While some churches in the state chose to participate in overseas missions
trips this past summer, one Louisiana Baptist church brought a missions project
to their doorstep.
While some churches in the state chose to participate in overseas missions
trips this past summer, one Louisiana Baptist church brought a missions project
to their doorstep.
Located in New Iberia, Highland Baptist Church has sponsored a group of 13
Belarussian children for the past two summers. Families from the church housed
the children – whose ages ranged from 7 to 17- for six weeks from
early June to late July.
The South Louisiana congregation apparently is the only Louisiana Baptist church
to participate in the American Belarussian Relief Organization program.
Since 1991, more than 3,100 Belarussian children have participated in the Rustburg,
Va.-based interfaith program “for rest and medical evaluation,” notes
the Web Site for the American Belarussian Relief Organization.
The Belarussian children suffer medical problems as a result of the 1986 Chernobyl
nuclear power plant explosion. Experts say the accident released 90 times as
much radiation as the bomb that exploded over Hiroshima, Japan, during World
War Two.
Some of the childrens health problems include thyroid disease, an increase
of leukemia and birth defects and vitamin deficiencies. In addition to medical
problems, most food that the children eat in the former Soviet Union republic
is contaminated as a result of the accident, which left lingering damage to
area soil and water.
Officials at American Belarussian Relief Organization determines that breathing
the clean air and eating uncontaminated food in the United States for the six
weeks the Belarussians are in America reduces radiation levels in their bodies.
In fact, their stay in America can add as much as two years to their life-span,
they say.
Highland Baptist Church members Tammi Woerner and her husband have served as
host parents and group coordinators for the past two summers.
After discussing the program with the pastor and others in the congregation,
the church council approved their ministry endeavour. Woerner then presented
the idea to the church and asked for host families.
The process was “easy,” Woerner says.
“Its almost scary how simple it is,” she emphasizes. “You
can make it as expensive as you want it to be or be as frugal as you want.”
Expenses for each child consist of $1,000, along with other living expenses.
Highland Baptist Church pays half of the $1,000 for the children.
The New Iberia community gave each child “the royal treatment,” Woerner
says.
Restaurants donated meals, physicians provided free medical care and retailers
supplied the children with gift cards to use in shopping.
“This shows what a giving community we have,” Woerner explains. “All
who participated last year were excited again this year.”
American Belarussian Relief Organization mandates that the children receive
dental and eye care. Dentists filled 40 cavities, pulled teeth and completed
five sealants. Seven children received eye glasses last year, and only two needed
a pair this year.
Woerner says most of the children arrived in the United States with only the
clothes on their back.
“One kid could not eat all of his food that he received on the plane and
gave it to us as a gift,” the Louisiana Baptist church member says. “That
made us feel very humble. There are not words that express how I felt. …
“You treat them like theyre your own child,” Woerner adds.
“You love them like theyre yours, and you fuss at them like theyre
yours.”
Woerner says while the host families knew little Russian, they did learn basic
phrases so they could communicate with the children.
“These kids come into your home, and you dont really know where
they come from,” host parent Christy Labry says. “You think youll
bless them by giving them things, but when they leave, youre the one being
blessed. We realized that we take so much for granted.”
Woerner agrees. “The least we have to give them is more than theyre
ever offered in their country,” she relates. “Even buying one little
outfit on sale at Wal-Mart would be the best they could imagine.”
Each week, the children participated in a one-hour Bible study. Woerner says
the Bible study exposed most of the children to the gospel for the first time.
“This time also gave them a chance to get together,” Woerner adds.
“This helps them not to get homesick.”
Despite the clean air and the various amenities the United States has to offer,
Labry says most of the children prefer living in Belarus.
“In spite of their struggle, they love where they live,” she explains.
“When they leave, its a mixture of sadness and happiness. Theyre
happy to return to their families but sad to leave here.”
(For more information on American Belarussian Relief Organization, contact
Woerner at 337-364-7392.)