ABRO

American Belarussian Relief Organization

Update - June 12, 2007
With summer being upon us, the time has finally come that Raman Shalupov and Anastasiya Lishankova will be arriving this Wednesday, June 20th later in the evening at Dulles airport.  They are leaving behind their grandparents and parents, who so trustingly send them thousands of miles away from home.  This week, please pray them, their families, the other four children and their interpreter, safe travel and the time that all of them will be in the US in the following six weeks. 

ABRO, American Belarussian Relief Organization, is an organization that helps children from Belarus.  Belarus is a small country whose southern border is just 12 kilometers north of Chernobyl Reactor #4, site of the terrible nuclear accident of April 26, 1986.  Seventy percent of the radiation fell on the country of Belarus.  Thus, the focus of ABRO is on the children of Belarus. 

These children are all affected by the radiation from the accident, either directly or indirectly.  ABRO brings children from Belarus to America for six weeks each summer to give their bodies a rest from the contamination.  Some of the children are orphans; some come from small, highly contaminated villages; some have known medical conditions such as leukemia or thyroid problems and some children are dealing with physical handicaps.  And most of them come with suppressed immune systems. 

The children, while in the United States, receive medical, dental, and eye care as well as a loving, caring home environment.  Many local and regional hospitals have graciously provided medical attention for “the ABRO children”, as have many dentists, optometrists and specialists. 

ABRO began in 1991, when members of the Connecticut River Valley Fellowship, a Baptist church in South Windsor, Connecticut, welcomed thirteen children and two adults from the Mogilev region of Belarus.  They housed the children for a period of six weeks, giving their bodies a rest from the physical and emotional stress of living in a contaminated environment.  From this experience, there was a desire on the part of Americans to become involved with this project, so in January of 1993, they met with leaders in the Mogilev region.  Out of those meetings, the American Belarussian Relief Organization was born as a unique partnership between concerned people of both Belarus and the United States.

ABRO is able to continue this work only through the generous support of individuals such as the host families, churches, and the local medical communities.

ABRO’s Mission Statement is: that all children living in areas contaminated with radiation from the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant accident are assisted in finding a quality of life and hope in the future.  It seeks to do so in the following ways:

-by providing clean food, rest and sanctuary in radiation free environment.

-by offering medical evaluation and treatment as needed.

-by recognizing and nurturing the spirit of those who seek to assist.

ABRO’s summer program statement of purpose is:  bringing children to the United States for six weeks each summer and displaying a love that is felt around the world.  One will be helping to meet the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of children who have seen their world turned upside down along with all the many problems that they and their families face each day.  As Americans help the children and their families, the leaders of ABRO continues to watch the relationships build and the love of Christ spread to these precious people. 

For more information see the website of www.abro.org. If you wish to host a child from Belarus through the ABRO program, contact Karen Keimig at kickeimig@gmail.com

The ABRO Children of Redeemer

Redeemer Lutheran Church began sponsoring one young man, Raman Shalupov, the summer of 2001.  At the time, Raman was twelve years, with blonde hair and very puffy cheeks.  Upon visiting the doctor, Raman was found to have a heart murmur.  Through a dental exam, the dentist found that Raman had an abscessed tooth, and four baby teeth that were badly decayed.  The dentist removed the abscessed tooth and pulled all four rotting baby teeth. After visiting the optometrist, Raman was given a clean slate for healthy eyes.

Raman stayed with the Keimig family for the six weeks, doing what the family did, eating new uncontaminated foods, and breathing clean, fresh air.  He returned to Belarus with a nice warm glow of a tan, a mouth without decaying teeth, a few extra pounds and a Bible in his backpack. 

Raman returned the following year and became more involved with the family and it’s working.  Only this year, Raman became an interpreter for another child, Anastasia Lishankova, a nine-year-old girl, who was also being sponsored by Redeemer Lutheran Church and also staying at the Keimig household.  Raman, as well as Anastasiya, became involved in the VBS program of Redeemer growing in Christ’s love.  Neither of these children is permitted to worship freely in Belarus, so VBS was an excellent place to bring Christ into their lives.   The six weeks flew by and both children returned to Belarus with promises to come again the following year.

 The next year became easier for both Raman and Anastasiya as they were familiar with the Keimig family’s dynamics.  Both were again involved in VBS.  Raman, being older, became a helper with the audio-visual portion of the program.  He learned from one of his USA brothers, how to operate laptops, video equipment, and an exploding volcano.  This all became a natural part of being involved in the summer’s VBS and something he looked forward to each day.  Anastasiya had the pleasure of singing, reading from the Bible, and making crafts to take back to Belarus.  Little did anyone know that the skills that Raman had used in VBS in the states, he would take home and apply to his school program in Belarus.  What a wonderful way for God to work through Raman so that he could share with his friends at home, how he came to understand the workings of special effects in a Bible School program.

In the summer of 2005, Raman, then became solely responsible for the audio-visual portion of the VBS program.  It was great, again to see how God was working through Raman to be such an important part of the week’s events.  Again Anastasiya enjoyed being a participant, knowing that the following year, she too, would get to be a helper in spreading the Gospel to children of all ages. 

The reason that VBS is so important to these children is because they live in a country where Christians are persecuted.  To be able to worship freely and in such a fun way amazed the children.  When Raman first came to the United States, the family was not sure of Raman’s understand of his salvation and the part Jesus Christ played in his life.  Because of living in a country where worship is restricted to just holidays, or secret home services, Raman was very silent.  Through the years, the family has now seen that Raman comes with a cross on a rope chain around his neck.  He wears it when he travels, but still does not freely speak of his salvation.  The past years have had an impact of Raman in silent ways because he wears the cross, but keeps it hidden while he is in the USA. 

 Anastasiya come from a family that is a bit more open to send emails about God’s blessings and prayers that are sent long distance – especially while she is in the USA and after her return.  Her family sends their prayers, but Anastasyia has explained many times that “in my country we can’t go to church as often, and we don’t have anything like VBS.”  

To know that even a week of God’s blessings from a VBS program, going to church each week, praying and singing freely with other Christians, and being in a Christian family provides these children with more than just uncontaminated food, health check-ups and clean air for six weeks.

On the flip side of the coin, these children have made an impact of the host family.  These children have become part of the family, do the family chores, and have fights with their USA siblings, visit the ocean, eat pizza, participate in youth groups and become a Belarussian-American for six weeks.  The tragedy is that these children must go back to radiation areas, infrequent religious services and impure foods.  The blessings are knowing that the church has provided for them, God has blessed them with clean food, a loving, caring family, congregation, and continued prayers.

 It has been Redeemer’s privilege to support Raman and Anastasiya for the last four years.  It has been with the sustained efforts of fundraisers, donations and weekly contributions that bring these children into the Redeemer house of God as well as the home of the Keimigs.  God continues to bless both places as well as these children.  His Good Works may not always be seen while they are here – but God know their hearts as He continues to work through Redeemer’s programs, the congregation and its host family, to have these children return the following year.

From the Host Family

             The ABRO program has made a huge impact on our family over the five years that we have participated.  When Raman came the first year, we were under the assumption that he know very little English and that we would spend most of our time using hand gestures to communicate.  We were amazing and surprised that Raman had an exception grasp of the English language so communication was a breeze.  However, helping him to adjust to the “American” way was another issue.  He was quiet and a bit stand-off-ish, yet flexible and involved in our family, youth group and VBS program.  He was just as unsure of us as we were of him and who could blame him.  He was coming from a socialistic country, a small two room (flat) apartment in the city, with whom he shared with his parents and grandmother to a family of six brothers and sisters, a dog, a grandmother, two parents, a six area farm off of a private lane.  Life was a bit different!  Yet, by the end of the six weeks, there was a bit more comfort.

             After Raman left, in the following weeks, we realized what an impression Raman had left on us and we missed him and could not wait for his return the following year.  The few things that Raman did share of his country and family and life were minimal, but enough for us to understand that the freedoms and the bounty we have in the United States we sorely take for granted

             So the following year came and so did Raman and now Anastasiya.  Raman’s true comprehension of the English language came through when he was the translator for Anastasiya.  She needed some help in adjusting to the six brothers and sisters, country life, a dog, a grandmother and a spacious home.  She comes from a small flat in the same city as Raman, but from a different section of the city, where she lives with her mother, and her grandparents living downstairs.  Her dad was not in her life since she had been quite young.  But as the days turned into weeks, our understanding of her home situation and lifestyle made us love both of them with a passion.  So as they both boarded the Stewartstown bus to go to the airport, tears were shed and promises were made for their return the following year.

             So now after four years for Raman and three years for Anastasiya, our love of these two children has grown to where we love them as our own.  We get emails (not as frequently as we would like) from Raman, assuring us that he and his family are doing well and Anastasiya’s emails come from the translators of the ABRO office in Mogilev - their hometown. 

             Our children have adjusted extremely well to having two more children in the house – two more kids to have fun with, two more kids at the dinner table, two more kids to hang out with, two more kids to play baseball, two more kids to go biking, two more kids to have on vacation, two more kids to share a bedroom with, yet two more kids to help with the chores.  They anticipate Raman and Anastasyia’s arrival just as much as Raman and Anastasiya anticipate their arrival to the United States. 

            Eli, 17 years old says:  It’s great to have two more kids running around over the summer.  Though our parents would probably disown us, most of us wish there could be more.  Seriously though, it is a blast having them here, especially Raman.  He and I will be having an in-depth conversation about computers and no one else has a clue as to what we are saying: “almost like having our own language”.  Nevertheless, Anne definitely adds excitement to the mix.  Between she and Raman acting like they have been brother and sister their entire lives, getting into petty fights and such, they fit in perfectly.

            Asa, 15 years old says:  I enjoy having Raman come to the States because it is as if I was having a friend spend the summer at my house.  Raman is fun to hang with and he enjoys doing lots of things with me.  He  quickly learns something new about America every time we do something.  He is always interested in doing new things and he is always interested in learning new things. I enjoy having Anastasiya come to the States because it is like having a little sister come and visit.  Anastasiya also learns new things while here in America.  Even though she doesn’t  always get to do what she wants to do, she does cooperate with my family.

            Kelsey, 13 years old says:  It is fun having Raman and Anastasiya at our House.  Ann is like a sister to me. Raman is like a brother to me because we get in fights a lot. It is fun at VBS because Anne can read some English. It is fun to watch her sing.  It is fun to go to the beach with them because last year Raman had put a can tab on his stomach; then he got sunburn. So then he had a funny mark on him the rest of the summer.  It is funny to watch Raman and Eli look at computer magazines and do computer stuff.

             Emorie, 11 years old says: I think that it’s fun to have Raman and Anne come every year because there are more kids in the house and there is always someone to have fun with.  I look forward to them coming every year. 

             Amos, 10 years old says: I love Raman and Anastasiya.  (This is from a child with Down syndrome.)

             Morgan, 8 years old says:  Raman and Anastasiya are fun to have at our house.  Raman is always wrestling with Diamond, our dog.  Every year when Anne comes, she plays Game Cube.  Ann likes to get in the pool and throws water balloons. I share a room with her and it is like having another sister.

             Our children have accepted these two Belarussian children as siblings, another blessing from the Lord.  We have prayed together with them as well as for their families.  Our utmost concern is that when they return home to Belarus, that they arrive safely and take with them God’s love and blessings and sharing that love with their families and friends.

             We also extend our thanks to Redeemer Lutheran Church for supporting these two children in giving them a better living environment, good health care, and a loving and nurturing home while they are in the United States for six weeks.

           Click on each picture for a larger view

An email  from Joe Strong, the US coordinator for the ABRO program.

Redeemer Family,
Below you will read an email that was sent to the host families in the United States from Joe Strong, the US coordinator for the ABRO program.  It reinforces that we as Americans truly take our freedoms for granted.  After being in their country last year and feeling the oppression as well as understanding the restrictions on all Belarusans, this email is not shocking, but disturbing. 

When Raman and Anastasiya come each summer, it is not just to allow their immune systems to be surrounded by clean, fresh air and their bodies given uncontaminated foods, but to experience the freedoms that we daily take for granted – one of which is the freedom of religion and to worship where we want and how we want.  In so saying, we are excellent role models for these two children to see Jesus working in and through each one of us.  They, in turn, take these experiences home with them.  Even though they may not have the chance to share what they have gained from the blessings God has given them and will continue to give them, it is a part of them that may one day be shared with others.  In other words, are we not planting the seeds in these two children?

Please keep Raman and Anastasiya, as well as their country and their government, along with the Americans who are spread the Gospel in other countries in constant prayer. 

Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2007 1:45 PM
Subject: FW: Belarus
From: Joe Strong [mailto:joe@abro.org]
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2007 5:27 PM

Subject: Belarus
Dear Coordinators,
You may have already seen this article that came out today but wanted you to see how Belarus is responding to Christian activities.
Blessings,
Joe & Danita

MINSK, Belarus(AP) Ten Americans left Belarus on Friday after authorities ordered them deported for allegedly singing religious songs and reading spiritual literature, in violation of laws restricting religious activity in  the former Soviet republic. The Americans "preferred to leave Belarus voluntarily" after authorities decided they should be deported, said Interior Ministry spokesman Oleg Slepchenko.  Slepchenko said police raided what was supposed to be a seminar in conversational English at an evangelical Protestant church in the eastern city of Mogilev. He said police found bibles on the tables, and participants were singing religious songs instead of talking. The Americans, who arrived in Belarus Feb. 5, were fined and warned they were violating the law with their activities, Slepchenko said. But authorities later caught them repeating the alleged violations, he said.
 
Distrust of foreign missionaries and Protestant churches is strong in many largely Orthodox Christian and Muslim nations of the former Soviet Union. President Alexander Lukashenko, accused by the West of crushing democracy in Belarus, signed legislation in 2002 that strongly favors the dominant Russian Orthodox church and limits the activities of smaller religious groups. The United States has criticized the government of Belarus, a nation of 10 million, for discriminating against minority religions.

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