Former Soviet Union (MNN) ― This is the fourth and final installment of our series on the devastating situation facing youth of the former Soviet Union.
Of the thousands of children in orphanages across Russia, 84 percent are never adopted by national or international families. Instead, they remain in the system until they reach the age of 17 or 18 and are forced to enter society at that point.
Growing up in this system, many kids stop forming attachments to others at any early age because they have come to realize that these people will come and go and never care for them as they long to be cared for.
Sixteen years ago, Ari Arfaras and a team from The Mission Society were teaching Christian ethics and morals in Russia's public school system.
Working with these kids on a daily basis, Arfaras and her team started to realize their plight and their desperate plea for attention and a sense of belonging.
So, they began visiting the orphanages: "It wasn't just a four times a year, let's come in and see what we can do to help, which is great thing. But we were looking [at], 'What can we do beyond that? How can we build relationships with the kids and with the staff that might be different than just coming in and celebrating holidays? How can we get involved in the lives of these kids?'' Arfaras said.
Through their regular visits, they hoped they would make an impression.
"Our dream, our goal, was to build relationships that would last beyond the walls of the orphanage," Arfaras said.
As the Mission Society team showed the kids how much they cared, they also wanted to show them that their heavenly Father cared even more. However, not long after this team began their visits, Russia passed a law separating church and state. Since they were school teachers, they could not openly discuss Christ unless questioned by the kids.
"Our hope was that they would see Christ living in us, and then when we would have the opportunity to share with them who He is, they would say, 'OK, that's what I saw.' And it would be much easier for them to be able to believe that there's a Father in heaven who loves them, if there are people around with skin on who [also love them]," Arfaras said.
The team also hoped their testimony and the relationships formed would last after the kids left the orphanage, giving them a chance to openly speak of Christ.
Arfaras said it was slow going because many kids left the orphanage, and they never heard from them again. However, they will not give up hope for the kids to return, maybe in a moment of deepest need.
Though Arfaras left Russia two years ago, her colleagues continue the work today.
This October, Arfaras is excited to return to Russia for a reunion of sorts with the kids who continue to keep in touch with The Mission Society.
Pray for each kid this team reaches and for the message of Christ to break through the walls they have constructed around their hearts. Pray that they will realize the "next best thing" out there is not that great and that Christ is the only person they will find true belonging and fulfillment in.
Thank you for joining us for this four part series. Please continue to pray for these youth who have great odds stacked up against them. You can read Part 1, Part 2 or Part 3 if you missed them previously or if you would like to impact the future of these youth through Russian Ministries, Slavic Gospel Association or The Mission Society.
