Almost Time to Move Again

Things have been pretty quiet since the Mercy Trucks rolled out of Krivoy Rog.  Over the past couple of weeks many of us have been catching up with ourselves with some much needed rest.  As a thank you for helping out with the Mercy Trucks project we had a couple of days where some of the people who helped out were taken to the beach for some relaxation.  I have also been able to tag along with Lena T. to the kids Rehab Centre on her Saturday programme.  It's always so great to spend time with the kids there.

Other than that I have been starting to tie up loose ends here as in about a week I'll be on the move again as I'm going to Kyrgyzstan for 2 months.  I am a little sad to leave Ukraine but happy to get to Kyrgyzstan.  In a couple of weeks a team from my church in Canada will be arriving in Tokmok to help out with things there.  It is going to be awesome!

A couple of blog entries ago I mentioned that I would have to make some very hard decisions in the next few months about my life "on the road."  Well...basically it all boils down to resources.  Unless something big happens, when I come back to Ukraine in November I will not be able to sponsor any activities or needs as I will only have enough grocery money for a short time.  (I guess it's time to lose that extra 30 Lbs...lol.)  As it is, I will not be able to do much when I'm in Kyrgyzstan on this trip because of this.

What many people don't realize is that I don't get a salary from LinK 127.  LinK 127 just facilitates a way of refunding expenses to me by whatever amount is donated for me.  Any money that I use to help sponsor needs and activities comes from my own funds and now these funds are almost running out.  And because I'm a foreigner I am not able to get a job here.  When the funds are gone, I will have to give up everything, go back to Canada and get some kind of a job with the possibility of never being able to come back again.  Needless to say I am quite concerned about this as I really have no life in Canada to go back to anymore.  It would be very hard living there now with my heart over here any ways.

Even though I'm concerned I also have this peace knowing that I have been called to this work and I am not aware yet of any new calling to move on to something else with my life.  I am really believing for a miracle to be able to continue the work here.  As several people have reminded me when I was in Canada:  "God's will...God's bill."  So now it's the part where I have to wait and see what happens.  I don't really feel comfortable talking about this but as a missionary friend of mine who is in the same boat said recently:  ""if we don't say anything how would you know?  James 4:2 says " you do not have because you do not ask.""  So now you know, and I am asking.  Would you please consider helping me to continue to show love to orphans, seniors, the disabled and anyone else who really needs to see God's love in action? 

To help me to continue the work here 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!

Please continue to pray for me.  Thank you for seeing my heart.  Till next time... Я люблю тебя!

Happy Independence Day Ukraine!!!

LinK 127

833 Canaan Mountain Road
Kentville, NS
Canada B4N 4K1

Some very hard working people

At the kids Rehab Centre

At the Dentist

Last Sunday (August 4th) Mercy Trucks rolled into town. Mercy Trucks is a Christian ministry that is a mobile dentistry clinic providing basic dental care to those who would not otherwise be able to go to the dentist. Here in Ukraine many dentists and doctors will not treat people from the disabled homes or people with HIV so this was filling a huge need. Natalie arranged for them to set up shop at Boorie Ooglie where they provided dental care for the residents. The residents of Green Pastures (the women's version of Boorie Ooglie) and some children from the baby orphanage were brought in for care as well. For more information about Mercy Trucks you can visit www.mercytrucksukraine.org. We were extremely busy and all hands were on deck putting in 12 hour days. It is a very large operation where each day there would be about 25 volunteers, including 5 to 6 doctors, plus other volunteers providing lunch, running errands and whatever else was needed. Because of my lack of Russian I was not able to communicate with most of the doctors or patients so I was given the job of cleaning and sterilizing the tools.

I haven't heard the final numbers but I think we saw between 400 and 500 people from Monday to Saturday. The day that the children came they also got a visit from Doctor Clown. Doctor Clown is a programme of the Shelter Plus Centre where people dress up as clowns and go to entertain children in the hospitals around the city. My friend Igor is one of the clowns in the programme so he came to help out so that the children wouldn't be scared of the dentists. I think he was a hit with some of the Boorie Ooglie men as well.

This week I hope to catch up on some much needed sleep. Adding to the 12 hour days I had a flood in the kitchen one night. It seemed like I had to wake up half of Krivoy Rog in the middle of the night to get assistance with it - translator, plumber, land lady, building staff, etc. The upstairs neighbour must have left something running and it all came down into my kitchen. But thankfully it was clear water and the only damage was wall paper peeling off of the wall which can be re-glued once the wall is completely dry. One advantage of having brick walls everywhere is that water won't ruin it like it ruins gyp-rock. So needless to say after this past week I badly need to catch up with myself.

I can hardly believe that I'll be in Kyrgyzstan in 3 weeks. The time is fast approaching for me to be on the move again. I'll talk more in another blog entry of my hopes and plans for when I am there.

Again, If you would like to help me to provide some activities, to fill needs, or to help with my own support please consider sending a gift. I am not able to do what I do without your help which is greatly appreciated. On the right side of the blog is a "donate now" button where you can make an on line donation through LinK 127. You can also click the "ways to donate" tab at the top of the page for more giving options. Please remember to specify that your donation is for me and advise what you would like me to use your gift for. Every dollar counts towards showing love to those who really need to see God's love in action.

I really appreciate your continued prayers and support. Thank you for seeing my heart. Till next time… Я люблю тебя!

It was the biggest show in town.  People would line up to watch what was going on.

On his back says Doctor Clown

Busy as it was there was always time for a tickle break

Again watching what was going on

Just a few of the volunteers

Circus Day

Last Sunday was circus day.  Natalie had made arrangements to take the kids from Dome Invalid (the children's disabled home) to the circus.  After the tickets were already purchased the home's director advised that she didn't want the kids to go offsite and would rather clowns or something like that come to the home instead.  Since Natalie's sponsors had raised money specifically for Dome Invalid I sponsored the tickets, some treats and a van, so that Natalie could be refunded, and we took a few of our workers here and some of the more able bodied folks from Boorie Ooglie to the circus instead.

It was really great to see the Boorie Ooglie folks enjoy themselves and spend a few hours away from the home.  The circus here is different from the 3 ring circuses in North America.  The style of it is actually what I picture when I think of a circus.  I guess you would say that it's a more traditional type of circus.  I won't say old fashioned because there was some modern stuff thrown in as well.  I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

Other than that I haven't any new news to tell this time.  If you would like to help me to sponsor other activities and needs, or to help with my support please click the donations link at the right side of the blog for LinK 127 to donate on line.  You can also mail a donation to the address below or you can send an e-transfer to blairslife1@gmail.com.  Please specify that your donation is for me and where you would like me to direct your gift.  You can also arrange monthly sponsorship through LinK 127.  Canadian donations are tax deductible (but not those by e-transfer) and every dollar counts towards showing love to those who really need to see love in action.

I really appreciate your continued prayers and support.  In the next few months I'm going to have to make some very hard decisions about my life "on the road."  I'll talk more about that another time.  Thank you for seeing my heart.  Till next time… Я люблю тебя!

LinK 127

833 Canaan Mountain Road
Kentville, NS
Canada B4N 4K1

The lady clown made me think of Olive Oyl

Dancing horses

You can't tell by the picture, I had no idea sea lions are so huge

Ira T and a bunch of happy folks

Boorie Ooglie

A couple of blog entries ago I mentioned 8 year old Maxim who we visited in the hospital when he was waiting for surgery to correct his lazy eye.  Since our last visit he had his surgery but unfortunately it wasn't successful.  As this was the second attempt to correct his vision there will be no further attempts.  He is now back at the orphanage.  As the government has branded him disabled with mild developmental delays he will not get a regular education and he will spend his life in institutions, possibly ending up at Boorie Ooglie when he gets older.  Needless to say I'm bummed out about that.  He is such a bright and sweet kid.  Maxim's only chance in life now is to be adopted into a family that will make sure he gets a good education.  This is one of those times I feel so helpless...sigh.

Other than that, this past week I went to help pick pears with Yura and Seroge and then deliver them to the folks at Boorie Ooglie.  As I have also mentioned in previous entries about the slop the residents normally get to eat, the pears were a very welcome treat.  I'll let some of the photos speak for themselves.  I was bummed out again when some of the residents couldn't have any because they had no teeth to chew them.  Then in one section, I guess you call her the ward attendant refused to let us give them out in her section because the doctor didn't authorize it.  Like REALLY  why would healthy fruit have to be authorized by a doctor?!?  It's not like these folks were waiting for or had surgery recently.  And yet this past winter I was giving out candy in that section...maybe she wasn't working at the time I was there.

So that's basically what I have been up to lately.  Tonight I'm going with a group of the more able bodied from Boorie Ooglie to the circus so that should be a good time.  It's always so good to see them get out of that place even for just a few hours.

I also still want to raise money to sponsor some more picnics for them this summer.  If you would like to help me to do that, to help me with other activities, or to help with my support please click the donations link at the right side of the blog for LinK 127 to donate on line.  You can also mail a donation to the new address below or send an e-transfer to blairslife1@gmail.com.  Please remember to specify that your donation is for me and where you may want me to direct your gift.  You can also arrange monthly donations through LinK 127.  Canadian donations are tax deductible (but not those by e-transfer) and every dollar counts towards showing love to those who really need to see it.

Again, 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 

Yura & Seroge in the pear tree

Yura & I passing them out at Boorie Ooglie

A welcome treat

Yura & Tolya mugging it up

The Kids Rehab Centre

Compared to the 1st few weeks here this past week and a half has been fairly quiet.  The Shelter Plus programmes are now finished until October and I have mostly been playing catch up with a bunch of stuff.  Then I twisted my knee on the way home from church Sunday and spent a couple of days with my leg up.  So I'm not getting around a lot yet but it's getting better each day.  I got to go with Lena T. to her Saturday programme at the kids rehab centre where we had a Bible lesson, craft time, snacks and quality time with the kids.

To refresh your memories, the kids rehab centre (which is also known as the boys rehab centre, even though they also have girls now) is for kids who have a parent(s) with alcohol or drug problems which ends up in the kids having a horrible home life.  The kids are brought to the centre by the state for a 9 month programme where they are given support counselling and are shown a loving environment to help build them up as individuals.  Right now there are around 40 kids there, almost double from last summer.  With the exception of 1 or 2 it is a whole new group of kids.  The director told me that all of them will not be going back to their families.  They will be transferred to orphanages with the exception of 5 boys who will be put into foster families.  So needless to say they need to see as much love as possible after the things they have gone through.  Every one of these kids are amazing and they get so excited when they see Lena come through the gates.

As I mentioned in a previous blog entry I wanted to take these kids to McDonald's.  In North America we take for granted that we can go there whenever we want.  The kids here can only dream of this as they just simply do not have the means to do it and it is a HUGE deal to them and McJoyful Christmas is still a few months away.  Well, today was the day we went and what a fun day it was.  The manager at the multiplex theatre gives the kids free admission to the movies, so we combined things and made it a McDonald's and movie day as McDonald's is just downstairs from the theatre.

I can't say enough how much I appreciate the McDonald's restaurants in Ukraine.  It's not that I've had bad experiences at McDonald's in North America, it's just that after seeing the staff in action at different restaurants with various groups over the last 2 years, the level of professionalism seems to be so much higher here in Ukraine.  The employees are so quick, efficient and have always treated us so well, thinking of little details that I always forget - like getting 40 plus balloons ready in a hurry and handing them out without even being asked.  Now, if they would just bring A&W to Ukraine so I can have a Papa burger with cheese, onion rings, a frosty mug of root beer...oh...sorry...I'm digressing.

I want to give a big THANK YOU to those of you who gave me donations while I was in Canada that enabled me to pull this off.  The rehab director said that the kids will remember this for a long time.  I'll let the photos speak for themselves.  As the kids are going to camp this weekend, and since I came in under budget, I was also able to sponsor some much needed sandals and swimsuits for the kids.

I am also still wanting to raise money to sponsor more picnics for the folks at Boorie Ooglie disabled home this summer.  I want them to get out of that place as often as possible and get some decent meals.  If you would like to help me do that or to help with other activities please click the donations link at the right side of the blog for LinK 127 to donate on line.  You can also mail a donation to the new address below or send an e-transfer to blairslife1@gmail.com.  Please remember to specify that your donation is for me and where you may want me to direct your gift.  You can also arrange monthly donations through LinK 127.  Canadian donations are tax deductible (but not those by e-transfer) and every dollar counts towards showing love to those who really need to see it.

Again, 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

Lena T's Saturday programme

Lena D. brought some of her home made goodies

He wanted me to make him some glasses

McDonald's and movie day

We saw Monsters University in 3D

L-R:  Igor, Lena T., Lena's niece Nastya and a very happy Rehab director

Catching My Breath

It's been a busy couple of weeks and I finally have time to sit down to write this update and to catch my breath.  In this past 2 weeks I helped out a few days at the Shelter Plus Centre with some day camps as well as going to a team building session this past weekend for Shelter Plus' volunteers.

I have also been visiting a little friend Maxim in the hospital.  Max is 8 years old and is one of the kids I visited in the former Sunshine Orphanage.  He has a lazy eye and needs corrective surgery for it.  He was transferred to another orphanage when Sunshine was closed and his new orphanage quickly made arrangements for him to get his surgery which will hopefully be this week.  Natalie brought him a bag full of toys and crafts and I brought him some groceries and treats and we spent some quality time with him.  In the hospitals here if friends or family don't bring food to patients they only get a "Boorie Ooglie" meal.  Although, Max is liked by the hospital staff and when I was there last a nurse had brought him some berries and homemade pastries.

I was not able to get back to the baby hospital for a visit as they have issued a month long quarantine and no visitors are allowed.  Instead, I was able to tag along with our Australian friend Gilli-Anne on a visit to the baby orphanage to spend quality time with some of the kids there.

In my last update I mentioned some activities that I want to raise funds for.  Well, hallelujah things have moved fast.  I had mentioned that I was sponsoring 1 picnic for the Boorie Ooglie folks and since then Gilli-Anne pitched in for 2 picnics as well as for the repairs of the pipes at the Rehab Centre.  Once the workers here get money in hand they move fast and this past week we had those 3 picnics.  It is always so good to see the residents enjoy some decent meals and a day of relaxation and swimming in the park.  Our coordinator here, Ira T., is so grateful to everyone who pitched in.  To those in Canada and Australia who donated, thank you soooo much.

As it is still the beginning of summer, Ira mentioned that they would like to have more picnics for the Boorie Ooglie folks over the summer.  Believe me, I would like to get the residents out of that place as often as I can so that they can get as many decent meals as possible and enjoy some pleasant surroundings.  Ira said that to hold one picnic it costs $450 (US) or a block of 4 days of picnics costs $1000 (US).  Would you like to help to improve the quality of life for these wonderful folks and give them some dignity they deserve so much?

So that's the nutshell version of my activities this past 2 weeks.  Added to the excitement was the earthquake and the strange weather.  Oh yeah...the earthquake...one night after midnight we had a 4.6 quake, which rarely happens in Krivoy Rog.  It lasted literally for 2 seconds shaking my bed enough to wake me up and it rattled the closet doors.  My 1st reaction was that someone had broken into the apartment but when I saw that everything was still secure I thought that maybe it was a mine explosion as Krivoy Rog is full of collieries.  After checking the news the next morning I realized then what had happened.  As for the strange weather - while we were away on the weekend we had a big thunder and lightening storm with heavy rain at the park and there were stories of hail the size of golf balls in town.  When I came back home I saw that there were a lot of leaves down in the neighbourhood and then I looked out my window and saw broken glass and building tiles all over the back yard.  I checked the news and not only were there pictures of golf ball sized hail someone had also posted video of a small twister.  So needless to say life has been VERY interesting here.  It makes me wonder what's in store next.

If you would like to help me to sponsor more picnics and other activities or to help with my ongoing support please click the donations link at the right side of the blog for LinK 127 to donate on line.  You can also mail a donation to the address below or send an e-transfer to blairslife1@gmail.com.  Please remember to specify that your donation is for me and where you may want me to direct your gift.  You can also arrange monthly donations through LinK 127.  Canadian donations are tax deductible (but not those by e-transfer) and every dollar counts towards showing love to those who really need to see it.

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

LinK 127

34 Wynn Castle Dr.

Lwr. Sackville, NS

Canada B4E 2H5

One of the activities at the Shelter Plus day camp

Team building session for Shelter Plus volunteers

Max inspecting the goodies

Bubbles are always a hit at the baby orphanage

One of the picnics for Boorie Ooglie folks

On this day it was 40 degrees.  It was a great day to be at the river.

Back on the Road

I've now been back in Ukraine for just over a week.  All of the travelling from Canada went well, except for some night owls on the train and the lack of sleep that went with it.  So after being awake for nearly 3 days I wasn't able to adapt to the time change very well this trip.  The 1st Saturday was a complete blur.  Other than that the flights were perfect and no lost luggage.  I'm so glad to be back home in Krivoy Rog where the weather is actually summer.  I felt so mouldy with the cold and wet spring that Halifax has had this year.

This past week I kept busy with making plans as well as moving and settling in at a new apartment.  I'm house-sitting for some friends while they go away for the summer.  I also got a visit in at the baby hospital in the section where the abandoned babies are taken.  They are taken there for a health check before being transferred to an orphanage.  Babies that are already in an orphanage are also brought to this section when they get sick.

I was also able to spend some time with the folks from Boorie Ooglie disabled home a couple of days this week and on another day I helped with my friend Igor at a day camp at the Shelter Plus church.  While I was at the day camp there was a delivery of cherries being made to Boorie Ooglie that I was able to sponsor.  The diet that the home provides for the residents is...well...absolutely disgusting.  They just get slop to eat with some bread.  So needless to say the cherries and any other treat they might get from visitors is a complete luxury.  This is a big part of the reason I want to sponsor some picnics this summer.  On these picnics they would be given 2 or 3 decent meals as well as a day away from the institution at a beautiful park setting.  I'm still raising money for these picnics and I have already said that I will sponsor one picnic even though funds are limited right now.  I want to sponsor 4 picnics so that different groups from the home will be able to go.

I also met with the Director of the Children's Rehab Centre this week and said that I will take the kids to McDonald's.  Just like I did last summer we will make it a Movie and McDonald's day.  (The manager at the Multiplex gives the kids free movie tickets and McDonald's is just downstairs from the theatre.)  The director also mentioned that they have a need to repair the water pipes that go into the building and asked if I could help with that.  It is only a cost of $250; small to most folks in North America but a big deal here.  In Ukraine institutions get very little if any money from government, yet the government holds them to strict requirements for their buildings and they have to come up with their own funding.

If you would like to help me to sponsor these and other activities or to help with my ongoing support please click the donations link at the right side of the blog for LinK 127 to donate on line.  You can also mail a donation to the address below.  Please remember to specify that your donation is for me and where you may want me to direct your gift.  You can also arrange monthly donations.  I will also accept e-transfers at blairslife1@gmail.com.  Canadian donations are tax deductible (but not those by e-transfer) and every dollar counts towards showing love to those who really need to see it.

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

Happy Father's Day to all of the Dads!!

LinK 127

34 Wynn Castle Dr.
Lwr. Sackville, NS
Canada B4E 2H5

At the baby hospital

Shelter Plus day camp.  I helped at the archery booth.

It almost looks like I know what I'm doing.

Yura unloading the cherries for Boorie Ooglie

Yura and Lena passing them out in the cage.  The cage is another reason I want to get the folks to a park setting for a day.

Without the cherries this is the meal that they serve at Boorie Ooglie - slop with a squirt of ketchup and bread.

This is from a picnic sponsored by Loads of Love and the kind of picnic that I would like to sponsor 4 of.  Now doesn't that food look much better...and without the cage?