November Bible Lesson at Orphan Boarding School

While the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions of Ukraine are in the “red” quarantine zone now, God blessed us with the opportunity to visit the Stara Basan Orphan Boarding School in the Chernihiv region. Due to lockdown restrictions, we had to conduct our Bible lesson outside, and at the time of our visit, just a few orphans were there. 

15 kids came to our Bible lesson, and Oksana remembers how unwillingly they stayed for our class last time. But this time, they were all eager to come.

Following the previous discussions of Abraham's life story, they taught about the importance of supporting and praying for one another. Like Abraham, who helped his nephew, Lot, and prayed for him, we need to pray and give support to others in difficult times.

At the end of the lesson, they played a fun game. The children had to walk a rope with their eyes blindfolded—first, on their own, then with the help of their friends, and then with their eyes open. Oksana asked them which way was the easiest, and not surprisingly, the children told her with their eyes open, and the hardest way was with their eyes closed.

Oksana concluded that the same is true about our lives. Without prayer and support, we are blind and helpless, but other people’s prayers and support get us through difficult times. And there is the One who knows everything, sees everything, can guide us, and opens our eyes. That is why it is important to pray, support one another, and have close fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

There was this little boy, Olezhka, with a tumor in his head. Everyone is careful with him, but he needs special attention. He came up to Oksana and said that everyone treated him badly so Oksana turned to the children and asked who insulted Olezhka. The children replied that, on the contrary, Olezhka insulted everyone. So, Oksana turned to the boy and offered to pray for his friends.

They prayed, and it broke the ice. Olezhka participated in the game and held the rope for the children who walked on it.

Oksana says, “Small acts of kindness, love, and prayer can melt children's hearts. May God grow the seeds of His Word sown into them!”