Beslan - Ossetia


"Hand in Hand" Ministry


russia - beslan

Anatoly Kushnar and Sergey Karaev with the youth group in Beslan

In the fall of 2009, we received an invitation from "New Fields", to spend the Christmas holidays with the children of Beslan.

In Moscow we were met by Sergey Karaev and Alexander Minyakov.

The trip from Moscow to Beslan was not easy, 36 hours on the road and every two - three hours we were stopped by the police, either to check the documents, or to write a ticket.

The next day, after visiting the cemetery and the school we went to "The Committee of the Mothers."

Not knowing each other before after a few minutes of fellowship we felt like in a circle of old friends.

They told us about their unforgettable sorrow. "Time does not heal our wounds" - they said.

russia - beslan

Small Christmas Gifts for Kids

For more than five years, they go every day to the cemetery. The evening before our departure, we have been singing Christian songs with them.

The next day, seeing us at the airport they said: "This is the first time in five years, we sang songs." "When Vladimir Minyakov comes, or people like you - this is the time when we come back to life."

Many times I met with the administration of schools and boarding schools in Russia and Belarus, but have never seen such a joy about our arrival, as in Beslan.

"The main auditorium is small, - said the director, but if you are willing to repeat your Christmas program a few times, we divide the children into 3 groups."

Thus we had to do the Christmas play in the school number 1 of Beslan 3 times. Each time we had 300 to 400 children.

The joy experienced by the Kids, hearing the Good News of the birth of Christ and receiving a small Christmas gift, was great.

After our program in the school, we were asked to help the local orphanage. They asked us to hold a summer camp for their kids.

One evening we visited Lydia Tsalieva, the former director of the school.

russia - beslan

Each time we had 300 to 400 children. The joy experienced by the Kids, hearing the Good News, was great.

After the terrorist attack in 2004, many have accused her that she had not taken all measures to prevent the attack.

She herself, along with others was taken hostage, injured and suffering some burns. For her, our visit was much needed.

She was very glad to see Sergey Karaev, her former pupil. We also heard about her difficulties and loneliness.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she hugged all of us - "I am still remembered", she wailed.

Before we left Beslan, we stopped again at the cemetery. "City of Angels" as it is now called. It was rainy and cold.

It was heartbreaking to watch as the mothers of these "angels" wiped off the photographs of their children with handkerchiefs.

On the way to the airport the taxi driver, knowing who we were began to thank us for the Christmas program we held in the school his kids went to.

I thought that not only those with whom we met personally, but many others have heard about the Christians who care about the fate of this nation.

We pray and believe that they start thinking of God who sends in the hearts of people love and peace.

Anatoly Kushnar - "Hand in Hand"


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North - Ossetia


Testimony of Tatyana Minyakov


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Monument "Tree of Sorrow" made in honor of all who died in the terrorist attack of September 1-3, 2004 in Beslan.

Ossetia, Beslan - a city about which I knew from the stories of my husband, but now I have seen it with my eyes. This was my first and his eleventh trip there. I thought Beslan was a much larger city, but it is very small... How could such a small town, endure so much sorrow and tears? How could such a small school gymnasium accommodate so many children and adults? How could such a terrible attack happen? I went to the school destroyed by the explosions. The gym was burned, the walls in bullet holes were covered with photos. In the pictures I saw hundreds of children's eyes looking at me. There was no place to hide. As a mother of seven kids I was filled with pain and horror... We went to the Children's Cemetery - "City of Angels", hundreds of identical tombstones... It seemed as if one huge grave plate covered the place, and under it the fate of so many lives, someone's dreams and unfulfilled expectations

With the girls Vika and Olga Kalagovs, miraculously surviving the attack in 2004, we visited the graves of their parents. Late in the evening we brought the girls back to their lonely home. The parents are gone and they have very few relatives. Again, my heart was filled with pain. Pray for these orphan girls. In one of the days of our stay we visited the non-profit organization - "Beslan Mothers". Women who lost their children in the terrorist act, met us with such love and kindness. They thanked us for all the work "New Fields" is doing in the area! We talked about the plans to hold a children's camp for wounded children. Agreeing on the next day to continue to talk about it we left. Next morning we met again.

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Tatyana and Vladimir Minyakov
at the school cemetery...

After a few minutes, two men came into the office. These were Minister of Youth and Sports, Rustem and his deputy, Alan. They brought two big cakes and we sat down to drink tea. It was so unusual to see people from the government of the Republic, to talk with my husband, as if they were closest friends. Rustem said the president of North Ossetia, Taimuraz Mamsurov, instructed him to give us any assistance in organizing the children's camp. We had several options. In the morning, the next day, we sat in a bus and went into the mountains to see the actual campsite. A gorgeous scenery, beautiful nature, mountains, and conveniently located sports facilities, an ideal place to hold a summer camp for the kids. Please pray for the success of this endeavor, because we are facing many obstacles and need guidance, help and protection from God.

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A gorgeous scenery, beautiful nature, mountains, and conveniently located sports facilities...

Every day beginning in the early morning, until late into the night, we went from house to house, visiting the affected families. I was impressed with the love and attention we received everywhere.

One evening we were invited into a house. In the dining hall were forty people. We were seated at the table. The owner of the house George said that they are meeting today because of us, and suggested that Vladimir should say something and pray. It was nice to see how people listened attentively, and then all stood up for prayer.

It was midnight, we went to the house, where we were staying, with the idea of finally getting some rest. But a phone call from the family Dzhiovyh (they have many children, the oldest son - Arthur, died in the terrorist act) changed our plans. They said that they were waiting for us to visit their house. I simply did not have any strength to go anywhere, but Vladimir insisted: "we have to go and visit the family. When we got there, I was amazed: wide open gates, all the lights in and outside were on. The owners met us on the street. We went into the house. The dining table was set. Children were sitting at the table, some of them w ere slumbering. In the early morning we went away. Then I thought: how could we have refused such an invitation, they had been waiting for us the whole day, prepared a gorgeous meal? God has taught me another lesson: You will have to be where people need you and where I send you.

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Vladimir M. and Rustem Kelechsaev
The minister of Youth and Sports

In Beslan, the tense atmosphere is still being felt. When we came to the school where many of the surviving children go, we were met by the principal Lyudmila Petrovna and Nadezhda Ilinichna the history teacher. Last year they were our guests in the US. What a pleasure it was to meet again in their home country. I was surprised that my husband was met at the school as a dear friend, not only by teachers but also by students. We went to the principals' office and Lyudmila Petrovna described how two days ago she was called and the voice said: there is a bomb at the school. They ordered an evacuation. Hundreds of children in a terrible panic, frightened and screaming, run from the school building. As we were sitting and talking there was another call and someone said that the school number 6 is mined. The children in Beslan are in constant fear, and parents sending their loved ones to school are in worry until they come back home. Having visited Ossetia, I will pray even more, preparing my husband for the next missionary trip. But I saw myself, how much Vladimir is needed there, how people meet and greet him, how they are waiting for him to visit their home to get comfort and support through his ministry.

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The church of V. Korchevsky.

It is not easy to go to a family, which lost the dearest person on earth - a child. To go and talk about the love of God, and show it in his/her own life is a task for every missionary. I and our children will now pray even more for every trip of my husband. When we went to the train station to leave Beslan, I saw dozens of friends and acquaintances, who came to say goodbye. Through tears that covered my eyes, I saw many waiving hands. We all were deeply moved. I realized that these are not just our friends, these are people that need us. The train gained speed. We were leaving with a feeling of, I would say, some guilt and a sense of unfulfilled duties. Indeed, in such a short time, it was impossible to visit all the families and bring comfort to everyone who needed it. But there is also a sense of gratitude because in the soul of these people, a spark of hope and faith in the Savior is light up. I looked out the window and prayed: "Lord, give me grace to help my husband in the ministry. And help him to bring blessing to those in need. Let me learn to sacrifice and bear Your light and love to others..."

Tatyana Minyakov


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Beslan


Testimony of Sergey Karaev


This was my first missionary trip to my home town of Beslan. I was on the team with Vladimir Minyakov. It was a trip I will never forget, in many respects. First, it was after three years in the US, and secondly it was my first trip in a new role - as a missionary. On the one hand it seemed as if I never left Beslan, but on the other hand, I saw how much had changed. Communicating with people and going to some government agencies, unfortunately, revealed that not all changes are for the better. But thank God, for the most part people are still optimistic.
ossetia

Family Sattsaev and Sergey Karaev

I visited some of the people who were held hostage during the seizure of the school, met with childhood friends, teachers of the school, and the committee "Beslan Mothers", visited a church in Beslan. We discussed many issues, including a summer camp for affected children and the activities on the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attack. These meetings were of special spiritual nature, on the one hand, they knew me as a man who was born, studied and lived in Beslan, and now I have appeared before them in a new capacity - a missionary. Some people are not able to realize and understand how one can come from a different country, simply to do something for them, to talk, to inquire what their needs and concerns are. When I told them that many people are praying for them, they could not hold their tears. "Thank you for remembering us", they said.

Visiting the family Sattsaev was a blessings to me personally. The persistence and optimism of Natasha could be envied. She with her children, Tamerlan, Adelina and Daniel were among the hostages. In the first hours, when terrorists began to hang the bombs in the gym, a grenade exploded. Natasha was wounded by a shrapnel in the head. It went through the whole head and stuck in the occipital area. All three days she stayed in the gym with this injury. Moreover Natasha even tried to help others. After they were finally freed, the doctors said that it was unlikely for her to actually stay alive. Natasha survived, but unfortunately she was disabled (the shrapnel has not been removed, doctors said that it is dangerous to life). The left side of her is completely paralyzed and she can not move independently, without assistance and without the wheelchair. But even in this state, she does not lose a sense of optimism and hope that they will be fine. I thank everyone for the prayers and support of our ministry in Beslan.

Sergey Karayev


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