The Oak Ridge First United Methodist Church
and
The Youth of the Belkino Russian Orthodox Church
Connection

FUMC Oak Ridge provided funds for the Belkino Russian Orthodox Church Youth Group to assist in programs involving kids and senior citizens.  Tom Row, Oak RIdge director of the IREX/SPAN United Way project with Obninsk, graciously supplemented these funds.  Projects were implemented by the youth group and details are given below.  We wish the youth group continued success and congratulate them on their enthusiasm and good work!

This report was written and translated by Olya Latynova (with assistance from Victor Latynov), the youngest participant of the youth group.

Participants from youth group - 17
Participants from orphanage - 30
Date and time – April 29, 2001
Expenses - $15 (travel and photos)
In-kind - $10

It was our second visit to an Orphanage in Selyatino. Selyatino is the small city not far from Moscow. As at the first visit, we prepared many presents and souvenirs for children. This time we planned the program of our visit very thoroughly. First we showed a performance to children. Then we played Easter games with children and sang our songs.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t see younger children (3-4 years old). They were in quarantine because of roseola. We had left some presents for them that we promised during our first visit.

We shot many photos of the children. These photos will be sent to the Orphanage. Some girls and boys wanted to correspond with us and many children made friends with us.

So, our second visit was more successful that the first one, and we look forward for a new visit.

Orphanage children paint Easter eggs.	Ira and Nadya (left and right) from Belkino youth group with Orphanage girls.	Playing musical games with children.
Children playing a traditional Russian Easter game with eggs.	Olya Latynova (center) with Orphanage girls.	Games!
	(left) Before saying good-bye. (right) Orphanage children and dogs.

Participants from youth group - 10
Participants - veterans - 45
Date and time – May 12, 2001
Expenses - $ 0
In kind - time.

We began preparing to this concert for two weeks. On the day of our performance in Obninsk Club of veterans there was a Musical Evening. Each year Victory Day is necessary for Easter days, and consequently we welcomed the veterans Easter motets. At the end of our performance we executed one military song.

After that a group of dancers showed their performance and invited veterans and guests to the scene to join them. Dances continued during all the evening and some of us took an active part in them.

We also announced an excursion to Borovsk monastery at this performance.

Participants from youth group - 8
Other participants - 35
Date and time – May 20, 2001
Expenses - $50
In kind - time

We organized this excursion for the senior citizens and completely have paid for it from money donated by Oak Ridgers - it was free for the participants. The elderly people came to the City Club of Veterans on Sunday, May 20. At 12.30 all got in a bus and went to the monastery. We carried out the excursion around the monastery by ourselves. It has helped our visitors and us to form more complete notion about the monastery. After the excursion we transported our guests to Belkino and invited them to our outhouse and serve them tea and cookies. During the tea drinking the elderly people discussed the excursion and changed impressions. Then father Alexey has come and we had a conversation on religious themes.

After that some people went home by bus and others went to the Belkino church to take part in evening service.

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