Blair's Life: We’re Still Busy

Another week and a half has passed by at the blink of an eye. We have been enjoying some beautiful spring weather here in Tokmok (almost summer weather by Atlantic Canadian standards) with the temperatures in the 70’s during the day. The cherry and apricot blossoms are out, the planting is well underway and things are getting green. Spring is an amazing time to be in Kyrgyzstan.

This past week and a half was another busy one. We sorted, packed and delivered donations to the senior’s home in Kemin twice, which is about 30 KM away from Tokmok, made 2 trips to Bishkek for appointments and made a trip to the men’s disabled home in Iskra to visit and deliver a donation. We delivered food to the people at the dump which was a very humbling experience. We attended a concert to celebrate April 8^th at the school where Sergey and Anya’s kids go. All of the kids did an amazing job with a presentation about the history of that day. We also made a 5 hour trip (each way) to the orphanage in the resort town of Karokol in Issyk-Kol’skaya Oblast to visit and deliver donations and we planted the garden at the Dayspring house.

Just a bit more about where I am living for those of you not familiar with Kyrgyzstan. An oblast is the same thing as a province and Kyrgyzstan has six oblasts. Tokmok is in the Chuy (pronounced chewy) Valley in the Chuskaya Oblast in the northern part of Kyrgyzstan. We are also just a couple of miles from the border of Kazakhstan which I can see from my balcony. In fact, when we drive to Bishkek on the new highway we go through about a mile of Kazakhstan on the way.

On Wednesday (April 4^th) I finally got to meet John and Julie Wright whose blog I have been following for 5 years now. It is the Act of Kindness link on the right side of this blog. I have been in touch with them for almost all of that time and it was great to finally meet them in person. I met their daughters Emma and Bekah last week as they were already here. The Wrights have accomplished some amazing things here in Kyrgyzstan over the years and it has been amazing to see in person these things and to meet the people they have written about in their blog and hear their version.

I was also able to finally meet Lynn and Ruby Johnson and David Schooler of Lamb International who also arrived last week. They too have accomplished many great things here over the years. I will be tagging along with them and the Wrights as they continue their work and helping out wherever I can. Keep an eye on the Wright’s blog and the blog for Lamb International to see more of what we’re all up to http://lambinternational.blogspot.com (There are postings on both blogs now with photos.) Among the plans is to install a playground next week after a team from Barrie arrives.

Speaking of Dayspring, I mentioned a little girl there waiting for heart surgery in my last blog posting. Her name is Dasha and she has 2 holes in her heart which has also affected the health in her other organs and she gets sick very easily. In early March she was admitted to hospital for her operation after being on a waiting list, but she had a cold they could not do the surgery. She has now been cleared and was to be readmitted to hospital April 9^th but due to a machinery malfunction she will have to wait again. We hope that she will be readmitted next week. Once in hospital she will be there about 10 days before the surgery to be prepared for it. Please remember her in your thoughts. I’ll keep you posted of her progress and my other adventures here.

If you wish to help out with our programmes for LinK 127 and Operations CAN be Done just click the donation link on the right side of this blog to donate on line or click the link and then click the Details and Contact info tab for the snail mail address to send a cheque. Again, thank you for your kind thoughts, your continued support and for seeing my heart. Till next time…Я люблю тебя!