Spring 2013 - Report No 2

Report #2 for Thursday to Sunday. March 2013
On Thursday we struggled over bad roads and slush to Yosopowichi orphanage and took supplies of diapers, food items and baby blankets. Not all the children were there as they had a measles epidemic and so the others had been sent to relatives to try and stop the spread. The ones left looked as if they were covered with war paint, as each of the spots were covered with a purple antiseptic. We got all the staff together and gave our testimonies. One new supervisor was in tears later as she had lost one of twin babies and found it hard to accept that the baby was with Jesus.
We measured up to get a new back door for the building, as you could see out of the cracks in the old one and it kept the kitchen cold.
On the way home we visited with Michael, the doctor who now carves wooden objects. His wife Maria has some heart problems and is not well but seemed better than the last time we visited.
As Edmund and Agnes were leaving for Ireland on Friday; Nadia and her mother made a great supper in our (Flo’s) apartment. There were 8 of us and we had a nice time together.
On Friday, we heard that Misha, the sick man we had visited a few days ago, had passed away. It was a blessing indeed because he was very ill and in a lot of pain. He leaves behind a wife and one son.
We shopped and did some chores, then parked Edmunds car in an indoor parkade as they will be away for the month. We then went home and prepared for the Bible study at 7pm. The weather was terrible with wet sleet and a wind as we walked to meeting, about a 10minute walk. I can’t remember walking in that kind of weather for years! It was worth it because we had a good prayer meeting and Bible study.
Ruslan took Edmund and Agnes to the railway station to catch the train at midnight. They travel to Krakow in Poland and then fly to Ireland. This seems the easiest way home for them.
I had not told you that our Vito van had a problem and would not start and so on Saturday we had to get a technician to work on it. I have worked on vehicles all my life but have never seen such a complicated problem as this one. He worked from about 10 am till 7pm. What a wiz! And he only wanted less than $200US for his time but I gave him the $200. Most of the work was done outside in the snow, except for soldering in the apartment! Well now we had a vehicle to go to Ivano on Sunday.
Sunday arrived, very foggy and wet slush everywhere. We had a nice Morning Meeting with about 12 of us breaking bread. We both spoke after the breaking of bread and then had a lunch. Yaroslav and Luba had both come from Lviv to be at the meeting. They got up at 5am and got the bus at 6am. It took 3 1/2 hours to get there. THAT is dedication!
When we got the van back we noticed the heater fan was not working but could do nothing about it so left, hoping that the wind would blow through to give us heat. Well it did, that was whenever we could go fast enough! We have never seen or driven on such a destroyed highway before. There were deep 4-5 inch holes everywhere for the whole 3 hours. Because of the frost and wet this winter, all the roads in Ukraine have been destroyed. No one knows how they can afford to fix them. I have never driven so many miles on the other side of the road, as we had to do every mile or so. We arrived in one piece but very weary.
We had our meeting at 5pm, with about 12 out. We think that many did not know we were having a meeting. There were 2 new visitors, both Christians. They were not related but the man works with ex alcoholics and drug addicts and was very interested in us going to speak to the 10 men he looks after.
We plan to do so right away as they live in Ivano. The rehabilitation centre is one of many across Ukraine.
And so to bed, still a little jet-lagged but happy.
In much need of your prayers, as always.
Malcolm and Howard.