Beslan - Ossetia
"Hand in Hand" Ministry
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.
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.
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"
