Click on the thumbnails for a bigger picture! New pictures from Russia! Here are all of the children from the 2002 Bridge of Hope program on the day they left to return to Russia.  No one said they were "going" home.  The 2 women are local volunteers.

  Ron, Barbara & Kolya just before his return to Russia at the end of July 2002.

What does Kolya like to do?  Anything that involves, the pool, a bike, cars, baseball (ask Wanda!), drawing, soccer, and annoying Bethany as a good little brother should!!.  Just being a kid!

Ron, Barbara & Kolya in Tyumen, Russia.  Yes, it's cold!!

Kolya standing in the middle of Red Square outside the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia.

        This is the Humanitarian Aid bag that we brought to the orphanage in Russia.  Thanks to your generosity we brought over 65 lbs. of educational supplies, over-the-counter medicines, mittens, caps & clothes.  The children & the orphanage directors were most appreciative of your gifts.

A little bit about our son & Russia.  Kolya is from the Tyumen region of Russia. The Tyumen Region is two time zones East of Moscow & stretches from Kazakhstan in the south all the way up to the Arctic, a huge area.  It is the "gateway" to Siberia & Russia's oil production region. The area is mainly flat with fields and groves of silver birches.  Covered in snow it was quite beautiful!  The city of Tyumen is situated about 1/2 way between Ekaterinberg & Omsk with a population of approximately 600,000. Our son's orphanage was located 60 miles east of Tyumen.  The orphanage was clean (you could eat off the floor under the refrigerator!) and well-kept. The children are happy, well-fed, well-mannered and healthy. The Russian orphanages are nothing like the Romanian or other Eastern-block orphanages that you've seen on TV. It was heart-braking to leave behind the other children in his group. Barbara & I cried when we saw the other children hugging & shaking Kolya's hand as he said "good-bye" for the last time.  Kolya was the first child in about 6 years to be adopted from that orphanage.  A bit of trivia: during World War II, Lenin's body was transferred to Tyumen for safe-keeping!

Moscow is a beautiful city. The Russian people are beautiful folks.  And after 70 years of Communist oppression, capitalism is beginning to flourish. Try as they did to abolish God, the church is thriving!  Hotels & restaurants are world-class.  The sites are breath-taking.  In the spring & summer, it's got to be beautiful with all the flowers & trees in bloom.

If you would like information about adopting an older Russian child (5 to 13 years old), I would be honored to talk to you.  Please feel free to email me or even call me in the office (203-377-0100).

For further information on the Bridge of Hope Summer Program 2007, you may want to attend one of these upcoming events in their various locales.  Please call the local contact person for exact times & locations:

Silver Spring, MD      Patrice Gancie, 301-587-4400