You were there in spirit

Ordinary kids in an ordinary school, in the Belarusian village of Ilyushyna, near the Russian border.

This was the motherland of Liudmila Kozovaya, the co-founder of our “Response of the Heart” team.

Such a humble woman, I jokingly called her “The Great Kozovaya.”

Members of our team were there in Ilyushyna to honor Kozovaya’s memory; she died 6 years ago, in the first wave of Covid.

(Here are my photos from the last day I spent with her, at a shelter for abused and abandoned children.)

In Ilyushyna, our team thought it would be fitting to drop by the local school, as Kozovaya would have...

Just to surprise the students and teachers with small gifts — sweet treats.

And to let them know that even in this remote place ... they’re not forgotten.

Our dear friend Oleg Yarovenko was there, and caught a few intimate little portraits.

I thought you’d like to see some of the students.

Through the quiet compassion of our team, your “Response of the Heart” reached them.

Thanks for journeying with New Thing!

More adventures to come!

Much love,

Doug Brendel

P.S. As I write, a total of 16 households (and one business) have donated a total of $5061.33 toward Life Starter Kits. (Thank you, all!)

The Kits will go to the graduating orphans at the Children’s Village in Kobryn.

We now have enough for 10 of the 14 graduates. 

If you’d like to help close the $1910.67 gap, I’ll be grateful. So will the orphans!

Thanks again!