Tuesday March 29th
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
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