Elissa Bogos, Photographer and Journalist

Russia: House of Grace and Hope

Three years ago, Tracy and Peter Harrison, along with their three children, left their comfortable life in Western Australia to open up the House of Grace and Hope--an unofficial drop in center for older orphans in Sakhalin. They currently live in a four bedroom house that on any given day has between 14 and 18 people living there. The couple are strongly influenced by their Baptist Christian faith, although attending religious services at the local church is completely optional for the orphans living with them. Tracy says its easy for her to relate to the orphans, she herself having been sold at a pub when she was three months old by her father. The couple say they hope to be able to open a bigger drop in center that would provide a safe residence for orphans making the transition from life in the orphanage to the working world.

Max, 21, plays with his one year old son, Bogdan at The House of Grace and Hope while Vitali does a crossword puzzle and the Harrison's 13 year old son, Jake, plays with their dog Grim. Max and his then girlfriend, Oleysa, got pregnant while living with the Harrisons. The couple were afraid they would be kicked out, but Tracy assured them that all children are a gift from God. May and Olyesa were married last June. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2009.
   
Tracy visits Kostia, 22, s in the hospital. The Harrisons met Kostia in an orphanage during their first trip to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk three years ago. Kostia, 21, recently had surgery on his knee and often calls Tracy “mom”. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2009.
   
Lina, who used to attend Tracy's church but now attends Pentecostal services with an African pastor, prays with Tracy while waiting for dinner to cook at the House of Grace and Hope. Lina often speaks in tongues and Tracy says of her that "sometimes the Holy Spirit just takes over.” Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2009.
     
  
Tracy and Peter pray at church. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia.
   
Tracy cuts Oleg's hair. The Harrisons recently took in Oleg, a man who had been living on the streets after he suffered a stroke and his son kicked him out of the house. Oleg had found temporarily housing with a local family, but when Tracy visited him she found he was kept locked in a room all day with no bathroom and only one meal. Although the family's work focuses on older orphans, Tracy said she couldn't leave him. She recalled a Bible verse that says “what you do to the least of one of these, you do to me,” and decided to care for him. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2009.
   
Kostia bandages Oleg's arm. After breaking it while living on the streets last month, Oleg developed a serious infection. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2009.
     
  
Oleg smokes on the stairwell of The House of Grace and Hope. His 17 year old son, who grew up in orphanages, found Oleg at the Harrisons house and has been visiting nearly every day. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2009.
   
Peter and Tracy hug Galia, the daughter of two orphaned teenagers who previously lived at the House of Grace and Hope, as Valia looks at her new hair color in the mirror and Katya admires a piece of jewelery. Katya, who is studying to be a hairdresser, has been living with the Harrisons for several years. She was placed in an orphanage after witnessing her mother kill her father. Recently, Katya testified against her mother in her third murder trial. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2009.
   
Tracy and the her 13 year old son, Jake, joke around in the kitchen. Oleg, who is self-conscious about eating since he had a stroke, chooses to eat by himself in the kitchen instead of with the others in the living room.. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia.
     
  
Oleg sleeps in a bedroom he shares with four older orphans at the House of Grace and Hope. Recently, Oleg has become depressed and is sleeping during the daytime. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2009.
   
Peter and Tracy dance in the kitchen in a rare moment alone as they wait for dinner to cook. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2009.
   
Tracy with Roman (20) and Olyesa (21) after their wedding. Roman used to live with the Harrisons at the House of Grace and Hope, but left to be with Olyesa. Olyesa is several months pregnant with their child. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2009.
     
  
Tracy and Becky pet cows after church one Sunday. The family took a drive outside the city, something they rarely get to do. Tracy turned down the invitation of a local fisherman to spend have dinner with his family, saying “we really need to get back. We never do things like this and they'll be worried about us.” Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2009.
   
Peter and Tracy walk Grim, a German Shepherd mix they found in a trash can, outside their apartment building. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2009.