This past June, Woodmen Valley Chapel sent a team of volunteers to serve and love the children of the Mstyora orphanage in Russia. This story of Love in Action demonstrates how God’s love works through us to love and serve others.

We received this letter from one of the travelers, Matt, this past week. He writes:

In June of this year, I joined a team from Woodmen Valley Chapel on a mission’ trip to Mstyora, Russia. After returning from Iraq in 2006, I wanted nothing to do with the rest of the world. With that mindset loneliness began to tear my life apart.

Sitting in the airport on June 11th, our team was asked the question, “What do you expect from this trip?” Being honest with my team members I replied, “I have no idea”. 

We arrived in Mstyora and within minutes of being dropped off at our flat we lost power and water. Little did I know, losing those things would be one of the greatest blessings of our entire trip. With nothing to do and no power, Matt Kellner, Korvan Funk, and myself decided to go for a walk. As we passed the orphanage a group of boys asked to join us for our walk around the town.

As we walked the boys started asking questions.

They wanted to know me, and they wanted to know Matt. And the walls of my hardened heart began to fall.

Later that week our team did a chalk walk with the kids. And I noticed that the only English word most of the kids could write was “LOVE”.

As I saw this I stood next to a team member and asked, “I know God loves us, but do you think that we as humans can truly feel or express this feeling?” She looked at me and said, “Matt, you have to figure that out!”

As the week went on I became more and more attached to many of the kids, but one little girl completely stole my heart, and broke my heart in a way that I had never felt. The day we left, this little girl brought me a note, and it said, “Matvey, I like you a lot. Please don’t forget about me. Please come back. You are my friend of all the Americans.”

Those simple words broke me in a way that I had never been broken. We began our goodbyes and I could feel God’s love in each and every hug. As I approached the door to the bus I turned around to give one last hug.

The little girl who had been attached to me for the last couple days was no longer by my side. I saw her maybe 30 feet away and squatted down and put my arms out. She ran into my arms and gave me a hug that I can still feel today.

I left Russia broken, but with a new passion first for Christ and a passion to serve the countless orphans around the world.

Find out more about Matt, Woodmen Valley Chapel, and the children of the Mstyora orphanage in this short video about their trip.