Stuff a Stocking Distribution Trip-2008

The 2008 Stuff a Stocking project of SOAR International Ministries brought the love of God and provided gifts and a Bible to needy children in Russia for the sixth consecutive Christmas season.  The distribution team of SOAR staff, volunteers from American churches, and Russian Christians delivered over 2000 stockings as we worked along side local pastors.  This project helps connect churches and missionaries with their local orphanages and children’s centers for follow-up ministry and discipleship.

During the stocking distributions to fifteen different locations, the team presented songs, gospel tricks (object lessons), games, hugs, love and the good news of God’s gift of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.  The colorful stockings stuffed with lots of wonderful gifts (hygiene items, school supplies, warm clothes, candy and toys) brought joy and happiness to the children, many of whom have suffered real tragedy in their young lives.  Each child also received their own personal Bible.

The visit and stockings bring into focus the miracle of God’s love to these children whose lives are so full of suffering, need and hardship.

• Twelve year old Katya had come to the children’s center just the day before our visit, following her mother’s funeral.  She would remain there until her permanent guardianship or orphanage was determined and her documentation completed.  This often takes about a year.
• An unnamed five year old girl had just arrived at the orphanage from the hospital.  She was recuperating from rat bites suffered when she was in a dumpster where her mother had thrown her away.

This year’s team experienced a wide range of needs and situations.  We visited the largest prison in Russia, built in the 1700’s, where we met with the children of prisoners and of prison workers.  We worshipped in a small church where all of the adults were former alcoholics and drug addicts and we shared their unspeakable joy at the deliverance found only in our Lord!  We experienced God’s protection as our bus was involved in a traffic accident but no one was injured.  This delayed our arrival at the next stop, a home for children with tuberculosis and other lung diseases, but the staff allowed the children to stay up past bedtime and wait for us!  We met a pastor who had come to the Lord in a Siberian prison and then established a neighborhood church as soon as he was released. 

We praise God for the opportunities he allowed us to have on this trip and the many blessings we received.  Continue to pray with us that He will use His Word to bring many of these precious lives into His kingdom.  Contact us at info@soarinternational.org to find out more about sponsoring Bibles and stockings or joining us on the 2009 trip.  You can make a difference for God’s kingdom, one child at a time. 

The 2008 Stuff a Stocking Team Members