In the year 2000, I met a man by the name of Alexey who works for the government orphanage department in Penza, Russia. Alexey was assigned to follow a team of Americans I had taken to Russia to run summer camps to make sure we did not do anything that would go against the rules the Russian government had set up. Alexey was very serious about his work and did not have a lot of patience for American humor. Needless to say, that summer was uncomfortable at times and we were met with many new and interesting challenges as we were watched closely by our Russian supervisor. But after time and prayer, we began to see Alexey in a new way as God intervened.

Alexey, whose job as a government lawyer is to monitor the well-being of Russian orphans, has remained a fixture in the outreach to orphans over the past eight years. God has used him in many ways. He has been instrumental in the adoption of more than 200 children and teens through a ministry known as International Guardian Angel Outreach. He has matched up children and prospective parents and handled mountains of legal paperwork.

Spoken For’s Fireworks ministry to post-orphanage youth in Penza has also seen a great deal of assistance from Alexey recently. The Fireworks outreach includes setting up apartments for teenagers to live in while attending college or trade school. In Russia, when a youth from the orphanage gets to be college age, they are sent to trade-type schools with very harsh living conditions. By supplying furnished apartments and mentors to help teach them how to live life on their own, Spoken For has been able to relieve some of the stress that surrounds youth facing the unknown when they leave the orphanage.

The government is supposed to supply each of the orphans with an apartment after they finish school. Most of the youth are never given their apartment and for the few who are blessed to receive a place to live, the conditions are unlivable by most people’s standards. As a result, students often compromise their morals and values to find a place to rest their heads.

Over the past three months, Alexey, the official who at one time had his doubts about Spoken For, has begun helping orphan graduates obtain apartments that are in good locations and in decent shape. One example is that of a teen by the name of Leo. Leo was recently contacted by Alexey's office and given the keys to an apartment that he would own. Skeptical and unsure about this new offer, Leo and ministry leader Sergey Zelenov went to the new home to check it out. To both of their surprise, the apartment was in very good condition and ready for move-in. When Sergey asked Leo what he thought, Leo said, "It is nice. Very nice. But I know my home in heaven will be much nicer." Sergey was thrilled by Leo's response.

As God supplies apartments, Spoken For is looking for help to supply the needed furniture and household items, and help for utilities that the students will need in the first year to get started in a positive direction. Spoken For is hoping for small teams to travel to Russia to do light construction, painting, sewing and wallpapering to help the students have a true home to come home to each night. Spoken For also continues to rent apartments for the many youth who have nowhere to go.

Would you please pray for the orphan graduates who are a part of the ministry of Spoken For Fireworks as well as the leaders who oversee the ministry? Would you also please pray for Alexey, the government official who God is using to change and impact the lives of hundreds of orphans from Russia? As you encounter new and challenging situations, remember that we have no idea what God may do through the very circumstances and people that we think are working against us!

For more information about the Fireworks/Spoken For ministry to Russian orphan graduates, please contact the Spoken For office by emailing info@spokenfor.org.

::Scott Werntz