From Russia with love

This past weekend we had a visit from my oldest son's godmother, Sister Maria Stella, and another sister from her order, Sister Catherine Marie. Sister Maria Stella and Sister Catherine Marie are members of the Sisters in Jesus the Lord and are missionaries to Vladivostok, Russia. (Unfortunately Vladivostok is still 4,000 miles from where our Martin lives. Russia is that big.)

My children love these visits! Consecrated women have the ability to give a child TOTAL attention in a way that is like nothing else on earth and my kids eat it up.

A large part of what the Sisters in Jesus the Lord do in Russia is work with children and they help in the baby houses whenever they are allowed. They would also very much like to be able to go into the mental institutions, but that hasn't happened yet.

Sister Catherine Marie, Sister Maria Stella and Sister Julia (founder of Sisters in Jesus the Lord) loving on Russian orphans.

The sisters want to spread the word about the Grandma Mentoring Program through the Mary Mother of God mission society in Russia. For $70 a month a grandmother (or grandfather) can be sent into the orphanages to hold and play with the children for 12 hours a week. This makes an enormous difference in the lives of these little ones and also helps pensioners by supplementing their income to provide better nutrition and transportation to the baby houses (the elderly are another very vulnerable population in Russia).

There is also a Milk and Fruit for the Orphans program through the same mission society.

Sister Maria Stella recommend the book The Boy from Baby House 10. I've requested in from the library and will let you know what I think once I find the strength to read it.

Finally, I'll leave you with a beautiful prayer (which I have posted before) from the sister's website:

 A Prayer for Orphans 

Lord God,

Bless these children,

so hungry and hurting.

Bless their parents,

whether living or deceased.

Keep the hearts of the staff

full of love for these little ones.

Let these children be adopted

into loving homes.

Heal them from physical,

mental, and spiritual ailments.

Help keep their hearts

open to others

that they may learn to trust and love,

and open to You,

that when their life is done,

they may live with You in heaven

for all eternity.

 Angels of God,

Their Guardians Dear,

To whom God’s love commits them here

Ever this day, be at their side

To light and guard,

To rule and guide.

Amen.

 ©Sisters in Jesus the Lord, 2005