Twenty-five children were sent elsewhere, but three were left behind locked inside the hauntingly silent orphanage with little connection to the outside world.

All the activities were canceled and Gabriela, Dima, and Roma were stuck inside mostly playing board games, drawing, reading, or watching the same old videos. No television, no radio, and no visitors. The only explanation from the depleted staff was that a sickness was spreading around the world very fast. One minute everything was normal and the next it was silent, lonely, and hopeless. How long would this last? Would things ever go back to normal?

Chris Burgin | Founder and CEO

The question of helping orphans to survive has changed.

Help must still be provided but how, especially when children are locked down or sent back to reckless and destructive relatives that don’t want them? Tatiana and her team of leaders are relentlessly searching for ways to continue mentoring orphans in each and every situation. In most areas, things cannot be done the way they were in the past. So the new question is:

What can be done? Just because things can’t be done the same way as before does not mean we should “Just do nothing.” I am sure you agree doing nothing isn’t an option and as a matter of fact, it’s not even in our vocabulary. Just as Tatiana and her team are asking what can be done, the same question goes for everyone reading this today.

This was the same question we had to ask ourselves about our annual “Color Their World” banquet. You can’t host a banquet for 450 people at a time like this. Okay, what can be done? You will love the restructured “Color Their World” event this year which is something you can do to help orphans even from the comfort of your home!

We will not gather all together as in previous years, but small groups will meet in homes or church classrooms to view the live program broadcast from The Country Network studios in Fort Worth. Enjoy reading all about it at www.alliesyouth.org/banquet.

And what happened with Gabriela, Dima, and Roma? Nadya and her team did not give up! During the height of the quarantine, they were still able to take goods and supplies to all four of the orphanages they serve in Moldova. A lot of the items came from right here in the DFW area because Allies never stopped packing and shipping even though volunteers were not allowed to help.

Just last week, Nadya and her daughter, Anya, were finally able to make the much needed physical human contact with Gabriela, Dima, and Roma. It was a very happy reunion made possible by your support and prayers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Summer Camp Changes Lives

Dr.Tatiana Baeva | Director of International Operations

Your continued support allowed Allies to hold camps in a few areas this summer despite 2020 being filled with so many canceled events around the world. These Christian summer camps are often life-changing for orphans. I’d like to share the story of Vladik in Minsk as one of the examples of a changed life.

Vladik was left by his mother at the hospital with many physical problems from birth. His illnesses were caused by his mother’s alcohol addiction while she was pregnant with him. It is almost impossible for a child like Vladik to be adopted.

But God, in His great mercy, sent a family to adopt him in his first year of life. As a child, Vladik attended school in their small village, but struggled due to his lack of developmental and emotional skills. The influence of children from dysfunctional families and problems in school caused him to withdraw from others.

We didn’t know anything about Vladik when he arrived at camp, until his parents told us about his pyromania, a strong impulse to deliberately start fires. The history of his behavior included setting fires to a neighbor’s barn, a roof of an abandoned house, and hay in a field. The parents were afraid to leave Vladik alone and always worried about the issues he was causing in their family.

Vadik’s parents heard about our innovative and individualized programs for each child in our camp. We believe there are no bad children, there are only children we do not understand. The main premise of our work is to understand the need of each child and help him or her meet that need. We prayed very hard about how to help Vladik and came to the conclusion that he did not have enough positive emotions. We made a constant effort to praise him for any good decision whether through a gift, a hug, or just encouraging words. That encouragement along with a full schedule including many games, assignments, special evenings, and master classes was exactly what he needed.

The biggest reward for us was when Vladik’s parents shared the changes they observed in him after he attended camp. Vladik became a friendly, open, and sincere boy. Most importantly, he learned to be happy and to see beauty in life and no longer had the desire to set fires.

Because of you, we’re able to hold camps and send volunteers to show love and give needed attention to many disadvantaged children like Vladik which lessens their pain, stops their nightmares, and brings joy back into their lives.

Thank you!

Margie Brooks | Volunteer Coordinator and Office Manager

So many of you definitely made a difference this summer in the lives of orphans through in-kind donations! Allies could not meet the needs of the children we help without individuals like you and groups like Sew Many Blessings and Shine Unique Boutique who bring material goods to the warehouse. Thank you for keeping our volunteers busy with sorting and packing all of the following donations!

June



The Amazon Smile Campaign provided several boxes of needed items, especially underwear and socks, for the orphans. Hope Supply Company delivered five pallets of new clothing including socks and underwear. Thank you to Allies advocate Sharon Johnston for this contact!

July



Thank you to Igo Missions, David and Karen Groves, and Heaven’s Helpers Sunday school class for collecting over $300 for shoes for orphans in Moldova. Also kudos to Jennifer Nolan who brought two Jeep loads of school supplies.

Thank you to these churches for partnering with us for Christmas in July: Walnut Ridge Baptist Church (main and West campuses), Park Springs Bible Church, Pleasantview Baptist Church, First United Methodist Mansfield, and First United Methodist Euless. With all of the hygiene supplies collected, volunteers were able to put together 480 hygiene kits for children in need.

August

We are so appreciative of David Catalina from Mision Para Cristo who delivered a trailer load of new athletic shirts and shorts all the way from Abilene.

Thank You From Moscow

Heather Dunnaville | Staff Writer

Your support brings continual smiles to the faces of orphans. Please enjoy one example, among many, of how you are making a difference in their lives. We recently received some words of gratitude from the director of an orphanage in Moscow after we sent a package including photos of the children, a very special treat for them.

Glenda Beckwith, a Mansfield photographer, took the pictures during an Allies trip to Russia last October. She had the idea to give the orphans framed pictures of themselves. She said, “I thought that maybe it would build their self esteem by seeing how wonderful they looked.” And she was absolutely right! The orphans expressed their amazement and gratitude for this simple gesture with priceless reactions! Even the orphanage director was touched and said, “I’m asking you to convey my heartfelt thanks to your friends from Texas... for their work, care, and attention with which you have surrounded our children.”



Their appreciation was not only for this particular gift, but also the specially prepared boxes they receive on a regular basis. In addition, you make it possible for the orphans to enjoy memorable birthday celebrations, many of whom have never seen a birthday cake or even know the official date of their birthday. You help show orphans of all ages they are special.

“Thank you for your help and support,” the director said. “We are so very happy about our friendship!” Thank YOU for making these smiles and special moments possible!

Meet Suzan!

One way that can happen is by expanding our team. We would like to introduce our newest staff member, Suzan Jenkins, who recently joined us as Donor Relation Specialist. Born and raised in Fort Worth and a Texas Christian University graduate, she and her husband, Jay, live in Hurst. They have four children and four grandchildren and attend Gateway Church in North Richland Hills. She brings 28 years of fundraising and development experience to Allies and said it is a privilege to be used by God to connect with generous partners like you who want to bless orphans. You can contact her at suzan.jenkins@alliesyouth.org if you have any questions, need a speaker for your gathering, or desire to become more involved.

Welcome Back Zhenya

We are excited to welcome Zhenya Waybourn back to Texas after serving in the Orion Orphan Village in Russia for the past three years. Zhenya was born in Russia in 1991. He was an orphan until age 14 when he and his brothers were adopted by a family in Texas. After some college studies and working for Alcon for eight years, he chose to move back to Russia to help orphans in his native country by mentoring them and teaching them English.

Zhenya plans to study business economics at Tarrant County College as well as join the stateside Allies staff with the new title of Allies Ambassador. We look forward to sharing with you firsthand stories from Zhenya of what your partnership has meant for orphans in Orion! Being a former orphan himself, he especially knows how people like you can positively impact orphans’ lives!