Report #15, Oct 24

Report 15 for Friday Oct 24 2008

We woke up to a nicer dry day and planned to deliver the boots to the
orphanage in the village of Yablunin. We were shown into the office of the
Director Natalia and spent some time with her as she explained the types of
children in her care. She said there were 140 children, some were total
orphans, some had only one parent and some had been taken out of neglected
or abusive homes. She then offered to take us on a tour of the buildings and
activities. We were very impressed with the whole place. It had been
remodeled with government funds. It had workshops for woodworking, leather
work and shoe repair. It had an infirmary with dentist's chair and equipment
with a dentist coming one a week. A doctor and nurses came in shifts through
the week. They have a small gym with equipment.

The children in the lower grades met in the auditorium and we began to fit
them with boots. What a shimozle, they thought they knew their sizes but
most didn't. Well we finished up with some very happy little people, but
some were disappointed because we did not have their sizes. We had about 6
or 7 left over and will take them back and exchange them for the right
sizes. We were then treated to sandwiches and tea and headed back to Ivano.

We were to go to Marika and her mothers for "tea" at 2pm but did not get
there until 4pm. No problem, just boil the water and have our tea, RIGHT! We
find out that they have a full meal that was ready at 2pm, oops! Cabbage
rolls, meat and cheese open face sandwiches, battered fish, and then a large
bowl of hot home made chicken soup. Dessert was two slices of a chocolate
and jam roll. We were absolutely stuffed but the problem was we were
supposed to go to another Maria's for supper at 6pm. We left Marika's at
5:30. I didn't know until after that Howard had prayed that Maria would not
have a big supper. His prayer was answered when she asked if tea and some
home make cake would be enough PTL.

We had a lovely visit with Maria who speaks and teaches English, also her
daughter Anna Maria and her 16 year old son Andrew were there. Maria
interprets for us when she is at the meeting. We did not stay too long as we
were getting very weary so came home to relax and have an early night.

All for now. With Christian love.

Malcolm