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 MSI is no longer valid as I've been out of Canada too long and I have no other insurance.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!!

Not a Fun Couple of Days

I had another story all typed and ready to tell on the blog but that is now on hold for another time. For those of you on Facebook who have been wondering why I asked for serious prayer especially for this past week as well as over the next few weeks, and for those not on Facebook here's what's going on. On Wednesday we went to visit someone and when we got there, there was a situation. I can't go into detail here. I went onto the roof of what turned out to be a barn to check the situation. On my way down I went through the roof and landed on the floor of the barn. Long story short I ended up with a few cuts and bruises, a very sore body, a broken bone in my left ankle (not serious) and I broke my right elbow which required surgery to wire it back together. I think I also broke at least one rib in my back where I landed on it. Now this is the part where I have to say: "Dad I'm fine. And no I'm not coming back to Canada yet. Really, I'm fine."

For the rest of the week I was at the Tokmok hospital for repairs. The surgery went very well and I got home Friday morning. Now I have to learn to do a lot of things with my left hand and I walk with a cane. Daily chores are going to take a lot longer to do but I praise God that it wasn't worse and that no one else got hurt. My wallet is hurting but it was cheap by Canadian dollars and a hit I didn't need right now with my very fragile financial situation. I'll deal with that later. The most pain I had was when the nurse went to pull some medical tape off of my hairy arm. I'm well on the mend and not totally out of action. I might not be walking very good right now, but I am walking in victory! So take THAT satan!! :p

They say that when you're in trouble you find out who your REAL friends are. There are many brilliant people here in Tokmok that I just can't thank enough. Sergey stayed with me the whole time doing everything from translation, to pulling a few strings, running for things I needed and so much more - including taking video of me while I was still under the effects of the anaesthesia. Apparently I speak good Russian while under the influence - now if only I could figure out how to do it sober... . I suspect that the video will come back to haunt me for some time to come. Sergey's wife Anya made some food and they brought it to me in hospital. Then the morning after the surgery my landlord and his wife, Valodia and Tatyana, popped in for a visit to check up on things. They, as well as everyone else, are two of the most kind hearted, sweetest people anywhere. Tatyana is a doctor and knew what questions to ask to see what was going on. She also brought antibiotics and supplements to the apartment, supplied from Canada by John and Julie, and explained what to do for my aftercare. She also brought some food. I am well cared for here by many wonderful people. And for those of you who were praying for me here in Kyrgyzstan and literally around the world, thank you so much. Please keep the prayers going.

I still plan to make my flight to Kyiv on November 2nd. It's going to be interesting as I can't put weight on the ankle for a month and with having one of my arms out of commission. Making airport connections and getting on and off of the train with all of my luggage will be a new experience. I hope to get hospitality service with the airlines but I'll figure everything out in the next few days. (I'll also have to figure out how to get my seriously overweight hand luggage down to the legal limit as someone else will be lifting it.) Once back in Ukraine I'll get Dr. Ziad to check me over as well. Dr. Ziad is a great surgeon who does many of the surgeries for the orphans sponsored through Loads of Love's Operation CAN be Done programme. I'll be in good hands in Ukraine also as well as continuing to be in God's hands. As Ed says: "That's a good place to be."


So, it was not the most fun filled few days this past week but the worst is over. Hallelujah!! Please continue to keep me in your prayers and thank you for seeing my heart. Till next time... Я люблю тебя!

A Lot Would be So Thankful if...

These last couple of weeks have been very quiet since the team left.  This week I was able to resume regular visits to spend quality time with the kids at the baby orphanage.  I'm not able to show you pictures because the orphanage has a no photo policy of their kids on the internet.

Also this week the first delivery of coal took place at Larissa's and Tanya's house.  It is 5 tonnes which will be enough for half of the winter.  They are very grateful to get this jump on winter preparations and have already started distributing it to needy families.  (Thanks so much A. O.)  I want to raise another $500 to get another 5 tonnes for the rest of the winter.

The last couple of days here have seen a major drop in temperatures and you can feel winter in the air.  Yesterday there was a LOT more snow on the mountains and it may not be long before we get it in the valley.  Winter here is a huge concern as keeping warm literally means the difference between life and death.  I'm not exaggerating.  People do die of the cold every winter in Kyrgyzstan.

I am also still wanting to raise $1000 to buy warm blankets for the people at the Kemin Senior's Home.  Each blanket (which is actually more like a comforter) costs approximately $22 and I need 45 blankets.  I would also like to raise extra to buy the seniors new sheet and pillowcase sets as well.  It would be so great to give these seniors, who have nothing, a little dignity by having the luxury of a nice warm bed to crawl into on the cold nights.

Also about sheets - Tanya asked if I could purchase some cloth so that the men's disabled home could have sheets for the winter.  There is someone there who can make the sheets for the 230 residents of the home.  One winter they had 80 deaths in this home due to the cold.  I don't know the cost of this yet but I do know I don't have any more money for anything right now.  :(

If you would like to help me with these requests a lot of people here would be VERY thankful.  As you reflect on what you are thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend please consider helping out.  I have only 3 weeks left in Kyrgyzstan and I would really like to be able to have the orders placed, paid for and delivery arranged before I go back to Ukraine at the end of the month.  Would you like to help save lives?

To help out you can click the link at the right side of the blog for LinK 127 to donate on line.  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, except those submitted by e-transfer.

As I always say - thank you for seeing my heart...Я люблю тебя!  Please continue keep me in your prayers as well.  Happy Thanksgiving!! 

LinK 127

833 Canaan Mountain Road

Kentville, NS

Canada B4N 4K1

Bagging the coal for distribution

Tanya with some very grateful recipients

On Thursday there was almost no snow on the mountains.  This is what it looked like Friday morning.  Winter is coming.

They Painted Everything!

The last two weeks have been busy here.  A team from my church in Canada came to visit and helped out with some projects for the folks at Act of Kindness.  It was great to have them here and they did a fantastic job of spreading God's love throughout the Chui Valley.  From the moment they got here until the time they left they didn't stop.

They did everything from providing meals and food hampers for the less fortunate to spending quality time with orphans and seniors.  They painted everything from nails to faces to fences and they did it exuding such love.  They have left an indelible mark on the hearts of many here in Kyrgyzstan.  Everyone on the team was absolutely amazing.

Now that the team has gone it's pretty quiet.  I have just spent the last few days catching up with myself.  In the upcoming weeks I want to get back to regular visits at the baby orphanage and I hope to be able to do something at the men's disabled home and Orlovka Orphanage.

I am still trying to raise money to buy warm blankets for the seniors home and coal for needy families as I mentioned in my last blog entry.  http://blairs-page.blogspot.com/2013/09/wellits-worse-than-i-thought.html  I would really appreciate your help in doing this.  Winter can start literally any day and even though winters are short they are deadly in Kyrgyzstan.  To help you can click the link on the right side of the blog for LinK 127 to give on line.  You can also mail a gift to the address below or send an e-transfer to blairslife1@gmail.com.  Please include a note advising that your gift is for me and how you would like me to use it.  Canadian donations are tax deductible but not those by e-transfer.  Please consider helping to save lives.

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

LinK 127
833 Canaan Mountain Road
Kentville, NS
Canada B4N 4K1

 

They gave hand massages and painted nails at the Kemin Seniors Home...

...and they provided a good lunch for the seniors

Donating knitted things to the baby hospital

Spreading love at the baby orphanage

They took the kids from Beikut Orphanage to the hot springs

Painting the fence at a new church

Painting the church

Face painting

Getting food hampers ready to deliver to families in need

Painting a mural at the men's disabled home in Kemin

Delivering food to those who glean their living at the dump

Digging post holes for a playground fence in East Iskra

A great team!!

Well...It's Worse Than I thought!

I have finally a minute to sit down and write this entry.  I have been busy the past week and a half tagging along with my friends from my church in Canada who are here helping the folks of Act of Kindness and are spreading God's love throughout the Chui Valley.  After they leave on Friday and I have a chance to sort through my photos I will write more about their visit.  They have been doing great!

One day I was able to go with them to visit the folks at the Kemin Senior's home.  As I mentioned in my last blog entry this is the home that I want to buy new blankets for.  Winter can literally happen here any day now and temperatures can go down as low as minus 35C.  Being warm in a Kyrgyzstan winter means the difference between life and death (this is not an exaggeration; many do die here every winter).  When we toured the Kemin Home I discovered that the blankets they have now are not very good as you'll see in the photos.  They are worse than I expected and this brings a new urgency to me getting these replaced with some warm blankets.  I would like to raise $1000 and if I raise $300 more I would also like to buy new sheets and pillow cases.

As I also mentioned in my last blog entry I want to raise another $500 to buy 5 more tonnes of coal for families in need at Iskra village.  As it's cheaper than after winter starts, now is the best time to buy coal and today I will be delivering the first $500 for the first 5 tonnes to Larissa and Tanya. They coordinate distributing it and are so excited and grateful to get this jump on winter preparations.  10 Tonnes of coal will keep up to 15 families warm this winter.

Please please please will you consider helping me to spread some warmth for this winter?  It can save lives.

To help me do this you can donate on line by clicking the link on the right side of this blog for LinK 127.  You can also send a cheque to the address below or send an e-transfer to blairslife1@gmail.com.  Please include a note specifying that your donation is for me and where you would like me to use your gift.  Donations from Canada are tax deductible (but not those sent via e-transfer).  Every dollar counts!!

Thank you for seeing my heart.  Я люблю тебя!

LinK 127
833 Canaan Mountain Road
Kentville, NS
Canada B4N 4K1

At the Kemin Home

These are the kind of blankets I want to buy.

This is 5 tonnes of coal from last year.  I would like to buy another pile like this.

Another picture from last year.  Tanya is on the right.

Company's Coming

As I'm posting this a team of my friends from my church in Canada should be taking off on the first leg of their journey here to Kyrgyzstan.  I am looking forward to meeting them at the airport tomorrow afternoon and being with them for the next 11 days.  All of the preparations are done and everything is ready.  It is going to be awesome to have them here spreading lots of love around the Chui Valley.  I can't wait.

The needs here in Kyrgyzstan are many but I have narrowed my focus to two projects that I would like to complete while I'm here.  One thing is that I would like to raise $1000 to pay for coal that will be distributed to needy families in the area this winter.  There's a chill in the air today and winter will be here before we know it.  I am pleased to say that I have already raised half of that (thanks so much A.O.) so now I have another $500 to go.  The other thing is that I would like to buy new blankets and perhaps sets of sheets and pillowcases for the residents at the Kemin Senior's home.  The cost for this would also be about $1000.  Here in Kyrgyzstan being warm in winter is literally the difference between life and death.  Would you like to help me spread some warmth?

To help me with this or to help with my support you can click the link on the right side of the blog for LinK 127 to donate on line.  If you wish you can set up a monthly sponsorship there as well.  You can also mail a gift to the address below or via e-transfer to blairslife1@gmail.com.  Please remember to include a note to specify that your gift is for me and how you would like me to use it.  Canadian donations are tax deductible (but not those sent by e-transfer).  Thank you so much.

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

LinK 127

833 Canaan Mountain Road

Kentville, NS
Canada B4N 4K1

My friends that are coming

Their beds are ready.  The blanket on the bed is the kind I would like to buy for the Kemon Seniors Home.  They are made locally here in Tokmok.  Buying them locally also helps to support the income of a wonderful woman who has a home business.

Back at My Kyrgyzstan Home

Early Thursday morning I arrived back home in Tokmok.  All of the travel went very smoothly - no delays, no lost luggage, no problems.  Although, I don't recommend plane travel with a bruised tailbone.  It happened a couple of weeks ago on a water slide...long story.  So needless to say I was VERY uncomfortable in an airplane seat without a doughnut cushion for several hours at a time and not able to stand due to some turbulence.   But I survived and here I am for the next 2 months.

I got to experience the infamous Aeroflop for the first time with this trip.  Over the years I have been fortunate enough to travel and experience many different airlines from the small rinky-dink ones to the very large ones.  Based on all of my flying experience so far Air Canada is still the absolute worst airline of all of them...hands down.  The only thing I really didn't like about Aeroflop was that there was no entertainment system on board.  But then it was a red eye and I wanted to sleep anyways.

I have to admit that as the time to come to Kyrgyzstan got closer I wasn't feeling the excitement like I usually do.  I guess that's due to feeling so close to everyone in Ukraine that I'll miss and being distracted by my financial stuff.  But after leaving the airport in Bishkek I got my first glimpse of those beautiful mountains and I felt much better.  And, you know you're home when:  the lady that reads the gas meter comes in, who I only saw once last year for a moment, looked at me and said:  "Do you come to Kyrgyzstan every year?" or, the little girl that lives downstairs who immediately recognized me and wanted to practice the new English phrases she learned in school.  She's doing really well at it.

So for the last few days I have just been settling in and catching up with myself.  The first day I was so tired after travelling for 2 days that I slept through a very loud doorbell...twice...and I am usually a very light sleeper.  Sergey was trying to find me as my phone wasn't working yet but we finally connected on the third try.  It's great to see him and his family again.

The next couple of months promise to be busy.  I'm excited that my church in Canada is sending a team that'll arrive next week and will be here for 11 days.  Shortly after they leave another team from Ontario will arrive.  Once I connect with John and Julie I will let you know what else is going on and what my wish list is for this trip.

As I mentioned a couple of blog entries ago I'm still believing for a major financial miracle so that I can be able to continue to do this work.  If you would like to help me show God's love to those who desperately need to see it please click the link on the right side of this blog for LinK 127 to donate on line.  You can set up a monthly sponsorship there as well.  You can also mail a gift to the address below or you can send an e-transfer to blairslife1@gmail.com.  Please remember to specify that your gift is for me and perhaps mention how you would like me to use it.  Donations from Canada are tax deductible (but not those sent by e-transfer).  Every dollar counts!!  Thank you soooo much.

Please continue to keep me in your prayers.  And as I always say:  Thank you for seeing my heart.  Till next time... Я люблю тебя!

 

LinK 127

833 Canaan Mountain Road

Kentville, NS

Canada B4N 4K1

As I had almost a whole day In Kyiv I did a little sight seeing.  This is the Friendship Arch which was built in Soviet times to commemorate the friendship between Kyiv and Moscow.  That friendship is running quite thin nowadays.

A view from behind the arch

At the airport in Moscow

The sunrise I saw going from Bishkek to Tokmok...a new beginning

Bekah and Emma left some breakfast for me...as well as some fruit...

The church was celebrating 14 years and had plov after service.  mmmm....

Here I Go Again

Well my time in Krivoy Rog is over for this trip and it's time to be on the move again to Kyrgyzstan.  Tomorrow I take the night train to Kyiv and fly out of there on Wednesday afternoon and then I arrive in Bishkek Thursday morning.  I'm looking forward to seeing those beautiful mountains again and also having a team from my church in Canada come and visit in a couple of weeks.  And yet, even though it's for only 2 months, I will miss my friends here in Ukraine that have become my family.

This past week I spent tying up the loose ends and spending time with my friends.  I also tagged along with Lena T. again to visit the kids at the Rehab Centre.  As school started this week I was able to buy them some notebooks and pens to help with their school supplies.  As Lena D. is in charge of crafts for the Saturday programme, I delivered all of the craft supplies to her that I brought from Canada.  She was so happy to get them saying that it was like having a store in her living room.  Thank you to all who donated towards them.

Over the next 2 months, because internet prices in Kyrgyzstan are almost as high as in Canada and I have very little budget left, my on line updates will likely not be very regular.  I will not be answering emails as often either.  Once in a while when I do get to an internet connection I will post an update and photos.

As I mentioned in my previous blog entry I am needing a major financial boost so that I can continue this work here.  If you would like to help me with this you can click the link on the right side of the blog for LinK 127 to donate on line.  If you wish you can set up a monthly sponsorship there as well.  Please remember to specify that your gift is for me and what you may like me to use the gift for.  You can also mail a donation to the address below or send an e-transfer to blairslife1@gmail.com.  Canadian donations are tax deductible (but not those by e-transfer.)   Every dollar counts!

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

LinK 127

833 Canaan Mountain Road

Kentville, NS

Canada B4N 4K1

Pens and notebooks for the Rehab Centre kids

Because Natalie and I are both leaving and it was her birthday this weekend, it was a good excuse for cake.

It translates to:  Thanks for what you are!

It was delicious!!