By Oleg Liakhovich The Moscow News ¹22, 8-14 June 2005

The First of June is traditionally celebrated as Children Protection Day in Russia. This year, the grownups decided to let the children protect everyone else instead, including themselves. Mikhail Dymov, a Russian writer and playwright living in Riga, Latvia, has asked the children of Riga's several Russian-language schools, aged 6 to 10, to write letters to God, asking Him the most vital questions and requesting the fulfillment of their innermost dreams. The most interesting quotes from these letters were later published under the title "Children Write to God". Here's a short extract from that publication.

Hello, Lord. How are you doing? How's life? How's health? Zhenya, 2nd Grade.

When will they stop mocking me in class? Tonya, 4th Grade.

If You'll make the world end, who's going to pray to You? Petya, 4th Grade.

People are suffering so much here on Earth, is it truly possible that Your hell could be worse? Radik, 4th Grade.

Do You serve other countries too? Tolik, 3rd Grade.

Please take me away to Your Russia. Pavlik, 2nd Grade.

The candles they sell at the church, is that part of Your business? Tolik, 2nd Grade.

I read that Christ was Jewish, but He's Your son, does that mean You're Jewish too? Asya, 2nd Grade.

Why, during springtime, when You turn on the stars at night and a warm wind blows upon the Earth and everything is very, very quite, do I sometimes want to cry? Natasha, 2nd Grade.

How can it be that everything is God's will? Both the summer, and Mommy's illness, and war? Marat, 2nd Grade

Goodbye, Lord, I'm moving to Israel. I'm awfully sad at leaving my friends, our Galina Mikhailovna, and You. I would have invited You to come visit but they only speak Hebrew there. Izya, 4th Grade.

Well, okay, Christ suffered for the people, but who do people suffer for? Grisha, 4th Grade.

And when there's shooting on Earth, do You hear it, Lord? Valere, 2nd Grade.

Why do people fall in love first and weep quietly later? Andrei, 4th Grade.

Do You like it up there? Artem, 1st Grade.

Why do the paupers always beg near churches? Is it so that You can make note who gives and who doesn't? Ira, 2nd Grade.

Okay, so if I understood the Evolution correctly, first You created Adam and Eve, and then the man originated from apes? Sergei, 3rd Grade.

Do other planets annoy You too? Andrei, 2nd Grade.

How do You live up there in Heaven? Do You have everything You need? Maybe You need something? Zina, 3d Grade.

Why are You afraid to show Yourself to us? Nema, 4th Grade.

Why are You that way - bad one day and wonderful the other? Olya, 2nd Grade.

How do You tell women's souls from men's? By their pussies? Vova, 3rd Grade.

What has my Daddy ever done to You to deserve such bad luck? Vita, 3rd Grade.

You are kind but why do You need people to beg You for doing this and giving them that? Natasha, 4th Grade.

I don't have any bad habits. So, what's in store for me? Robert, 4th Grade.

Is the world so full of sorrows and suffering so that people wouldn't be sorry to die? Igor, 4th Grade.

Will I ever walk upon the clouds? Lena, 2nd Grade.

What would be happening here on Earth if Adam and Eve hadn't violated Your apple order? Valentin, 4th Grade.

Different books depict You in different ways. Where can I get your photo? Even a prehistoric one, before the Flood? Raya, 3rd Grade.

Do You like my Granddaddy up there? Ella, 2nd Grade.

Is it true that before You came, all people were apes? Sergei, 4th Grade.

Do You ever laugh? Cry? Olga, 3d Grade.

Were're not just Your toys, are we? Sasha, 2nd Grade.

How come You forgive everything and teachers don't? Kostya, 2nd Grade.

If I end up in hell, will You spot me there and watch how I'm being tortured? Gleb, 3d Grade.

Why was I born ugly? Katya, 4th Grade.

Don't You get bored being so right all the time? Armen, 2nd Grade.

Why did You made the world in such a way that when Mom rips her panties, she cries? Vita, 2nd Grade.

I would have asked for brains for my parents; they don't understand me at all. Nadya, 3rd Grade.

Dear Lord, make it so that my hands and feet are always clean. Boris, 2nd Grade.

Please make it so that in my second life I'd be born a boy in France. Kira, 4th Grade.

Please forgive everyone who isn't baptized, myself included. Filipp, 3rd Grade.

Make my life a long and funny one. Olga, 2nd Grade.

When my dog leaves this Earth, take her. You'll have a real friend if You do. Take her out to pee at seven. She'll eat anything. Don't shout at her, she may bite. Zhora, 2nd Grade.

Please make it so that a person would get spare parts at birth. You know: legs, arms, willies, and other essential organs. Yura, 3rd Grade.

Don't give Verka Rogozina what she asks for. Olya, 3rd Grade.

Help me curb my lust for Natalya Nikolaevna. She's too old. Vagan, 2nd Grade.

If You happen to find my mitten, I ask that You return it to me. No stealing, now. Anya, 3rd Grade.

I would like to ask You for some animal, except a wild one. If that's too hard for You, I wouldn't object against a stuffed toy. Forever Yours, Sema, 3rd Grade.

My Dad is a sailor, let the waves be kind to him. Katya, 3rd Grade.

Deliver people not from their sins but from loneliness. Sergei, 3rd Grade.

I've never eaten cake before. Maybe my time isn't ripe yet? Valentin, 2nd Grade.

I love apples very much. Is that nature calling? Nina, 3rd Grade.

While visiting a village, I saw a small church, so white, so clean. Beyond it were birches, a river, and a big green forest. Was that Your dacha? Natasha, 4th Grade.

Lord, You've invented money but we don't have any. Shurik, 3rd Grade.

Why do You drink with Dad so much? Every time when he's about to down a shot of vodka, he says "Godspeed!" Sasha, 3rd Grade

Well, Sveta's been transferred to another school! Are You happy now? And I prayed to You 17 times... Even lit up a candle in church. But You just didn't give a damn, did You? Well, You can just kiss my butt and do without me from now on. Serega, You know what grade.

Parents give us our life but You're the one who takes it away. Erna, 2nd Grade.

The Moscow News ¹22, 8-14 June 2005