Anyone Can Be Santa!

Ulyanovsk
I recently told two people, independently, of a recent trip I made -  to an orphanage to wish the kids there a Happy New Year and to give them presents. They asked me questions - "Who sent you there? Who gave the order?" and "Who gave you the presents for the kids?" I looked at them and thought - "since when do we need orders to do good deeds?" And "anyone can be a sponsor as long as he or she has the desire to do so!"
On the morning of January 7th St. Mary's congregational van, filled with gifts, set off for the Ivanov orphanage. It's not the first year that the kids write letters with their wish lists and the congregation prepares presents for them. By doing this you feel a bit like Grandfather Frost (the Russian version of Santa Claus), who has received a letter from a child. 
This year Masha Mantay and Yulia Ogay recruited their athlete friends as well as students and parents of Ulanyanovsk Lyceum 38 to help prepare the presents. When a young person learns to care for someone else, it changes the giver as he or she learns to do good and to act in love. 
And with what great joyous impatience the children await their presents! As soon as we took the colorful packages from the car we heard someone yelling "Alyona has arrived!" The pastor's wife always comes together with presents, and not only with material ones - she usually gives the kids interesting stories, games and simply joy from their meeting.
This time Pastor Vladimir Provorov told the kids about Christmas. He told them the story of a family which lived in poverty but which was rich in spirit. The kids listened very attentively. And then everyone received a package with their name on it with gifts and with good wishes for the upcoming year. The kids happily shared their sweet treats with the guests...
There is, more likey than not, an orphanage in your city, too. Visit it! The children need your support and communicating with them will also enrich your spirits.
Natalia Kabardina