Report #28, Nov 6

Last report 28 for Nov 6th 08.

We were up in good time as we had to go to Lopartin which is well over an
hour away. There was a great need for shoes in this orphanage of 134
children from 6 to 18. Flo had sent 3 boxes of runners and dress shoes over
and so we were taking these out there with supplies as well. This means a
visit to a wholesale distributor close to our apartment. I wish you could
see the place. It reminds me of a picture out of Charles Dickens era, in an
old English city. I suppose the buildings were once a Russian built
factory, tall cold and in need of repair and windows. There seems to be
every type of business being carried out there from heavy metal sheeting to
light bulb storage, what a place. We get the cleaning supplies and then go
up two long staircases to pay for them. Nothing is easy in these places but
is cheaper than a supermarket.

We get some soap and shampoo and head off with two extra guests, Tania
Ruslans wife and Stacia Flo's niece. We have royal greeting from the
children who recognize us from previous visits. What a change to this
facility. The Government has built them a lovely new dormitory building and
attached it to the school, complete with new washroom facilities. This is
the school that we visited many years ago that had over 120 children and one
bath tub. Christians in North America built them a shower house and flush
toilets that are still in use.

We gathered the children in the Assistant Administrators office and brought
the children in one class at a time. The ladies fitted them with shoes but
we were still short 40 pairs of large ones for the bigger kids. Flo will get
them from the market. They then gathered in the auditorium and Pastor Pratt
brought the message first on the story of David and Goliath. Deacon Stanley
then closed with a message on the gift that Jesus wants them all to have. We
gave out some candy and book marks from Tacoma WA, with a gospel message on
them. They were well received. What was really great to hear was the whole
school recite John 3:16. We then had a lunch in the office and headed back
home.

After supper it is time to pack once again, ready to leave for Canada.

I trust these ramblings have been of interest to some and will help you to
know how to pray for this part of the Ukraine. We will be happy to show
pictures and speak of the work more fully if we are in your area and you
would like that.

Your brothers in the service of the Best of Masters.

Malcolm and Howard.

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.

Report #26, Nov 4

Report 26 for Tuesday Nov 4th

Another day of thick fog but not too cold, just damp.

We had planned to go and see a family that was new to me but Howard had
visited several times in the past. The wife Maria, was a nurse with Tania,
Ruslan's wife. We had to travel about an hour and the traffic was terrible
today for some reason. Driving in Ukraine has to be experienced to be
understood. Well we were in the middle of nowhere when Ruslan turned into
this narrow lane with high sandy sides on it, down into this little
community of about 4 houses that looked as if they all touched. They all
seemed to have a little farm yard of their own with ducks and chickens all
over the place. The house where Maria and her husband Uri lived was the last
house. It was Uri's mother's house and did not look at all inviting from the
outside; however, once we got inside it was very neat and clean with plenty
of carpets on the floor and walls.

It was not long before their 10 or 11 year old daughter Bojana (or something
like that) came in, after walking the 2 kilometers home from school. This
home had a very sad experience a few years ago, when their son was killed on
the road near their home. Flo says it took a long time for them to get over
the grieving process. The fact that they are not Christians yet, didn't
help, I suppose.

We visited and then Maria set the table and brought out the chicken soup,
perogies, and a plate of fried ham and sausage. After this there was tea or
coffee and a huge plate of home made cakes. Uri works at a meat processing
plant as a plant engineer. After dinner we got into a good conversation with
the gospel and also explained a 2-roads chart. They all listened very well
and made good comments. We can only hope that the Light of the gospel will
shine into their hearts.

We left for home loaded with poppy-seed cake and a jug of milk and with many
hugs and kisses. (A Ukrainian tradition, you understand???)

We came home and prepared for meeting tonight and then flaked out for an
hour (after preparing of course). We had a nice number come for our last
meeting here and felt the Lord's blessing on the messages.

Lord willing we are heading out again tomorrow,

Love to all.
Malcolm and Howard.

Report #25, Nov 3

Report 25 for Monday Nov. 3 08

When we got up today we could not see the ground from our 4th floor flat
because of thick fog. I should have mentioned that there is still no heat in
any of the apartment blocks, the city has not turned on the heat. It comes
from a central heating plant and it strictly under the control of the city.
Thankfully we do have hot water. We don't know how this works as the water
is heated by the same central city plant, there must be two pipes.
Complicated ex-Russian technology!!!

We were going to visit a mentally challenged boys orphanage named Stari
Rosdil (?spelling). I had been there possibly 3 years ago and remembered it
was an old monastery. When we pulled on to the yard we found it all dug up
as they were putting in new heating pipes. Ruslan called me to see something
and I was shocked to see a sack of human bones as well as others lying on
the pile of dirt and laying in the trench. We talked with the director who
said they had no record of the area ever being a cemetery but as the
monastery had operated until 1685, it was anybodies guess whose bones they
were. Quite weird.!! We gave the director the laundry supplies, pampers for
the bedridden boys as well as a roll of rubber sheeting for the beds, two
soccer balls and a volley ball.

We went to the Vernasage outdoor market for Howard to shop for a couple of
gifts and headed home for a late lunch. 10 boxes had arrived from Canada and
so Flo and her niece Stacia began emptying them and sorting them while I
write this report and stay out of the way!

All for now, not too many more as we head home on Friday.
In Him.

Malcolm and Howard.

Report #24, Nov 2

Report 24 for Sunday Nov 2

We woke to another nice day and stayed home and prepared for the meeting at
Noon. We were very happy to see a full room of 18 people. We were happy to
see a lady Natalia, with her 2 boys. As far as we know she is not saved but
very interested. Her husband deserted her and left her with 2 little boys.
She is a teacher and lives in a village. She is very poor as her husband
stripped the apartment when he left. Just another one of the local heroes!!!

After we had had lunch we headed out to visit a gypsy village about an hour
away. I had seen pictures of this group before but was not prepared for what
I saw in reality. They live on an abandoned collective farm, in one of the
animal or machinery barns. They have electricity but no water or sewer.
There were 12 families but about 40 or so people. There usually more but
some had moved for the winter. They all seemed very happy to see us,
probably because they knew we had produce for them. There were at least two
women with babies and many young children and teenagers. One of the young
women, who looked no more than 20, asked me to pray for her 7 day old baby
she was holding, which I did. I don't think it was sick, it was just that
she wanted her baby prayed for. This was her seventh child?? I was asked to
speak to them before we gave them their produce and I told them how Jesus
moved among people just like them, who the people did not like and how he
loved them enough to die for them. They listened solemnly and seemed to
understand the message. None of the children and probably none of the adults
have been to school and so cannot read. How sad to see these unwanted people
who Christ died for. After many pictures we left them with the food,
distributed to each family. The clothing was left with a Christian man who
met us there and gave out the clothing as needed after we left.

We drove back in the dark, past horses and carts with no lights or
reflectors, the same with cyclists. We had to brake hard to miss a drunken
man crossing a dark road in the country. It is little wonder there are so
many memorial crosses and flowers all along these roads.

We felt this was a profitable day and went to bed "weary but glad".

In Him

Malcolm and Howard.

Report #22, Oct 31

Report 22 Friday Oct 31

Another lovely warm day as we headed out at 8am for breakfast. I'll vouch
you have never had this for breakfast; mashed potatoes and rabbit stew with
mushroom gravy?? How come, you say? A "sister" who comes to the meeting
regularly, we think she is saved, always invites us to her humble (to say
the least) cottage for rabbit stew. Without a doubt it is one of the
tastiest meals we have. She raises the rabbits and kills them herself. She
had prepared it for the night before but we were too full and too tired to
go after the lunch with the meeting folks, so she said come to breakfast, so
we did.

We had some last minute visiting to do as well as get some money from the
debit machines.( for those wondering if I was able to get my account
corrected- yes the money was back into my a/c the next day.) Poor Howard
went to the bank machine inside the bank he has always gone to and it
declined his card. No explanation just declined. So of we walk to find a
different bank and he tried it and got twice what he had asked for the first
time. These banks are weird over here; you are never sure whether you will
get what you ask for.

We went to visit Dana and Ivan in their apartment. Ivan is home again and
was out to meeting since being away at an alcohol treatment centre. We asked
how they were doing and the sad story goes on and on about there disabled
and sick family. Help had been given them to clear off a bank debt for
hospital treatment for one son and he has been back in again for surgery.
They have not been able to pay their gas bill and now owe 7,000R or about
over $1,500.00. They never seem to be able to get ahead. We also looked and
took pictures of their bathroom, toilet and kitchen and it is serious need
of repair, but who has money for that? What is so sad is that most of their
problem stems from the Chernobyl nuclear accident and the fact Ivan was sent
to clean it up with no protection from radiation.

We then took some running shoes to the Half Way House orphanage and gave
them out to the children. We had a nice opportunity to speak to them and the
staff. This is a very difficult home to work in and the lady administrator
spent some time with us telling us of some of the cases she has and has had.
We saw a good looking girl come in late to the meeting who the police had
taken off the street and a group of pimps. She didn't want to be there and
the pimps had already threatened the administrator and her young son. What a
sad life some of these children have lived. One boy was so dirty, he had
lost all his hair and his scalp was full of lice holes. When they began to
apply a special ointment the lice would come out and die. She said that they
got him a good home and he is now a smart, good looking business man.

We went home to get ready for our last meeting and were glad to see the
Meeting Room filled again. Lots of hugs and good byes, plus more bread and
gifts; these people give out of their poverty. We talked about them
continuing the meetings at least once a month and they agreed that they
would do that and that Vadym would head up the meeting with either help from
me or from a good commentary. We can only pray they will do this. We spent
the evening with Vadym and Sveta, sorting out expenses and going for out
last pizza meal.
All for now,
Malcolm and Howard

Report #21, Oct 30

Report 21 Thursday Oct. 30

We did not get up too swiftly this morning, even though we expected Vadym
between 8:30 and 9am as we were going a long way to an orphanage new to us.
To our utter amazement, Vadym arrived at 8:25 and we weren't ready. Shame on
us!!

We were on our way by 8:40 and what a trip. Right in to the Carpathian
Mountains, past ski resorts and through little villages perched on hill tops
and in valleys. As we got closer to our destination we began to see some of
the devastation the floods of last July had caused. Mile after mile of road
repair; where the side of the road had been washed away. Some of the most
modern equipment we have ever seen in Ukraine was being used to replace
large bridges that had been washed away.

We eventually arrived at Verkhovina and found the school. We found it was
more than an orphanage; it was also a boarding school for children who lived
too far into the mountains to go to school daily so boarded here. We met
with the Administrator, Oxana. She told that she had orphans and half
orphans as well as children from "normal" families that were far from
normal, some with large numbers of children who were not looked after at all
well. There were 405 or so children in the school. The school was 50 years
old and the building in very bad need of repair. It was massive but was
heated by wood boilers as the gas had never been brought in, even though it
was just over the hill not far away. The children were all away for mid term
break so we didn't meet any of them but left what bibles we had with Oxana.

The military were using one of the dormitories and the grounds as they were
helping with the repairs to the roads and infrastructure in the area. They
had two big tents on the grounds with a portable wood fired kitchen, for
cooking food. All the latest technology!!

We were given a tour of the dormitories as well, and these were in a state
of repair but the beds and bedding were terrible. The mattresses were
stained and thin on old sagging beds, 25-30 in a room. We are going to send
them sheets but there is a great need for beds and mattresses and we should
really help with this when we can. Howard and I were so impressed with the
area and the number of schools that we passed on the way up, that we would
like to spend some time up in that area if we ever come back. Oxana was
particularly interested in us coming back again. We returned a different way
and came through even more devastation from the raging river.

We arrived in time for meeting and had a full house again. After the meeting
we had a little lunch for everyone as a going away party, even though they
want another meeting tomorrow evening. We felt the day was well spent in
spite of the long trip and no children, the contact was profitable. All for
now.
God bless. Malcolm and Howard.

Report #20, Oct 29

Report 20 Wednesday 29 Oct.

We were greeted by another sunny morning and quite a bit warmer when we went
outside. One of the things we have seen several times through our window is
the garbage truck, or should I say tractor and cart!! That right, complete
with a lady in the wagon treading the bags of garbage down. By the time it
reaches our house it is piled high on the wagon. There are no garbage bins
on this street so the garbage is just thrown on the curb.

Well we wanted to start earlier this morning but got out of town about 9:30
-10am We had a long trip to a new "orphanage" so we thought. After reaching
the mountains with most spectacular views, we started on this terrible road
to find this "orphanage". We should have walked the last part of the road,
as it had obviously been washed out by the raging water that caused all the
floods this summer. What we found was a gorgeous building sitting on the
edge of the forest and absolutely no one home?? Vadym phoned the man who was
the contact person and he was in the village below and said he would get
someone to bring him up. After about 15 minutes this poor old car brought
him and his wife up the hill. The man, whose name we have forgotten, was a
delightful man who was the manager of what we found to be, a camp for
underprivileged children that runs all summer and for week ends in the fall
and winter. We were given a tour of what could well rate as a 5 star resort
building. It had been a Pioneer Camp in Communist times and had then been
left to decay. When the present group took it over it did not even have a
roof. It is now 3 stories with a full basement. Everything is made of wood
and is perfect, not one thing not finished or of good quality. We found out
that it has been a joint venture of many organizations and sponsors. We
quizzed him as to the religious affiliation and it is not meant to promote
any particular religion. Groups of children are brought to camp by their own
staff and can engage in whatever is for the good of the children in their
care. The reason we had been asked to visit is the problem they are facing
with their gas stoves. They have got two but have been told that the law
says that an institution cannot have gas stoves, they must use electric
ones. There are coming any day to plug the gas line to the stoves. Well we
could not see buying a commercial cooker but told him that we did have
someone who we were buying a gas stove for and may be we could have one of
his (one was brand new) and get him an electric one. He felt it would be
good but had to get the permission of the Administration, so we will see. He
was thrilled to receive a bundle of John 3:16's as well as some bundles of
New Testaments. He said we would be welcome any time to come and speak or
even spend time there. We will have to see.

We got home in time to pick up two ladies and go to see the boy who was
burned and is in hospital. We were very impressed with the hospital, built
for Ukraine by Germany and very modern. We found the 15 year old with burns
to all his chest and two arms and one hand. He was burning trash at the
service station where he works part time and had spilt gasoline on the front
of his sweater, some time earlier and it ignited, sticking his muscle shirt
to his body. Thankfully, none of his face was burned. He seemed quite
depressed. He has no money, his father is mentally unable to provide since
returning from the war in Afghanistan and his mother cannot provide, We were
able to speak a word in the gospel and we left him reading the tracts and we
also left help for his medical costs.

We took a break with Vadym while he changed the fuel pump on his car and we
can now run on petrol as well as propane. We went home for a nap before
going out for a visit and supper and Oleg and Ola's, our old friends from
Solidarity. We had a good visit and came home ready for bed.

Good night and God bless.

Malcolm and Howard.