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.

Christmas Already?!?

On Wednesday it'll be 2 years since I first left Canada on Christmas Day to begin life on the road.  These 2 years have sure flown by and this past year has been a busy one with all of the ups and downs that went with it.  I won't do a year end recap of everything as it's all on the previous blog entries.  This past weekend I went and stayed in a couple of the outlying villages to spend time with some friend's churches there.  Then on the way home we stopped at Boorie Ooglie for a short visit.  Other than that I haven't been doing much over the past few weeks except for taking it easy to help my injuries to heal.  My injuries continue to heal and things are going well.  I can manage to do more and more things around the house and I can walk almost normally.  I get frustrated when I forget that my arm isn't fully mobile yet and I go to use it to do something.  I did manage a couple of marshrutka rides without re-injury as well.  (A marshrutka is an 18 passenger van used like a bus on a bus route.)

Now that I'm more confident about going on the marshrutkas (as long as I can get a seat) I plan to take part in McJoyful Christmas which starts tomorrow.  It'll be great to see the kids, many of whom I haven't seen since McJoyful Christmas last year.

I can't believe it's Christmastime already.  With what I've been going through these past few months and with what's been going on in Ukraine I haven't given it a whole lot of thought; but, I do have the apartment decorated.  Other than McJoyful Christmas I don't know yet what I'll be doing on Christmas (which is January 6th here) or New Years.

After re-evaluating my financial position I guess I'll be coming to Canada in the new year.  I've been putting off buying a ticket hoping that a miracle will happen and I can go back to Kyrgyzstan instead.  But I guess I'll have to make a move on that soon. As much as I love you all I want to continue life on the road as my heart and my calling is here.  So we'll see in the next couple of weeks what will happen.

If you would like to help me continue here 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 keep the nation and the people of Ukraine in your prayers.  Things are not good here as the anti-government protests continue and it looks like both sides are digging in for a long time.  It's disappointing that the western media seem to have largely ignored what is going on here with little and/or inaccurate coverage.  There's a lot more going on here than the toppling of a couple of Lenin statues by some individuals.  Ukraine has so much potential to become a great nation and the beautiful people here deserve so much better than what they're getting.  But I guess it's not proper for me to comment on that here so I'll leave it at that.

 Please keep me in your prayers as well.  Thank you so much for seeing my heart.  Merry Christmas to all of you and God's blessings on you throughout the season.  Till next time...я дюблю вас!!

  

Some of my Christmas decorations made by children at Svetly Put Orphanage in Kyrgyzstan

The manger was also made by kids of Svetly Put.  By the way this and the ornaments in the previous picture (minus one Christmas tree) will be for sale when I do get back to Canada.

Back in Krivoy Rog

I finally was able to get back to Krivoy Rog a little over a week ago.  It's so good to be back.  I was going stir crazy in Kyiv not being able to go anywhere because of my injuries and with nothing to do but look at the walls most of the time.  Once again I'm in good hands here.  Anya and Dima came and helped me with my shopping and Lena D. came over one day and did some cooking so I could put some meals in the fridge as I can't do very well with things like chopping vegetables yet.

I was able to get rid of my casts and the crutch this past week and I see improvement everyday.  The stitches come out tomorrow.  It'll be a while before I can fully bend or straighten my arm and walk without a limp but things are coming along okay.  Other than that it's been a busy week.  I had some houseguests for a couple of nights this week with a visiting team.  Yesterday (Saturday) I was able to tag along with the gang to Boorie Ooglie who brought a decent meal and some fellowship to the men.  Then today I tagged along as another group from Boorie Ooglie and a couple of less fortunate families were treated to the circus.   This coming week I'm looking forward to seeing Pastor Ted and Pastor Bill when they come to town for a visit.

I'm still trying to re-evaluate what my plans will be at the end of January when my 3 months in Ukraine are up.  Right now it looks like I'll have to go back to Canada and get a job.  I'm still hoping to go to Kyrgyzstan.  If I go back to Canada there's strong possibility I may never be able to come back which bums me out a bit.  So hopefully things will come together so that I can continue life on the road.  Please keep me in your prayers.

If you feel led to help me continue 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 seeing my heart.  Till next time...я люблю вас!! 

LinK 127

833 Canaan Mountain Road

Kentville, NS

Canada B4N 4K1

Lena doing what she does so well...

...some of it being cutlets, borscht...

...and crepes...mmmm!

Me and the gang ready to serve at Boorie Ooglie

 

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.