Where were you 13 years ago? I can barely remember where I was – although I know it somehow involved me wearing tube socks, basketball shoes and Umbro shorts (middle school… I won’t go there).
For my friends David and Amy McDurham, 13 years ago marks the beginning of their journey to start a family.
Now, it typically doesn’t take 13 years to start a family – unless that is, God’s plan is for it to take 13 years. You see, when they began their journey so long ago, God already knew who their little girl would be. She would be born in Ethiopia in 2007 and her name would be Eleanor Yanet. Ella. And she would be beautiful. She would be a McDurham.
God’s timing isn’t always our own. His will doesn’t always make sense to us. But his will and timing are always perfect. The McDurham’s story is proof of that.
Today I am leaving with David and Amy on a two-week trek to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for what I already see as an epic love story – one that will surely be filled with emotions across the board. I will chronicle our trip as best I can for you, hoping to do justice to the experience which I am certain will change many lives – including my own.
Please be in prayer for David, Amy and Ella! And check back soon for photos and updates. Only 30 more hours to go…
- Jenny Pope
31 October 2008
17 October 2008
Russia Blog Diary, Entry Six
Scott Collins is blogging about his experiences in Russia as part of the 2008 ‘Shoes for Orphan Souls’ mission trip. This is Scott’s first trip to Russia with Buckner since 1999. He is vice president of External Affairs.
She Stole My Heart
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – I never knew until today that the way to my heart is through my hands.
Baby Home No. 16 here is a testament to commitment and perseverance. I remember it as one of those places I was unable to fully photograph or explain because I couldn’t capture the smell.
Today it is as fine as any facility you’ll find in the United States, thanks to the work of Buckner and our donors. It really is a marvel.
The last time I was here, children were kept in ground-level cribs that looked more like stock pens for cattle. Today, the home has tremendous rehabilitation rooms, bright, open play areas, and row after row of neatly spaced baby cribs.
Back then, there was maybe one caregiver for every 10 children. Unattended children would stand up with one leg tied to the crib bars and rock themselves for stimulation. Now, there are ample numbers of loving women engaging with the babies at every turn.
The place even has an small indoor swimming pool used for therapy that was donated by Buckner.
I was enjoying the renovated facilities and even more, I was enjoying taking dozens of photos as the team I’m with put new shoes on the feet of the children. Talk about Kodak moments.
And then Natasha Voytakova told me about Masha, a little girl in the next room.
She is two years and eight months old. Masha had been adopted by a Russian family and taken into their home. No one knows when.
But yesterday, the family changed its mind and brought Masha to Baby Home No.16. Just like that. With no explanation. Traumatized doesn’t even begin to explain the look on her face when I walked into the room and saw her sitting alone on a tiny sofa.
Suddenly, I was no longer a photographer. I put the camera down, held out my hands and Masha entered my heart.
We sat down on the sofa and I cradled her in my arms and immediately she knew what to do. She rested her head on chest. I could feel her breathing as she nestled into my embrace. And with every heartbeat of hers, I could feel my heart being torn apart.
People on these trips often comment, “I could just take them all home.” To be honest, I don’t often feel that way. But I did today.
I didn’t know it, but the rest of the group had left. Natasha came back looking for me and it was all I could do to hand Masha over to her caregiver.
As hard as it was for me to be pulled away from this precious little girl, I can’t imagine what it must have been like for her to have been pulled away from her “family.”
But here’s the thing. I know that in Baby Home No. 16, Masha will receive the extra love and attention she needs right now. And I know that Buckner helped make that possible.
And in case you’re wondering, she was moved to the top of the list of adoptable children and a Russian family is already interested.
She Stole My Heart
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – I never knew until today that the way to my heart is through my hands.
Baby Home No. 16 here is a testament to commitment and perseverance. I remember it as one of those places I was unable to fully photograph or explain because I couldn’t capture the smell.
Today it is as fine as any facility you’ll find in the United States, thanks to the work of Buckner and our donors. It really is a marvel.
The last time I was here, children were kept in ground-level cribs that looked more like stock pens for cattle. Today, the home has tremendous rehabilitation rooms, bright, open play areas, and row after row of neatly spaced baby cribs.
Back then, there was maybe one caregiver for every 10 children. Unattended children would stand up with one leg tied to the crib bars and rock themselves for stimulation. Now, there are ample numbers of loving women engaging with the babies at every turn.
The place even has an small indoor swimming pool used for therapy that was donated by Buckner.
I was enjoying the renovated facilities and even more, I was enjoying taking dozens of photos as the team I’m with put new shoes on the feet of the children. Talk about Kodak moments.
And then Natasha Voytakova told me about Masha, a little girl in the next room.
She is two years and eight months old. Masha had been adopted by a Russian family and taken into their home. No one knows when.
But yesterday, the family changed its mind and brought Masha to Baby Home No.16. Just like that. With no explanation. Traumatized doesn’t even begin to explain the look on her face when I walked into the room and saw her sitting alone on a tiny sofa.
Suddenly, I was no longer a photographer. I put the camera down, held out my hands and Masha entered my heart.
We sat down on the sofa and I cradled her in my arms and immediately she knew what to do. She rested her head on chest. I could feel her breathing as she nestled into my embrace. And with every heartbeat of hers, I could feel my heart being torn apart.
People on these trips often comment, “I could just take them all home.” To be honest, I don’t often feel that way. But I did today.
I didn’t know it, but the rest of the group had left. Natasha came back looking for me and it was all I could do to hand Masha over to her caregiver.
As hard as it was for me to be pulled away from this precious little girl, I can’t imagine what it must have been like for her to have been pulled away from her “family.”
But here’s the thing. I know that in Baby Home No. 16, Masha will receive the extra love and attention she needs right now. And I know that Buckner helped make that possible.
And in case you’re wondering, she was moved to the top of the list of adoptable children and a Russian family is already interested.
16 October 2008
Russia Blog Diary, Entry Five
Scott Collins is blogging about his experiences in Russia as part of the 2008 ‘Shoes for Orphan Souls’ mission trip. This is Scott’s first trip to Russia with Buckner since 1999. He is vice president of External Affairs.
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – One works for the multi-national company DeLoitte and Touche. Another is training for the 2012 Olympics and the third is looking to launch his career in filmmaking.
All three are orphans and all three readily admit they have Buckner to thank for where they are today.
Yana Karpovich
She is 23 and graduated with honors from her university last summer after she and her younger brother spent five years living with a Buckner foster care family.
Yana is shy, but her shyness belies a determination that is evident when you talk to her. Ask about her dreams and she will tell you in very specific terms what she wanted.
First, she wanted to enter the university and study international management. Once in the university, she wanted to “graduate well.” And having accomplished her first two dreams, her third was to find a job that would allow her opportunities for advancement.
And while Yana knows what she wants, she also knows what she doesn’t want. She doesn’t want to repeat the lives her parents lived. Her mother died when Yana was just 15 and her father was nowhere in sight.
She knows the Buckner foster care program gave her brother and her each a chance; a chance they are both making the most of. Her brother in the university now studying to be a counselor so he help kids who are going through traumas he knows all too well.
And that’s Yana’s next dream – for her brother to graduate well and get a good job.
For children who are where she once was, Yana offers this: “Never give up and never lose faith in people. Don’t be angry and set high goals. And don’t stop.”
Ekaterina Bankerova
She is 19 and has been an orphan since she was 3. Ekaterina spent 13 years in two different orphanages and eventually ended up in a Buckner program at Orphanage No. 9 under the watchful eye of Anatoly Ulyanov.
It was when she was connected with No. 9 that her teachers and caregivers realized that Ekaterina was an athlete.
“I had a dream as a child, but I thought it was impossible for me to accomplish it,” she said.
That dream was to ride a bicycle on a world-class level. When she was 15, she started competing and winning. She was invited to the All-Russia Championship and won the bronze medal for her age group.
Buckner helped get her moved to Orphanage No. 9 and has provided scholarships for her, enabling her to continue her training uninterrupted.
“I could not have made it without Buckner,” she said.
When she is riding her bicycle, Ekaterina said it’s important to “clear your mind and go for the finish and avoid any distractions.”
Her daily regiment of training includes riding between 70 and 120 kilometers a day. And her competitions have taken Ekaterina all over Russia and to Italy, France and Germany.
Her advice: “Life is very long and in spite of your background, if you have a desire and goals you can succeed. You need to believe in yourself.”
Edward Zholnin
To be honest, I’m not sure where to start in describing Edward. He’s 22 and I’ve never had a conversation with anyone that wore me out more than my talk with Edward.
He is the most intense young man I’ve ever met. For one thing, unlike most people who are talking through a translator, Edward looks right at you rather than at the translator.
He is an actor and his long-term goal is to become a filmmaker. But don’t think Hollywood here. Edward may well become Puskin with a film camera. Don’t ask him about his favorite film because you won’t know any of the ones he mentions. His tastes are more of the film festival variety.
Edward’s mother left him at the hospital where he was born. He has three brothers, all from different fathers.
He was placed in a babies home in Puskin just outside St. Petersburg and started performing in kindergarten. “I have always had a great love for the arts,” he said.
When he arrived at Orphanage No. 60, a teacher discovered his talents and helped nurture Edward.
“An actor must act with his heart,” Edward said. But for Edward the orphan, that hard because his heart was broken.
Like the others, Edward made his way to Orphanage No. 9 where the possibilities began to open up for him. Along with his acting, he is also a poet.
Today, Edward lives in the Buckner Transitional Home in St. Petersburg and attends the Academy of Theatrical Arts. He was one of 30 accepted in his class out of 700 applicants.
His goal is make it to the Institute of Cinematography in Moscow and become a director or producer of films. Edward is very clear about the purpose of movies. “They are not just entertainment. They are a testimony – a metaphor that really touches me.”
Reflecting on his life, Edward said his philosophy is that while there may be “a thousand unhappy days, one second of happiness makes up for a thousand bad days.”
He said he’s grateful that living in the transitional home and receiving a Buckner scholarship enable him to concentrate on his studies without working.
I walked away from my evening with these three orphans drained, but gratified knowing what we do does make a difference and I had just seen it.
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – One works for the multi-national company DeLoitte and Touche. Another is training for the 2012 Olympics and the third is looking to launch his career in filmmaking.
All three are orphans and all three readily admit they have Buckner to thank for where they are today.
Yana Karpovich
She is 23 and graduated with honors from her university last summer after she and her younger brother spent five years living with a Buckner foster care family.
Yana is shy, but her shyness belies a determination that is evident when you talk to her. Ask about her dreams and she will tell you in very specific terms what she wanted.
First, she wanted to enter the university and study international management. Once in the university, she wanted to “graduate well.” And having accomplished her first two dreams, her third was to find a job that would allow her opportunities for advancement.
And while Yana knows what she wants, she also knows what she doesn’t want. She doesn’t want to repeat the lives her parents lived. Her mother died when Yana was just 15 and her father was nowhere in sight.
She knows the Buckner foster care program gave her brother and her each a chance; a chance they are both making the most of. Her brother in the university now studying to be a counselor so he help kids who are going through traumas he knows all too well.
And that’s Yana’s next dream – for her brother to graduate well and get a good job.
For children who are where she once was, Yana offers this: “Never give up and never lose faith in people. Don’t be angry and set high goals. And don’t stop.”
Ekaterina Bankerova
She is 19 and has been an orphan since she was 3. Ekaterina spent 13 years in two different orphanages and eventually ended up in a Buckner program at Orphanage No. 9 under the watchful eye of Anatoly Ulyanov.
It was when she was connected with No. 9 that her teachers and caregivers realized that Ekaterina was an athlete.
“I had a dream as a child, but I thought it was impossible for me to accomplish it,” she said.
That dream was to ride a bicycle on a world-class level. When she was 15, she started competing and winning. She was invited to the All-Russia Championship and won the bronze medal for her age group.
Buckner helped get her moved to Orphanage No. 9 and has provided scholarships for her, enabling her to continue her training uninterrupted.
“I could not have made it without Buckner,” she said.
When she is riding her bicycle, Ekaterina said it’s important to “clear your mind and go for the finish and avoid any distractions.”
Her daily regiment of training includes riding between 70 and 120 kilometers a day. And her competitions have taken Ekaterina all over Russia and to Italy, France and Germany.
Her advice: “Life is very long and in spite of your background, if you have a desire and goals you can succeed. You need to believe in yourself.”
Edward Zholnin
To be honest, I’m not sure where to start in describing Edward. He’s 22 and I’ve never had a conversation with anyone that wore me out more than my talk with Edward.
He is the most intense young man I’ve ever met. For one thing, unlike most people who are talking through a translator, Edward looks right at you rather than at the translator.
He is an actor and his long-term goal is to become a filmmaker. But don’t think Hollywood here. Edward may well become Puskin with a film camera. Don’t ask him about his favorite film because you won’t know any of the ones he mentions. His tastes are more of the film festival variety.
Edward’s mother left him at the hospital where he was born. He has three brothers, all from different fathers.
He was placed in a babies home in Puskin just outside St. Petersburg and started performing in kindergarten. “I have always had a great love for the arts,” he said.
When he arrived at Orphanage No. 60, a teacher discovered his talents and helped nurture Edward.
“An actor must act with his heart,” Edward said. But for Edward the orphan, that hard because his heart was broken.
Like the others, Edward made his way to Orphanage No. 9 where the possibilities began to open up for him. Along with his acting, he is also a poet.
Today, Edward lives in the Buckner Transitional Home in St. Petersburg and attends the Academy of Theatrical Arts. He was one of 30 accepted in his class out of 700 applicants.
His goal is make it to the Institute of Cinematography in Moscow and become a director or producer of films. Edward is very clear about the purpose of movies. “They are not just entertainment. They are a testimony – a metaphor that really touches me.”
Reflecting on his life, Edward said his philosophy is that while there may be “a thousand unhappy days, one second of happiness makes up for a thousand bad days.”
He said he’s grateful that living in the transitional home and receiving a Buckner scholarship enable him to concentrate on his studies without working.
I walked away from my evening with these three orphans drained, but gratified knowing what we do does make a difference and I had just seen it.
15 October 2008
Russia Blog Diary, Entry Four
Scott Collins is blogging about his experiences in Russia as part of the 2008 ‘Shoes for Orphan Souls’ mission trip. This is Scott’s first trip to Russia with Buckner since 1999. He is vice president of External Affairs.
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – Vanya got his new shoes today and no matter how many times I see it happen, it’s always the greatest thing I’ve ever seen.
Vanya was at Orphanage No. 40 here. It’s filled with boys and girls who have a variety of problems, the most noticeable being vision. Most wear glasses that sit crooked on their faces. Some have an eye covered with tape and a patch.
This is one of the first places I remember giving shoes to the children on the first Shoes for Orphan Souls mission trip nine years ago.
I remember Orphanage No. 40 so well because we shot a lot of video of the kids getting shoes that day in 1999. It was video we eventually used to edit our first Shoes for Orphan Souls video.
But I remember No. 40 for an even more vivid reason. It was here that I spent some special time with another Vanya. Vanya had only recently been moved to No. 40. I had met him on a previous trip to St. Petersburg, so seeing him that day was a reunion.
Vanya suffered from vision problems because he was hydrocephalic, meaning he had severe water on the brain. I wrote about him and even posed for a photo – one we actually used in Buckner Today.
As a result of that article, several people contacted Buckner wanting to help Vanya and he eventually received shunts that alleviated the pressure on his brain. Now, Vanya lives with a Russian family that adopted him a few years ago.
Today, as I watched Scott Matthews place shoes on a little boy’s feet, I did so through the viewfinder of a video camera. Part of my work on this trip is shooting video for a 10-year anniversary Shoes for Orphan Souls DVD we’re producing. Next year marks the 10th year Buckner has sponsored the Shoe program.
Watching Scott playfully tickle the boy and hearing them both giggle was beyond description. And then Scott got down on the floor and joyfully removed the boy’s old shoes and replaced them with warm winter boots.
The boy was proud of his new shoes and I couldn’t help but notice that what should have taken a couple of minutes stretched into 15 or 20. It was hard to tell who was having more fun – Scott or the orphan.
When they finally finished, they walked our of the room together, hand in hand. And I was reminded again what I thought the first time I saw this. Putting shoes on the feet of orphans is one of the most Christ-like things I’ve ever seen.
After they’d left, I realized I didn’t know the boy’s name. So I replayed the video I’d shot for one our Buckner follow-up team members and asked the boy’s name.
His name is Vanya. So again today, like nine years ago, Vanya got his new shoes and I’ll never forget it.
14 October 2008
Russia Blog Diary, Entry Three
Scott Collins is blogging about his experiences in Russia as part of the 2008 ‘Shoes for Orphan Souls’ mission trip. This is Scott’s first trip to Russia with Buckner since 1999. He is vice president of External Affairs.
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – Would you know a miracle if you saw one?
We usually measure miracles against the ones we find in the New Testament. You know, things like walking on water, turning water into wine, healing lepers.
I saw a miracle Sunday and I knew it right away. But first, a little background.
It was getting dark on a cold November evening in St. Petersburg nine years ago on my last trip here. The group distributing shoes to the orphans headed back to the hotel for the night and three of us along with Natasha Votyakova, the new director of Buckner Russia, took a side trip.
Crammed into a small car with camera bags on our laps, we drove through street after street until finally arriving at an imposing brown gate that swung open for us.
We made our way through the snow to the office of the director of the hospital for children that would forever become known in Buckner lore as “Hospital #15.”
The director greeted us warming, but cautiously. Dr. Anatoly. That’s all we knew. And while he was cautious, he was also passionate about his work and the work of the hospital.
Hospital #15 is the first stop for hundreds of orphan children in St. Petersburg. This is the place where street children are brought and where babies abandoned at birth are left. This is literally the front door to the orphanage system of St. Petersburg.
After a cordial conversation with Dr. Anatoly, he gave us a tour. Never had I been in a place so depressing. Even with all of my senses working overtime, I couldn’t begin to describe the facility. Our cameras did the best they could, but without the benefit of sound and smell, cameras are limited tools.
The three of us with Natasha were the first from Buckner to visit the hospital. I remember feeling hopeless about the place, even though Dr. Anatoly and the staff we saw that night exuded care and compassion.
A couple of years later Steve George, a freelance videographer who was with me that first night, returned to the hospital for an entire week. He spent the week documenting the hospital and the incredible needs. The result was a documentary we have used widely called “A Place of Hope.”
I returned to Hospital #15 yesterday after nine years of Buckner involvement there. So incredible is the progress that it is actually no longer called Hospital #15. The officials have changed the name to the Children’s Rehabilitation Center.
It now has a large Buckner staff working there providing counseling and psychological assessment, educational training through a Montessori school program, increased medical attention, regular visits by our follow-up team, and a daily rotation of the Buckner “Grandmother Program” that provides women who come to the center everyday to hold the babies and offer human touch.
That dark, musty building where light fixtures hung from the ceiling by their own electrical cords is now festooned with wall paintings of cartoon characters. Bright fluorescent lights light every room and the educational classroom is filled with colorful toys and games.
And yes, Dr. Anatoly is there, too. He greeted me again, this time with a wide smile and a bear hug. The transformation of the hospital has also transformed him.
To be sure, he still has his constant struggles. Success breeds expectations. And like before, there are still not enough resources.
But what I saw Sunday is a miracle. Hospital #15 – the Children’s Rehabilitation Center – is a living testimony to what God can accomplish through Buckner and faithful donors who see potential.
When I got on the bus to leave Sunday evening it felt good to go, knowing I was leaving a place of hope.
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – Would you know a miracle if you saw one?
We usually measure miracles against the ones we find in the New Testament. You know, things like walking on water, turning water into wine, healing lepers.
I saw a miracle Sunday and I knew it right away. But first, a little background.
It was getting dark on a cold November evening in St. Petersburg nine years ago on my last trip here. The group distributing shoes to the orphans headed back to the hotel for the night and three of us along with Natasha Votyakova, the new director of Buckner Russia, took a side trip.
Crammed into a small car with camera bags on our laps, we drove through street after street until finally arriving at an imposing brown gate that swung open for us.
We made our way through the snow to the office of the director of the hospital for children that would forever become known in Buckner lore as “Hospital #15.”
The director greeted us warming, but cautiously. Dr. Anatoly. That’s all we knew. And while he was cautious, he was also passionate about his work and the work of the hospital.
Hospital #15 is the first stop for hundreds of orphan children in St. Petersburg. This is the place where street children are brought and where babies abandoned at birth are left. This is literally the front door to the orphanage system of St. Petersburg.
After a cordial conversation with Dr. Anatoly, he gave us a tour. Never had I been in a place so depressing. Even with all of my senses working overtime, I couldn’t begin to describe the facility. Our cameras did the best they could, but without the benefit of sound and smell, cameras are limited tools.
The three of us with Natasha were the first from Buckner to visit the hospital. I remember feeling hopeless about the place, even though Dr. Anatoly and the staff we saw that night exuded care and compassion.
A couple of years later Steve George, a freelance videographer who was with me that first night, returned to the hospital for an entire week. He spent the week documenting the hospital and the incredible needs. The result was a documentary we have used widely called “A Place of Hope.”
I returned to Hospital #15 yesterday after nine years of Buckner involvement there. So incredible is the progress that it is actually no longer called Hospital #15. The officials have changed the name to the Children’s Rehabilitation Center.
It now has a large Buckner staff working there providing counseling and psychological assessment, educational training through a Montessori school program, increased medical attention, regular visits by our follow-up team, and a daily rotation of the Buckner “Grandmother Program” that provides women who come to the center everyday to hold the babies and offer human touch.
That dark, musty building where light fixtures hung from the ceiling by their own electrical cords is now festooned with wall paintings of cartoon characters. Bright fluorescent lights light every room and the educational classroom is filled with colorful toys and games.
And yes, Dr. Anatoly is there, too. He greeted me again, this time with a wide smile and a bear hug. The transformation of the hospital has also transformed him.
To be sure, he still has his constant struggles. Success breeds expectations. And like before, there are still not enough resources.
But what I saw Sunday is a miracle. Hospital #15 – the Children’s Rehabilitation Center – is a living testimony to what God can accomplish through Buckner and faithful donors who see potential.
When I got on the bus to leave Sunday evening it felt good to go, knowing I was leaving a place of hope.
13 October 2008
Russia Blog Diary, Entry Two
Scott Collins is blogging about his experiences in Russia as part of the 2008 ‘Shoes for Orphan Souls’ mission trip. This is Scott’s first trip to Russia with Buckner since 1999. He is vice president of External Affairs.
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – Time for a little confession. I was tired and my body was still adjusting to the nine-hour time change Saturday evening.
Our group had spent the day visiting the Hermitage and Orphanage No. 2. Dinner was great and then Natasha Votyakova, director of Buckner Russia, asked with her perky smile if I was ready to head to the boys transitional home Buckner has here. It was almost 8 p.m.
Actually, I was ready for bed. But I was playing the role of hearty mission trip participant and Buckner employee.
So we headed off to the transitional home in the misting rain common to St. Petersburg this time of year.
The entrance is a non-descript doorway that would be impossible to find without Natasha. The building was built in 1882 and the entry looks unchanged from the past 125 years. There is little light and the familiar musty smell of a Russian concrete building greets the nose. Dark and musty.
I was not ready for the dramatic change I was about to discover. When we arrived on the seventh floor, the door to the Buckner Boys Transitional Home opened and so did a whole new world.
The “home” is really a large apartment owned by the government and leased by Buckner. It opened in September 2007 after what Natasha calls “impossible renovations.”
If ever a place was filled with life, it’s this place. It’s home to 10 boys – young men, really – between the ages of 17 and 22. All grew in orphanages in St. Petersburg and all had no where to go when it was time to leave.
Here, they are able to attend a local university while living in a safe environment. And their education isn’t just in the classroom. Marina Pletemehuk sees to that. She is the director of the program.
While living here, the boys are taught responsibility and how to manage basic life skills they never learned growing up in the institutional setting of an orphanage. They take turns cooking and cleaning, while also learning to manage their finances.
They made me feel right at home, anxiously giving me a tour of their rooms while I tried to filter all the chatter and listen to Natasha translate for me.
I sat around the dining room table with the boys, attempting to interview them while we enjoyed tea and cookies. I’ve never experienced so much laughter and joy in one setting. But even more than that, I have never sensed so much hope.
These young men know they are getting the chance of a lifetime. This place is the difference for them and they are all determined to make the most of the opportunity.
They’ve seen what happens to other orphans like themselves who had no place like this; crime, drugs, alcohol. They talk about it openly and seriously.
Marina describes these orphan graduates as “goal-oriented.” And while she says they still have lots of struggles, they remain highly motivated.
You can see that just by the appearance of the apartment. It’s spotless. And when I asked one of the boys how long it takes to clean it when it’s his turn, he says not long. The boys have so much respect for this place that they keep it clean all the time.
We talk often about getting a second chance. So many of us have spoiled our first chance that the best we can hope for is a second chance. But for these boys, this transitional represents their first chance. And they are bound and determined to make the most of it.
This place represents in so many ways what makes Buckner special and unique. Dare I say it? I left proud to be part of Buckner.
12 October 2008
Russia Blog Diary, Entry One
Scott Collins is blogging about his experiences in Russia as part of the 2008 ‘Shoes for Orphan Souls’ mission trip. This is Scott’s first trip to Russia with Buckner since 1999. He is vice president of External Affairs.
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – This is it – the place where Buckner became Buckner International.
None of us could have predicted God’s scheme of things back in the mid-1990s when Ken Hall first visited St. Petersburg on an exploratory mission. Then, it was simply reaching out in response to the tremendous needs of boys and girls in Russia.
The fall of the former Soviet bloc was just a few years old and when the Iron Curtain was pulled back, it revealed desperate social and economic needs. Especially in need were the very young and the very old.
My first visit to Russia was shortly after Dr. Hall’s initial trip. We weren’t sure where or what the Buckner work would look like back then.
My assignment at the time was to show through photography and written images the depth of need in the orphanages here. It was an easy assignment.
Trolley cars powered by electrical current were stuffed beyond capacity with people who would stare out the dirty windows into nothingness. I remember the vacant looks.
Soviet-style apartment buildings housed the entire population of St. Petersburg. Those massive concrete structures stretched throughout the city. Inside, they were dark, cold and musty.
But my most vivid images are saved for the orphanages. It’s hard even now to describe the needs we found. I had never been any place so cold, yet so unbearably hot.
These were cold places back then, made so by the despair we saw. Yet they were unbelievably hot too, kept so by vast amounts of steam heat coursing throughout the buildings.
We found another warmth in the orphanages, too – the directors and caregivers. These were extraordinary individuals working in the face of insurmountable odds. They never had enough of anything and there were never enough of them, either.
It’s been nine years since my last visit here. In the meantime, I’ve been busy traveling to other places where Buckner has work, especially Africa.
Already, I feel like someone who hasn’t seen a child for a long time and I’m amazed at the changes. Coming in from the airport Friday, I saw cars everywhere and construction is definitely on the rise. Those trolley cars that were once stuffed beyond capacity are now half empty.
During my last visit here, Natasha Votyakova had just started as director of the Buckner program in Russia. She is still with Buckner.
Natasha is concerned these days; concerned that Americans will abandon the needs of Russian orphans because of the perceived new wealth here. In welcoming the mission group, she was quick to point out that the needs are greater than ever.
It seems the gap between those who have and those who have not has grown extremely large. With the small slice of Russia that is benefiting, there is a much larger slice that is falling behind.
And left out altogether are the orphans.
If Natasha’s observations are right, then my assignment on this trip is much like the one I had almost 14 years ago on my first visit here.
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – This is it – the place where Buckner became Buckner International.
None of us could have predicted God’s scheme of things back in the mid-1990s when Ken Hall first visited St. Petersburg on an exploratory mission. Then, it was simply reaching out in response to the tremendous needs of boys and girls in Russia.
The fall of the former Soviet bloc was just a few years old and when the Iron Curtain was pulled back, it revealed desperate social and economic needs. Especially in need were the very young and the very old.
My first visit to Russia was shortly after Dr. Hall’s initial trip. We weren’t sure where or what the Buckner work would look like back then.
My assignment at the time was to show through photography and written images the depth of need in the orphanages here. It was an easy assignment.
Trolley cars powered by electrical current were stuffed beyond capacity with people who would stare out the dirty windows into nothingness. I remember the vacant looks.
Soviet-style apartment buildings housed the entire population of St. Petersburg. Those massive concrete structures stretched throughout the city. Inside, they were dark, cold and musty.
But my most vivid images are saved for the orphanages. It’s hard even now to describe the needs we found. I had never been any place so cold, yet so unbearably hot.
These were cold places back then, made so by the despair we saw. Yet they were unbelievably hot too, kept so by vast amounts of steam heat coursing throughout the buildings.
We found another warmth in the orphanages, too – the directors and caregivers. These were extraordinary individuals working in the face of insurmountable odds. They never had enough of anything and there were never enough of them, either.
It’s been nine years since my last visit here. In the meantime, I’ve been busy traveling to other places where Buckner has work, especially Africa.
Already, I feel like someone who hasn’t seen a child for a long time and I’m amazed at the changes. Coming in from the airport Friday, I saw cars everywhere and construction is definitely on the rise. Those trolley cars that were once stuffed beyond capacity are now half empty.
During my last visit here, Natasha Votyakova had just started as director of the Buckner program in Russia. She is still with Buckner.
Natasha is concerned these days; concerned that Americans will abandon the needs of Russian orphans because of the perceived new wealth here. In welcoming the mission group, she was quick to point out that the needs are greater than ever.
It seems the gap between those who have and those who have not has grown extremely large. With the small slice of Russia that is benefiting, there is a much larger slice that is falling behind.
And left out altogether are the orphans.
If Natasha’s observations are right, then my assignment on this trip is much like the one I had almost 14 years ago on my first visit here.
09 October 2008
One last thought...
I know I’ve written a lot about this trip – what we did, where went – and what it meant to me. But I would be amiss not to mention something else I noticed. Something of vital importance.
These children need good Christian men in their lives. Really, all children do. But especially those I met in Guatemala. Most of these children have been hurt or abused by a man – usually their own fathers. They don’t know what it’s like to be loved by a father. They don’t have any strong male role models. Some have never known any father at all.
That’s why this video shows a lot more than you might think at first glance.
We were at the Buckner Baby Home in Guatemala City on Friday night. When we arrived there late, the little guys at the home were already in their pajamas getting ready for bed. But that didn’t mean they were out of energy! The minute we came in, they jumped on us for hugs and attention. But more than anyone, they clamored for attention from the men.
Watch the video below and you’ll see what I mean! It shows how important it is for men to mentor these children, to be a father figure to those without one.
These children need good Christian men in their lives. Really, all children do. But especially those I met in Guatemala. Most of these children have been hurt or abused by a man – usually their own fathers. They don’t know what it’s like to be loved by a father. They don’t have any strong male role models. Some have never known any father at all.
That’s why this video shows a lot more than you might think at first glance.
We were at the Buckner Baby Home in Guatemala City on Friday night. When we arrived there late, the little guys at the home were already in their pajamas getting ready for bed. But that didn’t mean they were out of energy! The minute we came in, they jumped on us for hugs and attention. But more than anyone, they clamored for attention from the men.
Watch the video below and you’ll see what I mean! It shows how important it is for men to mentor these children, to be a father figure to those without one.
04 October 2008
Going the Distance
Five days. 45 hours on a bus. 703 miles traveled. 739 children with new shoes.
These are the stats (yes, we did the math). But they hardly represent the great impact this trip made in the lives of so many people. After spending nearly two full days riding on a bus through the Guatemalan countryside, bouncing around on remote dirt roads and sliding through mud, I can now look back and say that every minute on that bus was worth it. Because for every mile we drove, a child received a new pair of shoes. And that’s what this week was all about.
On Friday we visited Camotan, a school located in a remote farming region of Chiquimula. This school has never received any visitors from the
There were several mothers who came up to the school to see what the commotion was all about. They all brought their infant children, hoping for extra shoes. In the end, everyone received a new pair. Not one single child was without. What an amazing act of God! We had no idea how many children would show up, but in the end, every child went home with a new pair of shoes.
Here are a few pictures from the day – I think they say more about this experience than my words ever could.
Those old shoes above used to be on this little guy's feet!
Pink Converse Sneakers
Her name is Stefani and she lives at Manchen, a girls’ orphanage in
If you’ve ever been to Manchen, then you know it’s a tough place. Most of the girls have been abused, neglected, molested and mistreated. Many have special needs and have been victims of abuse most of their lives. These precious girls have some dark, dark places in their hearts… places I can never truly understand. But God does. And that was our prayer as we entered this home.
Stefani wasn’t feeling very good about herself the day we were there. Her feet were swollen, and she’s starting to show. You could see low self esteem written all over her face. My friend Courtney asked Stefani if she liked her new shoes, and she looked up at her and shook her head, “No.”
Courtney looked down and saw a huge pair of white sneakers on her feet, puffy and plain. They were probably boys' shoes, she said. Then she told Stefani to wait.
“We brought an extra pair of pink converse,” Courtney explained. “We just knew there was going to be a girl with big feet who could use them. Us big feet girls have to stick together.”
So Courtney ran to her bag and pulled out a new pair of pink converse with a hot pink star on the side. She came back to Stefani to show her the shoes and for the first time that day, Stefani smiled.
So many times, when people think of giving shoes to orphans, they think of little babies. They go to the store and buy tiny shoes with lights and super heroes, picturing tiny feet and tiny smiles. But most often, the children who so desperately need new shoes are teenagers. Boys and girls with big feet.
So if you've ever considered buying a new pair of shoes for an orphan, think about Stefani. Think about the teenage boys who wear out their shoes so quickly, running around playing soccer and basketball. Think about the girls in the world with size 10 feet who need to feel pretty in their shoes, too.
- Jenny Pope
02 October 2008
No Difference
Erase all that’s different between us. – Geoff Moore
Every time I come on a mission trip, I have a purpose. Take photos. Write stories. Shoot video. I jump from person to person, looking for a good photo opportunity or listening for a good story. It’s part of my job. And it keeps me busy… which I like, in a way, because it prevents me from getting too attached. It helps me keep my heart in tact.
But this week has been different. For some reason, early in the week, I asked God to do something for me. I asked him to show Himself to me in a new way. I didn’t want to be numb. I didn’t want to miss His work. I’m not sure why I asked for this because if I had thought about it logically, I would have known that it would make my job harder. I think I even asked for this in one of those “passing thought” prayers…not even in a serious one. But God answered it for me anyway. He allowed me to meet Edwin.
We drove more than five long hours to Xela on Tuesday to spend a little less than two hours in a couple of different orphanages. I admit, somewhere along the long, bumpy road, I questioned whether or not this was the best idea knowing we would only be there for a short time. But God knew what he was doing. We visited Hogar Temporal Queteltenango, an orphanage for boys and girls of all ages. I wandered around taking photos of different people and different kids, jumping from station to station to try and capture all the special moments people were having with their new friends.
I happened to walk past a boy in a wheelchair who was sitting all alone, with a new pair of shoes in his lap. Something moved me and I decided to ask him if I could help him with his new shoes. His face lit up as he nodded his head yes. And then I did something I rarely do when I’m on these trips – I stopped taking pictures and I sat down.
I helped Edwin remove his old socks, found him some new ones, and started to put on his new shoes. It was difficult to do since he couldn’t move his legs. I had to wedge his foot into them and squeeze the toe of the shoe to make sure they fit. He was talking to me the entire time, much of which I couldn’t understand. His disability made his speech slow, and the language barrier only compounded the confusion. So we laughed together instead. Put his hat on different ways. And when we finished, I stepped back into my photographer role and took his picture.
I do not think I will ever need to look at that picture again. His face is burned into my heart. His smile. That fleeting look of pure happiness. It’s mine forever.
I would later learn that Edwin is especially smart. I couldn’t understand him, but he’s one of the only boys or girls in the orphanage who speaks English. He has a sister with special needs named Jessica and they love each other very much. I’m so thankful they have each other, because orphans with special needs very rarely get special treatment. Most remain institutionalized their entire lives.
Wednesday night after dinner we listened to Geoff Moore sing some of his songs as he shared his calling to international adoption and his passion for serving orphans. My heart fell to pieces when I heard him sing these lyrics:
Erase all that’s different between us.
I want to love like you love…
Until the difference is erased.
Edwin and I do not have much in common. He’s a boy. I’m a girl. He’s Guatemalan. I’m American. He’s disabled. I’m not. He’s without parents and I have two of the best. But then there’s something between us that’s exactly the same. We are both wholly loved by a perfect God who chooses to redeem us and even reveal Himself to us so that we may know him more. And so we can grow more in love with what he loves each and every day.
I pray that if you are reading this, that your heart can be broken like mine. I pray that you will know God’s love to be true and real. And that you might find yourself, like I did, when you put aside your own agenda and open your eyes to see what God sees and love what God loves.
- Jenny Pope
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