I heard this from a wise and good person, years ago:
Every child deserves a childhood.
For most of the children in our lives, there’s no question. We provide for them, and childhood “happens.”
They eat well, they sleep safe, they run and play and laugh, they learn and grow.
They never have to worry about the basic necessities of life.
But when a child’s parents die, or disappear into a netherworld of addiction, what happens to their childhood?
Their childhood is suddenly very much in question. They have a lot to worry about.
I love to see the orphans laughing and playing, clowning around at the Children’s Village at Kobryn in Belarus.
It makes me smile to see them mugging for the camera when our photographer Oleg visits.
To them, their antics are just for fun.
To me, their antics send a gratifying message:
Nothing to worry about here! It’s my childhood!
These children will grow up just as strong and secure as kids who grow up in their own biological families.
They’ll have the same joyful memories, the same educational foundations, the same lifelong medical care.
The same potential for a wonderful future.
Friends of New Thing have the joy of helping the Children’s Village orphans...
as well as many, many other children and adults in need all over Belarus, through the work of our “Response of the Heart” team:
foster families, the homeless and poor, children and adults with disabilities, hospital patients, abused and abandoned children, and more.
God bless all who give so generously.
Thanks for journeying with New Thing.
More adventures to come!
Much love,
Doug Brendel
(Photo by Oleg Yarovenko)
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