Apr 30/09

A little update on Lopatin. I spoke to Gilles yesterday. As many already know he is in Lviv with Flo at this time and will return with her on June 5th. They visited the Lopatin orphanage yesterday. The children were given John 3:16 to memorize on one of the last visits there. Yesterday all the children were gathered in the auditorium. Ruslan asked some of the children if they remembered the verse and many of the kids were able to say it. The guys spoke to the kids and afterwards one of the boys asked if they could please have another verse to memorize! So Ruslan gave them John 14:6 for the next time. It is encouraging to know that the kids are enjoy learning verses. We don't know what will happen to these children as they get older but the Word of God will stay with them. It is too bad the orphanage is over an hour away from Lviv. If it was closer it would be easier to visit there as there are many older kids who would benefit from a regular contact with people who care.
I'll try to add to the blog as I learn what is going on in Ukraine. The phone lines to our apartment were changed and now don't work at all! Flo's phone cannot call out of the country for some reason so communication is becoming more difficult.

Report #18

Report # 18 for Tuesday April 15, 2009

We had a long day planned to go to Lopartin Internat (Orphanage).We have had a lot to do with this orphanage for many years. You may remember that we financed a shower room for the 120 children, as they only had one tub and no shower.

We waited for Timothy and Rhoda Sloan to arrive, with another Irish brother Edmund Johnson, who is visiting Lutsk for a week. Also Jeanette and Anatoli came along as well. We had planned to all go in our vehicle but we discovered that Edmund suffers from car sickness and so we decided to take the two vehicles, just in case they had to stop suddenly. Thankfully, Edmund traveled without incident.

Our first visit, of course, was to the grocery store to get some supplies. Timothy and their group decided to buy the children a treat, so they bought 120 bags of corn puffs. You should have seen the load. One cart piled high and three people carrying large plastic bags. Well Flo was not too long and we got on our way. It was a lovely drive through the country for about the hour and a half.

We drove round the back of the nice new living accommodation the government built, but to our surprise, no children greeted us, as at other times. There was not a child on the premises! They had managed to find them all homes for the Easter season and they had all gone!

Usually, we will phone ahead but the phone number had been changed as well as a new administrator so Flo had no number to phone. I will say that we have been there numerous times and the children are always there, but not this time.

Well we gave what product we had brought as well as the corn puffs to the assistant administrator and headed home. We would have stopped at some school on the way home but we had no New Testaments with us.

When we got to Lviv, Timothy took his van load to see the centre of Lviv, while Flo got a 5-Star roast beef dinner ready. We ate at 5-30 and then got ready for meeting at 7pm.

A good number arrived, 18 in all and Timothy and Edmund spoke to us all.

We all felt very frustrated about the wasted trip but at least we all had a tour of the orphanage and met some of the staff.

The visitors left after a snack to head back to Lutsk, one and a half hours away.

One more report and that will be it for this trip.

Good night and God bless you all.

Malcolm and Louis.

Report #17

Report 17 Monday April 13, 2009

It is a very wet and cold morning but it is not raining. As we were having breakfast we got a phone call to say that Meest would be delivering 30 boxes at 10 am !

Panic stations to try and make room! The walls were lined with boxes already but with a lot of juggling and stacking, we were ready when the two men sweated to bring then all in.

Tomorrow is meeting night and we are expecting Timothy and Rhoda Sloan and a visiting brother from Ireland. If the usual number comes to meeting we will have to sit some people up on the boxes. Either that or sit knocking knees together.

Well after “shopping” for some supplies we eventually got away to visit our favourite orphanage in Yosopowich and also see the Doctor Michaelo in Stri. On the way to the orphanage we were amazed at the flooded fields and swollen rivers and streams, just from the 24 hours of rain. It will be days before they get on the fields again.

We had supplies for Yosopowich and they were very thankful. As this is not a Government home, it is only supported from the little village and humanitarian aid. We were told that the pump in the well had quit and needed replacing, so there was no water, also the drain from the kitchen was plugged and broken and they had the fire department “blow” it out and the water came up through the ground, At least that’s what the lady told us. They need help and so we bough a new pump, one of the best in the store for $35 Cdn. With a one year guarantee.

We are getting a price to replace the drain pipe as the water from the kitchen is now running on the surface towards the well, not too healthy we thought.

We then visited our doctor come wood carver and his wife and 6 children, 3 girls and 3 boys, all living in 2 rooms with no tub or indoor toilet. One of the boys is mentally and physically handicapped. I don’t think anyone reading this letter can imagine the conditions. There is no door or curtain between the two rooms and 2 of the girls and 1 of the boys are teens. The place is infested with cockroaches, not because it is dirty but they are in the walls. The wall separating their rooms and the next apartment is wet because water is either coming up or through the wall. Mould is starting.

The father was a GP but resigned because he would not double bill the poor patients which is what most of the doctors do. He is an accomplished wood carver and tries to make a living with these lovely nature carvings. He would love to renovate the rooms but cannot afford to do so on what he makes.

We had a very good opportunity to talk to the whole family about not needing anyone to pray to God for us, but that we could go straight to God through the Lord Jesus. The mother is very religious, as she has been at church a couple of times when we went. I think she understood a little more by the time we had each spoken and Misha had read several scriptures to her. Michaelo said he reads the New Testament to the family every day and later told us he was a believer. We really hope this is true.

We came home and Flo made us hamburgers and soup which put up her rating to a 5+ star eatery. Eat your heart out McDonalds!

Flo is now trying to sort out some of the boxes that came today and get them out of the way for the meeting tomorrow.

All for now, our time will soon be over for this trip.

In Him.

Malcolm and Louis

Report #16

Report # 16 Sunday April 12

We were up rather early as we had to pack and leave for Lviv today. It was raining hard and in fact rained all the way to Lviv, very dreary.

We arrived in good time for the meeting at 12 Noon and had time to have a sandwich before the people started arriving. Vadym had intended to stay for the meeting but his wife phoned on our way to Lviv and said that she had taken Amelia to the hospital with a high temp and constantly crying with her sore mouth. We think she has what we call Thrush, but they only have a medical name for it. He had a drink and sandwich and headed right back. We really appreciated our time with him for the past two weeks.

Some of the people who usually come to meeting were absent because of sickness or work out of town but their were still 13 of us. I and Louis spoke and then we sang some hymns while Flo got the homemade pizza warmed up. She has regained her 5 Star Rating as the pizza was lovely.

We had a long talk with Misha who has been keeping the meetings going before Flo came back and even now when we are not here. He has agreed to go up to Ivano Frankivsk while we are absent and take a meeting. We suggested alternate weeks and he is willing to do that. He is presently out of work and feels that God would not have him go back to work but rather work among the new Christians as well as preach the gospel.

Louis and I are prepared to send him some fellowship and he is very willing to do the work. He will go to Ivano on other days than the meeting in Lviv.

We planed to go to the Carpathian mountains tomorrow but on checking, we found they have had torrential rain again and the roads would be too bad, so we have made other plans for tomorrow.

God bless.

Louis and Malcolm.

Report #15 from Ivano

Cloudy again today but a cold wind blowing, not very nice for those who are putting in gardens.

Things did not get going until noon today as Vadym’s baby Amelia has an infection of some sort in her mouth and Sveta her mother, had a dentist appointment and so Vadym had to take Amelia to the doctor. “Won’t be long, the doctor is waiting!” I don’t know what he was waiting for but they were away an hour and a half or more. Nothing goes easily here. The doctor prescribed some medication that is bright blue and stains everything. Amelia looks as if she has been “beaten blue and blue”, she obviously fights when they paint her mouth.

Well we headed out at about 1PM, as we had some last minute calls to make and some shopping to do for the test strips for Louis’ blood sugar tester he was to give away. After numerous visits to Aptieka’s (Drug Stores) there were none to be found in Ivano. We are hoping there may be some in Lviv or else off the internet.

We returned some items and bought others and then were feeling a little hungry at about 2:30 so went for pizza before going to visit in the hospital.

The man we went to visit had fallen down his apartment stairs and had a concussion and a badly injured ear. Well the old hospital was something to behold once again. The ward reminded me of the one I was in 1944 in England, except mine did not have plaster falling off the walls and I think the beds were not too bad. I wonder how people ever get better with such depressing conditions.

Any way, excuse the diversion but it is so depressing to see. The young man (we can’t remember his name) is the husband of Lesia a young lady who is saved and has come to the meetings since we first came to Ivano. She has a speech impediment and walks with a limp. If I am correct, I believe she was either dropped of was thrown down when only a little girl. She married the young man we were visiting who was raised in an orphanage as I believe she was too. He is not educated and so does not have regular work and was out of work before his accident. They now have a lovely baby boy of about a year old or less. Things are so tough for these types of people with no trade and no help from government available. We helped as much as we can with any medication he may need and some financial help for daily living. Just to put things in perspective, Lesia was at most of our meetings, either with the baby or alone. We saw her standing outside after one of the meetings and asked if she had the fare to get home she didn’t have any money and had walked to the meeting. The fare is at least 2 Rhivney. There are 6 R to the Canadian Dollar! Poverty or not?

We left there and headed home to settle up our finances etc. before leaving for Lviv in the morning, hoping to be there for 12 noon and the meeting.

This will be all from Ivano Frankivsk at this time. I will keep you informed of happenings in Lviv.

Good night and God bless.

Malcolm and Louis.

Report #14 from Ivano

The day started rather cloudy but turned out rather hot although by evening it was raining quite heavily. The rain was needed as there has been none since the snow left.

We had some last minute visiting to do before we leave. The first was a lady we had visited in hospital. Her name is Maria. She is a very lovely lady who is suffering from some serious back problem that really affects her walking ability. She also has sugar diabetes and a liver problem, other than that she is fine! I don’t mean to be funny but you would not know she has these problems as she is not a complainer. When we arrived, her sister greeted us as she had come to be with Maria since she came out of hospital. They were determined to feed us with a full meal and soon had it on the table. We took the opportunity to speak to them about the gospel and at least Maria may be saved. We left her a new testament the last time we were here and she told her she had read through it and believed what it said and had preached it to people in the hospital.

Her sister Natasha listened very well and certainly has the fear of God about her. We took her phone # and will visit her when we go to her village.

Louis had brought his late wife Pat’s blood sugar tester to give to some one with diabetes and will leave this with Maria, once he gets the necessary test strips.

We then went to see an old friend Olegh from Solidarity in his stall at the market. We needed a receipt for some funds he had received some time ago. We will have to get it tomorrow as he did not have his stamp with him. It was good to see him again.

We then met Jania in the market with her handicapped daughter, to buy her daughter some shoes. She has very small feet and finds it very difficult to find shoes. We managed to find some which made them very happy and appreciative. They are both saved and attend all the meetings.

At 4pm we had arranged to meet all those who come to the meetings, to come to the park for a “picnic”. We bought a big box of mixed cookies and several bottles of pop and about 20 of us had a nice time together. At the end I spoke for a few moments about the sorrows of parting but as least those of us who are saved will all meet in Heaven one day. Of course there many tears as Louis finished off with a little farewell too.

They all said they would be faithful to attend any meetings that were held in our absence. It started to rain just as we finished.

We went home for a while and then went to Vadym’s old apartment where his wife had prepared us a nice supper. It is very interesting how laid back these people are about when supper time is. Vadym said she was expecting us just after 5pm. We eventually arrived just before 7pm and ate at about 7:30pm! No one gets flustered; just eat when you get there!

We came home after that as Vadym had to fix 2 cars that people had brought to the house for him to fix electrical problems. He really is very skilled at this, finding problems and the cure on the internet or his diagnostic equipment.

We headed to bed quite weary at 11pm.

All for now, one more day in Ivano and then we go back to Lviv.

Thanks for the interest.

Malcolm and Louis.

Report #13 from Ivano

Report #13 for Thursday April 9, 2009

The day started out looking like rain but did not rain until 8pm while we were in meeting with thunder and lightening. (The thunder was not in the meeting!)

We had a mixed day today with shopping for some medicines we could not get the other day. We now have fixed everyone who attends the meetings with the meds they need. We have no idea what they will do once they are used up as none of them can afford to buy them.

We visited one old lady, the mother of Luda who attends all our meetings and used to play the piano at Solidarity. She and her mother live in an almost unbelievably cramped room in an apartment. Luda’s daughter and husband live in the other part of the apartment with a child or two, plus 3 cats. We cannot imagine living like that but many people over here do. We had a good talk with the mother and hope that she has the truth of the matter of salvation.

We visited the warehouse for four more bags of product for four more very needy people, again happy to get the 5% discount.

We went for a quick lunch at the Carpathian Kitchen and then headed to visit Lesia who has been to every meeting since we first came to Ivano. She told us she had been saved at the first meetings we had when meeting at Solidarity. That was good news. Her husband was there but does not come out to meeting; he is out of work at present. He is a driver and used to drink but Lesia told him that if he didn’t quit, she would divorce him and so he quit. Now if only he would get saved.

We went straight from lunch to her house and she had prepared lunch for us. We had to decline as we were more than full. She has 4 children so it will not be wasted.

It was then time to visit Tania and her mother who has just returned from surgery in Kiev. This is a very sad situation as mother (can’t remember her name, think it is Luba) has had to spend thousands of Rhivney going back and forth to Kiev to try and find what is wrong with her nose. The end is now raw and red and always wet. Nothing they can do makes it heal. Part, or may be all of the problem is that the first thing they did was freeze her nose and they admitted freezing it too much. It is so sad as she is still a young woman and is so embarrassed by it. It has tested not to be cancer but may need skin grafting which is way out of her range to afford.

I took close up pictures and hope to show them to some doctor who may have a remedy.

At 5pm we had what may be our last meeting with the room almost full again. God gave help I felt.

We may have a light “going away” picnic tomorrow at 4pm if the weather is nice.

All for today, good night and thank you for all your prayer support, it has been felt.

Louis and Malcolm

Report #6 from Ivano

Report #6 Wednesday April 1.

We woke to a nice morning with dry streets and overcast. We were not sure what to expect today as this was the day Vadym took possession of the house we rented. We had agreed to help him move in, although he didn’t have much to move as they had lived in furnished rooms since they were married.

Well we didn’t have to worry as he did not intend to move until afternoon or evening. He had a list of people we could visit but, as Easter is very near, many of the families who attend the meetings do not have the food necessities to bake for Easter or even have family over. So we went to get some products for 20 people from the wholesale warehouse. I suppose the saying “It’s not WHAT you know but rather WHO you know” is good in any country, but it is especially helpful in the former Soviet Union! Vadym had fixed the car of the owner of the warehouse and so called him and told him what we were doing. He told us to meet him there, which we did and he gave 5% off the wholesale price. Every little helps over here.

We delivered the product to the Meeting Room where some of the ladies will sort it all into big plastic carrier bags for later delivery.

We then went to visit Luba and her daughter and son. She is the lady whose apartment we had renovated last year. She is a dear sister with epilepsy and a son who is mentally challenged but she is always rejoicing and never complains. Her daughter goes to a Christian school sponsored for children of parents with medical problems.

We then visited an old soldier who loves to talk of his past. He might well be a Christian but cannot get out to meeting because of leg problems. We had a good, though rather one way, conversation and gave him the gospel one more time. He is 85 or so and lives alone except that his daughter looks after him, very well I might say, the apartment was spotless.

We tried to visit others but to no avail so will try again tomorrow DV.

Good night and God bless.

PS. It’s rather strange, but at 10 o’clock I realized we had no bread for breakfast, so went around the corner and bought bread warm from the bakery. I think may be open all night. So much for 7-11 !

Week of April 6th

Dear Friends
I will need to give you a condensed version of the events of this week. I have been struggling with a terrible allergic reaction to a combination of things here and have not had a clear enough head to work at a daily report.

Monday we went out to a school of a thousand children, but were able to see only about half of them. We noticed that the acoustics were very poor in this auditorium where we were to speak to the kids. The children filed in and we spoke to the grades two three and four. As usual the students were very attentive to what was being said and they each received a Children’s bible, as well as a scripture text and some candies. While Flo was speaking we noticed the sound wasn’t carrying at all. It was very difficult to be heard. After these little ones left, these other older children filed in. We were told these were the grades seven and that they were very difficult students. Well, that should have served as our first warning. Flo was trying to speak but Ruslan had to interrupt her over and over again and ask the kids to keep quiet and please listen. Misha also made an honest attempt at speaking to the kids. He had a 10 rhivny bill in his hands and invited “whoever” to come and take it. One boy in particular came forward and when he saw that all Misha had was a “ten”, the boy said “I don’t need it.” At this point it was getting harder and harder for Misha to make himself heard over the noise. Ruslan took over and his voice carried quite well, but the kids had absolutely no interest except for a few teens in the front row. After they received their new testaments and scripture texts, some of the kids stayed around and wanted to talk to us in English. We stayed around for a few minutes but had to leave as we had other places to go and were already an hour away from Lviv. We had expected Anatoly and Jeannette from Lutsk to come over but upon calling them we found they were only arriving the following morning.

Tuesday we had the pleasure of going for lunch at Ruslan and Tanya’s apartment and met with Jeannette and Anatoly there. It was an enjoyable relaxing time. Afterwards we returned home to prepare the apartment for the meeting. We had a nice turnout tonight with some coming who hadn’t been around lately. Anatoly took the meeting and we all enjoyed a bit of time together afterwards before being driven to our respective homes.

Wednesday I kidnapped Jeannette and we spent the day together walking around the center of the city and enjoying each other’s company. She has now been living in Ukraine for six month and is still adjusting to the different life here. I think she appreciated spending the day and talking with an English speaking person. While we were walking around, Ruslan, Anatoly and Flo went off to another school, met with the escort that had been arranged for us through the bible society and were able to preach the gospel to another large group of students. The reception was good at this school.

Thursday – we left early today to return to that same town as yesterday but to a different school. We had been warned that this was a very difficult school to get into to speak to the kids. We were shown to the auditorium and the grades one thru four came in and sat down on the wooden benches and were very very attentive and answered questions. While the kids were quiet on the benches, there was some unrest at the back of the auditorium as the teachers and director were discussing our presence there. They did not seem very happy to have us talking to the kids. We handed out the Children’s New Testaments to all the children there, as well as some toys we had brought for the younger ones….something we always do. Well, we were not to distribute anything else to anyone else as we were told they didn’t want us talking to the kids anymore and no, we were not going to be seeing the older grades. Basically we were being shown to the back door! Seems they thought we belonged to some cult and no amount of talking could get them to change their minds. So it ended up being a very short day as far as school visits are concerned.
We returned to Lviv and went for lunch and then I came home to finish packing my suitcases.
I will be flying out tomorrow afternoon 2:30 pm Lviv time. Never have I seen five weeks go by so fast. There is much to be thankful for in this visit. Flora will be staying behind till June 5th. On April 26th Gilles will be joining her here for six weeks. In the middle of May Jean Lee from North Carolina will be joining both of them for a three week period. I will try to keep some sort of update on the work here since I am sure I will be calling Gilles often! Malcolm Stanley and Louis Smith are leaving at the end of next week. Also tomorrow Apr 10th, Timothy Sloan and his wife Rhoda are returning to Lutsk for a five week period.
God bless you all for your interest in the work here in Ukraine. Please keep us in your prayers.
Helene

School visits

Thursday April 2nd & Friday April 3rd

We had two most pleasant days. Both days started off with a clear sky and HEAT. It actually went up to the high teens!
We went to the Bible Society and picked up New Testaments and also Children’s Bibles. We also had laminated texts of all sorts sent to us from the Clinton assembly. These are such a joy to give out as the kids are all excited to receive them. We had colouring books for the younger grades, also from the Bible society, notebooks with scripture on the illustrated cover and candy and also small stuffed toys for the younger grades in one of the schools. We visited two schools, one each day. The one school had approximately 500 students who came and heard the message of the gospel and the one school we visited today had about 170 students. The students in both schools ranged from grade one to grade 12.
Misha came with us on Thursday. He used a good illustration to show the brevity of life. He spoke to the older students and lit a match to show how short life is. Sometimes it went out very fast and at times the match burned till the end. But it was nevertheless a short time. His point was easily seen and understood. Misha and Flora spoke to the older kids while Ruslan and I spoke to the younger crowd who had gathered in another older building. The kids in this school were very pleasant and payed close attention. I asked them a few questions about Easter which is very very important here and steeped in so much tradition that the true meaning of Christ’s resurrection is lost. I tried to draw their attention to the reason He was put to death in the first place, which is what made the resurrection so important. I would tell you what the others spoke on, except that I didn’t understand much of it as it was in Ukrainian!
All students left with a New Testament or Children’s Bible. The younger ones were given a colouring book and candy, the older ones received a book marker with John 3:16 on it and also some candy.

Friday (today) we headed off to a larger village and were met by someone the Bible Society had arranged to meet us. This young gentleman (Yaroslav) brought us to the school and introduced us to the director and the young students who were waiting for us in the auditorium. We spoke to three age groups in turn. Speaking to the younger ones is very enjoyable as they are very animated and really do listen to what we are saying. The little ones each got a scripture text, a stuffed toy, candy and a children’s bible. The older kids received book markers and a note book with scripture and some candy as well as a New Testament. Flo, myself and Ruslan all took turns speaking to the kids. It was a very enjoyable time with these children. Afterwards we went with Yaroslav to have lunch which had been prepared for us. One of the ladies who was with us mentioned that a few years ago she had received a bible at a bazaar in this same village and after reading it had come to the knowledge of her sins forgiven through the shed blood of Christ. Ruslan mentioned that a few years ago some from Canada and the US had been at this village with bibles. We really do not know the end result of all those bibles given out in bazaars.

Starting to look to next Friday as I will be heading back to Canada, however Flo will be staying behind and will be joined by Gilles on Apr 25th and by Jean Lee on May 14th.

Report #5 from Ivano

Report #5 for Tuesday March 31st

Well we woke to a rainy wet day with people walking to work with their umbrella's up, quite a bit cooler too.

We were to start at 8:30 but Vadym's wife had gone to work and her sister had not come to baby sit by 9am. He was not too impressed, to say the least.

Well we got on the way and then hit traffic tie-ups for no apparent reason. We were afraid we were not going to get to our destination in time about one and a half hours away. But not to worry (who said I worried?) we arrived at the orphanage first and sat talking to the lady administrator. I thought we would never get going. We decided to go to the school about 3 buildings away and come back to the orphanage later.

We found the school had about 300 students. We were greeted by the principal and a staff member who never stopped talking about her relatives in Toronto. We were introduced to a lovely young lady who spoke perfect English and was one of the English teachers. She accompanied us to a classroom crammed with senior students and interpreted for a few minutes while Vadym went to get Bibles from the car.

I spoke and they all listened very attentively and well as the good number of staff and the Principal.

We thought we were going to speak to the juniors too but they had gone home by the time we had signed 500! new testaments. Any way, they want us back and we are coming back next week DV.

We then went back to the orphanage and had lunch with the Director and then went and spoke to about 200 of the kids in their auditorium. Louis spoke first and I closed with the rope trick. They were very well behaved, probably because an ex Principal and their Administrator sat on the stage looking at them!

We Then went to the dress-making class and saw some of the lovely dresses and other items the girls and some boys are sewing. We gave them the material that had been sent and the teacher was very appreciative and said she would take any amount we could send.

We took some tools we had sent to the wood working class which again was very well received and by observation very much needed.

Lastly we went to the old peoples home across the road and gave sheets and glasses and pampers for this rather sad and dreary place, which I'm afraid seemed to begin with the administrator. We agreed to bring some antiseptic cleaner and laundry soap when we come next week.

We were home in good time for the 5 o'clock meeting and had one more new lady out although we knew it would not be as full tonight but still 20 or so in.

We shopped for a while and came home satisfied with what we had been able to do for the Master today.

Oh, I must not forgot one very important thing, Louis saw our first stork on a nest while coming home. I missed it as I was "meditating" in the front seat.

All for now.

Malcolm and Louis

Report #4 from Ivano

Report #4 for Monday, March 30

Well we couldn’t have guessed what this day would bring us, nothing went as planned. At 9am, Vadym phoned to say he was at the Meeting House. He had been called as there had been a break in into the building. There are three floors of Government offices, our room is on the ground floor and was the only room not entered, isn’t God good? Every other room had their computers stolen, 10 in all. Vadym had to wait to be questioned, after all, we were the only place not broken into? Any way after we had arranged bail for him??? Not really, but they did want to know what sort of people came to our meetings, he told them at least one old man with a cane!

When He was eventually “released”, the first thing we had to do was go and buy a large piece of glass, some silicone and a gun for the front door that was broken to enter the building. Believe or not, the tenants of the building had to decide what parts they agree to fix. The offices agreed to fix their locks we fixed the window. I asked about building insurance. Insurance? So goes Ukraine!

Well we did manage to visit a lady, Maria, in Hospital. I had visited her in her home before. She is not a Christian as far as we can tell yet, but is very easy to talk to and is very God conscious She is very unwell with a long standing lower spine problem and now has a kidney or liver problem, I’m not sure which. We agreed to buy some needed medications. The hospital looks about 100 years old and there were 9 beds in her room almost touching. I think if you had to come into hospital, the atmosphere would convince you that you would never get out again. So depressing.

We phoned and made arrangements to go to a village and visit the school, an orphanage and an old folks home. We have visited the orphanage and old folks home but not the school. We are looking forward to the day.

All for now. Thank you for your continued prayer and interest

Malcolm and Louis