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I have so much to tell you!!!

Let me start with a really good day I had last week...

I sat down  for a coffee with  Vladislav Mikailovich Nikitin, the director  of  House of Mercy. He is a great man who truly cares for the disadvantaged children. He was very much interested in my thoughts on the girls group and what could be better.   

In addition he recorded my thoughts on international adoption for his future lectures.   It was a very pleasant time to also learn about different aspects of running a social rehabilitation center.

Later that day, I got  interviewed for the news about the ban of Americans adopting from Russia.

Sadly, the government prohibited that segment, but I still got to talk about my mission at House of Mercy. Click Here to see the news.... Fast-forward it towards the end-ish.

Girls Group

So I lay down and close my eyes, when I open them I am back in my big bed in California. I 'm feeling something unusual… I'm sad and wanting to go back to St. Petersburg. I’ve missed my girls already… Suddenly I feel a kiss and think it’s my mom. I wake up and see Dasha’s face. “Good morning Miss Ciano!” she says. 
Oh the joy I felt.. 
I was still here (:
Don’t get me wrong I do miss my home and family in California..But I know this was a message from God to enjoy every single moment I  still have here with sisters! ♥

To the right is a photo of Dasha. Please keep her in your prayers, she just got transferred to an orphanage and is almost 18 years old. I pray that she will have a place to go to after she ages out. 

I have been able to share the Gospel with each girl. I don't know why  but it still surprises me when someone never heard about Jesus. Pretty much to every girl this was all news.

I thank God for using me to plant His seeds in their lives.

Polina, Katya, Tanya, Katya K, Nastya, Dina and Nadya asked Jesus to be part of their life!!!

Katya K, was filled with so much joy that moment. This girl never EVER cleaned up or helped anyone unless she was forced to. But just seconds after she accepted the Lord she helped another girl clean up a spill! Even the caregiver noticed and mentioned it to me...  Praise God. 

With Nastya I especially felt the Holy Spirit in the room, she couldn't wait to invite Jesus into her heart. 

Tanya started to come up to me and ask more and more about God:)

I pray God continues His work in all these girls, keeps them strong and grounded in their new found faith! 

Thanks to my mission sponsor Frank, I was able to give a Bible to every girl. They were very grateful for it. Many girls made presents and wrote thank you notes to me.

Today however was a really sad day; I had to say goodbye to them. The girls left for camp and I moved to work with the little kids.

Last 4 weeks have been such  indescribable experiences. I have grown so close to my sister and it's hard to say goodbye. I hope to stay in contact with them through email and ect..

I have learned SO much from them about the mind of an orphan; their needs, why they act the way they act and so much more!!! 

There were good and bad times, rough and easy, boring and fun... But in the end God's will was done, HE kept me strong and equipped.   

The Harbor

Tens of thousands of orphans in Russia are moved out of state institutions each year at age 17. Most of these orphans enter a cycle of self destruction, often falling into a life of crime. Many of these stories end in suicide. The founders of The Harbor recognized a profound gap exists between the orphanage and life outside. The Harbor fills this gap by placing orphans in residential family-style communities, giving them an education, and teaching them skills necessary to maintain a home and thrive in Russian society.

http://www.theharborspb.org/

During my stay in St. Petersburg,I was hoping to help out at The Harbor. But life got a little too crazzy for me here. I did  though meet with Luba Yarovaya, the National Director of The Harbor. She took me on  tour of the girls apartment. The Harbor is an incredible ministry!  Check out this video...

I gave The Harbor Ministry a donation that came out of the funds I raised towards my trip. They used it to buy groceries and other  necessities  for a single mother trying to raise 3 children. Olya absolutely didn't have anything to feed her kids and the holidays are in the air. I'm glad God used my connection with The Harbor to bless this women with supply of food for 14 days. I also want to thank all of you who contributed financially towards my mission here. This is also a present to Olya from you!

Now I'm working with children from 4 - 6 years old.  

 JOY THEY ARE!!!!!

God is in Control

I am going on my third week with the girls and to be honest it's harder than I thought it would be to live here.  The director was right in the beginning to warn me about how difficult they are, but I thought I'd seen and experienced it all and was ready. 

The deal is that I came here with a passionate heart to serve,  to love,  to bless, and to share the Gospel with them, but as time went on I started losing that desire. It had to do with just the whole atmosphere in the apartment; the constant yelling, cigarette smell, selfishness and evilness in the air. The girls are so misbehaved that the caregivers have lost all hope in them. They say it’s useless to try to help them, they won’t change. I guess I started believing that too. 

I have not yet given them their presents because the caregivers believe they  don't deserve them… So I’m saving it for when they start to behave better or for New Years.

Even though the girls respect me, I can’t stand how they act towards the caregivers. They practically spit in their faces and couldn't care less about what they have to say.  It’s hard to love them and want to help them because they are SO ungrateful and you feel that anything and everything you do is worthless to them.

As you can see, I had a rough patch last week with my emotions towards the girls. But like usual God came to the rescue with the scripture. He reminded me that I must keep my faith IN HIM strong...“If your faith is not strong, you will not have strength enough to last” Isaiah 7:9b With God all things are possible; I must believe in what HE can do, NOT in what I can do. 

"You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." Mathew 17:20

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.seek his will in all you do,and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6

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Jesus has me here for a reason and I mustn't lose sight of that for a second. He specifically placed me to work with these girls… I was originally going to come to Russia during the summer (these girls weren't here) but due to my Russian passport renewal process, I couldn't.  Then I requested to work with the little kids, but there was no room there. The administration here told me that this group of girls is the hardest they have ever had…God made it obvious that He wants me here, at this time, with these girls.  

I am here doing His work… planting seeds… It is not my job to change them… God is in control.   If I don’t see change in them by the time I leave, it’s okay for I know I have not failed God. He has a plan and I am just one of His instruments.  I thank God for this mission because I am growing closer to Him  and learning a lot more about myself.

I do love these girls!!!!  God has restored in me the desire  to serve,  to love,  to bless, and to share the Gospel with them.

THREE GIRLS ACCEPTED THE LORD AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR. 

Dina, Polina and Katya... 

Please keep them in yours prayers as they begin their  new life with Jesus:)

Feeling Fresh..

Hello there! Yes I am alive and well(: 

I am having a great time getting to know these girls. Last week I learned about some of what they like, what they are in need of and  their personal  stories. It was interesting to just sit back and  observe them. One of the things I noticed is that they need confidence. They are very beautiful, capable young ladies but don't believe that or try to succeed in school or anything else for that matter. 
So I thought about myself and what gives me confidence and motivation in life, and of course  its in the knowledge of that I was made wonderfully by God and for His purpose.  I find self assurance in His Word.
But I know these girls are not yet on that level with God.  So I thought of a more practical way that helps me feel more confident. When I am all put together: hair is brushed, clean, nice clothes, smell good.. etc.. When I feel good about my appearance, I feel good about myself therefore have more confidence and even want to go out there and do something....(to show off my outfit;0)... 
Anyways, this weekend I went shopping for some presents for the girls and I decided to give them something for their hair, personal hygiene, face, some winter things like gloves and socks etc...
I hope and believe that this will start to help them feel better about themselves. 

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

                                                               Ephesians 2:10

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.          

                                                      Psalm 139:13-14

Being confident of this, that he who began a good

 work in you will carry it on to completion until the

 day of Christ Jesus.

                                                 Philippians 1:6

The Hidden Truth

House of Mercy isn't technically an orphanage; they call it a social rehabilitation center. The kids’ parents here are in the process of either getting their child back, or losing their parental rights. That being said, most children at House of Mercy want to go back to their parents rather then get transferred to an orphanage.  And that being said…

 I asked each girl about how they got here, and most answered, “I just skipped too many days of school, or my apartment was a mess when a social worker walked in.” Surprised, that no one said it was because they weren't being taken care of at home; I further asked, “Were you treated well at home?” And the most common answer was, “I was beaten, but I got used to it, so it’s alright.” Each girl hopes to return home no matter what the circumstances are. They believe that it is their own fault that they are in here. One girl said, “If only I would have gone to school and cleaned up the apartment, I would be with my dad now.” Another girl told me that her mom put her here as a punishment for skipping school and when she is 18 she can come back and apologize.  From everything else I heard, I could tell that’s just her moms’ excuse to not raise her child, but Sveta is blind to that truth.

These girls are in major need of acceptance, attention, faith and love. They are not worried about going back to their broken homes as long as they belong to a… “family”…  The reality is that they get teased and looked down upon everyday at school for being the “orphanage kids.” So if going back to a violent   home will make that nickname “orphan kid” go away, well… then be it!  That’s the way they think.

 It’s a sad truth, but I too, once thought and felt that way, I wanted to go back to my mom…I understand them so I can connect with them, but it breaks my heart to know their pain.  I’m almost re-living it with them. There is a light in that dark tunnel though, I found it in Jesus.  I hope to guide them to that light as well... With God all things are possible! He can heal them, He can find them a place where they will be truly accepted and loved. I know there is hope for each one of these girls and God has a plan for them. I pray He uses me greatly and His love through me would be the key to their healing, wholeness and hope.

Note: Childrens names were changed.

Girls, Girls, Girls..

I made it to St. Petersburg! It is so beautiful here. Everything is covered with snow, I'm in  winter wonderland. I arrived here with a a peaceful heart, feeling ready for whatever awaits me. Yesterday I started my work at House of Mercy, social cohabitation center. 

The Director placed me to live in an apartment with 15 girls, ages 11-17.  He warned me that these girls are very difficult and have a lot of problems, and that I need to keep all my belongings locked up. I definitely feel the  hurt, abuse, and neglect from the past, on their faces...  Today, I walked some girls to school because yesterday they ran off. They told me that the other students at school were bullying them (pulling on their hair and bra straps, and one girls even got hit in the eye.) This is their reality everyday... 
Last night two phones were stolen right out of the caregivers desk and last week a girl was sent to a mental health institution. Even though living here is difficult, I fell in love with these girls. They are so in need of love, warmth, attention and faith.  They hug me non-stop and  one girls even asked me to tell her that I love her.
I have already shared my story about how God helped me,with couple girls, and they were very interested  and one girl said,   "I read my Bible today." I am excited to work here, I think  its funny that they call me Miss. Ciano.. But more importantly I am their friend.

Ps. there is no WiFi at the apartment, I'm at McDonald's right now.. So I will do my very best to keep you updated.