The official program was over but we still had a day of excursion and visits in Minsk. In the morning we went to the Saint Elizabeth Convent on the outskirts of Minsk to see something of the awe-inspiring work that God has accomplished through the nuns and lay sisterhood and brotherhood. The site has long been a hospital for adults and especially children with serious mental and physical disabilities. Most of the children are orphans (10% have parents who visit). In 1993 a group of Orthodox Christian lay women began visiting and assisting the overstretched staff to care for the patients and with children especially to give the time and affection that are so badly needed. Gradually, under the guidance of a local priest (Father Andrey), the work flourished and expanded.
