A grandpa connection

I made a mistake, accidentally sent an email to a stranger’s address.

It was a brief email about New Thing’s work of compassion in Belarus.

The stranger was intrigued.

“My grandfather was from Shklov,” she replied.

My heart leaped! Shklov!

It’s a long 3-hour drive from Minsk, but I was there with members of our “Response of the Heart” team 13 years ago.

We visited a boarding school for 100+ blind and visually impaired children.

BEAUTIFUL experience.

When they suffered a massive sewage system failure, the campus was badly flooded.

They urgently needed a new pump.

Knowing that “Response of the Heart” helps people all over Belarus, they reached out.

Within a few short days, friends of New Thing saved the day.

Friends of New Thing also funded a new drier for the laundry workers.

(Imagine laundry for 100+ children hanging on indoor clotheslines when it’s too cold outdoors.)

Glad I goofed up and emailed that stranger.

I look at these photos and it makes me smile to realize these children are young adults now.

And we had a bit of a hand in smoothing their journey.

Just one of many, many institutions across Belarus where friends like you have helped children and workers like them.

Thanks for journeying with New Thing.

More adventures to come!

Much love,

Doug Brendel

(Photos by Oleg Yarovenko)