My name is Stephanie Blackstone. I was born in England and raised in Singapore, Germany, and Northern Ireland. At age sixteen I returned to England, where I studied to become a registered nurse. In 1973 I moved to America to practice nursing. My calling was in caring for patients in the final stages of cancer, including pediatrics. In caring for them, I mixed IV chemotherapy, unprotected, in their homes. Exposure to the cytotoxic drugs resulted in immune deficiency. This in turn led to a terminal medical condition called cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure. Doctors told me I had less than 2 years to live. As I watched the plight of the Romanian orphans, and the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma, I wept. When I was healthy, I never helped in disastrous situations. I longed to make a difference in the world. I prayed to God… "If You heal my heart, I will head for the first crisis You show me." God healed my heart! In 1996, an unusual chain of events led me to Russia. I found the orphans living in deplorable conditions. On our arrival, the Dubovka Baby Orphanage, in Voronezh, Russia, was completely out of food. The children were almost naked, with threadbare clothing and starving to death. The Director called the Russian government and the Russian Orthodox Church for help. None came. Little did she know, that the Lord was sending us with a de-commissioned army truck full of nutritious baby and toddler food. I was so overwhelmed, I cried, and said I would never go back. How could one person make a difference? Who would feed them the next time? The next winter, 6 orphans froze to death because they had no heat. I had to go back. I shared my passion with friends, and they joined me. In 1998, we made our first trip. We took food, clothes, and toys. We had a huge luggage mission. Everything we took in had to fit in our luggage. We painted, played with the children, and made friends with the Russians. On my first visit, at Voronezh Children's Hospital, I gave medical exams to about 50 children. During this time, through translators, I shared my testimony of how God had healed me, and my son, who had cystic fibrosis. Some months later, a communist raised, pediatric doctor had a baby that was dying, and she could do nothing to help. She told the mother that a nurse from America came and said, "When you don't know what to do, you pray." So this communist doctor and a Hindu mother prayed, and the child was healed! Dr. Natalia and I have become sisters in Christ! She now witnesses to her co-workers and patients. In 1999, we collected over $50,000 in aid for the orphanages. Help came from all over the USA and Britain. Everything was brand new! The shipping container left America in June and arrived in July. The next group arrived in September, to distribute the contents to the orphanages. The Russian customs had another plan. It was not released until late December 1999. We returned to Russia on January 7, 2000 just in time for Russian Christmas! God's timing is always perfect. When we returned to America, we began to see the vision God had in mind for our "little" group. Last February we formed a non-profit organization called Treasures of the Heart, Inc. "For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also." Matthew 6:21. The government approved us in record time… just 28 days! In June 2000, British firms filled the Mercy Missions truck with beds, paint, duvet covers, toilets, sinks, kitchen cabinets & so much more. This time when our September mission team was in Russia, the Russian customs officials released it and our team was able to distribute it. What a blessing! Our mission statement is: "To provide and distribute humanitarian aid to orphans, children's hospitals, and needy families, all over the world, while sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who will listen, thus meeting their physical and spiritual needs. Our goal is to equip the indigenous people with the necessary implements to care for those in their charge, physically and spiritually." Our first mission, we found Barskoe Gorodische Orphanage had deplorable conditions in their kitchen, bedrooms and bathroom. The kitchen foundation was collapsing, & they had rats. The toilets were out-houses inside, and were too disgusting to describe. A large number of the teenagers' feet hung over the end of the beds and many slept two to a bed. The hope of Treasures was to give the children new bedding. God has provided the funds and free supplies to refurbish the entire orphanage. We believe in first fruits, therefore, we only provide new items. Now each child had a new bed, mattress, feather duvet cover, sheets, towel, shoes, and clothes. They have their first flushing toilets and sinks with running water! The first of three bedroom blocks is complete with new floors, ceiling, doors, windows, and fresh paint. With God's help this Spring and summer we hope to complete the other bedroom blocks. The orphanage staff teaches the children farming. Treasures' has provided them with a new tractor and tools. We bring them seeds so that they can grow the most wonderful vegetables. They now have to guard the crops! This helps feed three orphanages! To our amazement, we have the funds to put on a new main building roof, repair the collapsing kitchen foundation, level the sinking floor, and cover with new tile. The building will be completely rewired by licensed electricians. We have all new sinks, counters, toilets, bathtubs, showers, and washer and dryer. We use the local craftsmen and laborers in an effort to help the local economy. This is so far above our small vision. This year we expect to complete our mission at Barskoe. We have profound relationships with these wonderful people, many who are now in the Kingdom. While God may send us in new directions, we plan to have an on going relationship with our new family. Treasures' strives to make at least two trips each year. We have an infrastructure of humanitarian aid workers and Russian Christians to help us with our projects. We continue to provide food and heat for the widows and single moms we have met in Russia. They count the days to our return, not for what we bring them, but that we remember them and come back. A new project is the low vision school in Vladimir. They are teaching the children English. The teachers have little to work with in the way of supplies. Treasures gave them a real blackboard and a tape player (the teacher had cassettes, but no player). We are gathering large print books for our return in March 2001. We try to stay open for the needs as they present themselves. In the way of surgery for the eyes, chemotherapy for the children, medicines for seizures, medical supplies, wheel chairs, and sometimes just fun stuff like tea sets, stuffed animals, soccer balls, ping pong tables, toys, candy, cookies, photographs of themselves, and birthday parties. God cares about the whole person - mind, body, and soul. Each person, or their sponsors, pays for their own mission trips. All money given to Treasures goes directly to the children. The board pays for all administrative expenses. Some ask how they can help - some people have time, some have money, some have resources, some have a lot - some have a little. God can make much out of little when we are obedient. A few of our orphan odysseys in 2001: · February 3rd, 2001 ~ Stefan Barlow delivered emergency chemotherapy drugs to Voronezh Children's Hospital, Russia · March 1st to 8th, 2001 ~ Visit orphanages & hospitals in Georgia to identify needs. · March 8th to 14th, 2001 ~ Continue work in Russia. Oversee the rebuilding of Barskoe Gorodische orphanage. Purchase new bed linens and a commercial washer & dryer for Dubovka Baby Orphanage. · April 7th, 2001 ~ Winnie Trade Days, a Treasures' fundraiser to benefit orphans in Eastern Europe. · April to November, 2001 the rebuilding of Barskoe Gorodische Orphanage · May 2001 ~ Commence our Medical warehouse. Ship 4 respirators to Georgia. · June, 2001 ~ Complete the sixth bedroom and build a new bathroom in bedroom block #2 · September 1st to 14th 2001 ~ mission to Russia. We will continue the work at Barskoe Gorodische & Dubovka Baby Orphanages. Also do "Street Kid" and "Prison Ministry". · September 12th to 23rd 2001 ~ mission trip to Georgia (ex-Russian country). We will visit orphanages and hospitals, while sharing the love of Jesus everywhere we go. · We will bring bulk food to each institution and love & play with the children. More details to follow, after our March mission trip. · December 2001 ~ Prepare and sell Ginger Bread Houses to benefit orphans. Please visit our colorful and interesting web site at: http://www.treasuresoftheheart.org Truly, God has put this together. Most sincerely, Stephanie Blackstone President of Treasures of the Heart Inc.