Spring 2011 - Report #18

  Monday 25 of April
     Today Monday is considered a holiday for most Ukrainians being the day after Easter. One of the things that some do is pour water on the girls. I heard it started with those who were to get married but know that any girl can be a target.
    Vadym spent the Easter weekend with his family while I took the bus up to Liviv on Friday, to try to make it for the Bible reading. The ride went well but I arrived at the end of the meeting. They did go an extra 15 min. over to end at John 1:18, much discussion on v16 understanding the thought of "grace for grace". After the meeting I went with Edmund and Agnes and spent the weekend with them.
    Sunday we had a good time in the remembrance of our Lord!! We then were invited by one of the families for supper at their home. The food was good but the discussions were even better. Topics like the meaning of the fig tree in Matt.21 and was Jesus really a carpenter and will there be a third world war at the end and can we know when the end time  will come , so on. All were eagerly asked from them, Edmund and I did the best we could to answer such questions. Needless to say after 4 hours we were quite tired when we got back to their place and soon went to bed.
     Ruslan, our driver’s neighbor's mother died so Edmund and Agnes went with them to the funeral on Monday while I got the bus back to Ivano.
  Please pray for the meeting this Thursday!!
 In Christ our Lord
Dan

Spring 2011 - Report #17

On Monday the 18 Malcolm left Lviv on his way home to his Wife and family and on the same day Vadym was offered a fulltime position at the VW Dealership. It is the only one in town and they are busy, this is good news! Though he will be on trial at first I do pray this will work out for him.
     As for the Ukrainian lessons my tutor was unable to make it due to severe back pains and will be getting treatments for a few months, hope she gets better. So I am back  to finding a place or person that teaches Ukrainian. Vadym and I will go to a school today not far from the meeting place, he said they have Ukrainian lessons there but the problem may be if they can speak any English, we'll see?
    We had the first of what I hope to be steady meetings yesterday(Thursday). There were about 26 total out, knowing this was a Thursday that fell on this Easter week it was more than I expected, this was a good sign! There were 6 that came down from Liviv. Edmund, working in Liviv from Ireland and Misha also from Liviv spoke. We will try to have at least two consistent meetings during the week on Sunday and Thursday (though this Sunday we will not be meeting due to Easter, many will be away). The hope is that they may continue with meetings when no one from Canada or America are here, much prayers is needed for this to be a reality!
    Continue to pray for God's will with this little gathering here in IvanoFankivsk, there is much potential here as well as much help needed!
 In Christ our Lord
Dan
 PS. Malcolm had to stay over-night in Warsaw as his flight was cancelled to Toronto. 

Sping 2011 - Report 17

Friday 15^th and Saturday 16^th

A lovely day for my last day in Ivano; sunny and warm and NO rain. We are going to Lviv to for the meeting and to leave me there, ready for home on Monday. I want to say thank you to those who prayed for my arm and shoulder problem, and say that it is 99.9% better. No more tingling in the fingers or pain while travelling.

Before heading for Lviv, we wanted to visit Peter Village, as we had not gone earlier owing to the rain and snow. We called Olga, the mayor and she was thrilled that we could come. We took two boxes of clothing with us and met in her office. As I usually do, I asked how things were doing, was anything improving? I don’t know what sort of people are now in government positions but something is desperately wrong. Her big issue at the moment is what to do with the garbage. She has been told to get rid of the trash from the village but will not give her permission to bury or burn it! She spent all day Thursday in meetings as they denied her permission for this and that mode of disposal. The really criminal thing is, that one day an inspector will come to the village, see some uncollected garbage and fine her, from her own salary of $200.00 per month! She is the mayor of 5 villages. Who would want her job, but she was voted in by all the villages for a 6 year term.

We left her and went to the school and again get to hear some of the nonsense they are told. This principal was told she didn’t have enough students, get some more! She has the only school in 2 villages and has all the students, where can she get more? There are 76 or so students and they sang for us; the little ones in kindergarten and grade 1 did some dance routine and then Dan spoke to all the students. The threat to the Principal is that they will close the school if she doesn’t get more kids. The parents have already petitioned to authorities not to do that, we certainly hope not.

We headed for Lviv and got settled before the meeting at 7 pm for the first Bible Study of this new Assembly. I was asked to open the book of John. There good attention and input and all thought it was going to profitable in the future.

We were very weary, for some reason and were not late to bed.

Thank you again for your prayers for the seed that has been planted, the growth we have seen and continuing of the work in Ukraine. Many of the people in Ukraine feel that the country is ripe for uprisings similar to the happenings in other parts of the world. Let us hope and pray that if this does happen it will be peaceful and not riotous.

Malcolm

Saturday was spent shopping for gifts to bring home and a good supper at Edmund and Agnes Johnson’s apartment. (The Irish couple who now reside in Lviv.) Good fellowship indeed.

Spring 2011 - Report #16

Report 16 April 14th

My last full day in Ivano Frankivsk. Not too much to report as to visits. I got up at 7am and baked t2 batches of Carrot cake muffins that Jean sent with me. They are for our “last supper” tonight.

We were supposed to go to Petriliv or Peter village in English, but the mayor who loves to take us around was away and so we will go tomorrow before going to Lviv.

We did visit one lady who used to come to meetings but has had a hip surgery that is taking a long time to heal. She invited a neighbour in who has 5 children and a husband who just “comes over” every now and again and gives nothing to his wife to keep house but drinks his pension. She seemed very clear on the gospel and said her only hope was in God. She lives in 2 rooms with her 2 teen boys and the youngest at 2 years old. She has to share a cooking area and bathrooms. I wanted to give her some financial help from me and Dan but she completely refused it and pushed it into my pocket. That is a first for Ukraine!

We also visited one of Dana’s sons, the lady I wrote about yesterday. He wanted to show us the apartment he was “remodelling”, for want of a better word! I have never seen such a hopeless project in my life. It was a ground floor 1 room apartment. The bathroom had been gutted and water was running from a leaking pipe from the apartment above. The owner, a police man and his wife will not allow anyone in to repair the leak as it isn’t leaking into their apartment. The young man has been to the authorities but they can’t do anything about it. Can you believe that? I took pictures but my camera does not record smell, it was awful.

Well I think just about all the people came to meeting at 5pm. We changed the format to a bible study and sat around in a square. We started in John’s gospel and the interest was very encouraging. We then had a lunch of muffins, cookies and pop. Everyone seemed to enjoy the time and there were tears as we said our good bye. Dan is planning to continue with studies with the help of Edmund when he can come from Lviv.

I am hoping Daniel will write at least weekly and let us know how things are progressing. He has booked lessons in Ukrainian, beginning 2 days next week. Pray for him.

Malcolm and Dan.

Spring 2011 - Report #15

Tuesday April 12^th

We were expecting to go to a sanatorium for recovering children today but could not make the right contact, so spent the day visiting some shut in people who needed a visit.

The first one was Maria. She has been visited for several years and may be saved but still looks to the church to be her help, I think. She is a very sick lady but always wants to have us for a meal. She has had multiple surgeries on her back and uses crutches now. She is Diabetic and is waiting to go in for another surgery after Easter. We tried to give her some comfort in her dilemma. She has no one except a sister who lives in a village. We ate a good lunch and left some help for her medication and future hospital visit.

We then went to visit Lesia and her little boy, living in the most depressing room anyone can imagine. It is located in a building that used to be a student hostel. The room were intended for one student and there are communal bathrooms and cooking areas. The room was as large as a walk in closet about 4 ½ ft wide and about 10ft long. It had a fridge a bed/couch and the baby’s bed at the end. Unbelievable!

It was clean and smelt nice. Her husband was raised in an orphanage and has no skills and so was out sweeping the streets. Lesia has and still does come to our meetings since we first came to Ivano and I’m sure she is saved. She has a speech impediment but is a sweet lady in her early 20’s. Pray for Lesia.

Well pm came and another meeting. There were a good number of people out and we were encouraged once again. Our girl Natalia, who we picked up at the bus stop, was there again and sat in the front row for the first time and seemed to take in every word. We would really like to see her saved.

We were told that Andre, the man we told you that was not coming out because of dizzy spells, had a birthday on Tuesday. We thought it would be nice to visit him and take some goodies and have a little party. We did that and I don’t think he could believe it. He said that he should be inviting us to his birthday, not the other way round. We left him some help for medication and wished him a return to health and the meetings.

So another day done and only two left in Ivano for me. Dan is staying on and so will continue to let us know how things go on.

Malcolm and Dan.

Wednesday April 13^th

We were still having a problem getting in touch with the Administrator of the Sanatorium and so decided to get another visit in while we waited for a phone call. We went to visit Dana, the wife of the man who suffers from radiation sickness from Chernobyl. We found her home with one of her 6 sons, her only daughter Marianka and a grand-daughter Maria. I don’t know of anyone who has more problems than Dana. Marianka has just got out of hospital and is waiting to go back in with some blood problem that they can’t solve. Dana’s husband has moved out and he can’t handle the stress of all the problems. They are being threatened with eviction because they can’t pay the utilities. We think they owe about 10,000r or $1,250.00 dollars. The father of the grand-daughter is in hospital for some reason. And so it went on and on. We could only tell them to be sure that they were saved and then God will hear and answer their prayers. Dana and the one son who was with us (who lost all his toes with frostbite) said they were believers. I don’t understand how one family can have so many problems. I want to correct a past idea that we had, that the Chernobyl accident had something to do we their health problems. I don’t think it did as many of the problems happened before Chernobyl.

Well we got the go ahead to visit the Sanatorium in an “end of the road” town of Yasen about 80 km’s away. The roads were so bad for the last 30 km’s that I videoed it on the way home. Anyway it was well worth the trip. We got to speak to all the 130 kids from Grade 1 to 12. Plus at least 10 staff.

The attention was amazing and so encouraging. We gave them all a new testament or a junior picture bible, a laminated text, a scripture book mark and 2 candies each. The Staff wanted the bibles and texts too. When had finished about 50 of them wanted us to sign their N/T’s. Writer’s cramp or what?

The staff then ushered us to a private dining room and gave us a nice hot lunch. On the way home the Administrator phone Vadym and thanked us very much and said we could come back any time. That was nice.

We were all zonked when we got back, because of the 2 hour ride and the jostling about in the vehicle. So we shopped for some things for my “farewell party” tomorrow after meeting and came home.

All for now.

Malcolm and Dan.

Spring 2011 - Report #14

Report 14

Sunday April 10^th

We headed for Lviv at 9.30am with three ladies. One lady was going to visit her son in prison. He got 3 years for USING drugs, not even selling them. He has one more year to do. She only gets to go twice a year so was loaded with stuff for him, clothes and food. She will come home on the bus later today.

We had a very nice Remembrance Meeting with a few less than last week as Flo and Max and Ingrid went to Lutsk to the Assembly there. I spoke on the Church at Ephesus in Revelation 2, after meeting, and the seriousness God sees in leaving our first love to Christ and the believers.

Hurried back home to Ivano for the meeting at 4 pm. We were very glad to see a good number out and especially the girl we picked up from the bus stop a week ago, Natalia. We spoke to her afterwards and she says she can’t believe she was picked up by such nice people. (I think she was speaking about Dan, but who knows!). She is very interested in what we are preaching but is just a “believer in God” so far.

We finished up with a good talk to Oleg and Ola about what they were doing and where they were going. We told them how much we appreciated them coming to the meetings.

Well out for pizza again then headed back home.

We have plans for each day this week, as I am leaving for Lviv on Friday, and staying there until I go home on Monday.

All for now.

Keep praying that we will get done all we want to do this week.

Malcolm and Dan.

Monday April 11^th

Today we wanted to go to the school in Vicovna, on the border of Romania. We had bought a sound system for this school of 400 students and wanted to deliver it. Oxana, the Director of the school told us that when we came she would get all the staff together for us to speak to. We got the equipment and left town at 10 am for the 2 hour trip. We have to cross the mountains to reach the town, but didn’t expect what we found. About 6 inches of snow had fallen in 2 storms, one on Saturday and one on Sunday night. The road is very similar to driving through the Rockies, except that there is no one to clear the roads. Fortunately, it was not cold and so the snow was mainly slush. We still made it in 2 hours but it was not fun driving.

We set up the p/a system in the auditorium and the teachers came in, 26 of them. We only had 20 minutes and so I spoke and we asked if anyone wanted a New Testament. They all did except those that had got one when we spoke to their class. We also offered them some books for children to read about the bible. They were snapped up right away. They all wanted a group picture taken and were very happy with the message. I gave my testimony to them.

We then went for lunch with Oxana. To say the least, it was not too appetizing. Lent is being celebrated here and most of the children and staff as well, I think, are not eating any meat. Some are even fasting all day. The soup we had was great but the main meal was rice and sauerkraut. I could not finish my plate full, but the home made buns were great.

We spent a long time talking with Oxana about the difficulties she is experiencing from the Authorities. I don’t know where they get these people from, but their actions and decisions are inexcusable and ridiculous. There is no space to record all the nonsense but I do want to mention one great need that I see and hope we can help with some day.

As I mentioned, there are 400 students in the large school building, but there are no washrooms in the building. They have to use an outside toilet that is absolutely disgusting. The doors don’t even close and they are just filthy holes in the ground. The building is about 500 meters from the school but right next to a new apartment building. They have received complaints from the residents to move the building because of the smell. I Asked Oxana if there were any plans to put toilets in the school. She said that they had been talking about it, but there would be no help from the government. She showed us where it could be located attached to the school building. I told her we would pray that this project could get under way as the present situation is unhealthy and disgusting. Please pray with us. A photo is available to anyone who would ask.

Thankfully, the snow had melted on the way home and the ride was far less stressful. PTL .  We plan on going to a sanatorium tomorrow, if the children are all there. We have to phone in the morning.

I should add that Dan has an appointment tomorrow with a teacher who may be able to teach him Ukrainian. He really wants to start lessons.                                                                                                  Malcolm and Dan

Spring 2011 - Report #13

Report # 13

Friday April 8^th

Still not spring yet, except for the flowers and trees out in bloom and leaf. Cold winds and rain and sleet off and on.

We had bought 53 pairs of running shoes for the school in Yablunov and so decided to deliver them today. We wanted to get a picture of the kids with the shoes for the record, so got about a dozen of them holding them and standing with the bags of shoes in front of them. Like most kids, they love something new and don’t get much new in orphanages, usually peoples old cast offs.

On our way back we looked at a house that a man told us was for sale for $40.000. We took pictures and thought, what a buy for someone who wanted to live in this small town. It’s a 2 story house sitting on about an acre of land, with the forest as a back drop. Gas, water and electricity as well, this is rare in some of these small towns.

We headed back home and went straight to Marika and her mother Anya’s apartment for a lunch/supper. They had a most interesting old lady with them named Paulina, a cousin of Anya.  She was 89 years old and as sharp as a whip. She could still read without glasses, but only large print. She had never married and had worked all her work life on a communist collective farm in Odessa Ukraine. She worked 20 years in the fields and 30 years milking cows by hand. She had 12 cows that were her responsibility. I asked her whether the time under communism was better than now ? She said they were both good! That was a surprising answer, but she said that she now gets a pension for working so long and it is ok.

The most exciting thing was that she was, as far as we could hear, a believer in the Lord Jesus, though still a Catholic. She knew so much of the bible it was refreshing to meet this happy old lady. I took a picture of her alone because I think I could sell it as an advertisement for “Happy Ukrainians”.

So ended another day. Not too many days left so plan a busy week next week.

Dan and Malcolm.

Saturday April 9^th

Saturday was not nice day weather wise at all. Rain and some slush snow, and a very cold wind.

Fortunately, we had no plans to travel today so cleaned house, did laundry and got ready for Sunday. Dan was supposed to go swimming at 7am with Vadym but Vadym’s phone ran out of battery and he didn’t wake until 8am. They only swim until 9a.m so it wasn’t worth going.

We went to Andre from Solidarity (some of you will remember that he was our first contact in Ivano) for supper at 5pm. We had a great time with the family, his wife and 2 lovely girls. They have moved to a lovely new duplex home. 3,000sq meters. Massive and lovely. His wife has 100 plants and trees in the house.

Malcolm & Dan

Spring 2011 - Report #12

Wed April 6^th

We had a lovely warm sunny day at last with daffodils in bloom as well as many wild flowers. We loaded up 3 boxes of children’s clothes and headed for a large school that we have helped for several years now. It is a long way, through the Carpathian Mountains and is a lovely trip. The Town is right on the Romanian border. It has no gas line to the town; everything is heated by either wood or electricity. The school has 402 students, 250 of them board there from Monday to Friday because they live up in the mountains and cannot get there every day. Oxana, the director has a teaching staff of 70 and support staff of 60. She got 102 of the younger children into the auditorium and I spoke. They were very well behaved. The 6 or so teachers were there too. We gave them all a laminated picture text and left the teachers with colourful bible story books.

We then headed to the market and bus depot and gave out over 100 new testaments. We then went on to another town on the way home and gave the rest of the new testaments out. This cleaned us out so we will get more testaments from Lviv, when Flo comes tomorrow with Max Mc Mclean and his wife.

A good profitable day, we trust. Only eternity will reveal the results.

Thursday April 7^th

Another lovely day although it had drizzled a little first thing. As I write this, it is thundering and raining steadily.

We were expecting Flo and the folks from Lviv to spend part of the day with us and so wanted to get some things done and so went to our friendly wholesale shoe warehouse to see what they had.

We had a list of shoe sizes that we had agreed to supply for the orphanage in Yablunov. They sorted them out for us but were a few sizes short; however they were getting a truckload in this afternoon. They said they would phone us when they had them and did so at about 6 pm.

Our original contact in Ivano was Andre Miketin and we knew max McLean wanted to visit him, as it was Max who Andre first met. The traffic was inexcusably terrible today and we knew we would have some problems keeping schedules. Flo and the people from Lviv were late arriving in time to visit Andre and so I with Dan and Vadym went to visit him. We had a very cordial meeting with coffee and cookies and an invitation to have supper with him on Saturday evening.

We had to rush away to speak to the children at a “half-way home” for children who have either been taken off the streets or away from their parents. We have visited this home every time we have visited Ivano and have a standing order to provide help with their foot ware. We were able to take several bags of good shoes from our boxes as well as two boxes of clothing. We spoke to about 15 teens and younger who listened very well. They have one child who is 18 months old.

We left there and went to the apartment to get ready for meeting and wait for Flo and Max and his wife and Edmond Johnson and his wife as they were still with Andre.

A good number of people arrived for meeting, several who had not been, either for a long time or not at all. There were over 30 of us once everyone got there. Max started by giving his testimony and Edmond followed. It was a very good meeting and we trust will meet the need of several unsaved ones present.

Flo and crew headed back to Lviv right away. We went to pick up the 53 pairs of running shoes, ready to take them out tomorrow and then went for supper.

A good day, thank You Lord.

Thank you for praying for the work here.

Malcolm and Dan.

Spring 2011 - Report #11

Monday April 4^th

A bright sunny cool day for a trip to Sniatin, one of the men’s mental homes that had asked if we could get a b/p machine and a nebulizer as they had many men with chest problems and nothing to help them breathe. We also took a blood sugar tester. All this for $235.00 from a medical supply store.

The administrator was so happy; I guess they get a lot of promises but not much delivery. We left them two more boxes of clothes as they have a lot of men to clothe.

We then went to the other home, where the administrator had acid thrown in his face. He had a long acjd burn that had come up from one ear to his chin. They have still not found out who did it. We brought them a b/p machine and an electric vacuum cleaner. This home has lovely carpet through most of the building and their vacuum had given up the ghost. They now have a very nice Hitachi vacuum. We tested it in the administrator’s office, you should have seen the dust it got out of about three meters long of carpet. I think it is going to be busy.

We left there and went to the next town, Churnitsky, to a massive Mercedes repair facility to get the turbo on our van checked. A valve had stuck and it was fixed in a hurry. On our way back we stopped to look at 2 used seats for the front of our van. It is meant to have seating for 3 but only had seating for 2.

We bought 2seats that are the same pattern and material as all the others. Now we have seating for 9 including the driver. On the way home, we picked up a mother and 18 year old daughter at a lonely bus stop. They were coming to Ivano and were very glad of the one hour ride instead of 2 or more. The girl, Svetlana and her mother Oxana were invited to meeting on Tuesday.

A long day but a good one.

Tuesday April 5^th.

We were supposed to get going early to another home, this one for girls; to take cleaning supplies and clothing but had a little hold up. The last time we were in Kolumia, the Administrator was busy when we spoke to the staff, so this time I spoke to her and one of her supervisors, in her office. They listened very well. These places are off the beaten track of large cities and really are neglected when it comes to the supply of such things as laundry soap, hand soap, shampoo, toilet cleaner and floor cleaner plus much more. We were able to get all this plus toilet paper and deodorant for $58.00. Why is there not any money from the government for these items?

We had meeting at 5pm and a good number were out including the daughter Svetlana, who we picked up from the bus stop yesterday.

After meeting we went to Vadym’s Grand Mother- i-n law’s 83^rd birthday party. We didn’t need a meal like that at 7pm. Bang goes my diet for another day.

Malcolm and Dan.

Spring 2011 - Report #10

Saturday April 2

Well Saturday is laundry and clean up day. Dan went swimming with Vadym and family at 7am.

By the time he got home I had done a load of washing and cleaned up. With no dryer, we put our wash on a drying rack and behold, it’s dry in the morning.

Vadym came at 11:30 and we went shopping for some material to get mattress covers mad of “waterproof!” material. After 4 shops we found none but a lady in the last shop will phone her wholesaler on Monday to see if it is available. One of the orphanages and the old folk’s home we visited, have mattresses that need covers. The one orphanage will sew them for themselves and us.

We then went to Vadym’s home to help clean up the back yard. We had a great afternoon with a good fire to burn the branches a dry stuff. Then  Vadym did shishlyk  chicken or shish kabob to us westerners.

We had a good supper and then some serious talks about relationships etc. While we were with them, a neighbour lady came over and told them that the owner of their house that they rent, is coming to visit from America, where he now lives, and will be living in Vadym’s house! Vadym is going to find out on Monday what is going on.

We arrived home late and got ready for Sunday.

Sunday April 3^rd

Headed for Lviv at 10 am with a full van of ladies that wanted to go to the Breaking of Bread. One lady and one girl were not in fellowship, the others were.

It was good to see Max Mclean and His wife Ingrid at the meeting. Max had not been to Ukraine for 7 years. He gave a nice word after the meeting. We headed back again over the terribly potholed roads and got back right on 4pm for our meeting in Ivano. About 15 out today but good attention once again.

We took a gentleman who has attended every meeting we have had so far, Vadym’s father in law, with us for supper and had a very good talk with him about salvation. We feel he is very near the door.

Pray for Andre, he would be such an asset to the group of believers here and a joy to The Lord as well.

We have a busy week planned. Please pray for us.

Malcolm and Dan

Spring 2011 - Report #9

Thursday March 31

Another spring day with daffodils out and green grass already. We headed out to a city of Kolomia, where Vadym found a woman’s home for mentally handicapped. Last year Eric Fowler and Howard went and were impressed by the dedication of the Staff and the needs of the girls.

We too were impressed at how clean the 100 year old facility was kept and the grounds were lovely.

Heard again of the corrupt dealings of the government inspectors of these facilities, how they come unexpected and without even an inspection, levy a fine. The administrator was busy with a group of 3 other helpers, trying to answer to long lists of questions that had been sent to them prior to a visit in a weeks time. Even though the officials may tell them to change things, there are no funds given to make the changes. She says that it turns her into a beggar and she hates it.

Agreed to help with some items and will go back next week. Dan spoke to a group of the higher grade girls and I to a small group of staff.

Headed home to get some things needed and had our meeting at 5pm.  A good number out and we gave out packet of seeds to each family.

Friday April 1

Headed out again in a lovely sunny morning for a very special place in our hearts, an orphanage in the same village where we went for the funeral as well as the old people’s home and a maternity hospital. We met the orphanage administrator and gave her seeds for their large garden. She splits them up and gives them to each school teacher and the class plants a section of garden. The produce is all used for the orphanage. We left 2 boxes of clothes and then went to speak to a packed auditorium of 110 kids and about 10 or more staff. We always love speaking here as the kids are so receptive. We finished by giving out balloons that almost caused a riot as they all scrambled to get one.

We then went to the old people’s home to leave some clothes and finished up at the maternity ward to give some baby blankets for poor mothers to take home. This town is in the foot hills of the Carpathian Mountains and when a woman, who lives up in the hills gets pregnant, she comes and stays in the hospital until she has the baby as it would be very difficult to get to the hospital in a hurry. They will never let us see the women but the head nurse said that they will take pictures when they give a blanket away.

So, back to the city and market to buy product and look at prices of items we need to buy for the various homes. I should add that we always make sure that each place we visit has bibles for each person.

All for now.

Malcolm and Dan

Spring 2011 - Report #8

Tuesday March 29^th

It looks like spring has arrived at last, sunny and dry but still a cool wind at times.

We were heading to a baby orphanage in the town of Nadvirna that I have been to several times before.

It is in the foothills of the mountains about an hour from Ivano. We usually only meet with the administrator, but today she was away and I got Vadym to as if we could speak to the staff. They agreed and 20 of them gathered with others coming in while I was speaking. We had a very receptive time with them and it made the trip worthwhile. We then gave out glasses that had been sent to us, to as many as we could. There never seem to be enough of some certain strength glasses to meet the need, even though we have plenty of glasses, thanks to David Brandt of Seattle.

We went for pizza lunch and then went to visit our dear friend Natalia, who is bedridden with MS. We go to cheer her up but she is so radiant that we come away blessed. She has had surgery since we last saw her but has recovered quite well. We keep her supplied with adult diapers. Thank you for those that send us some to send in the boxes.

Wednesday

I went for my second massage at 9:30 this morning at the hospital. I’m still having pain in my left arm. The masseuse was recommended to me by Vadym’s wife who is a doctor. He is a young man who really works for the hospital but is able to take private patients “on the side”. He does a good job but it is not curing the problem. But enough about my problem, we took off right away for a town named Sniatin, where there are two homes for mentally challenged males. I had been to the younger men’s one, but not to the other. We went to the older men’s one first.

We met the Administrator, a very pleasant man, who welcomed us and then took us on a tour of the facility. They have 240 men. 100 more than the place was designed for. As usual, the building was in need of major renovations far greater that we are able to help with. About 5 years ago, they got help to start renovating but the funds dried up and nothing has been provided for since. The Administrator spent one month’s salary to put soffit on his office building to stop the cold and snow blowing into the roof area. We were able to meet with the doctor, who is also the doctor at the hospital, also a very nice man. He told us some very basic needs that they had that we will try to meet. We plan to visit next week and they will have the staff together for us to meet and speak to. We left 3 boxes of clothes and adult pampers.

We then went across town to the other home of 110 boys, to meet the Administrator. We had been told that he would not be there as someone had thrown acid in his face last week. He was there and fortunately was none the worse from his experience. He told us he was walking out of the gate and an individual through acid in his face and ran. He thinks someone wants his job. The police are investigating.  I wrote last year about this man and the projects he has the boys working on. They raise budgerigars to sell to pet stores, guinea pigs for the University for Research (poor little things). The sew work gloves for a factory and make straw brooms for supermarkets. They have a carpenter’s shop that makes picture frames and solid wood doors for the buildings. Their newest project is candle making; in several colors and sizes that they sell somewhere.

The disgusting thing is that the Government gives them enough money for heat, light and salaries but nothing for food or clothing. They have to make the money for food out of what the kids make and sell, and what they can produce in their garden. I left them with seeds. I wish I had more. We found out some of their needs and will try to meet them.

We will also go their next week and they will have us speak to both staff and the boys. Some of the boys are well able to understand the simple plan of salvation.

It was a profitable but tiring day on winding roads through lovely countryside, ploughed and ready for seeding.

Thanks for your interest in reading these reports. Please pray for the staff of these home who get next to nothing for salary and yet seem to love these kids.

Malcolm and Dan