Our gift is the kids’ smiles!

The holiday season has come! It’s the time when joy, bliss, and miracles are in the air, and when we want to give kids our love even more! 
The air smells of mandarins and pine needles – the smell of our childhood. Children love New Year, Father Frost, Snow Maiden, the children’s matinee, candies and, of course, surprises and gifts. And adults are trying to give them all and make Christmas a fairy tale.

On the 24th of December the Detdom.Info team went to Tsyurupinsk orphanage to wish the children happy New Year. We were impressed with a number of presents to orphans we received from generous people from all over Ukraine. We very much thank everyone! There were so many presents that Misha had a tough time packing the car to be able to carry all the presents. Somehow he managed to pack all boxes, and there was some space for me too, so I was allowed to go with them.

Father Vladimir, Misha and I went early in the morning. It was so nice to see the familiar building and the entrance and then Tatyana and the kids. Boys helped us to carry the boxes; they acted as real gentlemen not allowing me to carry weights. That time we brought the second part of gifts from the BMW club – the warm blankets.

Father Vladimir hurried to see everything and anoint the children. Tatyana told me that the orphanage was finally legalized, and she didn’t see any juridical problems. She was so glad and proud to tell me that the computer courses were established in the school as well as the book-keeping courses. Now after finishing school, the children will have some job training and thus more chances to find good jobs.

We were so happy to see the children smile! Morning matinees were round the corner: on the 25th of December the younger kids would act and on the 29th – the elder ones.

We walked round the orphanage, the decorated New Year trees were everywhere. The papa was anointing everyone who wished to. Despite all the preparations, children were doing their homework. Some of them were sent to Kiev for St. Nikolas holiday and were very much impressed by the tour.

It was so pleasant to get New Year paintings from Olia, Kirill, Alexander. I’ve put them on the wall at home and enjoy looking at them!

The time flew fast, and it was time to go back. Father Vladimir was playing tennis with the kids; I spent the time in child’s room. I didn’t want to leave… We are looking forward to a new visit!

Thanks to all who cared and took part in the visit to Tsyurupinsk.

Alena Ganzenko, Detdom.Info website coordinator