Hitting The Road Again...sigh

Tonight I head for the train station leaving Krivoy Rog again and then to the airport tomorrow to leave for Canada.  (I'll probably already be enroute when most of you read this.)  This time it seems harder to leave than it has ever been before.  Harder because of so many uncertainties in the future - whether or not I'll be able to raise more support to continue life on the road,  wondering if things in Ukraine will get worse or not and what kind of country my Ukrainian family will have when I get back - even with the encouraging news from the Rada yesterday.  I really hate leaving especially at this time.  But, by faith I bought a return ticket for July.  Just in case you're wondering, I am not leaving because of the revolution.  My personal safety has never been an issue here.  My ticket was bought before things got really bad.  Please keep praying for Ukraine and the beautiful people here.

These past couple of weeks I have continued tagging along with the 2 Lenas visiting at some of the homes around town to spend quality time with the kids.  The kids are still excitedly talking about the opportunity they had to go to McDonald's for McJoyful Christmas.  On January 21st we had the last McJoyful on the road delivery to another children's TB hospital and to the men's home at Boorie Ooglie for those that can't get to McDonald's.  In all more than 3500 were part of McJoyful this year - 2500 in Krivoy Rog alone.  I'll let some of the photos speak for themselves.

While I'm in Canada I'll be in the Halifax area and I would be happy to come visit your church, community club or to have coffee with you and your friends and share my experiences about my life on the road.  Just drop me a line at blairslife1@gmail.com if you are interested.  Please continue to keep me in your prayers.  Till next time...я дюбдю вас!!

Playing the mummy game

McJoyful on the road at the TB hospital...

...and at Boorie Ooglie

A common scene throughout Ukraine lately

McJoyful Christmas Withdrawals

McJoyful Christmas is pretty much over again until December.  It seems odd not getting up every morning and heading to McDonald's to see the kids.  I've said it before and I'll say it again.  I just can't say enough how amazing the staff at McDonald's is in Krivoy Rog.  They went above and beyond to help things go smoothly and always so willingly.  Our last day at the restaurant was January 8th but this past Friday we did a day of McJoyful on the road taking the celebration to the disabled children's hospital and to the children's TB hospital.  It was so much fun.  I have never been to the disabled children's hospital before and never knew it existed.  It's the hospital that takes kids from all of the disabled homes around the city when they get sick.  Apparently disabled kids don't go to the "regular" children's hospital and in my North American mindset I find that odd...but any ways.

Since McJoyful, and now that I'm more mobile, I have managed to keep pretty busy.  Last weekend I was at the wedding of a couple of friends.  Weddings in Ukraine are sure different than in Canada and it was fun to experience it complete with a group doing traditional Ukrainian dances.  When I was growing up in Canada I often saw the Shumka Dancers on TV and at that time I never thought of seeing anything like that live...let alone live in Ukraine.

Then this past week I have resumed tagging along with the 2 Lenas visiting several children's homes around town to spend quality time with the kids.  It was so nice to get back to these visits.  I missed it so much when I was sitting around recuperating from my accident and surgery.  When I walked into the homes the kids immediately recognized me from McJoyful, which is a really great ice breaker.  They are all still so excited that they had the opportunity to go McDonald's.  It's going to be very hard for me to stop these visits again when I leave for Canada in less than 2 weeks...sigh.

Also this past week I was able to get a visit in to Boorie Ooglie.  There is a woman here in Krivoy Rog who once a month, at her own expense, cooks up a decent meal for the folks at Boorie Ooglie which a bunch of us helped to deliver and serve.  Her husband divorced her and most of their 7 children live with her.  Her house is in serious need of fixing up, and I mean serious need of fixing up.  The entire inside of house is torn apart in the hopes of getting the renovations done eventually.  I couldn't help but wonder where everyone sleeps as I didn't see much for beds in there.  She has a small farm out back, doesn't have much money and gets next to nothing for support from the ex-husband.  Instead of putting what money she has into fixing up the house she happily spends it preparing meals for the men out of the goodness of her heart.  I made a compliment about a candy Christmas tree decoration that I saw in her house and the next thing I knew she was making a gift of it.  (This is the part where my eyes have too much water in them after seeing how little she has and then seeing how much she gives.)  If only I had enough connections to round up some building supplies and some contractors to come and completely finish her house.  That would be so awesome and I can't think of anyone who deserves a break more.

Speaking of break, I must break it off here for now before I get too long.  Please continue to keep me in your prayers and please especially keep Ukraine in your prayers.  Things are heading in a dangerous direction here and have gotten worse with new violence breaking out today.

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

At the wedding.  To see a clip of the dancers click this link. 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTS-9Xcigbg 

We were playing a game where the kids had to wrap the adults like a mummy.

This is Galina who cooks the meals for Boorie Ooglie and whose house needs finishing.  She's holding the candy Christmas tree decoration that she made a gift of.

We were so busy dishing and serving things up that I totally forgot to get a photo of the men enjoying this meal.

Christmas in Ukraine

Today (January 7th) is Christmas in Ukraine.  We have a couple of days off for McJoyful Christmas and then back at it again tomorrow.  It has been so amazing to be a part of this celebration and to see kids I haven't seen in a while and to share their excitement.

For those that don't know what McJoyful Christmas is, it's where Loads of Love charity provides kids in orphanages, people in disabled homes and families in need with a birthday celebration for Jesus at McDonald's.  They are brought in for party games and Happy Meals, given a year's worth of vitamins and told the Christmas story.  For many of them this will be their only celebration of Christmas and going to McDonald's in Ukraine is a HUGE deal.  Where North Americans may visit McDonald's a couple of times a week, the folks here MIGHT get there a couple times per year.  For those that physically can't get to McDonald's deliveries are made to some of the invalid homes so the residents can be a part too.

This year I was able to take part in a traditional Ukrainian Christmas processional (with a few modern twists) that was put on by the Shelter Plus Centre.  We gathered in a park then followed a donkey cart through the streets to another park ending in a drama presentation and the nativity scene.  Along the way there was music, dancing in the street and some street theatre (these were the modern twists).  They also passed out Christmas cookies and a traditional Ukrainian Christmas drink.  I can't remember the name of the drink (I think it was uzvar).  It was made from fruit, something like a compote, and served hot.  (Compote is a drink made from fresh fruits which are boiled then sugar is added to the juice and it is served cold.)  It was so funny going down the street and watching people come out onto their balconies and coming out of the stores to see what was going on.  It's a real traffic stopper when 300 to 500 people cross the street a couple of times together (behind the donkey cart and with a couple of horseback riders and some stilt walkers).  It's even funnier when they are all waving to folks on the trolleybus while at the bus stop with an emcee on a speaker making jokes.  It was an amazing and fun celebration.

Then today a bunch of Ed's workers and some friends celebrated by going out for a meal courtesy of a friend who sponsored it.  Thank you so much JW.  The workers don't get to go out very often and they appreciated it very much and couldn't say it enough.  They were so excited to have a nice meal in a restaurant.  It was a fun way to celebrate Christmas...and even funnier when some of them have never used chopsticks before.  I couldn't help but laugh when the cheater chopsticks came out.

This past weekend I finally faced reality and bought a ticket to Canada.  I arrive in Halifax on January 31st.  By faith I bought a return ticket for July.  A return ticket is cheaper than a one way any ways.  So now I'm trying to work out the logistics of getting a ride from the airport, what I'm going to live off of, etc.  If anyone has any job suggestions I'd appreciate that too.  I am praying that I can get more sponsors and raise enough money so that I can continue life on the road showing God's love to those that need to see it.  I just can't see myself doing anything else.

If you would like to help me to continue to show God's love you can send a gift on line by clicking the LinK 127 link on the right side of the blog.  You can also send a gift to the address below or an e-transfer to blairslife1@gmail.com.  Please remember to include a note advising that your gift is for me and how you would like me to use it.  Donations from Canada are tax deductible (but not those by e-transfer) and every dollar counts. 

LinK 127

833 Canaan Mountain Rd.

Kentville, NS Canada

B4N 4K1

Please keep me in your prayers.  Thank you for your support and for seeing my heart.  Till next time...я люблю вас!!

These boys were so fascinated with my beard and kept rubbing it.

Part of the Christmas procession

One of the street theatre stops along the procession

A choir singing traditional Ukrainian Christmas songs at another stop.  To see a short clip check this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ioxA_iEORQ 

Christmas Day dinner

Ed's workers and some friends

Happy New Year

So far we've got 9 days in of McJoyful Christmas.  We have today off for New Year's and are right back at it again tomorrow for a few more days.  It's been so much fun seeing all of the kids and helping to make some great memories for them.  There has also been some McJoyful on the road moments as deliveries were made to some of the homes where the kids physically can't get to McDonald's.  We've all been having a blast.

Ed was in town with his family and some folks visiting from Ontario and last night we spent the evening at the kid's rehab centre.  The kids put on a programme for us and then there was a birthday party for all of the kids with December and January birthdays.  The evening finished off with a fireworks display.  It was so nice to be back at the rehab centre again as I haven't been back since September and I'm looking forward to seeing the kids again this week at McJoyful.

Other than that I continue to heal from my injuries and I'm looking forward to spending Christmas evening (which is January 7th here) with some friends out for a nice meal compliments of JW.  I'm still putting off what seems to be inevitable for when I have to leave Ukraine at the end of the month.  I really wish it was to purchase a ticket for Kyrgyzstan but I guess it'll have to be Canada.  More on that another time.

If you would like to help me to continue life on the road showing God's love to those who 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.

LinK 127

833 Canaan Mountain Road

Kentville, NS

Canada B4N 4K1

Please continue to keep me (and Ukraine) in your prayers.  Thank you for seeing my heart.  Happy New Year and may God bless you in a big way this year and always.  Till next time...я люблю вас!!

One of the McJoyful on the road stops

At the kids rehab centre

For those of you who helped me to purchase craft supplies last year, you helped supply table decorations for the December/January birthday party.