Spring 2011 - Report #12

Wed April 6^th

We had a lovely warm sunny day at last with daffodils in bloom as well as many wild flowers. We loaded up 3 boxes of children’s clothes and headed for a large school that we have helped for several years now. It is a long way, through the Carpathian Mountains and is a lovely trip. The Town is right on the Romanian border. It has no gas line to the town; everything is heated by either wood or electricity. The school has 402 students, 250 of them board there from Monday to Friday because they live up in the mountains and cannot get there every day. Oxana, the director has a teaching staff of 70 and support staff of 60. She got 102 of the younger children into the auditorium and I spoke. They were very well behaved. The 6 or so teachers were there too. We gave them all a laminated picture text and left the teachers with colourful bible story books.

We then headed to the market and bus depot and gave out over 100 new testaments. We then went on to another town on the way home and gave the rest of the new testaments out. This cleaned us out so we will get more testaments from Lviv, when Flo comes tomorrow with Max Mc Mclean and his wife.

A good profitable day, we trust. Only eternity will reveal the results.

Thursday April 7^th

Another lovely day although it had drizzled a little first thing. As I write this, it is thundering and raining steadily.

We were expecting Flo and the folks from Lviv to spend part of the day with us and so wanted to get some things done and so went to our friendly wholesale shoe warehouse to see what they had.

We had a list of shoe sizes that we had agreed to supply for the orphanage in Yablunov. They sorted them out for us but were a few sizes short; however they were getting a truckload in this afternoon. They said they would phone us when they had them and did so at about 6 pm.

Our original contact in Ivano was Andre Miketin and we knew max McLean wanted to visit him, as it was Max who Andre first met. The traffic was inexcusably terrible today and we knew we would have some problems keeping schedules. Flo and the people from Lviv were late arriving in time to visit Andre and so I with Dan and Vadym went to visit him. We had a very cordial meeting with coffee and cookies and an invitation to have supper with him on Saturday evening.

We had to rush away to speak to the children at a “half-way home” for children who have either been taken off the streets or away from their parents. We have visited this home every time we have visited Ivano and have a standing order to provide help with their foot ware. We were able to take several bags of good shoes from our boxes as well as two boxes of clothing. We spoke to about 15 teens and younger who listened very well. They have one child who is 18 months old.

We left there and went to the apartment to get ready for meeting and wait for Flo and Max and his wife and Edmond Johnson and his wife as they were still with Andre.

A good number of people arrived for meeting, several who had not been, either for a long time or not at all. There were over 30 of us once everyone got there. Max started by giving his testimony and Edmond followed. It was a very good meeting and we trust will meet the need of several unsaved ones present.

Flo and crew headed back to Lviv right away. We went to pick up the 53 pairs of running shoes, ready to take them out tomorrow and then went for supper.

A good day, thank You Lord.

Thank you for praying for the work here.

Malcolm and Dan.

Spring 2011 - Report #11

Monday April 4^th

A bright sunny cool day for a trip to Sniatin, one of the men’s mental homes that had asked if we could get a b/p machine and a nebulizer as they had many men with chest problems and nothing to help them breathe. We also took a blood sugar tester. All this for $235.00 from a medical supply store.

The administrator was so happy; I guess they get a lot of promises but not much delivery. We left them two more boxes of clothes as they have a lot of men to clothe.

We then went to the other home, where the administrator had acid thrown in his face. He had a long acjd burn that had come up from one ear to his chin. They have still not found out who did it. We brought them a b/p machine and an electric vacuum cleaner. This home has lovely carpet through most of the building and their vacuum had given up the ghost. They now have a very nice Hitachi vacuum. We tested it in the administrator’s office, you should have seen the dust it got out of about three meters long of carpet. I think it is going to be busy.

We left there and went to the next town, Churnitsky, to a massive Mercedes repair facility to get the turbo on our van checked. A valve had stuck and it was fixed in a hurry. On our way back we stopped to look at 2 used seats for the front of our van. It is meant to have seating for 3 but only had seating for 2.

We bought 2seats that are the same pattern and material as all the others. Now we have seating for 9 including the driver. On the way home, we picked up a mother and 18 year old daughter at a lonely bus stop. They were coming to Ivano and were very glad of the one hour ride instead of 2 or more. The girl, Svetlana and her mother Oxana were invited to meeting on Tuesday.

A long day but a good one.

Tuesday April 5^th.

We were supposed to get going early to another home, this one for girls; to take cleaning supplies and clothing but had a little hold up. The last time we were in Kolumia, the Administrator was busy when we spoke to the staff, so this time I spoke to her and one of her supervisors, in her office. They listened very well. These places are off the beaten track of large cities and really are neglected when it comes to the supply of such things as laundry soap, hand soap, shampoo, toilet cleaner and floor cleaner plus much more. We were able to get all this plus toilet paper and deodorant for $58.00. Why is there not any money from the government for these items?

We had meeting at 5pm and a good number were out including the daughter Svetlana, who we picked up from the bus stop yesterday.

After meeting we went to Vadym’s Grand Mother- i-n law’s 83^rd birthday party. We didn’t need a meal like that at 7pm. Bang goes my diet for another day.

Malcolm and Dan.

Spring 2011 - Report #10

Saturday April 2

Well Saturday is laundry and clean up day. Dan went swimming with Vadym and family at 7am.

By the time he got home I had done a load of washing and cleaned up. With no dryer, we put our wash on a drying rack and behold, it’s dry in the morning.

Vadym came at 11:30 and we went shopping for some material to get mattress covers mad of “waterproof!” material. After 4 shops we found none but a lady in the last shop will phone her wholesaler on Monday to see if it is available. One of the orphanages and the old folk’s home we visited, have mattresses that need covers. The one orphanage will sew them for themselves and us.

We then went to Vadym’s home to help clean up the back yard. We had a great afternoon with a good fire to burn the branches a dry stuff. Then  Vadym did shishlyk  chicken or shish kabob to us westerners.

We had a good supper and then some serious talks about relationships etc. While we were with them, a neighbour lady came over and told them that the owner of their house that they rent, is coming to visit from America, where he now lives, and will be living in Vadym’s house! Vadym is going to find out on Monday what is going on.

We arrived home late and got ready for Sunday.

Sunday April 3^rd

Headed for Lviv at 10 am with a full van of ladies that wanted to go to the Breaking of Bread. One lady and one girl were not in fellowship, the others were.

It was good to see Max Mclean and His wife Ingrid at the meeting. Max had not been to Ukraine for 7 years. He gave a nice word after the meeting. We headed back again over the terribly potholed roads and got back right on 4pm for our meeting in Ivano. About 15 out today but good attention once again.

We took a gentleman who has attended every meeting we have had so far, Vadym’s father in law, with us for supper and had a very good talk with him about salvation. We feel he is very near the door.

Pray for Andre, he would be such an asset to the group of believers here and a joy to The Lord as well.

We have a busy week planned. Please pray for us.

Malcolm and Dan

Spring 2011 - Report #9

Thursday March 31

Another spring day with daffodils out and green grass already. We headed out to a city of Kolomia, where Vadym found a woman’s home for mentally handicapped. Last year Eric Fowler and Howard went and were impressed by the dedication of the Staff and the needs of the girls.

We too were impressed at how clean the 100 year old facility was kept and the grounds were lovely.

Heard again of the corrupt dealings of the government inspectors of these facilities, how they come unexpected and without even an inspection, levy a fine. The administrator was busy with a group of 3 other helpers, trying to answer to long lists of questions that had been sent to them prior to a visit in a weeks time. Even though the officials may tell them to change things, there are no funds given to make the changes. She says that it turns her into a beggar and she hates it.

Agreed to help with some items and will go back next week. Dan spoke to a group of the higher grade girls and I to a small group of staff.

Headed home to get some things needed and had our meeting at 5pm.  A good number out and we gave out packet of seeds to each family.

Friday April 1

Headed out again in a lovely sunny morning for a very special place in our hearts, an orphanage in the same village where we went for the funeral as well as the old people’s home and a maternity hospital. We met the orphanage administrator and gave her seeds for their large garden. She splits them up and gives them to each school teacher and the class plants a section of garden. The produce is all used for the orphanage. We left 2 boxes of clothes and then went to speak to a packed auditorium of 110 kids and about 10 or more staff. We always love speaking here as the kids are so receptive. We finished by giving out balloons that almost caused a riot as they all scrambled to get one.

We then went to the old people’s home to leave some clothes and finished up at the maternity ward to give some baby blankets for poor mothers to take home. This town is in the foot hills of the Carpathian Mountains and when a woman, who lives up in the hills gets pregnant, she comes and stays in the hospital until she has the baby as it would be very difficult to get to the hospital in a hurry. They will never let us see the women but the head nurse said that they will take pictures when they give a blanket away.

So, back to the city and market to buy product and look at prices of items we need to buy for the various homes. I should add that we always make sure that each place we visit has bibles for each person.

All for now.

Malcolm and Dan

Spring 2011 - Report #8

Tuesday March 29^th

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

Spring 2011 - Report #7

Sunday March 27^th

We put our clocks on one hour last night so lost an hour sleep, but did not have to get up early, as we were going to Lviv for the Breaking of Bread which is at 12noon. We left at 10:30 and picked up 3 ladies who wanted to come to the meeting. They had all been in fellowship at Solidarity and looked for the day they could remember the Lord again.

It had snowed in the night but was all wet and yucky. Fortunately, the snow ran out as we neared Lviv and became much warmer. About 18 of us sat down to Break Bread; it was such a joy to hear each brother worship the Lord. I gave a message at the end of the meeting on the 3 “ifs” in Luke 23 and the absence of an “if” in verse 42.

Of course, dear Flo had made a quick meal for us as we might faint on the way home without something to eat. We then packed a box of baby clothes and some blankets and were on our way home. The only problem was that we didn’t leave enough time to get home at 4pm for the meeting here in Ivano. We were 15 minutes late but everyone was waiting outside for us.

We had a good meeting with several people out we had wanted to see, which was an encouragement.

Dan and I were not too hungry so went for a walk and found a “hole in the wall” cafe, where we had a small salad and juice and then headed home to bed.

Monday March 28^th

We found out last night that Luba, one of the sisters that came with us to Lviv, has a daughter who has had a kidney problem and was in a children’s sanatorium in the hills. She was ready to come home today and Luba and her autistic son where going on the bus to get her. As it was going to take 2 hours to get there and 2 hours to come home, we thought we should go and get her. We left at about 10am for the 1 hour trip, so we thought! I can say that I have never ridden on such pot holed roads for so long a distance, in my life. The road was good until we turned off the highway. There were holes that bottomed out the van, full of water. The problem is that the Sanatorium is in a logging area and the logging trucks have destroyed the communist built roads.

Enough about the drive. We met the Administrator of the sanatorium, a very pleasant lady, and told her what we do and wondered if we could speak to the children. She says they will be very happy to have us after the first of April, as they expect to have a full house of children in that week. It seems children come in batches and they were clearing out today. We are looking forward to the visit but NOT the drive. We headed home with another lady and daughter on board who was a neighbour of Luba’s. We invited her to the meetings and hope she comes.

We were completely worn out after the trip but managed to do so things around town and in the apartment. We have plans to visit a baby orphanage with supplies and hopefully a word to staff.

All for now Malcolm and Dan.  

Spring 2011 - Report #6

Friday March 25^th

Decided we should look for summer tires for the van and get them before going to Lviv on Sunday. One thing Vadym knows it all the best places for “things”. We got prices but did not buy yet as we were not satisfied. We had some visiting we wanted to do and so natually decided to get the tires put on the 4 extra wheels we got with the van. We went to visit a lady, while they were doing that. She comes out to meeting but is badly crippled with a stroke. She was outside burning off the garden but invited us in the house, it was in a mess as her brother was doing some remodelling or “remont” as they call it. She lives with her daughter of 20 some years who is paid to look after her mother. The daughter was very pleasant but does not come out to meeting. I had a nice chat about being saved and she did agree to come out on Tuesday.

We then went back to get the wheels on and they were busy and by the time we were done, we were almost late for the 5 oclock meeting.  We had a good number out again and there seemed to be good attention.

Saturday March 26^th

Not a nice day, rather cool and cloudy. Vadym and his family go swimming on Saturday morning at 7am. I elected not to go but Dan was away when I woke up at 8am. I had a leisurely shower and breakfast. When they came back, Dan was limping as he had come down the slide too fast and banged his heel on the bottom of the pool. He is still limping but we think he will live without having to amputate his foot.  We later went to visit a man who comes regularly and brings an adult son who is a little slow but listens well. We found his father in bed but he got up and told us he is suffering from a balance problem when he stands up and starts to move. The doctor has not found out what it is yet. It sounds like vertigo or some inner ear problem. We prayed for him and hope he will soon be out again.

We went to Vadym’s for a good supper. Then  home to get ready for Sunday in Lviv, it had started to snow, we hope it doesn’t stick.

All for now

Malcolm and Dan

Spring 2011 - Report #5

Wednesday March 23

Spring seems to have sprung as there a flowers popping and sun shining. The wind is still a little cool but really quite nice.

Vadym phoned to say that Amelia, his daughter had woken with a tooth ache, so he was on his way to pick us up in a taxi and take her to the dentist. We had a little personal shopping to do so we shopped while the dentist fixed Amelia. We then met the man who had the vehicle we wanted to buy and went to the Mercedes dealer and had the van diagnosed again, just to be sure everything was good. It checked out 100% and no charge as the man who did it is a friend of Vadym’s. The same old story, it’s not WHAT you know but WHO you know that counts, in Ukraine any way.

Once this was done we paid for the vehicle and went to a notary public, called an “Advocat” here, to prepare a legal bill of sale. It took her about an hour to write up the 5 pages of the contract. The cost was 400Rhivney or $50.00. So now the van is ours and we are very happy with it. I don’t think this vehicle is in North America, it is called a Mercedes Vito.

It is a 9 passenger with removable seats. A 2000 with a Diesel engine.

By the time all this was done it was time to get ready for meeting at 5pm.

We were glad to see the room fill up with old friends and some new people that I had not met but Dan had met last year. Tania and he mother were out. Her mother looked wonderful since the surgery to replace her nose that had to be removed. I found out the problem that had attacked her was Lupus. Some of you will have heard of it.

Tania is leaving tomorrow for Montreal, Canada. She has got her visa and is going to seek and work to better the situation for her mother and brothers. She needs our prayers.

We went to Tania’s home for a nice lunch and then home to bed.

Thursday.

Vadym arrived in the van at 8:30 am to pick us up as well as some supplies for an old folk’s home. We were going to the town this home is in because Vadym’s father-in-law was to be buried today. We arrived to find the upstairs of an apartment house, full of people singing in response to the priest’s prayers over the open coffin. We stayed until they moved outside and brought the coffin outside, with the coffin open and “Grandpa” lying in state for the entire crowd to see. Now there was another session, with everyone who wanted to, kissing the corpse. There must have been 50 people attending. While we were standing outside, some ladies moved through the crowd giving everyone a fresh round loaf of bread in a plastic bag.

After a while (about a good hour so far) they loaded the casket, now with its top on, onto an old WW 2 truck, draped in black and began the “march” to the cemetery.

We left in the van to go another route to the cemetery. It was way up in the hills on terrible roads. It took the procession a good hour to walk all the way to the cemetery. It really was a beautiful spot overlooking a beautiful valley. The wind was fierce but not too cold. Once there, they then crowded into the church at the cemetery for another service and then to the grave side for another service before lowering the casket in to a VERY deep grave.

We had gone to the old people’s home before going to the cemetery and gave out some clothes. I spoke briefly to two staff and a few of the residents.

We were going to head home after the party returned to the house from the funeral, but one of the daughters of the man who died would not hear of it, we HAD to go in and eat. What a spread of food, and our waists I’m sure.

We packed the van with 10 of us and headed home, quite weary after so long in the wind and fresh air but looking to do some visiting in town tomorrow.

All for now and thank you for those who donated and prayed for us to get a good vehicle. God answered prayer.

Malcolm and Dan.

Spring 2011 - Report #4

Monday and Tuesday March 21 & 22^nd.

We were all ready for Ruslan to pick us up at 10 am, and leave our “foster mother Flo” for 3 weeks, and move to Ivano Frankivsk. As we would not be having a meeting on Monday night, Flo elected to stay home and sort out her last shipment of boxes.

We picked some Bibles from the Canadian Bible House before getting on our way. What a trip. The roads are breaking up now the frost has lifted. Pot holes almost the entire hour and a half trip; very hard on drivers and cars.

Vadym was at the apartment to meet us. The apartment was spotless and we proceeded to unpack and then head over to have a visit and supper with Vadym, Sveta and their daughter Amelia, who now spends all day at day care/ kindergarden. Sveta has a new job selling items to pharmacies and had to leave on the 7pm train to go for training in Kiev, 11 hours on this train through the night. Seminar all day Tuesday, back on the train and arrive at 7am Wednesday.

We came home and got our beds ready and crawled in at 11:45 pm. My room was cold, as a case had been put on top of the only radiator and no heat “radiated”. My nose and arms froze, and I had a miserable night.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Tuesday.

O well, the morning came and we were up and ready by 7am. Our plan was to shop for a vehicle to be left for the work in Ivano. Most of the morning was spent going through the Ukrainian “Truck Trader” on the web. We found one in Ivano and several others in a town near-by. However it turned out that the first one we saw in Ivano is most likely the most suited so we will see what tomorrow brings.

We have to do some quick visiting as the schools are on mid-term break next week and we would like to visit some this week.

Not too much of interest to report but a big decision for us to make. Please pray that the vehicle will be trustworthy and serve us well and long.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Malcolm and Dan.

Spring 2011 - Report #3

Saturday turned out to be cloudy and cold and wet, still not spring. We were going to visit in town once again. First we went to see Maria. She is an abandoned wife and mother of five children. The oldest is in university and still lives at home with his mother and a younger brother and two younger sisters. These 5 sleep in one room off the kitchen on two flip flop sofa’s that were ripped apart when the husband left. The sponge is all exposed. The eldest son has just gone into the army but also sleeps in the same room when he is home. They have to go outside to use a toilet shared with other tenants. There is no bathroom. It’s hard to believe in this day that people have to live in such circumstances. We would like to buy at least one new sofa bed if the funds permit.

Next we went into a village a few miles out of the city to see another sad case and give a little encouragement. Natalia is a teacher of Ukrainian language and culture and lives with her two young sons in a hovel of an apartment. Her husband left her while she was having the youngest boy in hospital. She came home to see he had left, taking the furniture and anything of value. He then denied that the new baby was his and refused to support her charging her with infidelity. Now one of his relatives is trying to get her evicted from her apartment as she wants to sell it. The boys are lovely boys the one could speak good English and is also learning Polish, he is only 9 years old. His brother is 12.

Natalia is not saved but is very interested and we had a good conversation with her about the need of salvation and blessing of having God as our Father and Friend. We left her with some supplies and some funds as she has had to hire a lawyer to help with the apartment problem.

We were close to the place we first had meetings in the home of Stefka in the village of Nesnevachi. When we first came with Ross Vanstone and Seed Sowers, we had meetings each Sunday for several weeks. It’s sad to see the people getting so old and needing serious surgery both Stefka and her son Orst have had serious surgery but seemed to have benefitted so far. Flo also visited another friend across the road. We brought garden seeds to all these people, so greatly appreciated by them all. We thank Brother Jim Solomon for donating so many seeds for us to distribute.

Sunday March 20^th

We had a good breakfast of Flo’s special crepes. (There goes the diet!) We got things ready for the Breaking of Bread meeting held at 12 noon. About 15 in fellowship and 3 unsaved watching on. It was so exciting to hear each brother pray so intelligently and thank God for giving His Son to die for them. All except one are from non Christian backgrounds. I gave a word at the end on Acts 2 and what was expected of each one who was formed the first new-testament church.

We all had a nice cold lunch and fellowshipped for a while before going out to visit one of the families and having supper and a nice time round the scriptures. Then home in a taxi and started to get ready to leave for Ivano Frankivsk tomorrow at 10am.

A great week in Lviv. I omitted to say that Dan got his lost bag on Tuesday ok.                                                                                 

Thanks for praying for the work

Malcolm & Dan

Spring 2011 - Report #2

Report Thursday March 17^th We woke to a miserable cold and rainy day. There is no snow but lots of mud.

We got under way at 10am to spend the day visiting in Lviv. Of course we have to take some food supplies to these people, so visit our famous super market first. The super markets certainly have plenty of selection but the prices have really gone up.

The first lady we visited is named Oxana and she was very sad and cried most of the time. The last time we visited with her, she had her 18 year old cerebral palsy daughter with her in her home. The girl died about 9 months ago and she is having a real problem getting over the loss. We are sure the girl was saved as she would show amazing joy when we talked to her about the Saviour, the last time we visited with her. Oxana’s mother was their too and we are quite sure both ladies are trusting in Christ as their Saviour. Oxana said she will come to meeting now that she is free of the 24 hour care of her daughter.

We then went to visit a lovely sister in Christ Lesia who is house-bound in a wheel-chair with MS. She has 5 grown children and a good husband who is not saved but listens to what Flo says to him when we visit. I have mentioned for prayer, the need for a new or good wheel-chair for Lesia as the seat is broken and cannot be repaired. It is a toilet wheel-chair and is most uncomfortable for this lovely lady. We spoke with her and prayed and left some house hold and medical supplies.

Friday March 18^th

Still foggy and raining this morning but not so cold today.

We were going out of town today to visit the children’s home at Yosopowich, our favourite little orphanage in a small village. We were going to visit with the ex-doctor who carves for a living now in the town of Stri. Before we leave we have to pick up supplies for both places as both are in desperate need of help.

The orphanage was having some plumbing problems with the water pressure, so the plumber who installed the system two years ago, and a helper came along with us to find the problem. We arrived at noon and they got to work right away. It seemed that the pressure pump could not maintain enough water pressure. While they traced the problem we visited with the staff but the children, all pre-schoolers, were having their afternoon nap, except they were all awake! After the problem was found and solved with the system, we headed back down the road, full of pot holes, to visit with Michael the doctor in the 2 room apartment he shares with his wife and 5 children. His sixth daughter has just married and moved out. Since the last time we were there a year ago, he was able to renovate the apartment with funds we left. He painted, got rid of the cockroaches that infested the place, even though it was not dirty, and put down some new flooring. Now the ceiling has developed large patches of mould because of the lack of any air movement. Dan was almost sick with the smell of the dampness that these people have to live in. It can’t be healthy.

We headed home and had supper and got ready for meeting at 7pm. This was not a regular meeting, but one we arranged to just have a home Bible study in the book of James. About 8 people came and we had a profitable time that all said they appreciated. There was good participation.

After every one had gone home we relaxed and watched a very good video Dan had brought called “the forbidden book” about the history of the Bible.

And so to bed.

Malcolm

Spring 2011 - Report #1

Report #1 dated Tuesday March 15^th 2011.

Everything went well on Sunday morning as David, my middle son, drove me to Winnipeg at 4:15am for my 6:20am flight to Toronto. God graciously gave us clear roads after the roads had been closed until Saturday noon with ice and blowing snow.                                                                                                 

 The wait in Toronto was long and boring except for a very nice talk with a young lady from Newfoundland, on her way home from teaching in Soul Korea. I was able to give her my testimony and God’s plan of salvation. She was very interested and it passed a good 1 ½ hours.

Dan arrived and we got the LOT Air plane in good time. It was not full and we both got an outside seat with an empty one in the middle. Good for stretching long legs in. We arrived on time in Warsaw and made a good connection to Lviv. Only one snag, Dan’s one and only bag did not arrive and was not in Warsaw either. A tracer has been put on it and he should get it on Thursday when the next LOT flight comes in.                                                                                                                                                                   

  We were met by Flo and Ruslan and were glad that the Customs  didn’t ask anything about my bags. We were worried about the seeds we had brought to give away, but no problems.

 We were able to have a nap before supper but thankfully were still able to get 7 hours sleep.

Tuesday we had to change our Canadian or US money. The exchange rate is good for us but not for the Ukrainian economy.  Canadian was 8.2Rhivney and US was 7.94Rhivney per dollar.

We then picked up some sewing material for one of the orphanages then headed out to deliver some goods to Vileky Luben (Great Love), one of our favourite orphanages since we first came here. It has about 120 children, some of which are mentally challenged. We had a very nice time talking over the Scriptures with the Director and then we spoke to most of the kids and staff in their auditorium. After a light lunch with the director we headed home.

To say the least, our jet-lag caught up in the evening and Dan didn’t get to sleep until about 3am. I slept like a log.

Wednesday we woke to a heavy foggy morning but what turned out to be a lovely sunny warm day.

We left at about 10am to travel to the orphanage in Lopartin. That is also one the orphanages we have visited and helped for years. It is the one that we helped build a bathhouse for, many years ago. We were to take the material we got yesterday but we forgot it, as we were taking a box of clothes as well as toilet paper and other necessities as well. We had our usual great reception. After lunch with the director, a lady, we met all the children in the auditorium and Dan spoke very well on the Lost Sheep. There are 125 kids there and most of them were in the meeting and many staff.                                    

We headed home for supper made by Flo, cabbage rolls with chopped beef. Time for a quick nap before meeting at 7pm. Just 12 of us out as quite a number either working or sick. We both spoke and there seemed to be good interest. After a time of fellowship and a small lunch, they went home, but want a meeting on Friday as well as the meetings on Sunday.                                     

 Malcolm.