Post # 11

Ukraine visit #11

Wednesday morning was spent buying groceries and shopping for some necessary things. 

So back in 1995 when Gilles and Tim Kancir as well as Flora were in Lviv, they visited Flo’s brother and sister in law in the neighbouring village of Lesnivichy.  We still visit there and in fact there is a picture of Flo’s sister in law Stefka on the September 22nd visit.    While they were visiting there in 1995, a young fellow from the same village came for a visit to see the visiting Canadians.  This young fellow, Michael, was 16 years old.  He got his picture taken with Tim and Tim gave him his home address (this was in a days before smart phones and Skype and facebook).  Fast forward to 2018.  Michael was at home looking through some papers and came across a small piece of paper with green ink.  On it was Tim’s address from 1995.  So he sat down, wrote Tim a letter and mailed it hoping something would come from it.  

Sure enough the letter made its way to Tim in Canada and with the help of Google Translate and Gilles the letter was translated.  Michael had included his email address so Tim was able to get back to him easily.  So before leaving for Lviv we got his telephone number and an invitation to call.

Ruslan called Michael and told him we were in town.     He still lives in the small village of Lesnivichy but couldn’t meet with us when we went there.  So Ruslan told him about the mid week meeting we have.  So Wednesday evening while we were sitting waiting for the others to show up, in walk Michael and his wife Ola. They were so happy to be with us and stayed afterwards and talked for a good while.  He remembered Gilles, telling him he had not changed!  So they plan on being out on Sunday, bringing their little boy to the Sunday School.  

Gilles and Helene's Post# 10

Ukrainian visit #10

Sunday 23 

Awoke early.  Headed out  to the gospel hall to go to the Breaking of Bread.  What a precious time it is in the busy-ness of life to be able to do the one thing that the Lord Jesus asked us to do and that is to remember Him.  It is like an oasis in the desert.  

Dan and Dima both drove up from Ivano with quite a few kids as well as several adults who come join us on Sunday.  Also saw quite a few people I had not seen in a while.

The children who come to the Sunday School seem to enjoy the singing and reciting their memory verses as well as listening to the lesson.  

Tuesday September 25th

We were off to Ivano Frankivsk again today as we normally do on Tuesday to go help with the gospel meeting there.  There were about 30 people present with Ihor interpreting for Gilles.  

After the meeting when we were standing around talking there were three young adults looking around.  I showed the young woman where the ladies room was and she asked if we were from the States.  I told her we were from Canada.   She and the two other fellows are from Ghana and are studying in Ivano-Frankivsk, so the courses they are taking are in English!  This was a bit of a surprise.  They were in the same building as we were but they were in the auditorium rehearsing for some sort of musical program they were planning on having on Saturday.

I spoke to the her (Kiki was her name) about the gospel meetings we were having and gave her a tract explaining the gospel.  She seemed interested in knowing more and we are hoping she comes out next Tuesday.

Report #9

Saturday Sept 22

After stopping by at the grocery store to pick up some groceries to help out, and after loading a box of clothing picked out from the boxes in the apartment, we headed out to Lisnevitchy.  This is another village we have been visiting since 1995 on that first visit because this is where Flora’s brother and sister in law live.  Ivan, Stefka’s husband passed away quite a few years ago, but we still go visit Stefka.  She lives with her son Orst and daughter in law Ola.  Two years ago we were visiting and we could converse with Stefka.  But this year we found that she has been suffering from dementia and does not remember us at all.  She does remember Flora though!  

Gilles and I went to see the old couple who live next door.  Back in 2001 Gilles had helped him (Volodia) harvest his corn.  On another occasion Volodia took Gilles with him when he went to get his horses which were out in the pasture.  Every year we have stopped in to chat with them, as they live next door to Stefka.  This year we approached him and he didn’t remember Gilles at all, however the door suddenly opened and we were both wrapped up in this warm embrace from his wife because she remembered us.  She was very happy to see us.  Gilles was able to converse with her a bit and understand a bit of what she was saying.

She very explained to us how things have changed so much.  There are no more cows anywhere, the younger generation is all working in the city and life has changed very much for them.  And again there is the ever present problem of poverty for the elderly.  She was very sad as she explained to us that everything is going up in price but their pension is not sufficient to cover everything anymore. 

However she lit up as she told us that God is good.  All those years ago she heard the gospel preached at Stefka’s house and accepted that Jesus had in fact given His life for her, seeing him as the answer to her spiritual need.

After we left, we drove back to Lviv and picked up the food bags we had prepared to bring to the homeless shelter.  It only opens at 8 pm and Saturday is the only day they have no supper served to the ones sleeping there.  So after everyone had come in they came upstairs where Gilles and Ruslan and myself were waiting.  Gilles spoke about the love of Jesus being all inclusive and Ruslan translated and had a few things to say himself.  Everyone was very respectful and listened very well.  There were about twenty people sitting and listening.  We then distributed the food bags we had prepared.  It was more like a lunch, with a sausage and cheese sandwich, banana, coffee packets, sugar and juice box and a gospel tract in each bag.  Gilles mentioned to them how we can supply a small lunch to satisfy an immediate hunger, but only Jesus can fill the spiritual hunger we have.  It can’t be filled with anything else, though often we try with different things.  We all left there very happy with our visit and happy to have met these individuals and especially having been able to tell them of the One who loves them!

Report #8

Friday Sept 21, 2018

Today we headed out to a small village where Tanya, Ruslan’s wife was raised.  It is the village of Billie Comin.  

We stopped for a few minutes along the way so she could visit the grave of her parents who are both buried there as well as her grandparents. 

We were expected at her sister’s place for a meal.  Well, anyone who has been here knows what that means.  Multiple dishes of food....when you think there can’t possibly be more, here comes another dish.  

We visited with the family for a while.   Then we got in the van and went to another sister’s house to repeat the process!!  Needless to say we did not eat as much at the second sister’s house since we were stuffed. 

While we were in this village we did stop in to three elderly ladies.  We brought them some groceries and helped them out a bit.  These old ladies all remembered Flo very fondly and all wondered she was gone and why they were still living.  One in particular remembered that they have both been born in the same year.  Had a few words with them about being ready for the inevitable.  Lida, a lady we have been visiting for many years has serious lung issues and struggles to breathe. 

All of these ladies commented how difficult it is to grow old here.  Many feel left behind as their children have to work in the city and take care of their own families who are growing up and going to school.  Pensions are small, the price of everything is going up and things are more difficult for those with fixed pensions.  There is no social net here.  

Report from Gilles and Helene #7

Thursday Sept 20

From the boxes that were received from home, Tanya and Ruslan sorted out some clothes to bring to the orphanage in Lopatin.  We made a pit stop at Metro and bought some laundry soap as well as enough bananas for all the kids there...approximately 70 kids from kindergarten age to 16 or 17 years old. 

The kids were in class when we arrived so the director gave us a short tour of the kindergarden section where the children were all having their afternoon nap.  Slowly but surely the other children started filing in the auditorium.  Some were about 7 years and they sat in the front.  They seemed fascinated with Gilles and I who were standing there waiting for the director to return.  These younger ones were looking at us and giggling and we heard one of them refer to Gilles and I as Baba and Dido loosely translated as Grandma and Grandpa!!!  

So finally when everyone was in and quiet ended down Ruslan spoke to them a bit and introduced Gilles who spoke to the kids. He related a story about a soldier who had been shot but the small bible he was carrying in his breast pocket saved him from the fatal shot as it took the bullet thus saving him.  Since he had realized his need of a saviour at a younger age by reading his bible, the bible had in fact saved him twice. 

There were about 35 children and 6 adults.  The children listened really well.  A few of them were able (and willing) to recite John 3:16.  We know that they know this verse but perhaps they were just shy to stand up and say it.

We gave them each a book marker with the save verse John 3:16 written on it.  We also gave them each a banana.  It might seem strange to give them a banana but that is something that is a real treat for them.  The budget in these places does not allow for the luxury of bananas.  Other fruits such as pears and apples grow in the many fruit trees around.  

Afterwards when we were speaking with the director she was telling us that she has fresh honey at her house, so we told her we would be interested in buying a litre.  Well, after Ruslan got off the phone asking several people he knows if they wanted fresh honey, we were purchasing five litres.  We drove to her (Maria the director) house and met her mother who is the one who takes care of collecting the honey.  We had been told that the mother had problems with one knee but we were taken aback with what we saw.  This poor woman has a running sore on that same leg, but her knee left us in disbelief.  She wears a brace on the bad knee but her leg is out to the side from the knee down, at about a 45 degree angle.  We were told she needs knee surgery, but because of the sore that does not heal, the doctors do not want to touch her leg.  She was using a cane to walk with great difficulty.  We have a walker at the apartment and will be making a special trip there in the near future to bring it to her

Blog #5 & #6 for Monday and Tuesday Sept 17th and 18th

Monday sept 17

Today we headed out to Drohobych.

We visit a home which houses several girls who have just had a baby and have no place to go.

The first time we visited this place was about ten years ago.  It was a pilot project at the time.

Every time we go there we bring diapers and whatever they ask for.  Ruslan normally calls prior to us going and he’s told what is needed.  This time we brought some special formula for a newborn who was having difficulty and needed something to help his young immune system.

There were only three young ladies there this time around, as well as some staff, so we sat with them and talked about the Lord Jesus and the need to be saved. One of the girls was from the East and said she had tried to read the Bible but found she could not understand it.   She said she found it rather strange that people would have an interest in the bible and that religion was something people did on Sunday.  Ruslan spoke to her a bit more till she left to tend to her crying baby.  He spoke a bit with the the director.  

One of the girls was telling us she needed to come to Lviv the next day so we offered to wait for her and drive her since we were heading home.  So half an hour later we were on the road.  I can’t imagine taking a crowded bus with a baby, a large carriage for the child (5 month old girl) plus a bag full of diapers and clothes and baby supplies.  We dropped her off close to where her grandmother lives, which just happens to be close to the gospel hall.  After inviting her to the gospel meting on Sunday we bid her goodbye and drove to our apartment.  It would be nice to see her on Sunday for sure.

Gilles and I then went up to George Washington street to a language centre we noticed.  Once inside we realized its a language school. We were able to speak to a woman there about something we need translated. She will look into getting it translated for us.  We asked about her being available to work as a translator and it did not seem like this was a possibility except for weekends.  So we left her with the papers we need translated and came back home.

Tuesday Sept 18

Tanya and Ruslan came over in the morning and we spent some time unpacking the boxes we had shipped from Kapuskasing that had arrived just a couple of weeks before we did.  

Things were sorted out for their different destinations.

After changing we got in the van one more time (!) and drove down to Ivano-Frankivs’k for the gospel meeting.

We met up with Dan having left early to be able to go visit Yaroslav and his wife Halla. Halla has just had surgery to remove a cancerous mass in her abdomen.  She is thankful that the surgery enabled her to walk again.  She is waiting to go for more tests. The cost of being ill in Ukraine is difficult for us to imagine in Canada where we have health care for the majority of our needs.  Yaroslav and Halla are both on a pension and the apartment and utilities take care of 75% of their monthly income.  In a country where you need to pay for everything from a band aid to x-rays to doctors fees, it is not hard to imagine the financial strain this health crisis has been for them. If anyone is interested in knowing more about their need please contact us at plourdegh@gmail.com

Letter from Gilles and Helene regarding Yaroslav and Halia's situation

This is a post to ask for prayer for a brother in the Lviv assembly and his sick wife. 
Yaroslav and his wife Halia were a great help when we first went to Ivano Frankivsk in finding places for us to visit and accompanying us around the area. She has been sick for many years but is now obviously very sick.

This is Helene writing. Yaroslav is not really well either.

Tuesday before we went to the meeting in Ivano we, (Dan, Ruslan, Gilles and myself) visited with Yaroslav and Halla.

She has been quite ill for some time and last month had surgery..

They removed a cancerous tumour the size of a football we were told.  Prior to her surgery she was unable to walk, but since the surgery she is very thankful to be mobile.  (Most of what is said is not interpreted, so I’m not sure on the specifics of the surgery or type of cancer).  She says she feels better and will be going for more tests soon.

As you know everything boils down to money.  Yaroslav explained to us how they are desperate for financial help because of the medical care for  Halla.  They have borrowed money from the bank and also from what we can make out, have maxed out whatever credit they had available to them.  They have spent any money they had and are 40,000 rhivny in debt (or over $ 2,000), barely able to pay the interest charges.  He said they cannot afford their rent now because of the payments they have to make on their debts.  Not 100% sure if their son and his daughter lives with them but he does not presently work .  

We were sure that those who know them would want to know of their circumstances  .

Editors note

I have had a lot to do with this lovely couple for well over 20 years and know of their dedication to the Lords work, even though Halia is not in the Assembly.

Yaroslav preaches in the assembly and helps Dan in Ivano Frankivsk.

I am returning to Ukraine on October the 1st and will try to help in this situation, as the Lord provides.

Your brother in Christ Malcolm Stanley.

Halia in Centre and Yaroslav on right
Son and grandaughter on left.

Gilles and Helene for Sunday Sept !6.

Ukraine visit #4 Sunday Sept 16, 2018

Gilles and I were so anxious to see everyone that we were at the hall an hour early!!  Thankfully it was a sunny morning.  Breaking of Bread is at 11.  

Everyone started showing up as well as Dan and Dima with several folks from Ivano and half a dozen children.  

One of the ladies I mentioned in the previous post, Oxana with the four year old daughter, came, by bus.  A two hour bus ride!

Had a nice time remembering the Lord Jesus and his incredible life and death and resurrection.  No greater person ever walked the earth.  

Sunday school was enjoyable for these very enthusiastic kids.  They love to sing and listened well as Ruslan spoke. Also they were eager to recite their verses.  

We had lunch and everyone went their separate way.  Gilles and I came back home and had a much needed nap.  That jet lag is not letting go.  

Took a walk to the grocery store to buy what’s missing for my soup!

Blog #2 and #3 for Gilles and Helene.

Went to buy a few supplies for our little orphanage in Yosopovitch as well as some fruits.  Bananas are a favourite and a rare treat for these kids.

We got there as the children were sitting eating their lunches. These kids are between five and nine I think. We had a little chat with them telling them that Jesus loves each and every one of them.  Afterwards they were off for their afternoon nap.

We stayed around and spoke with the director of the orphanage.  She was telling Ruslan that the government is trying to cut expenses and is trying to remove children from Yosopovitch at an earlier age. She is fighting for these kids and is refusing to accept this govt solution.  So now they are trying to eliminate her position.  

She showed us some kitchen cupboards that are in desperate need of being replaced, so measurements were taken and we’ll look into getting new ones.  These cupboards are right under the sink, and being just particle board, were destroyed over time because of the water.  

After we left there we drove to Stryïi to see Misha and Maria.  Many people sent funds to buy this couple a new apartment.  The place they lived in prior to this new apartment was so bad, mold growing on the ceiling, in corners.  The smell was hardly tolerable. And then there were the cockroaches!  So now they are in their new apartment which Maria had a hand in decorating.  She should have been an interior designer!  Everything is co-ordinated.  They are very happy.  She has heart problems and has had surgery. I thought she looked very well this year compared to a couple of years ago.  Misha and Maria have a 28 year old handicapped son, so Misha cannot work as he needs to be home to care for Michealo. There is no assistance to be had here, so you are on your own to figure things out if you have special circumstances in your life.  

We chatted about spiritual things emphasizing the need to be sure of your destiny when death overtakes you, as it will for each and every one of us.

After praying with them we were back in the van, on the road, headed back to Lviv.  It’s a good hour of driving for sure.  There are so many vehicles on the road when we approach Lviv!  The road on the perimeter of the city eliminates a lot of traffic congestion in the already congested city roads.  However this “circle” road is full, vehicles bumper to bumper as far as the eye can see. You cannot afford to be in a hurry.  

Saturday Sept 15

Set out to Sosnivka for the bi-weekly children meeting.

First did a stop at the grocery store to buy some groceries for Vasyl and Vera. 

Every second week we go to their village for children’s meetings and afterwards go to their place for a meal. So it’s our habit to help out with groceries.

We arrived a few minutes late but all the kids were playing and waiting for us.

There were about ten adults and 30 kids present. These kids come out regularly and are so enthusiastic.  They have no problem getting up in front of all the others and saying the verse they memorized.  They also don’t mind standing in front of their peers and singing a song.  After a few choruses and a bible lesson, we all enjoyed a treat and a drink.   

Off to Vasyl and Vera’s for a meal.  He has quite an interesting story about how he was saved in prison.  God truly has changed his life.  

Afterwards we brought two ladies and their daughters back home to the “dormitory” where they live.  It’s pretty much a rooming house with shared washrooms and only a hot plate to cook on.  One of the ladies (Oxana) in her mid twenties has a four year old daughter.  Oxana has just found work and is working hard to better her life and perhaps get a real apartment.

The other lady Tetiana - it was her first time coming to the children’s meeting with her 14 year old daughter. (sorry I can’t remember the daughters names).   This dear lady has been in western Ukraine for only a year.  She lived in Donetsk which is in the east.  Russia had caused a lot of damage in their takeover of parts of eastern Ukraine and the city Donetsk is a casualty of war.  So Tetiana and her daughter moved to Chervonograd which is a few kilometres from  Sosnivka to get away from the conflict.  She had one suitcase that she could fill, and that’s all she was allowed to bring.  She has left her house and her life as she knew it and moved to a totally strange area.  She was very quiet.  She invited me in to see where she was living.  My heart sank.  A 12 x 15 room, small counter with a hot plate. I don’t recall seeing a fridge. Two beds and a closet.  Few of us can enter into what it must be like to leave your life, your belongings, the things that make a house a home and leave.  I certainly cannot.  She asked if we could get her some pots and pans, some sheets & towels.  They need winter coats and boots.  I’m just hoping we have the necessary sizes in the apartment.  Otherwise we will go shopping and find something.  We were able to communicate a bit using Google translate.  She speaks Russian & a bit of French she learned in school.

Tetiana apologized for not being very talkative and said that the war has made her very tired.  I could not understand if she is presently working or used to work at painting.  

We drove back home after leaving their place, picked up a roasted chicken for supper and came home to a comfortable apartment, more appreciated than when we left.

Gilles and Helene Plourdes first blog September 2018

Gilles and Helene Plourdes. First blog of their visit in September 2018

We arrived at Lviv airport right on time and Ruslan and Tania were waiting for us.  We left the airport and went to their house for a feast! Tania again had outdone herself. Mushroom soup, vegetable salad, roast duck, potatoes and fruit salad for supper.  After a nice meal with them and their niece Vika (Victoria), and spending a bit of time being entertained by Timothy , Ruslan & Tania’s grandson, we got in the van and headed to what would be our home for the next seven weeks.  There is a comforting familiarity with the apartment.  We unpacked some of our things, got our second wind and unpacked more of our things, put away the few groceries we had bought and then headed to bed at 9:00.  So we had in fact been up for 30 hours!

High on our list of priorities is getting a SIM card for our phones.  Funny how being connected is part of life.  

Sept 12 

Well, time to try to get some more sleep.  Been awake from 1:30-4:30 a.m.  

Well what a wonderful surprise to wake up at 10:30!!! 

We did not plan anything official to do today.  Since we have some Ryvnii we will go to the store and buy a few groceries and just organize our stuff and take the day to rest.  

We headed out to Arsene’s around 1:30. It is only about 3/4 of a mile but uphill most of the way from here. Fitbit tells me it’s 1400 steps.  We were exhausted when we returned.  Gilles went for a nap and I also snoozed but only for about 15 minutes.  

Picked up some few things at Arsene’s, but  I will go visit the little ladies who sell produce in this neighbourhood for my veggies. 

Walked to the hall at 6:30 for the mid week meeting. Not too many people were out.  After a couple hymns and a short time to pray Gilles spoke on the five things a Christian should love.

Had a small snack after mtg and walked back home, changed and went for a short walk to get my 10,000 steps per day.  We went to get some Pepsi.  A rather grumpy lady was trying to tell us the cooler did not work...after we had tugged on the cooler handle several times.  A smile on her part would have gone a long way to make this a little less embarrassing.  

Thursday September 13th

Nights are proving to be a challenge with jet lag fighting for its hold on us.  

We sleep for a couple of hours but then are awake for three or more and then sleep perhaps another two or three hours.  

Today was our day to go around town to get some things done, one of which was changing our Canadian currency to Ukrainian currency.  The first year I was here (2005) our $1 bought four of their rhivny.  Now our $1 purchases twenty of their rhivny.  Needless to say the Ukrainian currency has lost a lot of its value over the years.  Gas prices are approximately the same as what we pay in most parts of Canada.  

We were able to get new SIM cards for our phones. Now that we can get our cell phones unlocked in Canada, it allows us to keep using our own phones here with the purchase of a new SIM card.  That in itself took a good hour.  

When we finally got that done we located a second hand store that is run by a homeless shelter to raise funds for themselves.  Spoke with them about their other location that houses the homeless shelter itself.  Hoping to go see how it is run.

We have plans to go to Yosopovytch tomorrow to visit the small orphanage we care for over there.  Bought the items they asked us to pick up, one of which is lightbulbs. The govt doesn’t supply lightbulbs, or soap or detergents.  We also bring fruits to the kids and try to speak to them about God who loves and cares for them, bringing them the story of Jesus.  We also purpose to go see the wood carver and his family who live in that area, another person we have visited for years.  

Picked up groceries and came back home determined to figure out this gas oven. I’ve never used one and the temperature readings are less than accurate.  Once Gilles was able to light it we were in business!!  Trout and salad for supper, though more tired than hungry.

Heard today that Eric Fowler is in the hospital in St John NF.  Will bring him and his wife before God in their need.  Gilles and I were both thankful that this happened to him while at home and not in Ukraine.

I want to get out for a walk, but it gets dark way too fast and the roads are so full of holes and uneven surfaces....it’s a bit daunting at night. Had a bit of a chuckle as I was walking, this car drove down the road, stopped and a man came out with a large bag filled with old bricks and mortar.  He dumped the contents of the bag in one of the many potholes!  One less hole to dodge when driving.  No need for speed bumps here!