15 Apr Yrysbek’s Verdict: Worthy

Capturing Grace on a journey to Kyrgyzstan

We met at a children’s home on the edge of Bishkek where the School for Responsible Parents brings art therapy and counseling to kids who carry more than most grown hearts can hold. Alexei—the project’s quiet, steady director—and Lera, the team’s psychologist, had just come from a training for public-school teachers on bullying and suicide prevention. Their work reaches far beyond one office; it’s a lifeline threaded through classrooms and corridors across the city.

Sixteen-year-old Yrysbek sat across from me, shoulders squared, eyes clear. His name means “good fortune,” and beg—“a strong man who protects.” The meaning felt like a promise spoken over him.

At three days old, his mother left him. He grew in a baby orphanage until an older woman adopted him at five. Years later, words were used like weapons—“slow,” “stupid”—to turn a child into labor. The loneliness cut deep. Neighbors’ eyes, family voices, the same dark chorus: you are not wanted. When he spoke of those years, the room thinned to a hush. He admitted that he wanted to take his life.

What changed the story were teachers who noticed. They had sat through Alexei’s trainings and came to him almost in tears: “We love this boy—can you help?” Before the session began, they ushered him into a small office. He was withdrawn, numb. Alexei started with art—shapes and color where words had run out. In those drawings he saw something bright: motivation. He named it, honored it, and began to tell the truth about this young man’s life: You are valuable. You can change your life. We will stand with you.

A door opened to the children’s home. The first days were hard; new places always are. But slowly, family formed around him—safe adults, predictable days, and work that dignified his hands. He became a trusted helper in the home’s little bakery, even coordinating deliveries. Now he’s dreaming in green: a green house full of flowers, plans taking root.

As he spoke, Alexei smiled like a father proud of a son. The grin widened when I asked about the future. “Judge,” Yrysbek said—clear and immediate. “I want to protect children. I want to make decisions that keep them safe.” He wants higher education, a bench from which to set things right. And one day, he says, a home like this one—doors open to the kids who most need shelter.

We stepped outside for photographs—him in the good light, the yard behind us, the hint of mountains on the horizon. He told me he loves the countryside, its quiet fields, the way peace arrives like the wind. I thought of Christina, my daughter, and the reason I carry a camera to places like this. Some stories begin with abandonment and accusation; by grace they end with belonging and calling.

Today, if there were a verdict to render over this young man’s life, it would be simple and strong:

Worthy.

Capable.

Loved.

And by the work of faithful friends—Alexei, Lera, Olga, and a project called the School for Responsible Parents (supported by Operation Blessing and Orphan’s Promise)—that verdict is already shaping his tomorrow.

 

 

🌿 Partner Spotlight — School for Responsible Parents

In Kyrgyzstan, the School for Responsible Parents is quietly rewriting the future for hundreds of children. What began as a small initiative to strengthen families has grown into a wide-reaching network of compassion, bringing training, counseling, and hope to parents, teachers, and children across the nation.

Through art therapy, trauma-informed care, and practical workshops, the team—led by Alexei Petushevski and Olga—works to prevent family crises before they fracture. Their mission is both simple and profound: to help parents and caregivers understand the hearts of their children and build homes rooted in love rather than fear.

The ripple of their work extends beyond the family home. Partnering with public schools, they equip teachers to recognize early signs of distress, bullying, or suicidal thoughts. These educators become first responders of compassion—often the bridge between despair and safety. It was through one such teacher that Alexei met sixteen-year-old Yrysbek, whose life now tells the story of their impact.

The School for Responsible Parents is supported by Operation Blessing, committed to breaking the cycle of abandonment by strengthening families, training leaders, and providing psychological and spiritual support for vulnerable children. Operation Blessing assisted with the legal consultation for the adoption of Maria’s four boys.

About the Work in Kyrgyzstan

These stories were made possible through the work of Alina Khan, who serves children and families across Kyrgyzstan by coming alongside local ministries, strengthening their efforts, and helping create pathways for children to grow up in safe and loving families.

Alina is part of Kyrgyzstan Without Orphans, connected to the global movement of World Without Orphans, which equips leaders and communities to care for vulnerable children through family-based solutions. To learn more about this movement, visit https://worldwithoutorphans.org

About Capturing Grace
Discover the story behind Capturing Grace and how my daughter’s legacy continues to inspire my journey: capturinggrace.org/about-us

Our time in Kyrgyzstan