Matthew 19 : 13 - 14 The little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the Disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of Heaven." Needy Feet Orphans For countless orphaned children across the lands of Russia, the reality of life is grim and tragic. A young boy or girl ends up in a state-run orphanage because their parents have died or are too poverty stricken to take care of them. Some end up in an orphanage because the parents moved from the country and they left their children behind, the kids go to school one day and find their parents are gone when they return. Still others are taken away from their parents because of abuse, poverty or neglect and are placed in an orphanage. Once there, the meager provisions, inadequate clothing and inadequate staffing levels take their toll on children that should normally be happy. Many of these children develop deep psychological scars and withdraw into themselves. Many in Russian society view the orphaned child as a "second-hand citizen" and treat them accordingly. When they turn 18, the child must leave an orphanage unprepared to face an uncertain world that frequently sends an already traumatized life into a downward spiral. Some are able to go on to colleges and begin to make a career for themselves in their society. A few of the fortunate ones will be adopted into loving families at an early age. Most are left to fend for themselves on the streets. Who will love and care for them ? Most of the orphanages do an admirable job of trying to care for the kids on very limited resources. They are limited by number of staff members and funding for the operation of the orphanages. By some estimates, there are over 4 million orphans and abandoned children in Russia roaming the streets. For the street children there is little in the way of a future. Some will spend time in prison before they reach their 18th birthday. Some will commit suicide due to the hopelessness of their situation. There are almost 1,000,000 children living in orphanages. These children are the most vulnerable and needy of Russian society and it is incumbent upon Christians to use our resources to do everything that the Lord calls us to do for these children. In January of 2003, the Project Hope - Russia Day Center in Saint Peterburg invited us to attend their Christmas celebration with the orphans. There were over 40 orphans there that do not have any relatives to visit or care for them. These bright children are fed and clothed by orphanages that are already operating on a shoestring budget that gets tighter every year. The Director of this orphanage told our group that there is a crisis looming in that they are forecasting a large increase in the number of children living on the streets as time goes on. The orphanages are already overbooked, what is going to happen to these children ? Please click to our "How you can Help" page to see how easy it is to make a difference in these children's lives. Go to Top of the Page