Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #19

Friday Nov 6 Report # 19

We had a bad day today, we were heading off to go to see the gypsies and two other places when Ruslan noticed a problem with the right front wheel. We reckoned that a bearing had gone so picked one up at the Auto market and crept along to a garage. It is a very nice modern one with 4 hoists. We put the van up and found the outer bearing had given out, not only given out but damaged the spindle. Well to make a long story short, the parts were so hard to get off the mechanic had to take the whole axle assembly off the van and we had to go get a new one. It took about 3 and a half hours to get the parts and then install them. What a way to start the day. While we were waiting, we called Stephan, another driver we use at times and he took Flo to get some produce for the gypsies and others.

Well we got loaded into our van and headed off to the gypsies. By the time we got there it was dark.

hese gypsies live in an old collective farm. They seem to have electricity as there was a light on but no cookers or other appliances. They all gathered outside and we gave a little word and then gave out candies and took their pictures. They get sooo excited to see themselves on the camera.

We had taken a sample plastic tarp over to see if they would be suitable for their tents. They were sure they would be absolutely suited for that. There are several different camps of Gypsies, only these ones live in a building part of the year.

We left there and went to visit a Christian lady named Vera with 4 little children. Her husband was saved with 2 other man while in prison. He was away working in Moscow and so we didn’t see him but according to Flo he is a lovely Christian man. The eldest child was a boy aged 6 and the 3 girls went down to a year old. It is so nice to be in a home where there is evidence of the peace of God in it.

Vera prepared us a lovely meal of home cooked and baked food. We left some bags of produce and clothes and headed home on dark country roads with people walking on the road and others on bikes with no lights or reflectors. It is no wonder there are so many crosses along the roads.

We got home very tired but were glad to have done something.

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #18

Thursday November 5^th Report #18

It looked very much like snow when we got up and by noon it was snowing after a time of rain. Everywhere is a real mess but we headed out, after sorting a lot of boxes for Flo to empty, to pick up the two boys Vasil and Ura and their dad Roman. They had already had their eyes tested early in the morning so we met them to go and pick out some glasses frames. We got some nice ones, suitable for young boys and left them with the prescriptions. They will be ready tomorrow, good service for bi-focals. Both pairs cost us exactly $100.00 Cdn. That’s $50.00 each pair.

We then took them out for pizza at a lovely café in the Mall. All very new but good food. It was something to watch the boys, I doubt they have ever eaten out before.

We then headed out to a home for mentally challenged boys in a village named Starry Rosdeal, (that’s how it is pronounced). In Ukrainian that means “Old chapter”. It is well named as it is “old” and the last “chapter” as far as anything modern or clean and useful. The home is an old monastery and is probably almost forgotten by most people except the “health police” who come regularly to try and find something wrong so that they can fine the administrator. They found something not long ago and fined him personally 1.000R about $140.00 to us but a month’s wages to him. You wonder why they still carry on working. We left cleaning supplies, the most needed things and pampers for the bedridden.

We headed back to town and shopped at the large Metro store for product for several poor and sick people.

Flo made a good supper for us of chicken and the trimmings.

All for now.

Thank you for praying.

Malcolm and Howard and Flo.

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #17

Wednesday Nov 4^th Report #17

Before we could get out, a shipment of33 boxes came from Seattle and had to be stacked in the various bedrooms. We were glad to get glasses but will not have much time to distribute any of them.

We then went to visit a family of 5 children who are being raised by a father and old uncle. There are 3 girls and 2 boys. Martha is the oldest at 14 and has to be mother as their mother left them when the youngest boy was 6 months old. The father, Roman, was at work but we were received royally. All the children were home as schools are all closed.

They live in an old log type house with 3 rooms. The middle one is a utility type room. The place was spotless, as usual, and everything was tidy. All the children are absolutely delightful. Happy and appreciative of what we brought them. Martha said that they all help to keep the house clean and clean it through twice a week.

I noticed that the one boy, Uri was wearing glasses that looked rather bent. I asked him for them and saw that they had been all soldered up by his father. We decided that we would get him some new glasses as he had to sit about 12 inches away from something to read it. We found out that his little brother Vasil needed glasses but had never had any. We planned to contact their father when he came home.

Flo had brought a large bag of clothes and these were distributed much to their delight.

We left with a real feeling of sadness that these kids had no mother that loved and cared for them.

We came home and prepared for meeting. There were about 16 out as some were sick or working.

We both spoke as Misha had a head ache and was not out.

After meeting we had lunch and talked about the baptism of Vasil to be held on Saturday Noon at the Baptist church in Lviv. We were hoping for more than one to be baptized but as yet have not heard of any more.

All for now

Malcolm.

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #16

Tuesday Nov.3^rd Report from Lviv # 16

Our day was not going to be a great day of visiting as most places are either closed or people don’t want visitors. The panic has really taken hold over here. Streets and stores almost deserted compared to usual. Most people wearing masks that the drug stores have boosted in price from 1 R to 5R or more.

People are being gouged by the pharmacies for their medications and yet I heard tonight that there is nothing like the number of pneumonia cases as there usually are at this time of year.

Well we went to get two more prescriptions for needy Christians. I don’t know how they pay for them when we are not here. Two of the people needed medication for liver problems.

We then went to a town 20 km away to see if we could find the grave of the grandfather of a brother in Winnipeg. We didn’t have too much to go on except a last name. I have never looked at so many old graves. It is amazing how many years they have been putting pictures on the headstones. Some photos are 50 to 60 years old and are still clear. We eventually found a grave of a man who may be the one we were looking for.

Our visit reaped something of a blessing when we met a man who was placing a new headstone on a grave. Howard gave him a John 3:16 fridge magnet, he was thrilled as he was a Christian. He willingly took Seed Sowers and a packet of New Testaments. He gave us his name and phone # and would like us to visit his village with Bibles and texts at a later date.

We headed home and had lunch and got ready for meeting at 5pm. Flo arrived from Lviv with Misha and Ruslan. There were about 25 people plus us so the room was well filled. Howard, I then Misha spoke and we were finished in the hour. Lots of farewells and hugs as we left for Lviv.

Misha is going to try to have meetings while we are away.

God bless and please keep praying that none will get the flu and that flights out of Ukraine will not be cancelled.

Malcolm

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #15

Monday Nov 2 Report #15

Thankfully Vadym was up before us this morning and although rather plugged up in his nose, will probably be ok now. Although there is a real paranoia about Swine Flu there are many people sick with the flu, not the Swine flu.

We decided to go to an old folks home today as there is no point going to schools or orphanages as they are closed. It is amazing how children without parents suddenly find someone to look after them for the short term.

I had to change some money in town. This might seem strange but Vadym phones a man on the street near the market and asks him what the exchange is on the Canadian Dollar. He phones back later and gives us his rate. It will be anywhere from 7.2 today to 7.4 the other day. The bank is paying 7.0 Hrivney for 1 Cdn dollar. We then drive up to him as he stands on the sidewalk and he give me the money through the van window. I don’t even have to count it, he is never wrong and is a friend of Vadym.

We bought a few items and then headed for the Meeting Room to pick up the boxes of clothing and adult pampers for the old people’s home in a little village near Rohatin. We talked with Marika who was busy again sorting the boxes we had brought over, with her mother and a young man who is helping.

We headed away a little later for the 1 hour or so trip through lovely fall countryside. This morning we had the first white frost on everything.

We did not stay long in the home as the Director was off sick with Pneumonia so we carried the boxes into the store room and left again for home.

One of the things they have the biggest problem funding is laundry and personal soap also toilet bowl cleaner. As soon as we got back to Ivano we bought the products and hope to get it to them very soon. We have been to this home several times and they all have bibles, Texts and glasses.

We went for a well earned coffee as we had not had one since breakfast and it was now after 3 pm.

Please note some of the hardships of the missionary in a land void of Tim Horton’s.

Hoping to do some visiting tomorrow but it really is a problem with so much sickness everywhere.

We have a meeting tomorrow at 5 pm and Flo and Ruslan are coming down for the meeting and we will go back with them to Lviv.

All for now.

Malcolm

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #14

Saturday

We are still well. We went to bed at 10;30 and a few minutes later we heard the front door open and a man’s voice call out for Vadym. He was in bed in the other room so I went to the top of the stairs and there was a doctor with a nurse. They came and checked him out and gave him a needle, and said his lungs were clear but he had a temp.

Went to visit Natalia with MS. The poor girl has an allergic reaction to medication with a massive red blistered area on her face. She is taking medication for it.

We gave her a set of Ukrainian NT on CD. She was thrilled.

Ps Vadym woke this morning (Sunday) feeling much better. His temperature was down. He stayed in bed most of the day but says he will be fine for Monday to take out some clothing boxes to an orphanage and may be an old folks home. We should be able to meet the old people.

We had 20 people out to meeting and they listened well. Again there were people asking for help with prescriptions for themselves and children. It never ends.

One lady who always has us over to her home for a rabbit meal, could not have us as she is renovating so brought us a pot with rabbit and potatoes, a jar of pickled tomatoes a bag of apples and a bag of walnuts. The rabbit was wonderful and there’s enough for tomorrow.

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #13

Well the flu has hit Vadym. Woke up with it this am and went to the doctor even though his wife is a doctor. I guess everyone is worried about the H1N1 virus which starts with Flu like symptoms. He is home in bed and I just gave him Neo Citran Flue drink.

Well what would we do? We decided to get the bus to the centre and get Howards Bible that he left at the meeting Room last Thursday. We thought we would have coffee with Tania, if her coffee shop was open. It wasn’t, it was quarantined for Sat and Sunday. I phoned Tania, she was down town with her little brother so came to meet us at the White House Government building. We decided to find a coffee shop to talk in but every one was closed, a quarantined notice on the window. There were hardly any people around which was most unusual for a Saturday, most were wearing masks or covering their faces like Muslims, weird!

We didn’t have a key to the Meeting Room so phoned Marika who went and got the bible and brought it to us. The only place we found open was the Pizza Place so we met there, the only people in the restaurant.

We met for about one hour and had some good conversations about communication and Vadym etc. Marika is very protective of him as she appreciates all he does with regard to the boxes etc. We made the decision to use Tania as a contact person if and when we can’t reach Vadym. She will pass on messages to Marika or find the problem with Vadym not responding, if this happens again.

Marika is a most efficient and tireless worker, as is her mother. She talks a little too much but is a good communicator but not in English.

So we headed to get a bus home and the ladies saw us safely ON THE WRONG BUS! No problem, it went half way home and then turned of so we got off and walked the rest of the way, it was a nice walk.

As we walked we decided that we would load the small van with the boxes from the house hear and take them to the Meeting Room. We took to loads of 8 boxes each. I drove and we had no problem at all. Now there is more sorting for Marika to do on Monday or when ever.

We came home to a fish fry that Svetta had cooked us. It was very good and I came up to study for tomorrow, they want a meeting.

Malcolm