Barbara Gauntt/The Clarion-Ledger Yuliya Rudskaya (from left), 9, from the former Soviet republic of Belarus, host family member Macala Boxx, 9, and friend Toby Buchanan, 7, both of Clinton, look for the perfect paint brush while doing crafts at Riggs Manor Nursing Home in Raymond on Tuesday.

Eight-year-old Krystina feels like part of the Sheffield family, although the grade-schooler can't tell the Clinton residents that.

"She's a very delightful child. She hugs all the time," said Kathy Sheffield.

Krystina, a native of Belarus, can't speak English, nor can the Sheffields speak Russian, but they're all determined to make the most of her summer stay. Sheffield and her husband have a 9-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son.

"It's been wonderful. She's pretty much just like a sister," Sheffield said.

Krystina is one of 36 Belarusan children placed in homes throughout the metro area for a month. The children live in areas of Belarus affected by the 1986 meltdown of the Chernobyl nuclear plant that contaminated much of the land with radioactive debris. The area is also poverty stricken.

Barbara Gauntt/The Clarion-Ledger Belarusan children Katsiaryna Lukashevich (right), 9, and Yuliya Rudskaya (background), 9, are two of dozens spending more than a month with local United Methodist Church families.

While here, the children will get medical and dental care, nutritional tips and vitamins and other treasures to take home for themselves, their parents and siblings.

"Even though it's a short period of time, it definitely helps to rejuvenate their physical body and mental attitudes," said David Green, a member of First United Methodist Church of Clinton who arranged for some of the children to stay at members' homes. "One month really helps their immune system bounce back."

Members of First United Methodist Church in Madison are also hosting children through July 8. Program coordinators are supplying each household with a translation list of basic words and phrases. And, a translator is on call in case of emergency.

The 8-hour bus drive and 20-hour plane ride were two of the "firsts" the children would be exposed to during their stay. "Many had not traveled anywhere, much less been in a vehicle," Green said.

Other firsts include drinking tap water and eating fresh fruits and vegetables without fear of illness. "With the environment (in Belarus), the psyche is contamination. They don't want to drink water because it is contaminated, and they don't want to drink milk. They don't get in the sun," he said.

So far, Krystina has seen a dentist and had a physical. The family is waiting for the results of her blood work. All care is being provided free by local dentists and physicians.

"As far as we know, she doesn't have any known health problems," Sheffield said.

Mary Welch of Clinton hopes her family's guest, 8-year-old Katya, will get a good diagnosis. "We're going to get bloodwork done, and we're praying there's nothing wrong," she said.

Meanwhile, Welch says, Katya fits right in with the four Welch children who range from 2 to 9. "We're the only hosts (in Clinton) without pets. The child has asthma and is terrified of pets," she said. "All the children are suited to where they are."

"It's like they belong here," said Theresa Boxx, who with husband Jim is hosting two kids. "They got off the plane and ran and hugged me."

During their stay, Yuliya and Katsiaryna, both 9, will play soccer, eat out, go to church and shop. But it's really the simple things that have them in awe, Boxx said.

"They've never seen normal things around the house, like the washer and dryer and dishwasher. So many things we take for granted. It's like a trip for them," she said.

Although language has not been a big barrier, words can't really express the connection between the girls and the family, Boxx says.