Another Update

This is another quick update to let you know what I've been doing.  On Nov. 12th I had surgery on my ankle and elbow to insert some titanium pieces to aid my healing.  The surgery went well and I was back at the seminary on Nov. 14th.  This has made a big difference in my comfort level and I notice improvement every day.  I also fooled a couple more doctors in thinking I'm younger than I am.  (I wasn't going to push the envelope and ask how much younger they thought I am.)  Thank you to everyone who have been praying and sent notes of encouragement.  It means so much to me.  The hospital I was in is the one where Dr. Ziad works and it is one of the best I've ever seen, well, actually the best hospital I've ever seen - despite the fact they serve kasha with every meal...yuk!!  Dr. Ziad, his colleagues and the staff of the hospital are absolutely amazing.  Just watching them do their work you can see the beautiful hearts they have.  A big THANK YOU to these wonderful people and to Dr. Ziad who did so much to arrange everything and to bring the costs down.

I have said in previous blogs since I started life on the road how wonderful people in Ukraine are to me, a total stranger.  I just can't say enough how amazing they are.  One of my room-mates in hospital, who had his own surgery to deal with, kept fussing over me helping me to do things, giving me fruit and even insisted on carrying my bag to the door when I left hospital.  Then there's the chief of surgery Dr. Jamal who drove me home himself and has come back to change bandages and to check up on me.  I've never heard of that kind of care in Canada.  Then over the weekend there was a group that stayed at the seminary.  We said very little to each other because of the language barrier - maybe 2 or 3 sentences the entire weekend, but when they left they gave me their leftover groceries.  But the best one yet is that I left my wallet at the bank machine.  It only had about $6 in it but also my bank card.  Someone found it and turned it into security and I got it back with nothing missing.  I'm told that never happens in Ukraine.  These are just a few examples of the amazing Ukrainian hospitality I have experienced and God's favour.  There's so much more I could write about on this subject alone.

So now I hope to get home to Krivoy Rog this week.  I'm waiting for the doctor's okay and someone to help me with my luggage on the train.  Once given, I am out of this expensive city like a shot.  I love Kyiv but I just want to get home.  Once in Krivoy Rog I'll be able to re-evaluate my financial situation to see if I'm going to Kyrgyzstan at the end of January or back to Canada to get a job.  Don't get offended but I don't want to go to Canada, at least not for a while and then only for a visit.  I don't feel that God has finished with me here yet, and He knows how much it'll take to convince me of anything.

Please continue to keep me in your prayers.  If you feel led to help me to continue to show God's love to those that need to see it you can send a gift on line by clicking the LinK 127 donations link at the right side of the blog.  You can also set up a monthly sponsorship there.  You can also mail a gift to the address below or send an e-transfer to blairslife1@gmail.com.  Please remember to specify that your gift is for me and include a note advising how you would like me to use it.  Canadian donations are tax deductible, but not those by e-transfer.

Thank you so much for your continued support and for seeing my heart.  Till next time...я люблю вас!!

 

LinK 127

833 Canaan Mountain Road

Kentville, NS

Canada B4N 4K1

The Best Bottle of Pop...Ever!

This is the story that I had ready for the blog a few weeks ago before my accident.  But, it's such a great story that it's worth waiting for, one that is 10 years in the making.  Keep reading.

Those of you who know me will know that I am a very staunch Coke drinker (regular flavour).  Rarely will I drink any other kind.  However, this is the best bottle of pop I have ever had.  I'll get to why it is later.  Forgive me but this might get a little long.

This is Sergey.  He is 55 years old and in his younger days he was a diver in the Soviet navy.  He is now a resident of the Iskra Men's Disabled Home and as far as I'm concerned he is not disabled.  (In the former Soviet countries disabled homes are for mentally and physically disabled.  They are usually placed on the outskirts of town or in another village out of sight and away from general society.)  On October 13th - Thanksgiving Sunday - I was witness to a huge event in Sergey's life.  But first I'll have to give some background.

Sergey was married and had 3 children, a boy and 2 girls.  This would end up not being a good marriage as his wife by all reports was...well...evil.  She was into some kind of satanic worship, drank and would beat their children.  She threatened them if they told their father that she would beat them again.  She also made Sergey stay in the barn and would beat the children if they took him food.  Ten years ago another man came into the picture and she had Sergey committed to the disabled home to get rid of him.  She tried to tell the children that their father was dead, but they were old enough to not believe it and they weren't letting go.

So for the last 10 years Sergey has been living in the disabled home cut off from most of society and his dream was to find his children.  They were looking for him too.  Thanksgiving Sunday was the day that they were all reunited and what an amazing day that was!

Larissa and Tanya do a lot of work at the men's home and they as well as some friends from their church had been posting notices all over the internet on various sites trying to locate the children for Sergey.  Finally on Classmates.com the youngest daughter saw their notice and a photo of Sergey and made contact.  They told the daughter to come to church on Sunday that they had information on her father.  Little did she, her brother, and Sergey, know what was going to happen.  This is where I ended up being involved.

The night before Tanya called me and asked if I would like to go to their church with them in Bishkek for their 22nd anniversary service.  She said that they were bringing Sergey and asked me to bring my camera and wanted to make sure I had room on it for video.  She didn't say anything else.  So the next morning they picked me up and while we're driving Tanya was explaining to me in English what was going to happen after service - right there in front of Sergey.

So after service the moment finally came to bring them all together.  We were all in position with cameras ready and then sprung the surprise.  It was one of the most amazing things I have ever witnessed in my life.  There was lots of crying and hugging as well as a lot of smiles.  Now the oldest daughter was not at church so there was a frantic call made telling her to get to the church.  She didn't believe what she was being told but was coming any ways.  She would later say that it was the longest taxi ride in her life, compounded by the fact that the taxi driver didn't know where he was going.  So about 45 minutes to an hour later there was a second tearful reunion with the oldest daughter.  Sergey was finally reunited with all 3 of his children after 10 years.  But there was more to come.

We all went to a cafe for coffee and dessert and it was so touching to watch the family interact.  They could not keep their hands off of each other.  At all times they either had their arms around Sergey's shoulder or his waist or were touching him in some way and they would walk along arm in arm.  They were not going to let each other go.  They had a lot of catching up to do.  The kids are all grown now and have families of their own.  They said that they don't want anything to do with their mother as she has tried to ruin their lives too.  Sergey then got another shock in finding out that he has 11 grandchildren.

After the cafe they invited everyone to one of the kids' house for tea in true Kyrgyzstan hospitality and here Sergey got to meet all of his grandchildren and the kid's spouses.  Sergey was so excited he couldn't eat but his daughter in true babushka fashion said:  "Papa eat!!" and wouldn't take no for an answer.  During this time one of the spouses said that when they were searching for Sergey they found that the government had him listed as dead...they blamed that on the mother.  So we spent the entire afternoon watching this amazing event unfold, complete with photo albums from the past and a worship time with prayers of thanksgiving.  We now have new members in the eternal family.  The fact that it was Thanksgiving weekend made it even sweeter.

When it was time to take Sergey back to the men's home the tears started again, but this time it will be a much shorter separation. When we were driving down the street the whole family stood motionless in the middle of the street and watched the van until we were out of sight.  There are so many other wonderful details I'd love to tell but it would likely take several blog entries to write them all.  It is a day that I will not forget soon and I am so humbled and honoured to have been a part of it.

So...back to the bottle of pop.  While we were waiting for the oldest daughter to get to the church, the son was sent across the street to the store to buy pop for a few of us.  Imagine, with all of that going on the kids still thought of being hospitable to us strangers.  So with the events of the day, this story of a father and his children who over the years would not let each other go, and who the pop came from, that is why it is the best bottle of pop ever.

You can watch the video of the reunion with Sergey and his youngest daughter and son here.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCvfImmYgRs

To all you parents and children:  keep holding onto each other and never let go.  Till next time...Я люблю вас!!

In the church lobby after the 1st reunion with the youngest daughter and son.

The family with some of those who did the search and arranged the reunion.

The 2nd reunion with the oldest daughter and her son who is the spitting image of Sergey.

Like the bottle of pop I think this is the best Thanksgiving meal I've ever had.

Sergey and his whole family.

Sergey in his younger days when he served at Vladivostok.

 

What a Difference Another Day Makes!

Since I posted my blog yesterday I have had a huge response of prayers and enough money to cover my surgeries and other related expenses.  I am literally moved to tears by this and those who sent notes of encouragement.  Thank you all sooooo much.  It is so great to know the support I have from literally around the world.  Satan didn't win this one either.  Please continue to keep me in your prayers with the upcoming surgeries and my continued work here.

As I always say:  Thank you for seeing my heart.  Till next time...я люблю вас!!

Okay...NOW I'm in a Mess

Well they say what a difference a day makes. In my case it's not good. I went to see the doctors here in Ukraine today and found out that I have to have 2 surgeries - one on my ankle and one on my elbow if I am to have the use of it again. Getting the surgeries is a no-brainer for me. Of course I want the use of my elbow again. I need it to hold the children that need to be held. The mess boils down to costs and lack of money.

Because of the work I have done here so far the costs have been negotiated down to the minimum. My share will be around $2000 (US). This is not counting my accommodations and food in Ukraine. The surgeries alone will clean out my bank accounts leaving me with nothing. For those of you who have donated to me through LinK 127 thank you so much. It'll take several months before I actually receive those donations due to processing time. The problem is that I need money this week. MSI is no longer valid as I've been out of Canada too long and I have no other insurance. As the British say, I'm just brickin' it right now. I have no idea what to do.

Please keep me in your prayers, especially now. If you feel led to help out you can send an e-transfer to blairslife1@gmail.com. Please note that this would not be tax deductible. Any help would be appreciated a lot.

Thank you for seeing my heart. Till next time...я люблю тебя!!

A Quick Update

Yesterday I got back to Ukraine. The traveling went very well and I can't say enough how brilliant the staff were at the Bishkek, Moscow and Kyiv airports as well as the staff of Aeroflot. They made it so easy for me to get on and off of planes, getting my connection, collecting my luggage and so on. We even landed in Kyiv early and there was no lost luggage. The traveling could not possibly have been smoother. I thought it was so cool when changing planes in Moscow they wheeled me from the plane onto a special lift truck and drove me across the tarmac to my connecting gate. I was just expecting to be wheeled through the terminal. It was interesting to me driving past (almost under) all of those huge planes.

So now I'm in Kyiv for a few days to get my repairs double checked by Dr. Ziad who I will see tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to ditch the crutch which will free up my left hand so that I can do more and get around faster. I'm also anxious to get home to Krivoy Rog. Once there I will have time to think how to try and sort out my financial issues and decide if I'm going back to Kyrgyzstan when my 3 months is up here, or back to Canada to get a job. I'm praying for the Kyrgyzstan opportunity.

Since my accident I have been doing very well. I haven't had to use any pain killers as I have only had minor discomfort. I'm also doing much better than expected learning to do things with my left hand. Because my health was excellent to begin with, that is helping with the healing. It was a great feeling when 2 doctors thought that I was younger than I am and how they both said that I had very good blood and won't have to worry about heart issues. I also think I have lost some of that extra weight - although, still a ways to go there which will be much harder now that I'm back in the land of good chocolate. Right now I am only one metro stop away from the Roshen factory which has an outlet store.

So that's the latest with me. I'm doing okay. Thank you all so much for your prayers and words of encouragement since my accident. Please continue to keep me in your prayers. Thank you for seeing my heart. Till next time...я люблю тебя!!