The Dalmatovo Orphanage Response

I was more than overwhelmed by the response to the need for food for the Dalmatovo orphanage.  So much came in that we met all of the needs for the food,  but also for the building.  I wired money to Christina almost immediately to buy food.  Then enough came in to buy for the rest of the year.  (See photos).  Also we were able to buy quite a bit of sausage and cheese for the orphanage.  Lydia, the assistant director came to pick up the food.

Here is a letter fro Alexander, the Director of the orphanage.  It was my privilege to lead Alexander to Christ in his office several years ago. .  Christina translated this from the letter in Russian (on file).

“First of all we want to start from the beginning.  The TPM started coming to the Dalmatovo orphan school in 2004.  Those years it was very hard to find support for the orphans.  The Government helped some, but not enough and not for all that the kids needed.

The school staff tried to find different supporters, but they always gave a one-time gift..  I didn't know Jesus back then, so I didn’t pray about the needs.

One day, the church from Shadrinsk called me and asked me if they could come and see the kids and tell them about God.  Some of the staff did not want them to come because it was to the Orthodox church.  But I thought, “Why not?”. Why not let them come and speak.”

I did not expect any support from the church.  I let them speak because during Soviet times, none of us knew or even heard about God’s love.  The church people came and the meeting went well.  The first Americans came - Dave and Jennie Albertson.  They bought the first bunk bed.  Dave wanted to help more, but he could not raise any support for the kids.  They promised to pray. 

After they left, the church people called me again and told me one more man will come to see the kids.  It was Tom Popelka.  He shared the Gospel and left.  I was not expecting any help because it was so hard to find support for the school back then.  The Government couldn’t help as they couldn’t even pay the social security for the elderly people.

Tom started to support us with food supplies such as flour, sugar, all kind of kasha.  Then he helped us get the rest of the beds.  He bought almost everything for the school.

For many years, Tom is coming with the church people from Shadrinsk.  They teach the kids and I can tell the kids are changing.  They have started to appreciate our work for them.  Many kids realized what is bad and what is good.  So I believe that one day those kids, who have been through our orphan school, will find the truth like I did and so many already have.

Thank you so much for all of your work, prayers and love to us and our orphan kids in Dalmatovo.”

Alexander and the Staff

From Christina - a conversation she had at the time the food was picked up.

“Lydia came with a lady named Valentina that works at the Dalmatovo orphanage.  Valentina said this while Lydia was picking up the meat.

‘I remember the first time you came to the orphanage.  You people didn’t have anything with you but the Word of God.  You were singing and preaching.  After you left, the director said let them come and share with the kids.  Maybe the kids will learn something.  Because the church speaks the truth and they bring light to us. 

And a year after that, Tom Popelka has come with the food and other stuff.  We were not expecting anything from the church because we saw the church didn’t have anything.  But look what they have done with the help of God.  They have brought over someone who could do it all.

We still talk about you (the Shadrinsk Church) without anything but the Word of God.  But after we let you in, all the blessings have come with the Word of God through Tom’s ministry.” 

Christina’s close - “So praise the Lord that people can see the difference with God and being without Him.”