Yet again our hosts, Timur, Joseph and Bella from the church in Vladikavkaz, looked after us so well. We went back to the two orphanages we had previously visited and also laid flowers at School Number 1, the scene of the tragedy of 2004, and the cemetery. We also spent a short time at the Care and Reconciliation centre in Beslan.

While more children are coming to the centre, the rebuilding program has stalled through lack of money. On the day we visited, the centre had been broken into and some precious art materials and a gas stove had been stolen. The police had been called, but the chances of recovering the stolen items were minimal.

At the first orphanage, most of the children were away on a short break in the mountains, while the older children were redecorating the building. The director made us so welcome and we gave him a gift of a playchute which the teenagers proceeded to enjoy for the rest of our visit. You could sense the atmosphere of warmth and love, but equally could see the stark lack of resources.

At the special needs orphanage we received a very enthusiastic welcome from children and staff. Again we brought cards from school children in Chester, and also brought them a gift of a playchute. The delight on their faces was a joy to behold. We had a better chance to look around the orphanage, and, while it was clean and tidy, it was also clearly very run-down and in need of repair and brightening up. Again we saw the children who were confined to their cots.

A great time with our friends from the orphanage

I will always remember a little girl clutching her prized doll – a battered object in tattered clothes with its arms falling off. The staff, while full of love and care, lack the expertise and resources to cater for these young ones. The local church sends a team in to work with the children from time to time, but a lack of money to keep this work going hampers them. In the main hall we were able to tell stories to the children, do some drama, sing songs and enjoy their huge smiles. It was very sad when we had to leave.

Visiting School Number 1 brought back the memories of that tragic waste of young lives. The school has been left as it was – the only addition a small water feature to recall the way the children were deprived of water during the siege. My daughter looked in sadness at a room full of discarded children’s clothing and shoes. Beslan still struggles to come to terms with its grief and the lives of many families have been shattered forever.

Through this tragedy God has brought us to value the friendship of Pastor Timur, Pastor Joseph and their church – friends we did not know we had. I also believe he is asking us to do something practical. I believe our work must centre on working with the local church to improve the lives of the children in the orphanages. Is it possible we can take ‘experts’ over to Vladikavkaz to impart their skills to the workers in the special needs orphanage? Can we set up sensory rooms to stimulate the children? Can we paint and redecorate the orphanage? Can we bring them resources which are new and lasting? Can we provide toys which are not broken?

Standing in the cemetery in Beslan I reflected on how quickly the world has moved on. The latest tragedies are now Iraq and Lebanon, but God does not want us to forget the people of Beslan and Vladikavkaz. We thank him for the friends we did not know we had, and He commands us to act. With God’s help we can help those children in the orphanages to have a more fulfilling, more stimulating life. Can you help us to help them?

Note: Following John Spencer's trip to Beslan and Vladikavkaz this summer, ASSIST Europe is launching an 'Out of the cot' campaign to raise vital resources for the special needs orphanage. The charity will also be sending another mission team in Easter 2007 to minister in Beslan and at the special needs orphanage. You can donate online towards this work at www.assisteurope.net, or checks payable to ASSIST Europe can be sent to: ASSIST Europe, Fountains Building, Upper Northgate Street, Chester CH1 4EF, UK. You can also email assisteurope@yahoo.co.uk for more details.

John Spencer was a primary school head teacher for 24 years in the UK During that time, in order to make children at his school more aware of the plight of different children around the world, he became involved with children's work abroad and was able to visit Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo, Zambia and Romania to support work in those countries. Since his retirement, he has been working with ASSIST Europe to further their mission in Vladikavkaz and Beslan in Russia. Pictured: John Spencer with child in special needs orphanage.