Field Partners

Joy has been working in Far East Russia since 1993. She is a professor at the Far Eastern State Humanities University and teaches in the Foreign Languages Department.

Joy’s ministry involves three humanitarian projects:

• Samuel Children’s Shelter
  In 1998 a small house was purchased as a day centre for children. Here, the children can take activity classes in English and handcrafts. The banya (steam house) is very busy during the winter months as most children come from unheated homes with very primitive washing facilities. A hot bath is a luxury.
• Hope Workshop
  The HOPE workshop provides training and work experience for older children. These children are trained in woodwork, sewing and, in the future, metalwork. With these skills they will be able to earn a living.
• ‘The Ark’
  The ARK rehabilitation centre for men provides a home for up to 15 men who are recovering alcoholics, drug addicts or ex-prisoners. Through workplace training and counselling, the men are able to return to useful and productive lives.

Far East Russia

Kharbarovsk is a key city in the region, on the border with China. It is on the Amur River and the Trans-Siberian Railway line.

Despite improving conditions in many parts of Russia, this is an economically depressed region with large numbers of unemployed people. Average wages would be around $A200-$300 per month, with many living in very poor circumstances.

Churches are active in reaching out but experience a lot of harassment from government officials and administrators still in office from the old Soviet Union. Church unity is still a problem.