Report #27, Nov 5

Report 27 for Wednesday Nov 5th.

Howard wanted an early breakfast, so that he could go to Volodia's mother
Ola, who gives good haircuts. So forget about sleeping in a little later, it
was crepes at 8am. I was not going so stayed and when Ruslan arrived, we
headed out to get supplies for the orphanage in Yosopowich and also for the
ex- doctor who carves for a living and has 6 children. We also went to the
Bible Society and picked up some full bibles to be used in the meetings in
Ivano. People often have their own bibles but do not bring then to meeting.
Either because some come from work to meeting but others say they don't want
to get them dirty or wet???

After picking Howard up we headed for the highway once more. The traffic was
horrendous and we don't know why. It took us a good half hour to get clear
of the city.

The things that we see as we travel really do not seem to make sense at
times. New Mercedes vying with horses and carts; large transport trucks from
all over Europe weaving through herds of cattle and flocks of geese; a man
leading his cow out to the pasture talking on his cell phone. Large 3 story
new homes, built down a mud lane among squalid 130 year old cottages. So
much does not make sense.

We arrived at Yosopowich and were welcomed once again by the administrator
and staff. The children were taking their nap; it is so sweet to see them
all soundly sleeping in their clean neat little beds.
The administrator has said that if it were not for Flo and those from
Canada, the orphanage might well have been closed down as uninhabitable by
now. The Christians in Canada and the USA have sent funds to install all new
windows, repair the roof and ceiling, and install a complete new hot and
cold water system, plus a complete renovation of the wash room and bathroom.
Stainless steel sinks were also purchased for the kitchen. The facility also
houses a day care in the same building, under the same administrator, and is
having its washroom renovated as I write. The sad thing about this home is
that it is not supported by the government at all, not even paying for food.
It is "supported", for use of a better word, by the village of Yosopowich
but serves the surrounding area. Most of the staff are not paid but seem to
really love and care for the children.

We left there, after being served a hot lunch, and headed for the city of
Stri. This is where Mahilo and his wife and 6 children live in 2 rooms.
Don't ask us how they sleep the 2 teen age girls and 4 boys, one of which is
mentally challenged and mother and father. The rooms, one is the kitchen and
the other for everything else, has no running water or bathroom. The water
comes from a pump outside and there is an outhouse. No sink and no furnace
only a wood stove. The house is also infected with cockroaches, which cannot
be got rid of until the walls are repaired. Mahilo is 50 years old and can
not get a job in any medical facility because he is too old, so he does wood
carvings and sells them in the market, hopefully. Without a doubt, this is
one of the saddest homes we visit. He needs a different apartment but all he
makes goes on feeding the children and medication for his retarded son. His
situation is desperate but no one cares except those of us who visit him and
take some much needed food and clothing. We had a good opportunity to speak
to him and three of the children who were home about the fact that Jesus
cares about them all. They listened well and said that they read the New
Testament together each day.

We came home and Flo is spending time sorting out shoes to take out to
Lopartin orphanage tomorrow.

All for now, God bless you all for praying for the work here.

Malcolm and Howard.