MISSION OF LOVE

By Linda Linonis

an orphanage in russia

Volunteer-in-mission team leader makes 17th trip to orphanage for the disabled.

For some people, the thought of visiting a foreign orphanage is too sad, depressing or over-whelming.

Try imagining 17 trips to an orphanage where all the children have disabilities. That’s just what the Rev. Kathryn Adams has done.

What prompts her to lead the volunteer-in-mission team? “It’s the incredible spirit of the children and the love they give us,” she said.

“These children are not sad, and they are not depressing to be with,” the Rev. Mrs. Adams said. “These children are filled with the joy of simply being alive, and they do whatever it takes to be included in activities.”

Her seven-member team recently returned from a visit Dec. 29-Jan. 13 to Renewal Orphanage in Dmitrov, Russia, where 60 children live. The children all have physical handicaps. They are at the orphanage north of Moscow because they were abandoned by their parents or their parents can’t care for them because of their handicaps and lack of finances.

“Some have no use of their arms, some have no use of their legs, some have no use of either arms or legs,” the Rev. Mrs. Adams said. “There are twisted spines and missing hands.”

She noted that many of the children use wheelchairs, and others use crutches or walkers. “The precious children accept their disabilities and do the best with what they have been given.”

Mrs. Adams said the one thing that the children want is attention from the visitors. Though the team took various gifts for them, time spent with the children was the most important gift of all.

“The smaller children fought for our attention, and were only satisfied when they found a place in our laps,” she said. “Their deepest desire is to be held and loved.”

Mrs. Adams said older children were happy to be with the team members and enjoyed the attention.

Team members were: the Rev. Russell Adams, pastor of Western Reserve United Methodist Church in Canfield, and husband of the team leader; Sarah Hennessey, director of youth ministries at Hudson United Methodist Church and the Adamses’ daughter; Colleen Hosler of Wexford, Pa., member of Ingomar United Methodist Church; Claire Jencson of North Royalton, member of North Royalton United Methodist Church; Tamara Belen Sanchez-Kapostasy of Alliance, member of Christ United Methodist Church; Corey Sees of Canfield, member of Canfield United Methodist Church; and Christine Shehadi of Youngstown, member of Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church. Hosler, Jencson, Sanchez-Kapostasy, Sees and Shehadi were on their first trip.

Mrs. Adams said this trip was planned so that they could celebrate Orthodox Christmas (Jan. 7) and New Year’s there. Though the weather was bone-chilling (the coldest day was 14 below), Mrs. Adams said the team had a chance to sled ride, ski and make snowmen with the children. “It was something to watch children ski ... some using no poles because of impaired hands and arms,” Mrs. Adams said.

They also visited a park in Dmitrov, where there were multiple ice sculptures, including an ice slide and a nod to the new year of 2010. Children who were able were taken to McDonald’s. The team also bought ice cream to share and found out the children hadn’t had it for two years.

On Christmas Day, the children and team watched a Christmas play presented by an Orthodox church that is next to the orphanage. The team distributed Christmas gift bags, according to age and gender, that contained toys, candy, stuffed animals, markers, crayons, notepads, hair accessories, Barbie dolls, cars, Slinkies, Silly Putty, stickers, watches, balls and jewelry.

“The children loved the new hoodies were brought for them, and some of them wore them the entire time we were there,” Mrs. Adams said.

She noted that one boy, who had no arms, came up to her and with a big smile on his face thanked her for the gifts.

The team also had collected funds through their churches. The team spent $1,250 on new shoes and boots for the children and $1,000 for five vacuum cleaners for the orphanage. Mrs. Adams said the government-run orphanage takes good care of the children.

Mrs. Adams said though the team is there to give the children attention, bring gifts and donate to the orphanage, team members get much more in return. “What we all came to realize was that the children gave much more to us. We were astounded with the love that they shared with each one of us,” Mrs. Adams said.

“God has blessed us to be his blessing,” she said.

Mrs. Adams said a hard fact to face is that the children don’t have access to the kind of medical care available in the United States. Shehadi, who is a senior nursing major at Youngstown State University, said, “From a nursing perspective, they are using old methods. There are many procedures that should have been done, but haven’t.”

Mrs. Adams said one girl, Tanya, was thrown from a second- story window when she was 2 years old by her alcoholic mother. A broken ankle resulted. Now 10, she is finally having surgery in February to correct on ongoing problem.

The team was impressed with how the children help one another, from feeding someone who has impaired use of hands to helping someone on crutches get around.

Sanchez-Kapostasy wrote about her experience — “My prayer while staying at the orphanage was ‘Lord, help me to show these kids how much you love them.’ Though the language barrier was a challenge, it forced me to rely on God’s power to work through me.” ... “Though they couldn’t understand the words, I believe they could sense that they were deeply loved.”

XFor information about a trip, contact Mrs. Adams, director of Protestant Campus Ministry at Youngstown State University, at (330) 743-0439.