Visit with Atroshkins!

Happy to see Anzhelika and Liza! Even Ihar was happy to see the family!

Liza and Ihar....Liza has been to my house before.

I love this family! We are at Grandmother's Datscha; Anzhelika, Sergei, David, Ihar, Angelina, Liza, Anya, 3 cousins and Antie complete the photo.

David is taller than his father! Liza gives "the pose"!

The kitchen inside the datscha. Ihar is helping himself to some "kukarooza" or corn!

The kids cooked dinner for me...corn, boiled potatos and a cucumber salad. Anya and Liza competed for my attention. Anya won out most times...she was anxious to show me everything!

Sergei with 3 of his girls, a niece and a nephew (these are his sister's children)....They are showing me nuts growing on the tree.

A datscha would not be a datscha without beautiful flowers in the garden! This is Liza!

Three beautiful Atroshkina girls! Angelina, Anya and Liza!

Ihar and David...David is one of Ihar's good friends. They are the same age. David has finished Grade 9 and will move to the trade school to learn working with metal. Ihar will remain at the Cadet School. David has been working this summer sometimes helping his father who is working in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Great Grandmother's Datscha....isn't the scenery beautiful?!

Great Grandmother (83 yrs. old)....Angelina, Anya, Cousin, Liza and Cousin

I was the first American Great Grandmother has visited with. She was precious and so Russian!! I love this photo! All in all, it was a great visit with my precious friends...Pray for them, their lives are difficult right now.

Girls Orphanage & Foster Village

Ihar is standing in one of the dorm rooms for the girls. The cabinets are new from the last time I have visited the school/orphanage. My friend, Cheri, her daughter was in this orphanage. Many of Ihar's friends are here as this school and his school get together for many dances throughout the year. And the boys and girls are at camp together in the summer.

They are taught many skills. One of them is sewing and design. Aren't these cute?!

Ihar in front of a mural. All crafts are taught to the girls....beads, jewelry, painting, sketching, sewing, cross stitch, etc. I have given money in the past to help buy supplies for the girls.

The girls' handiwork from sewing class. I can't even sew!!!

We are at the SOS Foster Village. It has been open for only 1 year.

Ihar always goes with me when I visit the orphanages. I have wanted to tour this village from the first time I heard about it.

I was really impressed! It has been built with money from other countries, such as Germany. Each "home" has a mother who has been hired and up to 6 children in the home. There is no "dad" ....

This little guy took us on a "tour" of his home. He was so sweet and wanted to show us everything! Then when we got ready to leave, he gave us a muffin! I could almost see myself doing this kind of thing. 

SOS Foster Village, Mogilev, Belarus

Ihar looking at a photo of the president of Belarus.

A Highlight!!! Baby Orphanage!

Well it wouldn't be Belarus if I didn't make it to some orphanages!!! This is one I have

wanted to go into for quite some time. It is the baby orphanage. They have 300 workers

(24/7) and 143 babies right now.

This is Masha. She is 4 weeks old.....that's Katie in the background (she traveled to Belarus

with us, Katie went to visit her Belarussian "sister"). We are in the infant room. Most of these babies

are already potty trained. They begin at 4 mths. old...putting them on the potty.

Diapers are so expensive and they pee pee right thru the cloth diapers they use...and they

don't have rubber pants...

This is Kacha....she wanted all of us to pick her up!

The infant room...where is all the color?

Ihar will make a great daddy someday. He loves kids and they love him!

He didn't even seem to mind coming with me here!

He didn't even have anybody telling him to pick up the children!

He loves them!

She's ready for her shopping trip!

Ihar enjoyed pushing the children on their swing.

This is Koyla...he wanted me to hold him the entire time I was there...of course, I

obliged him! He seemed to tell me "don't put me down"....I sang songs to him and I

prayed scripture over him. I wish I could have taken him home with me. He squished his little

head right next to mine. I wanted to cry.

Koyla looking so very very serious. Isn't he adorable?

Aren't we adorable?

We bought diapers, diapers and more diapers......and we

bought medicine for babies' gums and stomach...I hope it helps a little! All thanks to a precious friend!

Pleased that we could help!

Ihar Always Said......!!

Ihar always said to me, "Mom, Come to Belarus in the Summer, it is beautiful!"

He is so right!!!! There is so much green and so many flowers!

Ihar is proud of his country.

These photos were taken at the museum which is next to the zoo.

It was fun doing some "tourist" things with Ihar!

Isn't this gorgeous?!!! This is a hotel at the museum. It is just as beautiful

inside as it is outside! We went in to use the bathroom!

Ihar at the museum....We had some fun!

This was a datscha where the people used Coke and Sprite bottles to make all

their decorations, the roof and the gate....etc. It was amazing!!!

Wouldn't you agree!!! It is beautiful!! I wonder how many bottles

they had to use????

Here I am standing in front of their gate! Start counting those bottles!

Russian Orthodox Church

We were walking by when the bread truck drove up for a delivery....

my oh my but the bread smelled so good!!!!

Ihar's city, Mogilev (Summer 2011)

Ihar in the heart of downtown Mogilev. The wedding chapel is the building

on your right. If you elect to get married in a church you still have to make

a visit to the chapel!!

This river runs between the city. It is called "Daniper" at least that is how it sounds,

but I'm sure the spelling is wrong!

Linda and myself sitting almost in a bed of flowers.

Town fountains....when it is really hot, you will find people getting

in the fountains!

Standing near one of the zodiac chairs in the heart of the city. Story goes that you sit

in the chair of you zodiac sign and your wish will come true. If my wish came true, Ihar

would be coming to America!!

Ihar and "his girl"...in front of the theatre.

Of course we visited a candy store! Candy is of high importance....you

will be served candy almost at every meal!

Ihar standing in front of one of the war memorials....

Tribute to the leaders of Belarus and Russia...

German tanks

Another war memorial..this is one that wedding couples also visit.