A group of Myko children are in Kiev with Valentina.

The following is an e-mail from Bogdan who is hosting some Myko children in Kiev for our “Feed the Soul” program. From what this e-mail describes, this trip is a huge success. The children are filled with such awe and amazement and they see that there is more to the world than just the walls of the orphanage. With your support, we can continue to provide these types of programs to great children who need to see that the world is has many wonderful things to see and do. Please go to AnOrphanSmiles.org to make your donation.

From Bogdan:
Well, I know Myko has lots of fans so I thought I would send reports to you by the day. So, here's a short summary of Day 1.
The train. This was an adventure in itself as many of the children had never been on a train before. Excitement and fascination are the two words that Valentina used to descibe the children's emotions...I know, those of you who have travelled on Ukrainian trains would probably use other words but hey...the children loved it!
The cool bus. Alyosha picked the group up at the train station and took them to a beautiful shiny bus that was waiting for them. I don't know about the girls but the 13 boys on the group were totally blown away by all the lights and buttons above their seats, the big wheels and windows and other stuff...The 30-minute ride to the orphanage was all dedicated to studying every details of the tour bus and talking to the driver (a really cool guy). I knew the bus would be a hit.
Arrival at the orphanage. When the children arrived at Orphanage No.12 they were greeted by O12 director Svetlana, and settled in their rooms. O12 kids are at the winter camp right now, so Myko children are sleeping in their rooms. Our great volunteers - Irina and Galina (Orphanage 12 worker and the Support Center accountant) - made fried eggs and hotdogs for breakfast. The children ate up and rushed downstairs to get on the bus and go to the city.
The Tour of the City. The bus took the group on a grand tour of the city. Among other things, the children got to go to the oldest Orthodox church in Eastern Europe (over 1000 years old) and to the caves. Valentina ordered a special requiem service in memory of her husband. She felt very content to do something in her husband's memory at the most sacred place for Orthodox people - the Lavra.
The lunch at O'Panas. Those of you who have been to Kiev may have visited this Ukrainian food restaurant. Very nice place in the very heart of the city. The children enjoyed a hearty meal (for a GREAT bargain price) and played with snow outside. For ALL of the children this was their first time in a restaurant. They were very proud of the fact they ate there.
The metro and the 'walking stairs'. After lunch the group went to take the metro to go to the Christmas Play, escorted by Alyosha and two Orphanage 12 staff - Natasha and Anastasia. Well, we knew the escalators would impress the children but nobody expected just SO much excitement. It was like riding the biggest and scariest ride in Disneyland - so much creaming and yelling. The people in the metro seemed to have enjoyed the show...I am not sure about Valentina, Alyosha and the girls who were trying to first put 20 screaming children on the escalator and then catch them downstairs.
The Christmas Play . The play was at the Ukraina Palace - the biggest concert hall in Ukraine. Lots of lights, marble etc. Pretty cool. The show was great and the children really enjoyed it. At the end everyone got a box of chocholates.
The Pizza. Since my favourite Canadian pizza place does not deliver to the disctrict where O12 is, Alyosha went to pick up 7 large pizzas for the children. Irina and Galina made a salad and we all had a great pizza party, followed by a desert.
Tomorrow the group will be going to the movies to watch Bedtime Stories, McDonalds and the Dolphin Show. The older children will go to the downtown area to hang out, too. Everyone will be taking public transportation except for a couple of really tiny kids who get tired very quickly - Alyosha will have to drive them around. I don't know what we would be doing without him...and the other volunteers who help cook and escort the children.