Monday morning we went to buy some school supplies for Yablunuv or apple village and also ordered some green boards to be made for Peter Village. We then headed off to Yablunuv. This must be a very popular name as we found 3 on the map. The administrator Natalia met us as we arrived and we had our usual chat about the situation in Ukraine with the lack of Government funding for institutions. They only get enough money for food and light and heat but nothing for maintenance of housekeeping. They are always robbing Peter to pay Paul and gong further into debt.
She called all the children into the auditorium and Howard and I spoke to them. There were quite a number of quite young children who were new to me. We gave the teachers some school supplies we had brought and the children some candy. They all listened very well but the older ones are quite unruly when it comes to receiving a gift such as candy. They push and grab and come back again and say they didn’t get any yet. Quite greedy and selfish but I suppose it’s to be expected when raised in an orphanage.
We then went over to the Maternity ward at the hospital and left baby clothes for the 3 mothers there. Not a very busy place at all. The nurse said that not many people are having children in that village.
We then went to the old people’s home in the same building and took a box of clothes for the women and a box of bedding but did not see the old folk’s as most were sleeping, however 5 nurses came to see the boxes and I had the opportunity to speak to them. I think this was the first time this had ever happened; they listened very well.
Tuesday We sorted some boxes to see what was in them as we needed some children’s clothing to take to Stari Lacets. What a name! It means Old People but had many young people and big new houses being built. This is the village we call Luba’s village as her mother-in-law lives there and this is the village we were made so welcome in the school. However, some parents have complained about us coming to the school, as we are not teaching what the priest teaches. So we had to go and have a talk with the priest. We went to the church and he was having a morning meeting, not Mass as they did not eat the wafer or anything. After he finished speaking to about 20 old people he came to us. He was very nice, about 45 or so and had been to the USA and the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. He was very impressed.
His problem was that he felt he was teaching the people in the village all they needed to know and wondered how we could teach them anything he had not. He was having a building built next to the church that was going to be a youth centre. We parted friends and he was going to show the bishop our new testament and another book we put into the libraries.
We
left him and went back to the school with Halia the Christian ethics
teacher and had lunch and then made plans as to how we could still speak
to groups of children. Halia is very brave and said that the priest did
not say we could not come into the school so we made plans to go back
tomorrow and speak to a group of difficult children and take clothing
for some poor families. Then we had lunch and left for home and meeting
at 5:30pm. About 15 were out again and we had our last meeting before
going home next Tuesday.
Wednesday,
we had an appointment at the garage to get the turn signals adjusted so
that they cancel. The garage was having a problem with getting us in as
planned so we cancelled and re-booked for the afternoon. We had been invited to Yaroslav and Halia’s for breakfast so called to see if we came at 10am that would be ok? It was, so Volodia, Howard and I, Dan had stayed home; went for breakfast. I have never had a 6 course breakfast before, It was far too much, as we had eaten breakfast before going out.
We could only stay long enough to eat, but really wanted to talk to Halia, who has been sick and needs help. We rushed back to pick up Dan and 7 boxes to take to Luba’s Village and meet with the troubled kids. We arrived right on time and they were all waiting for us, about 13 boys and one girl. I spoke first, Howard followed and Dan finished. They all listened very well and we can only hope something stuck and will help them not be a disturbance in class and get their work done.
The 3 staff then opened the boxes and sorted clothing for the families of 3 little girls who came in. They have big and very poor families.
We left and rushed back to the garage and got the turn signal problem solved, then went to Yaroslav and Halia’s again to talk, but not before we had another 6 course meal for supper. We had a good talk with Halia but only time will tell if she will be willing to forsake her hold on the Charismatic teachings she has imbibed. Pray for Halia, she is a lovely woman.
And so to home and rest after a mixed up busy day, but a good and Godly one.
Pray for us and those who are coming next week, Louis Smith and Eric Fowler.
Malcolm, Howard Dan and Volodia.
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