Back in Canada...Again

I got back to Canada a week ago.  The travel went very smoothly, except with extremely poor wi-fi service in Zurich and Newark as well as a customs issue in Kyiv.  I guess the Ukraine government is really being picky about things since the revolution got worse.  I hope that things will be settled and that I will be able get back into Ukraine in the summer.

I haven't been able to do a whole lot yet since I've been here as I've been spending quite a bit of time at the medical centre.  My sharp eyed niece spotted something wrong with my arm that had surgery.  For a while there was a concern it might be septic arthritis but it turned out to be a skin infection.  They think a screw worked loose in my elbow causing it.  That would coordinate with me struggling to carry my luggage through airports last week.  I did feel a twinge at one point.  So I've been going for an antibiotic iv everyday and that has led to some appointments with the orthopaedic department to see what the next plan of action is and whether or not I need yet another surgery.   So that threw the job hunting out the window...sigh.  But then it's not like I can get many jobs now any ways with limited use of one arm, a slight limp and not being very computer savvy.  I also have some transportation issues.  Don't get me started on the world's worst public transport system in Halifax (not an exaggeration) or I won't get stopped.

So at this point I don't have a plan of action for myself.  My future seems even more uncertain and I feel like a fish out of water here.  I really want to get back to life on the road and I need a lot of help to do that.  Before I left Krivoy Rog there was a bunch of kids in the orphanages who asked when I'll be coming back.  It kills me not being able to give an answer to those wonderful kids who have had so much of let down in their lives.  To me it also highlights the huge need for good male role models to be involved in their lives.  There are many women but very few men who come to visit regularly or who work in the homes.  I don't say that to diminish the great work of the women.  It's just that kids also need good men in their lives.

But not everything has been gloom and doom in my life lately.  I've been enjoying being with my great nephew and niece and reconnecting with my Canadian friends.  I've also been enjoying tasting maple syrup, fish and chips and A&W.  Now, to keep from getting fat again - oy!

While I'm in Canada I'll be in the Halifax area and I would be happy to come to your church or community group, or to come have coffee with you and your friends to share my experiences of life on the road.  Just drop me a line at blairslife1@gmail.com if you're interested.

If you would like to help me with fundraising ideas so that I can resume life on the road I would greatly appreciate that.  Or, if you feel led to contribute you can send a gift on line to LinK 127 by using the donations link at the right side of this blog or mail a gift to the address below.  You can also send an e-transfer to my email mentioned above.  Donations from Canada are tax deductible (but not those by e-transfer) and every dollar counts to making a difference in those who need to see love in action.  Please remember to specify that your gift is for me and mention how you might want me to use it.  Thank you so much for your consideration.

 LinK 127

833 Canaan Mountain Road

Kentville, NS

Canada B4N 4K1

Please continue to keep me in your prayers and please continue to pray for Ukraine.  Till next time...я люблю вас!!

The Revolution in Kyiv

I arrived on the early morning train in Kyiv and had a few hours to kill before I had to be at the airport.  Since I was only a few metro stops away from Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) I wanted to go check out things with the revolution.  Yes...many Ukrainians are using the revolution word to describe the protests here since people were killed.  

It was still dark when I left the Khreschatyk metro station at 6 AM and I was immediately hit with the smell of the many wood fires from the tent city...as well as a very strong wind in my face at minus 21C.  I was struck at how peaceful and yet how eerie this scene was before me.  It looked exactly like what we saw from the M*A*S*H 4077th on TV, the same kind of tents and everything.  I headed down the street towards the square.  My face and hands quickly got numb and I wanted to get out of the cold for a few minutes but nothing was open yet.  Since it was too dark to get good photos any ways I decided to head back to the train station where there is a 24 hour McDonald's to get a hot coffee and wait for daylight. 

 At McDonald's I met a young man who was also killing time.  He was waiting for his train to the Carpathians for a ski trip.  It turned out that he was from Krivoy Rog and we have a mutual friend, so we got to talking and comparing notes while I waited for the sun to come up.  When it was time to go back to the square he wanted to come along too and off we went. 

This time at the square the wind had now died down but it was still very cold.  It was surreal to walk through this very different world...right in the middle of downtown Kyiv.  I will try to let the photos speak for themselves.

Khreschatyk Street

As it was still early the stage was quiet.  The display on the stage is Orthodox religious pictures.

A sign accusing the Berkut police forces and Yanukovich.

One of the barricades

Since it was very quiet today and despite our friends' warnings we decided to go check out Hrushevskova Street where the worst fighting was and where people were killed.

The Maidan is a different world in downtown Kyiv, but this is yet a different kind of world - just a couple of blocks away.

A view of Ukraine House from Hrushevskova Street

Some of the recovered shrapnel from police weapons.  Former Prime Minister Azarov claimed the police were not using live ammo against the protestors.

Hitting The Road Again...sigh

Tonight I head for the train station leaving Krivoy Rog again and then to the airport tomorrow to leave for Canada.  (I'll probably already be enroute when most of you read this.)  This time it seems harder to leave than it has ever been before.  Harder because of so many uncertainties in the future - whether or not I'll be able to raise more support to continue life on the road,  wondering if things in Ukraine will get worse or not and what kind of country my Ukrainian family will have when I get back - even with the encouraging news from the Rada yesterday.  I really hate leaving especially at this time.  But, by faith I bought a return ticket for July.  Just in case you're wondering, I am not leaving because of the revolution.  My personal safety has never been an issue here.  My ticket was bought before things got really bad.  Please keep praying for Ukraine and the beautiful people here.

These past couple of weeks I have continued tagging along with the 2 Lenas visiting at some of the homes around town to spend quality time with the kids.  The kids are still excitedly talking about the opportunity they had to go to McDonald's for McJoyful Christmas.  On January 21st we had the last McJoyful on the road delivery to another children's TB hospital and to the men's home at Boorie Ooglie for those that can't get to McDonald's.  In all more than 3500 were part of McJoyful this year - 2500 in Krivoy Rog alone.  I'll let some of the photos speak for themselves.

While I'm in Canada I'll be in the Halifax area and I would be happy to come visit your church, community club or to have coffee with you and your friends and share my experiences about my life on the road.  Just drop me a line at blairslife1@gmail.com if you are interested.  Please continue to keep me in your prayers.  Till next time...я дюбдю вас!!

Playing the mummy game

McJoyful on the road at the TB hospital...

...and at Boorie Ooglie

A common scene throughout Ukraine lately

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.