In the Tiniest of Hands

In many ways it feels like our team has been in Russia for just a few days. We are still learning many things about the culture, the people, and simply how to get from one place to the other.  Each day we are with the kids, they teach me something knew. But in just the two weeks we have been in Russia, the children have opened up their hearts to us. I’ve learned to really treat every day like it is my last with the kids. Each morning we arrive at the center we can never be certain who will … Continue reading

Seattle Team: Leaping by Faith

Coming here, I can’t say I really knew what I was getting myself into.  I expected to come to Russia and spread God’s love to his children. It’s not that I haven’t done what I planned to do, but God had something so much better in store.  In my time here, I have been so blessed.  It began with the instant bond with the awesome people on this team and I have felt God’s arms wrap around me. He never fails to use the children to teach me about His incredible love. Every morning, the most precious mass of adorable, … Continue reading

Seattle Team: Color me Russia

Living the story is always better than hearing it. I’ve been hearing about this story for several years now. My girlfriend, at the time, talked about visiting Russia to work at an orphanage. She talked about every kid and the love she had for each. She talked about happy stories but also sad and heartbreaking stories. She was living out a good story and her emotion and enthusiasm led me to want to one day experience it with her. Move ahead three years to now and that girlfriend I had is now my wife and that story she told is … Continue reading

Abounding Love

Meet Nerissa Kenan: a recent Seattle Pacific University graduate who knew her purpose was to serve underprivileged children; a calling that allowed her to touch the heart of one quiet, little boy. As the summer of ’12 approached, Nerissa heard about the Seattle Pacific Reachout International programs hosted by SunErgos International. It would involve traveling overseas to Russia and working with kids. Immediately, she knew that is where she wanted to go. From her studies as an “Individual and Family Development” major, Nerissa knew Russian orphanages rarely offer physical touch – like holding babies or giving hugs – to the … Continue reading

Responding to a Greater Calling

Back in 2003 the Mendakoff family founded SunErgos International, to serve the orphans in Russia. Now in its eleventh year, the organization regularly sends teams of students to serve the orphanages caring for these children. Grace Marlene Gonzales was in one of those teams. Grace was just finishing her sophomore year when she learned about the mission trips offered by her school, California Baptist University. She discovered a few team projects in Russia working with kids through SunErgos and joined one of the teams . Soon Grace and her team arrived in Russia. Before they went to see the kids, … Continue reading