Getting Down To It

Well the settling in is over and this past week I started to get down to work.  On Wednesday we had a planning meeting for McJoyful Christmas which starts on Christmas Eve (the western world’s Christmas Eve that is – our Christmas Eve is January 6th).  I’m really looking forward to seeing a lot of the kids there that I haven’t seen in a while from the various homes.  It also seems that a last minute purchase in Kyrgyzstan of a Kyrgyz robe is going to be part of my costume as an Old Testament character telling a story.  Now THAT’S going to be interesting in the middle of McDonald’s for two weeks, it’s not like I’ll be blending into the crowd - lol.

I also got to go to the kid’s rehab centre this week with Katya F. to say hello.  When I left for Kyrgyzstan in late September there were about 22 kids there.  Now, sadly, in that short time there are 54 and I only recognized 2 kids there from the summer.  If you remember, the kid’s rehab centre is a place for kids who have one or both parents with alcohol or drug problems which create a horrible home life.  The kids are placed here for a 9 month programme where they are given a loving environment, counselling and support to help them overcome their home situations.  I guess it’s kind of like a larger version of Ala-Teen in Canada.

I was also able to get to Boorie Ooglie disabled home yesterday.  A bunch of us piled into a car armed with Anya P.'s home made pastries, coffee and (of course) candy.  We had a great time visiting with the residents who really like to have company and treats.  I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

I also finally took stock of my battered finances this week and all I can say is that God is good!!  As I mentioned in my last blog my computer was repairable (cheap) – no replacement needed quite yet.  I’m praying that the machine isn’t on its last legs as it’s getting older.  At least it’s still functional for the moment.  I also found a good airline deal for my ticket to Canada in February.  I was originally looking at the prices of one way tickets and wasn’t sure I’d have enough money left over for, well, anything.  For some reason I started checking return tickets and found that the prices of those were literally half the price of just buying a one way.  (You would think I would have known that by now with all of the travelling I have done over the years.)  Needless to say that freed up some grocery money.  Now I just have to find resources to do some things here for Christmas and in the next few months and for when I come back to Ukraine in June. 

If anyone would like to help with any of this please click the donation link at the right side of the blog to donate on line or you can mail a donation to the (new) address below.  Please remember to specify that the donation is for me.  Also, when you donate please drop me a message to let me know.  Canadian donations are tax deductible and every dollar counts.

Please continue to keep me in your prayers.  Thank you for seeing my heart.  Till next time…Я люблю тебя!

LinK 127

34 Wynn Castle Dr.

Lower Sackville, NS

Canada  B4E 2H5

Craft time at the kid's rehab centre

Kids will be kids - lol

At Boorie Ooglie

Ira T. giving love and encouragement

I just don't get tired of handing out candies.  (Those who have known me for some years will know the significance behind this.)

Settling In and Catching Up

This week has been a week of GREAT relief.  I went to the airport in Bishkek for the second time early Monday morning to try and get to Ukraine again.  The customs guard had recognized me from the last attempt to leave.  I was relieved to see him stamp my passport so that I could board the plane.  The flights went great with no lost luggage and I got to Kyiv at the start of a big snowstorm.  Fortunately the bus got downtown before traffic got really snarled up.  I still had no winter clothes but had a nice warm train to Krivoy Rog.  Since I arrived in Krivoy Rog on Tuesday morning the weather has been fairly warm and I haven’t needed the winter clothes yet.  But that’ll change soon enough and I’m ready this time.

I was also VERY relieved to find that my computer could be fixed (at less than $40.00).  It has some new quirks and some features acting up but it’s at least useable for now.  So I have been working hard the last couple of days to get my paperwork and posting caught up.  Now that I’m back in Krivoy Rog, other than catching up on my computer stuff, I have just been settling in.  I’m still working out if I have ANY budget left for ministry.  Not having to replace the computer just yet is certainly a big relief.  I think I have just enough to pay my personal expenses for a while and an airline ticket to Canada in February.  This was a planned trip any ways as I have to get a new passport and get some things caught up there.  I'll talk more on that another time. 

I’m really looking forward to a busy season with McJoyful Christmas coming up and I’m anxious to get back to visiting the kids as well.  Other than that there’s not much news for now. 

If anyone would like to help with my support or my work here please click the donation link at the right side of the blog to donate on line or you can mail a donation to the address below.  Please remember to specify that the donation is for me.  Also, when you donate please drop me a message to let me know.  Canadian donations are tax deductible and every dollar counts.

Please keep me in your prayers.  Thank you for seeing my heart.  Till next time…Я люблю тебя!

LinK 127

34 Wynn Castle Dr.

Lower Sackville, NS

Canada B4E 2H5

Here are some photos of things mentioned in the previous blogs that I couldn’t post before.

5 tonnes of coal being delivered

Grocery delivery to Orlovka Orphanage

Around Tokmok

View from the "new" apartment

Ala Too Square in Bishkek

Monument to the revolution of 2010 in Bishkek

Putting up the Christmas tree in Kyiv

And I thought LAST Week Was Interesting

In my last blog entry I said that it was an interesting week.  Well this week was even more so.  I'm in a computer lab and again this entry will have no photos.  It's been snowy the last couple of days here in Tokmok.  Yes...I'm still in Kyrgyzstan for an unexpected extended stay.  For those of you not on my Face Book list here's what happened.

On Saturday I checked in at the airport and when I got to the passport counter the passport police refused me on the flight and asked the airlines to cancel me flying.  Let me back up a bit:  With Kyrgyzstan's new visa laws Canadians can stay 60 days without needing a visa.  Anything longer requires a visa.  When I was booking my airline tickets in July I was thinking 2 months instead of 60 days and miscounted the days.  When I got to the passport counter it was on day 61 - 6 hours past the deadline of day 60.  Every country I've ever heard of would have put me on the plane with a stern warning to get rid of me.  But not here...they told me I that as I was now illegally in the country that I had to go buy a visa - after asking how much money I had on me.  Apparently I didn't have enough money to buy the "exit visa" at the airport.

So this past week everything was a scramble.  I had to find new accommodations and get everything fixed - pay a fine, buy a visa, pay for the forms to process things, pay the airline penalty, police stations, visa office and so on.  So long story short I'm in a new apartment now and I have a new visa and airline ticket.  Right now if all goes according to plan I'll be in Kyiv December 3rd.  

The apartment I'm in is the same one that I stayed in last spring when I was here.  The landlord is letting me stay there with no charge (but I'll pay for the electricity).  Since they were not expecting anyone to stay there for a while they had already had the gas shut off.  So all I have to cook with is an electric kettle and toaster and my diet this week has been mostly cereal, toast and noodle packs (the same thing as Mr Noodle but better).  I'm not a salad person either.

So this week pretty much ate up any spare money I had on top of having a dead computer to replace - oh yeah and a van driver from Bishkek to Tokmok who took advantage of my non Russian speaking and ripped me off.  I'll take stock again once I get to Krivoy Rog but right now it looks like I'll have enough just to get back to Canada in late February and pay a few living expenses in the meantime.  Not fun since I don't have a salary.  But I know that God did not call me to this work and not plan for any provision and equipping - and I could lose 20 Lbs any ways.  Anyone have any "tent making" ideas?

I would like to say a big THANK YOU to those who literally dropped everything to help me get this fixed and to make arrangements for my extended stay here.  We have good family here in Kyrgyzstan. 

My experience did have some good things.  I was able to do some sight seeing in Bishkek while waiting for my visa.  I also got another visit in to the baby orphanage today.  The apartment is also much warmer than the last one.  (Really good since my winter clothes are in Ukraine.)  I also get to look at those beautiful mountains a bit longer.  God has a plan and a purpose even if I don't realize what it is right now through all of this and I have so much peace with that.

So please keep me in your prayers and thanks for your support.  And as I say so often, thanks for seeing my heart.  Till next time...Я люблю тебя!

An Interesting Week

Well this has been an interesting week.  My computer died last weekend and I'm sending this from an internet cafe.  I had no idea how much I need a computer for my work until it went.  So now the "paperwork" is piling up for now.  I'll have it looked at when I get to Krivoy Rog to see if it can be repaired.  If not I'll have to find some money somewhere for a replacement.  Maybe it's time to start that diet and lose 20 pounds lol.  So this will be a "no frills" blog entry with no photos as there's no way I'm plugging my flash drive into a public computer.  Maybe I'll post photos another time when I get a more secure connection.

I have continued my visits to the baby orphanage and having lots of fun with the kids. (The orphanage won't allow photos any ways.)  I have also been trying to keep warm. I'll be so glad to be reunited with my winter clothes next week.  My apartment has no heat in the kitchen and bathroom and the living/bed room has VERY little.  Fortunately I have good blankets and the gas stove helps a bit but I'm looking forward to a warm airport.  It certainly gives me a new insight on why so many people in Kyrgyzstan freeze to death every winter.  

Speaking of warmth I want to say a great big thank you to those who submitted donations.  I was able to buy 10 tonnes of coal that will help keep up to 15 families warm this winter.  You can read more and see a photo of the 1st 5 tonnes being delivered last week at John Wright's blog at this web address

http://actofkindness.blogspot.com/2012/11/lots-to-do-before-we-go.html

I was also able to buy an assortment of fruit to treat the kids at Orlovka Orphanage.  I still can't get my head around fruit being a treat but I guess all of the dieticians are pleased.  With the money that was leftover I was also able to buy some staple groceries for the orphanage (flour, rice, oil, etc.).  When we went shopping for the groceries we met up with a couple from church who bought candy (now THAT'S a treat) some eggs and some chicken for the orphanage.  So the kids will have some good meals for a little while.  Again, thank you SOOOOOO much to those who donated.  It really did make a difference in a lot of lives.

Early tomorrow morning I'll be leaving for Kyiv and will get to Krivoy Rog next week for another 3 months.  I am looking forward to another McJoyful Christmas as well as all of the things going on here.  Then it will be Canada for a few months but more on that another time.

As I say so often- thank you for seeing my heart.  Till next time...Я люблю тебя!

Time is Ticking Down…Again

Well my time in Kyrgyzstan is almost up for this trip.  In 2 weeks I’ll be back in Ukraine.  The time has just flown by.  So for this next couple of weeks I’ll be tying up things here for now.  The weather has been relatively warm during the day but still cold at night.  The electric heater died and I have been using the gas stove even more.  I’m told that heating season starts on November 15^th.  I can’t wait.  Although, I did get a little excited yesterday when I saw fumes coming out of the central heating plant’s chimney and could hear it running.  But there’s no heat in the pipes yet.

These last 2 weeks I have continued my visits to the baby orphanage and having fun with the kids there.  I have also continued to try and learn more Russian and have come to the conclusion that Rosetta Stone is hideously overpriced and doesn’t help at all.  My charades, however, continue to improve.  Other than that I don’t have anything new to tell. 

I am still fund raising so that I can treat some kids at several orphanages here and perhaps the seniors in the Kemin home.  My original wish list was to buy fruit (which is a big treat here) for the orphanages at Orlovka and Red River and the disabled men’s home in Kemin.  I also want to take the kids at Orlovka on an outing, to buy blankets for the seniors’ home in Kemin and to chip in for coal for some needy families.  Unfortunately my wish list has gone out the window.  Right now I have raised enough that I’ll use to buy a few groceries for one orphanage.  Once I get that arranged I’ll post some photos.  I only have this coming week left to fund raise so that I can make purchases and have them delivered before I leave. 

If anyone would like to help out this week so that I can bless more children please click the donation link at the right side of the blog to donate on line or you can mail a donation to the address below.  Please remember to specify that the donation is for me.  Also, when you donate please drop me a message to let me know.  Canadian donations are tax deductible and every dollar counts.

Please keep me in your prayers.  Thank you for seeing my heart.  Till next time…Я люблю тебя!

LinK 127

34 Wynn Castle Dr.

Lower Sackville, NS

Canada B4E 2H5

As Canada commemorates Remembrance Day this weekend I want to say a big thank you to the Allied vets who served and those who continue to serve.  Tokmok is about the size of Truro and I have seen no less than 5 memorials to WW II around town.  Here are photos of a few of them.

This is the main cenotaph.  Kyrgyzstan holds their commemorations on Victory Day May 21st.

My Day Today

There's not a lot new to write about today.  This past week I have continued my visits to the baby orphanage and today John invited me to go with them and a visiting team from Millbrook, Ontario to Orlovka Orphanage.  Then we ended the day at a friend's house for a traditional Kyrgyz meal of plov.  I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

On the way we stopped for photos.  I usually don't like eating apples but these are the best ever...MUCH better than our Annapolis Valley apples I'm sorry to say.

The kids put on a concert for the visitors

The visiting team bought vegetables for the orphanage

This is actually the appetizers

Plov...mmmmmmm!!

It’s Getting Cold!!!

It’s hard to believe that this week I will have been in Kyrgyzstan a month.  The time is flying by.  This past week I started my regular visits to spend time with the kids at Tokmok Baby Orphanage.  The kids in the group they assigned me to look to be between 3 and 5 years old and we have been having a lot of fun.  In no time they were calling me papa or dada (which means uncle in Russian).  Unfortunately I am not able to show you any photos because the orphanage has a policy of no kids’ photos on the internet.  You can look at my baby hospital photos from Ukraine in previous blogs to get an idea.

In the last week or so it has been getting colder here.  These past few mornings when I look out at the mountains I see that the snow is now creeping lower and lower into the valley.  These concrete apartment buildings can get very cold especially at night and the majority of my winter clothes are in Ukraine.  But I’m doing okay.  I have a small electric heater which takes some of the chill off - even though we’ve had lots of power outages lately in my neighbourhood.  I also have some heavy blankets for sleeping but otherwise the gas stove is getting a lot of use – and not for cooking.  Well, everyone knows that I hate to cook any ways lol. 

I’ll be so glad when the city decides to start up the central heating plant so that I can have some better heat.  Of course, everyone knows how much I love lots of heat, especially my room mates last summer when I would not turn on the air conditioner at 40 degrees.  (And for some reason air conditioners set off all my allergies too.)  …But I’m digressing.  Any ways, many people here simply will not have the option of being able to pay for heat.  If all of the utilities are off then there is just no way to keep warm in these buildings.  With the high levels of poverty in Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine it’s no wonder that there are so many deaths every winter.  It gives me a new insight on how cold it would have been when Luba, who I mentioned in my previous blog entry, got frostbite last winter in her apartment. 

When I was here last spring even then the director at the Kemin Senior’s Home was thinking ahead to this winter and had asked me if I could buy blankets for the residents.  I would love to help with this but I just don’t have the budget.  The home has a capacity of 45 people and I’m told that it would cost approximately $1000 to buy a blanket and a set of sheets for each one.  Are there 45 people out there somewhere that can each spare $22.50?

On the brighter side I have received a donation this week that I’m going to use to buy fruit for the kids at Orlovka Orphanage.  With budgets so tight at the orphanages the kids don’t get fruit very often and it’s a rare treat when they do.  Imagine - fruit - being a TREAT!!  And to think we in Canada can get cranky when we can’t get a chocolate bar or a coffee or whatever.  Stay tuned to the blog as I will have an update when I get it arranged. 

I also still have the other items on my wish list as I mentioned in my previous blog entry.  I’d like to be able to also buy fruit for Red River Orphanage and the Iskra disabled men’s home.  I would also love to take the kids at Orlovka on an outing of some kind, maybe to a movie and a meal or something.  I would like to chip in to help buy coal for needy families as well.

If anyone would like to help me out with any of these things you can click the donations link for LinK 127 at the right side of this blog to donate on line or click the Ways to Donate tab at the top of the page for other options.  Please remember to include a note with my name on it and specify what you would like your gift to be directed towards.  Donations from Canada are tax deductible and every dollar helps.

Thanks for your continued prayers and support and thank you for seeing my heart.  Till next time…Я люблю тебя!

This photo was taken on September 30th

This was taken yesterday (October 20th).  Not only is there snow on the foothills now but if you look close on the left you'll see that it is coming down into the valley.

This is Luba last spring when she was still recovering (physically) from her frostbite.

Some of the residents of Kemin Senior's Home on October 1st.  Notice that they were wearing heavy clothes then.

Some of the kids of Orlovka Orphanage

Thankfulness

This past week I was able to get around and get some updates on some of the goings on here.  Monday was Senior’s Day and I went with the Lamb International folks and the girls from the Dayspring Home to Kemin Senior’s home for a celebration.  The girls presented the senior’s with gift bags and gave a concert which was much appreciated by the residents.  I also got to check up on Luba to see how she is doing.

I don’t think I ever told you about Luba.  Last winter in Europe and here in Kyrgyzstan there was record breaking cold temperatures where many people died.  Luba was living in an apartment but had no money and her utilities were cut off.  During the cold snap she got frostbite in both of her feet which resulted in her losing most of her right foot and all of her left.  She cannot be fitted for prosthetics because what is left of her feet and legs are of 2 different lengths.  She has been given a wheelchair courtesy of a donation to Lepta Plus and Luba is doing well.

It was great to see Dasha again as well.  If you remember she is the girl who was born with 2 holes in her heart which also affected her other organs and her general health.  We sponsored her surgery through Operation Can be Done which took place in May and she is doing amazingly well.  She looks so much healthier and happier and she now has the energy of any 9 year old.  She still has to take it easy for a couple more months and she is very anxious to do things like the other kids.  Before, she was not allowed to go to school on doctor’s orders.  Over the summer the Lamb International folks sponsored some tutoring to help her catch up and now Dasha is going to a regular school and is doing well.  Her life has been dramatically transformed.  After seeing her before her operation and seeing her now I am truly amazed at the difference in her.

I was also able to get in and see Almaz this week.  He is the baby that was found in April abandoned at a bus stop likely because of his 2 club feet.  We sponsored his surgery also, which took place in mid August.  His right leg is now straight and his left leg is 80%.  He’ll be going in to get his casts changed and for a check up in another week.  Doctors will determine then if they can do a second surgery on the left leg.  Almaz has adjusted well to living at the orphanage and now shows the energy of any toddler.  (I can’t show you a photo of him as the orphanage has a policy of the kids’ photos on the internet.) 

Otherwise I’m still trying to figure out what activities I can sponsor while I’m here.  I would like to take the kids from Orlovka Orphanage on an outing or perhaps sponsor some fruit, which is a big luxury or a treat of some kind for them and perhaps some for Red River Orphanage and the Iskra disabled men’s home.  (The Iskra men’s home is the Kyrgyzstan version of Boorie Ooglie in Ukraine that I have mentioned in previous blogs.)  It would also be great to help buy blankets and coal as winter is very close and it’s already cold here at night.

If anyone would like to help me out with this wish list you can click the donation button for LinK 127 on the right side of this blog or click the Ways to Donate tab at the top of the page for other options.  Please remember to include a note with my name and specify what you would like your gift to be directed towards.  Donations from Canada are tax deductible and every dollar helps.

Thanks for your continued prayers and support and thank you for seeing my heart.  Till next time…Я люблю тебя!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Luba and I

Dasha in her school uniform

There's snow on the foothills now.  Winter is getting closer.  This is the view from my apartment on a clear day.

Back Home Again

On Tuesday I arrived back home in Kyrgyzstan after 3 days of travelling by planes, train and automobiles…and a couple of buses.  Sunday I left Krivoy Rog on the overnight train to Kyiv.  One of my travelling mates was a lady about my age who, like all of the Ukrainian mothers, fussed over me to make sure I wasn’t too cold or whatever.  I said I was fine but she threw a blanket over me any ways.  (You just aren’t able to say no to a Ukrainian mother.  They don’t hear that word.)  Then I had a dry throat overnight and started coughing.  Without hesitation and without me saying anything she ran & got me some water and fussed over me some more.  I give all honour to those who have a mother’s heart, especially those who help a stranger without even thinking about it.

After not having supper the night before, I got to the shiny brand new terminal at the airport only to find out that there are no restaurants, no concessions, no vending machines, nothing, not even a duty free shop.  Although, I had previously read in the press that there were some bureaucratic issues that closed them down which apparently had not been resolved yet, even though it was supposed to have been settled a couple of weeks ago.  At least I had a Milka bar in my bag.  Otherwise I had to wait until lunch time on board my flight to eat.  Turkish Airlines feeds you well on their flights no matter how short the flight is - unlike Air Canada.  Then with an 8 hour layover in Istanbul I had a great choice of restaurants at that airport to choose from for supper.

My flights and everything went smoothly with no lost luggage and now I’m in Tokmok for 2 months.  Since I was here last spring Kyrgyzstan has changed the visa laws.  People from 44 countries including Canada can now come in for a 60 day stay without having to buy a visa.  Longer stays still require a visa.

Now that I’m settled in and ready to go I hope to make some rounds this week to get updates on how some of our kids are doing and to see if I can get some activities arranged.  I have no idea yet what I can do on a very tight budget.  The kids at the orphanages have so little and I really would like to show up with more than a hug.  But God has this way of showing up at the right time.

If you would like to help me sponsor some activities for the kids, some treats, or maybe an outing, just click the LinK 127 donation link at the right side of this blog where you can donate on line.  You can also mail a cheque to the address below.  Just remember to include a note to specify where to apply your donation.  Remember that donations from Canada are tax deductible.

Again, I ask for your continued prayers and support.  I can’t do this without all of you.  I always remember what a missionary friend said when a bunch of us visited her a few years ago.  She said that she is only as effective in her work as the prayers are back home.

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

LinK 127

34 Wynn Castle Dr.

Lower Sackville, NS

Canada B4E 2H5

Yura made sure I got the right train

I had the compartment all to myself for the first hour

A view from the airport in Istanbul

A view from my apartment.  Since I got here it's been either smoggy or cloudy.  I promise there's mountains there somewhere.

A few blocks from my apartment.