On Friday we had reason to visit the local orphanage located
across the Molotschna River in the village formerly called Prischib. It was a visit that I looked forward to and
dreaded at the same time. I looked
forward to it because I wanted to see how many of the children I would
recognize from two years ago. Just
seeing them would give me a sense of peace that they were alright. I dreaded it because our visit would raise a
false hope in some children that we were going to rescue them from their
loneliness and give them the loving parents that they obviously longed for. Both feelings came into play during the
visit.
We were invited to the orphanage because it was having a
program for all its residences at which a number of the orphans would
perform. As the Mennonite Centre is the
only local organization with stage lights and a smoke machine, they wanted to
borrow our equipment and have Dema, our manager, operate it for them. The program was sponsored by two elderly
gentlemen who were former orphans from this institution.
We got there early so Dema would have time to set up the
equipment. Mary and I were soon
surrounded by children of all ages trying to interact with us. They were fascinated by my big Pentax camera
and wanted to touch it; maybe even mug for the camera and then come back to look
at it in the display.
The program was great but what really got our attention was
the interaction with the children. One
16 year old girl stayed close to Mary.
She had very limited English but was desperately trying to
communicate. She showed Mary a worn
note. It was written in English and had
been sent from the United States and said, “Don’t be concerned, we will come to
get you. Love and hugs, Mom and Dad.” She obviously treasured the note but looked
like she no longer believed it. Mary
gave her numerous hugs and the girl followed us to our car. This girl is the one on the left with other
performers crowding in to get in on a picture as well.
I sat at the front of the hall in order to get better
pictures. The boys right behind me were
eager for my attention and there were many arms stretched out to try to touch
my camera. In all the tangle of arms, I
was suddenly aware that one boy had reached out but instead of touching the
camera was stroking my arm. All I could
give him was a smile of acceptance.
I enjoyed the concert.
The performances ranged from amateurish to quite professional. The older students with the support of some
returning graduates did some excellent singing of folk songs as well as
performing a Ukrainian dance routine.
They were so good I was sitting there wondering how to bring them to
Canada for a fund raising concert.
Issues with visas and travel logistics would make it complicated.
At the end of the concert, each performer got a prize. These prizes consisted of a small statuette
together with a present. The presents
were the shoe boxes supplied by the Samaritan’s Purse organization. I have seen these shoe boxes collected in my own
church but never imagined I would be in a place where they were handed out. These shoe boxes are supposed to contain some
practical items, such as a tooth brush, as well as a small gift to the
recipient. I sat there hoping that the individual
donors of these shoe boxes had been generous in what they included in their
shoe boxes
I was relieved to see a number of their former graduates
that I recognized from 2 years ago. Some
of them are studying at nearby universities and it looked to me that they were
doing well. I was quite aware that I
remembered only the more high profile children.
What about the other less talented children that were struggling out in
their own world with limited or non-existing supports? Ten percent of orphans commit suicide in the
first year after they have to leave the orphanage at age 18. I was thankful for the support we are able to
give to this orphanage through the Mennonite Centre. The Mennonite Centre has also supported the
work of John Wiens, a missionary from Canada, who has set up a half-way house
for orphans to acquire some work skills before venturing out on their own.
Our drive home from the orphanage was a silent one as we
were in our own thoughts and dealing with our own emotions. I was reminded of a story my aunt told me
shortly before we left Winnipeg. She
told me of the two Russian orphan girls in the village of Alexanderwohl who had
been kept alive in 1925 by the village when they shared their limited food with
them. These two girls had begged my aunt’s
family to take them along to Canada.
This was impossible as they lacked any of the required paper work. It is interesting that after 88 years, this
story is still fresh in my aunt’s mind.
I also do not expect to forget the orphans I have seen in Ukraine.
Mary and I continue to enjoy our work at the Mennonite
Centre. Each day brings its own issues
and struggles. We have quickly passed
the half way mark on our time in Ukraine.
Next week we have to go to Kiev on business. Look forward to this adventure.
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