Some reflections on Russia

One of my favorite gals and crocheting buddy. Miss ya!

My Russian family on my last night there. N is eating one of the chocolate cookies I had baked. It was amazing how well 8 of us managed to share one bathroom.

As I think back about my time in Russia and wonder what I accomplished during my 2 month stay, I remember the story of a young woman I met there. I was visiting a family home run by Reflections of Hope and met a young woman about 19. She had been living on the streets of the city for several months but sometimes would visit the people at this flat. She was very interested in learning about where I came from and what America was like. She told me about an American woman that used to write her when she lived in the orphanage. Then, she reached in her purse and pulled out a Christmas card that was several years old and handed it to me. It was from this American woman whom she had never met but still kept her card all these years. She told me that she thought the card was beautiful. It really touched me. Just sending letters and cards to this young orphan girl meant so much to her that years later she still carried the card even while living on the streets.

Thinking about that moment, helps remind me that even the little things count. The little things we do to show love have meaning and are important. These two people have never met but the ministry of reaching out and sending cards and letters to one orphan girl made a difference.