Tickles, Treats, Triumph, and Serious Talks

Posted by Ember Mumaw, Intern








































This past weekend saw the Kids Connection team celebrating birthdays with four boys from Saramoldeava. The two birthday kids and friends of their choosing are treated to pizza, a movie, chocolate cake, and some games. Each month we do this. It’s a little different with its own flavor depending on which children come. Highlights included a huge tickle fest with the two younger boys, Ember and Sara. The team tag method worked best and we called it a tie in the end! As for treats, we try to give the children meals they don’t often have, such as American style pizza and chocolate cake. This week Ken also pulled out some Twizzlers which the kids seemed to like, but our teammate Olya turned her nose up at. For one young man, Roman, the highlight of his time was perhaps besting Keekzhan at not just one, but three rounds of chess.

At the end of our time Olya, the Youth Impact Manager, and then Kiikzhan had conversations with both Roman and Vitalik who are graduating from the orphanage this May. Interlink can’t move mountains or make the impossible, possible, but we do try to help the children achieve their dreams. This can take a lot of time and conversations since in Kazakhstan orphanage children are not encouraged to have high dreams or hopes. Interlink hopes to work to overcome this lack of hope in the children by helping to find and open doors of possibility for them and to continually remind them of their unique worth, to foster their talents and gifting, and to guide them to make wise decisions.