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For years, Buckner Orphan Care International has sent teams of
American volunteers to orphanages overseas. They spend time holding
and sharing God’s love with the orphans.
These children often receive little attention because of a low
staff-to-child ratio in the orphanages.
But the question that usually remained in the air immediately
after the groups leave is:
How to carry on that ministry after the American teams are gone?
The answer to that time-worn question was recently answered when
BOCI inaugurated its "Grandmother Program" on September 20, 2002
in St. Petersburg, Russia.
"The four women in the Grandmother Program have already made a
tremendous impact on the children
and staff," said BOCI program director
Amy Norton. "They are all ladies
from Greater Grace Church in St.
Petersburg… " Norton said the concept
for the program is basic: provide
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mature Christian women to work in an orphanage holding, feeding
and caring for children with the mandate to pray over each child
daily. The team is working in Orphanage No. 15, a hospital and
assessment center for abused, neglected or abandoned children.
Buckner Follow-up Team leader Olga Vlasenko said the change in
many of the children was evident even after only a week of the
program existence, noting that the "Grandmothers" pray for the
children "many times a day, especially about their future."
"When we visited No. 15, I could see that where the women worked
with the children, the children became more joyful," Olga said.
"One girl started to walk because the women spent more time with
her. She has never walked before, just spent time in her bed."
The program has been well received by staff members, Norton said.
"The assistant director, Marina, told me, ‘We need people, but
just like your people – Christian people. It is a great testimony
to the doctors about Christian people.'"
Please prayerfully consider sponsoring a Grandmother for a specific
amount of time; one month, six months or even a year. You can
help make a difference in the lives of orphan babies and children
in Russia by sponsoring the Grandmother Program with a monthly
donation of $100.
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