Least of These Children's Home

In May 2003, I was sitting at the dinner table in the LOT Children's Home in Polotsk, Belarus. As I was eating borscht and cabbage salad, I looked at the children eating a hearty meal. They were smiling and lively, eating with relish. A stranger walking into that room would never guess that those children were not born brother and sister! No one would guess the sordid details of their past lives. They are such a well-adjusted, loving family that it is easy to forget where they came from. Suddenly I could see them as they had been - a small boy looking in garbage cans for food; a girl protecting herself from nightly rats; a boy being abused by his mother; a small girl watching her mother work as a prostitute... I became emotional as I was hit with the full impact of how awesome it is to change the life of a child!! I knew at that moment that Trips with a Mission needed to open a second children's home in Belarus.

Praise God that our new Children's Home outside the capital city Minsk has been open since September 2003. Because of government regulations and red tape, it takes a while to get children but so far we have 4 children. Oleg and Olga, a lovely young couple have dedicated their lives to raising God's forgotten children.

Our new children have heart-breaking background, even at such a tender age. Baby Nastya was abandoned at the hospital by her mother. She received no personal interaction by the hospital staff other than having her diapers changed every 12 hours, an occasional bath and have a bottle propped up in her mouth. Now she is showed with love and affection!!

Maxim, age 3, was so neglected that he was never fed anything but broth. He had never seen or eaten even common food such as bread and bananas. He had never learned to chew or see a fork. Maxim was underdeveloped in his motor skills and speech. His new mother, Olga has worked one-on-one with him for 6 months so that Maxim is now at the same level as his peers! Praise God for people who unselfishly open their hearts to others!