It's Camp Season

Things continue to be busy here in  Krivoy Rog.  After the McDonald's outing for the Boorie Ooglie folks I had a couple of days off then it was right back at it.  On June 1st for International Children's Day I went to a celebration at the Rehab Centre and then it was on the night train to Kyiv with Yura for a whirlwind shopping trip for the upcoming camps.  School finished on May 27th and it's now camp season here.  In July most kids will be sent to summer camps at the sea but in the meantime the camps that I'm involved with are what we in Canada would call vacation Bible school.

The first camp started at the Rehab Centre on June 10th.  Currently there are 50 kids at the centre and we had a great time.  And then today as most of you are reading this we are on our way to the next camp in the village of каменполе (pronounced kam en pole' yeh - Stone Field in English) which starts Monday June 20th.  This camp will have 150 kids and we are combining 2 teams of volunteers.  With temperatures predicted to be into the 90's it's going to be amazing.  I put this dig in for the NS crowd.  I heard some had to put their heat on last week.  :)

That's all my news for now.  I'll update after the camp once we get back to Krivoy Rog since we'll have no internet in the village.

If you would like to be a blessing to those who have so little please click the "donate now" button on the right side of the blog to give a gift on line.  You can also see other giving options by clicking the "ways to donate" tab at the top of the page.  Every amount will help create lifetime memories and be appreciated by so many.  Thanks so much.

Please keep me in your prayers.  Thank you for seeing my heart.  Till next time...я люблю вас!!  Happy Father's Day!!

Children's Day celebration at the Rehab Centre.

Dima Z. and some of the Rehab Centre boys.

The Rehab Centre Director Tatyana with some of the girls.

At the train station in Kyiv with Yura after our whirlwind shopping day.

Most of our team for the camp at the Rehab Centre.

The letters on the ground are the camp theme "Under the sails."  The kids are holding team posters.

Group shot on the last day of camp.

I try my best to be a father to the fatherless.  These are some of my "sons"

Things Are in Full Swing

These past couple of weeks have turned out to be quite busy despite a couple of visits being cancelled when some workers weren't feeling well and one day it rained so hard that driving was too dangerous. I got in a couple of visits to Boorie Ooglie Disabled home as well as to the Rehab Centre where Dima Z. does computer classes with the kids. I also helped out at English Club at Shelter Plus Civic and Cultural Centre. Then we've also been doing some trips to McDonald's.

As I've said before McDonald's in Ukraine is seen as an elite place to go and people will dress up to go there. We take for granted going once or twice a week in Canada but orphans and folks in disabled homes wont get there without the generosity of others. Because of that generosity we took a special McDonald's delivery to the kids at the TB hospital and spent some time with the kids. Then we took kids from the boarding school and some folks from Boorie Ooglie on outings to McDonald's. It was amazing to get them out of the institutions for a while and to spend time with them. My eyes started leaking when I saw some of the boys from the school folding up their placemats and putting everything in the Happy Meal box to take with them for a souvenir.

The day we took the Boorie Ooglie folks happened to be my birthday so in fun I asked the translator to tell them thanks for coming to my birthday party. Then they all started singing Happy Birthday and several of them prayed over me. It was an awesome time. Thank you so much to those who helped to make all of this happen. These memories will last a lifetime for so many of us.

If you would like to help me to create more memories of a lifetime for those who have so little please click the "donate now" button on the right side of the blog to give a gift on line. You can also see other giving options by clicking the "ways to donate" tab at the top of the page. I don't receive a salary or stipend for this work and every amount is a huge help and it will be appreciated by so many. Thank you so much.

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

Delivering treats to Boorie Ooglie disabled home.

The candy bag made an appearance.

Dima Z. giving computer lessons

Making a special delivery to the TB hospital with Dima and Katya.

Kids from the boarding school playing a stacking game at McDonald's.

There's a lot of happy on that table.  A much better meal than they normally get at Boorie Ooglie.

One of the best birthday parties I've ever had.  :)

Getting Acquainted & Reacquainted

Since I arrived in Krivoy Rog I've been busy getting reacquainted with everything as well as getting acquainted with some new friends in the work here.  When I got here last week everything had slowed down in the city with Easter being the weekend before and then the Day of Memory and Victory Day holidays the next weekend.  That gave me time to get the jetlag over with and to get set up in the apartment with supplies and so on.  It's so nice to be reunited with most of my belongings again.  Once that was done it was finally back to work after almost a 2 1/2 year absence.  After meeting with some of the directors here to coordinate things it looks like we have a busy summer ahead.

On the holiday weekend I visited the disabled home at Boorie Ooglie where we delivered bananas to the folks in the invalid section.  Fruit is a big treat as it's something they don't get very often.  Once the holidays were over I was able to tag along with Lena T. and new friend Michele for a couple of days to spend time with the kids at a TB hospital, a children's hospital for orphans and disabled kids, as well as a boarding school.

At the children's hospital we started a lesson by asking:  "What does the word love mean?"  This was quickly followed by a teen girl saying that there is no such emotion as love, that it's all in the head and it's only a physical thing.  I can only imagine what this visibly hurting girl has gone through to think such a thing.  But I think we were able to show and to get through to her what love really is, or at least plant some seeds to get her thinking about it.

This week finished off by going with Dima Z. to Dnipropetrovsk where we visited a graduated orphan to see what his needs are as well as the orphanage where he grew up.  This orphanage was once known as the place that God forgot.  I have often heard about awful conditions in this place in the past.  Many people I know have been there but this was the first time I was able to get there myself.  Over the years there have been a lot of changes where many people have stepped up to help out and it is now one of the best orphanages in Ukraine, a place of many of God's miracles.

As I mentioned we have a busy summer ahead with many things going on.  If you would like to help me with some of these things that will create lifetime memories for those who have so little please click the "donate now" button on the right side of the blog to give a gift on line.  You can see other giving options by clicking the "ways to donate" tab at the top of the page.  Any amount would be appreciated so much by so many.

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

The people behind me are vets waiting to start the Victory Day parade to the cenotaph.

At a TB hospital with Lena T. and new friend Michele.

A lesson at the boarding school.  Boarding schools here are not the rich kid kind of school, just the opposite.

In the centre with Dima and I is Hermine (pronounced air min ay).  She is director of the orphanage in Dnipropetrovsk which was once known as the place that God forgot.  What an amazing woman!

I Made It

After traveling by planes, trains and automobiles...and a bus, I finally made it to Krivoy Rog this morning.  The traveling could not have gone any smoother...no delays, no lost luggage, no major issues at all.  Now I'm just settling into my apartment for the summer.  It's so good to be home.

After I got to Kyiv yesterday I had several hours to kill before my train left for Krivoy Rog so I decided to go downtown.  As last Sunday was Easter here the carnival was still happening on the squares at St Sophia and St Michael's churches and the whole street in between.  I have never seen so many Ukrainian Easter eggs in one place before.

I then went to Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) to see what it looks like now after the revolution.  It's all been cleaned up but I could see that it's not as bright looking anymore with all of the smoke buildup on the buildings and monuments.  I felt a different atmosphere there as well.  It wasn't as vibrant but that may be attributed to crowds of people being up the hill for the Easter carnival.

I walked up what used to be called Instytutska (Institute) Street where many of the murders by the Yanukovich government happened.  The street is now closed to traffic and renamed in honour of who are now known as the Heavenly Hundred (the people who were murdered).  All up and down the street are many memorials to those who died and a lot of displays of items from the revolution, makeshift shields, helmets, gas masks, etc.  It was hard for me to do that walk after watching the live internet feeds when it was all happening.  What struck me the most was that the people who died were of all ages.  The youngest was 17 years old and the oldest was 73 and there were all ages in between.  Sorry for sounding so morbid.

So then it was off to get supper and back to the train station.  In the next few days after the jet lag wears off I'll meet with the local workers to see where I can be of most help.  I am so looking forward to getting back to my real job.  I have also got at least one or two projects in the works.  Stay tuned.

If you would like to help me with some projects, such as an outing for those who don't get out much, or maybe a decent meal or treat of some kind, you can click the "donate now" button on the right side of the blog.  You can see other giving options by clicking the "ways to donate" tab at the top of the page.  Every dollar will count in enriching the lives of those who have so little and will be appreciated a lot.

Thank you for seeing my heart.  Please keep me in your prayers.  я люблю вас!!

The sign on the bell tower says "Christ is Risen!"

This vendor could not possibly make his stall more Ukrainian.

Even Kinder eggs were dressed up.

The board behind the photo is a makeshift shield.

No more barricades or traffic.  On the wall to the left is a photo and a memorial to each of those who died.  You can see "before" photos here:  http://blairs-page.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-revolution-in-kyiv.html

Makeshift shields with bullet holes

Hrushevskova Street with no burnt out buses and barricades

Khreschatyk Street was a tent city when I was here last.

On a happier note...chestnut trees and lilacs grow EVERYWHERE in Ukraine.  They are in full bloom and the smell is incredible.

 

Headed Out

Well it's taken almost 2 1/2 years but I'm finally on my way home to Ukraine.  The preparations are made and the packing is done and I'm out the door.  I'll post an update when I get to Krivoy Rog.

Please keep me in your prayers.  я люблю вас! 

The Time is Getting Closer

Wow! The time is sure flying by. In just a month I'll be off to Ukraine for the summer to pick up my missions work and to reconnect with my friends. I'm getting more and more anxious to get to the airport every day. I can hardly wait!

While I'm in Ukraine I would like to do some projects but currently I don't have the resources for any. I am still praying for financial miracles. One project I would like to sponsor is perhaps an outing to the circus or a McDonald's and movie day for the kids at the Rehab Centre. For kids who spend most of their time in an institutional environment it is great for them to get out for a while and just be kids. As I've mentioned before, going to McDonald's in Ukraine is a HUGE deal; people will dress up just to go there. We in North America take for granted that we can go there several times a week for a meal, but children in an orphanage might get there a couple of times a year simply because they don't have parents to take them anywhere.

I would also like to be able to sponsor an outing or a decent meal for the guys at the men's disabled home in Boorie Ooglie. These men have so little and deserve so much more than they have to deal with.

Would you please consider being a blessing to these deserving folks who need to see the Father's love in action? Every bit helps and would be appreciated by so many.

To give an on line gift you can click the donation button on the right side of this page. For other giving options you can click the "ways to donate" tab at the top of the page. Donations from Canada through LinK1:27 are tax deductible. Thank you so much.

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

Seeing these smiles makes the cost of a few Happy Meals priceless.

This meal is much better than what these men at Boorie Ooglie normally get.

This past week I was interviewed about my missions work for an upcoming show of "Hammonds Plains Speaks With Brian Murray" on Community Radio CIOE.  I'll post more details near the time when it will be broadcasted.

I Can't Wait For Spring!!

As I write this blog entry we are cleaning up after another snowfall in the Halifax area.  I just can't wait for spring...but not for the sake of getting winter over with.  A lot can change in a day or two and this week I just happened to check airline prices and found a good deal to Ukraine that I couldn't pass up.  Yes, in early May I am going "home" for 3 months.  Since my job is done for the summer in mid April the timing is great.  Sadly I won't be able to go to Kyrgyzstan this trip but hopefully more doors will open for the not too distant future.

I'm stepping out in faith believing I can find enough funding for this trip.  The airline ticket is taken care of and a few other things but there's a lot that needs to be done.  What I get with my job in the meantime will help with some of that.  I would really love it if you come along side me to help me show the Father's love to those that need to see it in action.  Would you please consider giving a gift to help me to make a difference?  To give a gift on line you can click the donation button at the right side of the blog.  You can also click the "ways to donate" tab at the top of this page for other giving options.  Canadian donations are tax deductible.  Every dollar counts and will be appreciated so much by many.  Thank you so much.

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

This is what my neighbourhood looks like today.

 

 

I would love to be able to sponsor an outing for these kids.
Would you like to help me do that?

Merry Christmas

Here we are at the end of 2015 and another Christmas season is upon us.  I just want to take a minute and thank those of you who have supported me this past year. 

Because of your generosity this year some kids in Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine have amazing memories that will last a lifetime.  Thank you sooo much.  Thank you also to those who helped me out as well.  It was a financially difficult year for me.  To those of you who stepped in to help whether it was to help with an unexpected dental bill, gave me food, money or other things, or stepped aside to let me work your hours so I could pay my rent last summer, you are awesome and I pray God will bless you.  Despite my difficulties I know I am blessed and that God is not through yet.

Coming into 2016 I still pray that I can resume my work in Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine in person.  It's hard to believe that I've been in Canada almost 2 years now.  My homesickness still feels fresh.  If you would like to help me to get back to work you can click the donation button at the right side of the blog to donate on line, or you can click the "ways to donate" tab at the top of this page for other options.  Will you help me to bless those who need to see God's love in action?

Have a very merry Christmas and may God bless you greatly in 2016.  Thank you for seeing my heart.  Till next time...я люблю вас!

These kids in Ukraine had a great day going to a movie and to McDonald's.

These kids in Kyrgyzstan had a great day at the beach and got to go on a boat ride.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!