The Hand in Hand team traveled to Kazakhstan to share the message of Christ and the meaning of Christmas, bringing hope and joy to local communities and supported Christmas events in Belarus.
Belarus.
This Christmas season, we give thanks to God for the privilege of sharing His love and bringing the joy of Christ’s birth to children. Though we are no longer able to be in Belarus in person, our hearts remain with the communities we have been blessed to serve. We are deeply grateful to God for the faithfulness of our volunteers in Belarus, who continue to shine His light and carry on this ministry, sharing the true meaning of Christmas with those in need.
Belarus is in special need of your attention and prayers right now. While we may not be able to travel there ourselves, we can still carry God’s Word, joy, and hope to the people through our friends and partners in Belarus. Together, we can support them in spreading the light of faith and love, even from afar. Let us stand in solidarity, lifting them up in prayer and ensuring that the message of hope reaches every heart in these challenging times.
Kazakhstan.
Fortunately, God always provides opportunities to serve, and when one door closes, another opens. We had the chance to travel to Kazakhstan—a fascinating country that captivates with its vastness and unique character. Kazakhstan, located in Central Asia, is the ninth-largest country in the world by land area, stretching from the Caspian Sea in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east. It is also the largest landlocked country on Earth. With a population of over 19 million people, Kazakhstan is a land of diverse cultures, traditions, and landscapes. From the endless steppes to the modern skyline of its capital Astana, Kazakhstan is a place where ancient traditions meet modernity. The country is known for its rich history as part of the Silk Road and its role as a bridge between Europe and Asia. This trip allowed us not only to serve but also to witness the beauty and resilience of this remarkable nation. Kazakhstan is a land of contrasts, where the warmth of its people and the vastness of its horizons remind us of God’s boundless love and creativity.
Kazakhstan. Winter. The biting cold, endless steppes, and people waiting. Not for gifts, not for holiday lights, but for something greater. They are waiting for hope. We come here to bring Christmas theater performances, to share the story of Christ, and to talk about what has become the meaning of our lives. But every time, I realize: it’s not us bringing something to them. It’s them revealing something important to us.
Liza: “Somehow, our paths crossed…” I hesitated for a long time. The trip to Kazakhstan sounded tempting but also intimidating. It was expensive, exhausting, and required a lot of preparation. Plus, it was the holidays—New Year’s, a time when you just want to stay home. But my friend, who had been there in the summer, kept saying it was worth it. She talked about how much joy and purpose this kind of service brought her. I prayed. And gradually, a sense of calm came over me: everything will work out, it will all fall into place. Why not give it a try?
“Straight into the fire”. As I expected, it wasn’t easy. Thirty-five hours of travel—and straight from the plane to our first meeting. After that, everything spun into a whirlwind: new cities, new people, new faces. Ministry, performances, songs, prayers. People received us in different ways. Some watched with curiosity, others with skepticism, but most often—with gratitude. They accepted what we brought, and you could see it: there was a thirst. Not just interest, but a real thirst to hear, to learn, to cling to hope. And I wanted so badly to say more, to explain deeper, to connect with them somehow. But what struck me the most was a place I hadn’t even thought about at the beginning.
“Just a couple of songs”. It was the last day of the trip. A drug rehabilitation center. We had planned a full performance, but we forgot the suitcase with our props. We had to wait 40 minutes for it to be brought to us. So, we decided to just sing. A few songs, a couple of testimonies. It sounds mundane, but it was anything but. We stood in front of people who had learned too early what it means to lose everything. We sang, “Somehow, our paths crossed…” and “Jesus, you’re my best friend…”—simple words that suddenly revealed something very important. Men and women, people who had been battered by life in ways that are hard to imagine, watched us with tears in their eyes. The room felt different, somehow brighter. As if we weren’t just telling them that someone loved them—they felt it. And I felt it too. I looked at these people and understood: the love we were talking about is real. It’s inside. It rises from the very heart. It doesn’t require effort; it just is. And the tears flowed on their own.
“For us—an hour. For them—a lifetime”. For us, it was a short meeting. An hour, no more. For them—it was an event they had been waiting for. Like the children in orphanages, like the elderly in nursing homes, like those who had been left alone. We left. But they stayed. And I want as many people as possible to know what it’s like to see someone suddenly realize they’re not alone. That someone remembers them. That someone loves them. And maybe, someday, “our paths will cross” again.
This trip isn’t just about service. It’s a journey into the depths of yourself. Every day, every conversation, every tear — it all reveals something new in me. And just when I think I’ve figured out why I’m here, something happens that turns everything upside down.
Leila: I’m just filled with joy. We were able to go back there again. I don’t set expectations, I don’t try to imagine what will happen. When we’re on the road, I don’t even know how we’ll perform the skit, what we’ll say, or how we’ll be received. But there’s something special about just trusting the moment. We arrive, and immediately—it’s showtime. No time to warm up. And what amazes me is how quickly people adapt to each other. No fuss, no “me first.” Everyone is ready to help, support, step in. It’s like a little miracle —seeing a group of strangers become a team in just minutes.
One of the places we visit is special. It’s hard to talk about God there. We have to change the words in the songs, in the scripts. We’re singing, and suddenly I forget that we replaced “Jesus” with “the Almighty.” I shout, “Jesus!”—and only then realize my mistake. Someone whispers, “We changed the words.” And in that moment, I feel how that one name — “Jesus” — fills the room. It sounds like thunder, like light, like something greater than just a word. It’s a moment when you realize: His name is power. It’s glory. It’s what changes everything.
For me, this trip isn’t just about serving. It’s a door that God opens. A door to people, to their hearts. We come, and they wait for us. They wait to hear, to feel, to understand. And I see: this isn’t just our desire—it’s His plan. He leads us where we’re needed. That’s why this matters.
This trip taught me something greater. I realized how easy it is to take a wrong turn. How easy it is to lose yourself. But it’s important to keep walking with God. To listen to Him. To do what He wants. Because that’s the only way to find the real path. The one that leads to Him.
This story isn’t just about a trip. It’s about how small steps can change someone’s life. How one song, one conversation, one prayer can be the start of something greater. But we can’t do it alone. You can be part of this story. Pray for us, for those we meet along the way.
Support us — your words and encouragement give us the strength to keep going. If you want to help financially, we’re grateful for any donations—they help us organize new trips, buy props, and simply be where we’re needed.
Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram) and our website. There, we share updates, stories, and plans for the future. Your support isn’t just help. It’s an opportunity to carry light together to places where it’s so desperately needed.
Thank you for being with us.