Greg Yoder and the rest of the MNN/WAY FM team wait in the airport on their way to Russia. (photo courtesy of Greg Yoder)
Russia (MNN) ― On the heels of our series about the hardships and negative influences the youth of the former Soviet Union face, our own Greg Yoder is currently in St. Petersburg, Russia to lend a hand in these kids' quest for hope.
Arriving on August 14 and serving with Orphan Outreach, a team of 21 Mission Network News and WAY FM listeners are at a Russian orphanage sharing Christ's love in whatever way they can.
Yoder said, "With HIV/AIDS a pandemic throughout the former Soviet Union, and drug abuse increasing-- especially among orphans, it's believed that most of these kids will either end up on the street, in prostitution, involved in organized crime, or dead by the time they're 18. So we're going to just love on the kids, do Vacation Bible School, [and] play games with them."Currently, summer camps are in progress throughout Russia. Because of this, Yoder said they will actually be able to minister to kids from two other orphanages, in addition to the one they will be visiting.
Able to reach more kids than if the trip were scheduled for another time, the team hopes Christ's love will shine through all of their actions before they depart the country on August 22.
Join the team in prayer: "Because we're going to love on them and share Jesus with them--of course we'll have the local church with us as well--we're praying that they'll see that love and want it and desire it; and perhaps they'll get involved in the local church," Yoder said.
As the team will be intentional in each of their actions, they also pray that the appeal of Christ's love will dissuade orphans teens from choosing life styles of prostitution, drug abuse, or crime, like so many of their peers have chosen.
Click here for Yoder's itinerary and more details about what they will be doing in Russia.
