen Pals become treasured keepsakes.  

“They flourish knowing that someone loves them, thinks about them and cares for them,” Morris said.  

Having gone on five mission trips to the same orphanage, Morris has seen friendships form with the children who have shed their shyness and initial suspicion of the motives of their American visitors. The children look forward to the church member visits, and some graduates come back to see their American friends again.

Morris feels the orphans’ impression is: “They love me enough to come back.”