This was our third year of ministering to Sosnovo in partnership with the Sosnovo Baptist Church. On the last day, our team gives then kids some gifts that include a t-shirt and things in a gift bag 
prepared especially for them. It never fails… we always seem to have more kids in attendance on the last day than we do during the week! It’s amazing how a few small gifts will suddenly bring the kids to the room on the last day! Kids are the same no matter on what side of the world you are.SAC usually brings the kids t-shirts and this is usually the favorite items.
This year I choose a t-shirt that looked more like a soccer shirt. Soccer is important in Russia and the kids there keep up with their team just as American kids keep up with American football. The local team for St. Petersburg is called “Zenit”. Their team colors are blue and white. So, the shirts I got for them were the same colors of their favorite team. They seem to appreciate my choice and thinking about that when choosing! We gave them to the kids and the adult counselors so they all could be a team!We also gave them some other small gifts that included a “world” ball, pens, pencils, toothbrushes, Bennie babies, small gloves, and some small puzzles. It was interesting to watch as the gifts were given out. The kids excitedly opened their gift bag and explored each item. They don’t usually receive gifts like this, so this occasion was special for them. However, for things like the pencils, 
pens, and other school supplies, we watched as the counselor asked the kids to bring it to her so she could collectively keep them for future use by the kids. Part of me wants the kids to have an “individual” gift for them to have and own. Then part of me begins to understand the perspective of the counselor. They don’t get supplies often and then kids will loose things quickly or they will steal from one another and the use of the item will be lost. Many Russian counselors here and at other places we visit will take many of the items we give to the kids individually and save them collectively for future use. My heart wants the kids to have something individually, but the reality of life as an orphan in an institution means that individuality lost. I’m thankful that God does not look at us collectively, but individually and loves us so much as if we were the only person in the room! I pray that these kids will find that love of Christ when they get older and will remember the individual gifts given to them by the Christians who came from America to care for them!
pens, and other school supplies, we watched as the counselor asked the kids to bring it to her so she could collectively keep them for future use by the kids. Part of me wants the kids to have an “individual” gift for them to have and own. Then part of me begins to understand the perspective of the counselor. They don’t get supplies often and then kids will loose things quickly or they will steal from one another and the use of the item will be lost. Many Russian counselors here and at other places we visit will take many of the items we give to the kids individually and save them collectively for future use. My heart wants the kids to have something individually, but the reality of life as an orphan in an institution means that individuality lost. I’m thankful that God does not look at us collectively, but individually and loves us so much as if we were the only person in the room! I pray that these kids will find that love of Christ when they get older and will remember the individual gifts given to them by the Christians who came from America to care for them! 
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