Perhaps once in a photojournalist's career does an opportunity come along the magnitude of our recent project; To Russia With Love. The opportunity of a lifetime -- to say the least! And it was that and more.

The expression of joy on this boy's face as he receives a toy car from ChildLife International says it all. Children at this temporary orphanage in Oryol received toys, clothes, hats, gloves and other gifts gathered in a Quad-Cities donation drive. Volunteers Jean Mueller, of Bettendorf, and Kathy Johnson, of Taylor Ridge, handed out the gifts.

For me, a photojournalist, on one hand, and a father of two teenage children, on the other, it was hard to separate the feelings that accompany both. Thirty years of taking pictures for newspapers tends to numb oneself to the inhumanity we see and photograph. But what I experienced in Russia was different.

Covering the news in the Quad-Cities, photojournalists often can shoot a news event and walk away, separating themselves from whatever emotions. In Russia, you can't walk away. Poverty, crime, and depression are everywhere. As we traveled from one transitional orphanage to the next, the faces of hopelessnes were everywhere. Yes, it may be that the Russian culture is not outwardly emotional, but most Russians will admit that they are ``emotionally exhausted'' -- a phrase used by Nina Serykh -- a director in the Oryol social protection department, to describe her fellow countrymen.

Photographing the many children we saw in several institutions was not difficult, from a photojournalist's point of view. The faces are there in front of you -- many children reaching out for attention. Point your camera and shoot -- sometimes just that easy.

That's when the emotions of a father entered my world of photojournalism. When do you stop taking pictures, sit down with some of the children and show them that you care? For Sarah, Jacqueline, Doug and myself, our jobs were to report on the Quad-Cities volunteers who went to Russia with aid and show their story. We thought that we could separate our feeling from what we were about to see to accomplish our goal. We accomplished our goal but we learned very early on that it was impossible to suppress our feelings for the children. We found ourselves very much a part of the Quad-Cities volunteers, giving aid and attention to love-starved children.

Two memories that will always be with me are bittersweet. At a baby home in Friazino, a young boy sat rocking back and forth. According to experts, he was rocking to stimulate himself because of lack of attention. I took several photos of this young boy and moved on to photograph other children. Shortly, I returned to this child and noticed he was putting his hands in his mouth after smearing them on the bench where he sat. He was sitting in a pool of urine, rubbing his hands in it and putting them in his mouth. You will not see pictures of this, I took none. I went for help. To my disgust, it took several minutes before the boy was attended to. His wet rag was replaced with a dry rag (they can't afford diapers), his wet clothes were put back on him and he was returned to the bench. I continued to take pictures.

The sweet memory took place at a transitional orphanage in Oryol. It was nap time for the children. Each child was in their numbered bed. Kathy Johnson and Jean Mueller came into the room to deliver toys that had been donated by Quad-Citians. As the faces of the children came alive with smiles, one young boy was handed a little matchbox car. His expression was priceless. The gleam in his eyes unforgettable. He had a toy of his own, no matter how small.

These are just a couple of memories from countless others. Memories....some good, some bad, some I'd like to forget as my wonderful wife, Donna, will attest to. Memories that will last forever.

It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. I took more than 1,500 pictures on our journey to Russia. I can't find the words to describe what I saw or felt, as a photojournalist or father.

Terry Herbig is chief of photography for The Dispatch and the Rock Island Argus.