I am sure that many will not have heard that there have been disastrous floods in the Lviv and Ivano Frankivsk regions of Ukraine. This area has been visited by many brethren and sisters during the past 10 or more years and a work goes on in both of the cities of Lviv and Ivano Frankivsk. I would not have known anything except that Vadym , our driver/interpreter in Ivano phoned me on Monday from Ivano to tell me about the disaster.
I then Googled "Ivano frankivsk flood news" and got news and pictures of the devastation. Vadym said that many of the bridges into Ivano were either closed or damaged by the raging water that came in from the Carpathian mountains . Fortunately, the dyke along the river held and the city is not flooded. The city water catchments was flooded and broke through and left them with only 2 or 3 days water.
I saw pictures of Victor Yuchenko the President, walking through knee deep water around Ivano, with his pants rolled up to the knee, visiting the flooded homes of people. Thousands of homed are flooded plus their gardens and fields washed away. 26 people are now reported dead and many still missing, 15,000 people have been evacuated.
Already, an orphanage we had visited for the first time in April, phoned Vadym and told him they had been flooded and were in great need, could he help. I said I would pass on the news .
When we were there in April they were predicting famine this coming winter because of the massive production of grain for bio-fuels and very little grain for bread and other staples. This loss of gardens and field can only add to this possibility. Many people rely on their village dachas to provide them with vegetables for the winter.
I thought I should pass this on to you for your prayers for this situation. I talked with Flo Kancir, who lives in Ontario but visits Ukraine twice a year, but she knew nothing about the flooding and was most distressed as she has visited many of the villages in this area with food and supplies and heads up most of our visits to Ukraine. She knew of many who would no doubt be suffering in this tragedy.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Home again.
Home again. It hardly seems almost six weeks since Howard and I came home from Ukraine. I suppose it must be something to do with getting older that time passes so quickly.
We had a good time again although it was different than other visits we have made. We were busy getting the Meeting Room ready in Ivano Frankivsk as well as locating and distributing a large shipment of winter boots that had been sent but were in storage in a garage. We eventually got them over to the meeting room and piled them into every available cupboard and on to shelves, piling them to the cieling.
We had to buy chairs before we could have any meetings and were happy to find a store with plenty of padded stacking chairs. We bought 25 but had to go and get more as there were not enough for the people who were coming to meeting.
We were able to fit many of the people and their children with winter boots which reduced the stacks significantly. We took several pairs of boots to the Assembly in Lusk on our visit there.
We did not get the opportunity to vist schools, as in other years but did go to an orphanage and an old folks home that we had not visited before. We took bibles and glasses for the old people, which were very well received.We spent much time visiting individuals in various sad conditions of health and poverty. Some had great debt because of serious sickness or surgery performed on their children OVER AND OVER with still no cure. Time and money was spent on some of these needy people.
I would like to mention that the situation at the Ukrainian Bible Society has changed somewhat, owing to some internal restructuring. They used to print and bring in thousands of New Testaments and we would go and buy what we needed. We now have to pay ahead before they will print them.
I would like to remind folks that we still distribute thousands of New Testaments and Childrens Bibles each year, both from Lviv with Flo Kancir and whoever is with her and also in Ivano Frankivsk.
I mention this as there are presently no funds to purchase more Bibles. There may have been a little confusion regarding where to send funds but Seed Sowers in both Canada and the U.S.A. will still issue receipts for funds donated for Bibles or printed material.
The confusion stemmed from Seed Sowers not being able to issue receipts for fund designated for humanitarian aid, only for printed material.
Thankfully, the work is going on in both Lviv and Ivano. Meetings are being held in Flo's apartment with Brother Misha preaching and teaching. In Ivano, Vadym is organizing sorting and distribution of clothing as well as overseeing the renovation of sister Luba's apartment. He hopes to start meetings this week.
The clothing is sorted by Vadym's wife and Sister Marika and others.
If God will, we may return in the Fall. Pray for us as three of us there last Spring were already pensioners and we need young men and women to get a vision for the lovely people of Ukraine. The door is still open but who knows for how long?
Malcolm Stanley.
Meeting with the Christians in Portage la Prairie. MB. Canada.
We had a good time again although it was different than other visits we have made. We were busy getting the Meeting Room ready in Ivano Frankivsk as well as locating and distributing a large shipment of winter boots that had been sent but were in storage in a garage. We eventually got them over to the meeting room and piled them into every available cupboard and on to shelves, piling them to the cieling.
We had to buy chairs before we could have any meetings and were happy to find a store with plenty of padded stacking chairs. We bought 25 but had to go and get more as there were not enough for the people who were coming to meeting.
We were able to fit many of the people and their children with winter boots which reduced the stacks significantly. We took several pairs of boots to the Assembly in Lusk on our visit there.
We did not get the opportunity to vist schools, as in other years but did go to an orphanage and an old folks home that we had not visited before. We took bibles and glasses for the old people, which were very well received.We spent much time visiting individuals in various sad conditions of health and poverty. Some had great debt because of serious sickness or surgery performed on their children OVER AND OVER with still no cure. Time and money was spent on some of these needy people.
I would like to mention that the situation at the Ukrainian Bible Society has changed somewhat, owing to some internal restructuring. They used to print and bring in thousands of New Testaments and we would go and buy what we needed. We now have to pay ahead before they will print them.
I would like to remind folks that we still distribute thousands of New Testaments and Childrens Bibles each year, both from Lviv with Flo Kancir and whoever is with her and also in Ivano Frankivsk.
I mention this as there are presently no funds to purchase more Bibles. There may have been a little confusion regarding where to send funds but Seed Sowers in both Canada and the U.S.A. will still issue receipts for funds donated for Bibles or printed material.
The confusion stemmed from Seed Sowers not being able to issue receipts for fund designated for humanitarian aid, only for printed material.
Thankfully, the work is going on in both Lviv and Ivano. Meetings are being held in Flo's apartment with Brother Misha preaching and teaching. In Ivano, Vadym is organizing sorting and distribution of clothing as well as overseeing the renovation of sister Luba's apartment. He hopes to start meetings this week.
The clothing is sorted by Vadym's wife and Sister Marika and others.
If God will, we may return in the Fall. Pray for us as three of us there last Spring were already pensioners and we need young men and women to get a vision for the lovely people of Ukraine. The door is still open but who knows for how long?
Malcolm Stanley.
Meeting with the Christians in Portage la Prairie. MB. Canada.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Lesia
Saturday morning Gilles and I went to our lessons. We spent the morning with our teacher and then headed up to Flo's apartment. After eating one of Flo's famous omelettes we packed up a few things and went to visit Lesia, the wheelchair bound lady with MS who lives in a nearby area. We had been told of her by Oleg, Flo's nephew's son a little while back and have visited her on several occasions. This lady is definitely a saved person as we have been able to speak with her and also listen to her. On one of our previous visits she had told us of a neighbouring family whose children were not well looked after. Funds had been left with her to get some groceries to feed these kids who were going to school on an empty stomach of many occasions. We also brought clothes along for these young children and she arranged for them to be there when we came. This morning we arrived and Lesia had her sister with her as well as her cousin. We had brought along some clothing for her family and shoes for her husband and daughter.
It is not always easy to follow how the conversation goes from one topic to another because of the language. Flo tries to interpret but some conversations are difficult to interrupt. Flo & Lesia were talking about songs and Flo started singing one of the hymns we sing at meeting. Then they started to talk to the sister and cousin about the gospel and Lesia mentioned that you have to have Christ as your own. Lesia talked about getting some very needy people to come to the apartment so we could bring some clothes for them and asked Flo to bring some bibles so that we could speak with them about Christ, and could we also please bring some hymn books so that we can sing some songs! The sister and cousin also said they would come. So we have a house meeting lined up for Wednesday afternoon.
Gilles and I so wish we could speak more "intelligently" in Ukrainian so that we could talk to people more easily. We find ourselves understanding a lot more of the conversations but speaking requires a lot of time to think of the right words and the conversation just moves on and we are left behind. We are very diligently and persistently working on the language.
It is not always easy to follow how the conversation goes from one topic to another because of the language. Flo tries to interpret but some conversations are difficult to interrupt. Flo & Lesia were talking about songs and Flo started singing one of the hymns we sing at meeting. Then they started to talk to the sister and cousin about the gospel and Lesia mentioned that you have to have Christ as your own. Lesia talked about getting some very needy people to come to the apartment so we could bring some clothes for them and asked Flo to bring some bibles so that we could speak with them about Christ, and could we also please bring some hymn books so that we can sing some songs! The sister and cousin also said they would come. So we have a house meeting lined up for Wednesday afternoon.
Gilles and I so wish we could speak more "intelligently" in Ukrainian so that we could talk to people more easily. We find ourselves understanding a lot more of the conversations but speaking requires a lot of time to think of the right words and the conversation just moves on and we are left behind. We are very diligently and persistently working on the language.
Friday in Truskavets
Friday we headed out to Truskavets again to go visit another school to bring the gospel and bibles to the students and staff alike.
We arrived on their last day of school and we all know what the last day of school can be like. We met with the director and she told us they would assemble the first four grades in the auditorium.
We waited a bit in her office and then she ushered us in the auditorium. To our surprise, the students were there like we were told, but they were all standing on the stage ready to give a performance to the other students and parents which were assembld there also. We were introduced to everyone and sat down to take in their little concert. It was all about the letters of the alphabet and how it is important to learn how to read and to study. A few children did solo performances and then it was our turn. We also had Ruslan (our Truskavets contact who gets all these schools for us) and his friend, Vasyl. Flora spoke a few words and introduced Gilles who gave them a word in the gospel. Ruslan also spoke to them. We had some small gifts to give to the younger ones and Children's Bibles. It was a very chaotic time since we were still in the auditorium and all of a sudden there were kids coming from everywhere. After a very confusing time of 'who got what', the adults and children started leaving the auditorium. The director told us that the next grade was going to assemble there for us but again in came the kids and a whole audience of older students as well as some parents. This time we spoke to these kids before the concert began and distributed New Testaments for them as well as gospel texts. We left the auditorium to go to a classroom. There we spoke to about forty older students, probably grade eleven. They listened very politely as Gilles, Ruslan and Flo spoke to them. They also received New Testaments and gospel texts. The girls really went for those.
Stephan was waiting for us in the van and we left the school and went to a home for unwed mothers. This turned out to be such a great place to go. This home is one of the few that the government is putting in place. The lady who takes care of this place seemed like a very nice person and brought us along to visit with the girls of all ages that live there. We also had Ruslan and Vasyl with us who seemed to be known here. This place has only been opened for one year. They allow these young mothers to stay there for one and a half year after their baby is born and afterwards will look into getting the girl employment where there is free day care. There were only about six girls there when we went, all varying in age and with their babies also of different ages. We sat around and talked with them and Gilles told them about how there always be problems in life and some are unexpected but there are some things that we can plan for and went on to give them the gospel. We talked for a bit, took some pictures and then visited the facilites. It is obviously a very newly renovated building, very bright in colour and full of new furniture, cribs, strollers. It will be a great place to bring some infant clothing and blankets which we always have an abundance of. This place has room for ten girls with their babies and has a staff of ten people working there. We are very thankful for Ruslan to have brought us there and we told them that we would return next fall with clothes for the babies and moms as well as toys to stock up their play room.
We returned home very happy with the day and the unexpected bonus of speaking to these young girls. The director told us that there is one of these homes in every "region" in Ukraine. I asked if there was one in Lviv and she said that this one was the one for the Lviv region. Unfortunately it is about one and a half hour away. Looks like we will be spending more time in the van!
This morning Rylan and Avrell headed out to Lutsk to spend a few days with the younger crowd there!
We arrived on their last day of school and we all know what the last day of school can be like. We met with the director and she told us they would assemble the first four grades in the auditorium.
We waited a bit in her office and then she ushered us in the auditorium. To our surprise, the students were there like we were told, but they were all standing on the stage ready to give a performance to the other students and parents which were assembld there also. We were introduced to everyone and sat down to take in their little concert. It was all about the letters of the alphabet and how it is important to learn how to read and to study. A few children did solo performances and then it was our turn. We also had Ruslan (our Truskavets contact who gets all these schools for us) and his friend, Vasyl. Flora spoke a few words and introduced Gilles who gave them a word in the gospel. Ruslan also spoke to them. We had some small gifts to give to the younger ones and Children's Bibles. It was a very chaotic time since we were still in the auditorium and all of a sudden there were kids coming from everywhere. After a very confusing time of 'who got what', the adults and children started leaving the auditorium. The director told us that the next grade was going to assemble there for us but again in came the kids and a whole audience of older students as well as some parents. This time we spoke to these kids before the concert began and distributed New Testaments for them as well as gospel texts. We left the auditorium to go to a classroom. There we spoke to about forty older students, probably grade eleven. They listened very politely as Gilles, Ruslan and Flo spoke to them. They also received New Testaments and gospel texts. The girls really went for those.
Stephan was waiting for us in the van and we left the school and went to a home for unwed mothers. This turned out to be such a great place to go. This home is one of the few that the government is putting in place. The lady who takes care of this place seemed like a very nice person and brought us along to visit with the girls of all ages that live there. We also had Ruslan and Vasyl with us who seemed to be known here. This place has only been opened for one year. They allow these young mothers to stay there for one and a half year after their baby is born and afterwards will look into getting the girl employment where there is free day care. There were only about six girls there when we went, all varying in age and with their babies also of different ages. We sat around and talked with them and Gilles told them about how there always be problems in life and some are unexpected but there are some things that we can plan for and went on to give them the gospel. We talked for a bit, took some pictures and then visited the facilites. It is obviously a very newly renovated building, very bright in colour and full of new furniture, cribs, strollers. It will be a great place to bring some infant clothing and blankets which we always have an abundance of. This place has room for ten girls with their babies and has a staff of ten people working there. We are very thankful for Ruslan to have brought us there and we told them that we would return next fall with clothes for the babies and moms as well as toys to stock up their play room.
We returned home very happy with the day and the unexpected bonus of speaking to these young girls. The director told us that there is one of these homes in every "region" in Ukraine. I asked if there was one in Lviv and she said that this one was the one for the Lviv region. Unfortunately it is about one and a half hour away. Looks like we will be spending more time in the van!
This morning Rylan and Avrell headed out to Lutsk to spend a few days with the younger crowd there!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wednesday
Wednesday we had a nice treat. The director of the orphanage where we had visited earlier last week had invited us to a concert the little children would put on for us. There little ones were between two and four years old. They sang their little songs for us and recited a few little things they had learned about Easter. We had some bright plastic cups that had been given to us by a sister in Kap and we filled these with some chocolates, a stuffed toy, a chunky crayon and some other items. The favorite was those things you blow in and the front unrolls and then re-rolls itself when you stop blowing. The kids just loved these and they were all very happy with their cup and toy!
The day was very relaxed. We all had supper at Flo's and then at meeting had a lively bible reading on John 4. It is a challenge to keep things going on the one topic. I think for the most part the people coming to the meeting enjoy being able to put in their thoughts. Questions were asked and opinions were expressed and overall it was a good evening. Gilles and I took the marshrutka back to the center and enjoyed walking the last kilometer in the warm evening air.
The day was very relaxed. We all had supper at Flo's and then at meeting had a lively bible reading on John 4. It is a challenge to keep things going on the one topic. I think for the most part the people coming to the meeting enjoy being able to put in their thoughts. Questions were asked and opinions were expressed and overall it was a good evening. Gilles and I took the marshrutka back to the center and enjoyed walking the last kilometer in the warm evening air.
Ivano and family visits
Tuesday was the day we had set aside to go visit two families in Ivano with ties in Kapuskasing.
Tony Leniuk, Barb Arsenault's father, has a sister living in Ivano Frankivsk as well as a niece in a neighbouring village.
Three boxes were sent along with ours in late February and set aside when they arrived. We loaded these in the van along with other things we had brought along for some of the Christians in Ivano and headed out. Once we got to the village of Yavoriv, we had to ask around about Maria, Tony's niece. One lady we asked directions to came along with us in the van to bring us to the right house and while we were driving along we met up with the Maria we were looking for so we brought her home. We explained who we were and that we had a letter from her uncle as well as a box for her. She was very happy to talk to us, introduced us to her brother but didn't seem too sure of things. We left after a short time of talking and proceeded to Ivano to find the address to deliver the other box.
Vadym, a Christian we know, got in with us when we got to Ivano so that he could help us find the address we needed. It was actually very simple to find the place. This was a typical forty year old structure with five storeys and many apartments. We found the door we wanted and Vadym went before us all to see if there was anyone home. He came down, announced to us that yes there was someone there and that "no" there was no elevator!! Five flights left some more winded than others, but we all managed to get there! Flo and I had gone first and we got to the fifth floor just as a lady opened the door. This was the apartment we were looking for so Flo started to talk to her. She took one look at us and promptly closed the door! Flo knocked on the door and a younger woman answered. It was indeed the apartment we were looking for and the lady who had opened the door was Natala, Tony's sister. Her daughter let us in the apartment in total disbelief that we were standing there. Flo explained to her who we were and what we were doing there. Lesia then told us that she had just arrived from France where she works and was visiting her mother and her 22 year old son for three weeks. She said that they were just sitting and talking about their relatives in Canada and there we suddenly appeared at the door. She kept saying it was nothing short of a miracle. When she explained to her mother that we were there because Tony and Barb had asked us to deliver this box to them and to deliver a letter to her, she put her face in her hands and just sobbed and sobbed. We were all invited in and made to feel very welcomed. It took a few minutes for Natala to regain her composure, she told us that Antonio was her favorite brother. It has been quite a few years since she has last seen him. Flo told her what she could about Tony and the family. Flo was instantly made part of the family when she said that her granddaughter Kimberly is married to Tony's grandson Matthew. We sat and had tea and probably the strongest coffee we ever had!! Flo spoke to Natala about God and about the Bible and we were told how when the communists came they took all the Bibles and anything that was remotely Ukrainian looking or sounding. She told us of pictures being destroyed because they had blue and yellow in them which are the Ukrainian colours. She had a Bible there and we had brought a New Testament.
Next Tuesday we are heading to a village past Ivano so we told Natala and Lesia that we would stop by and bring some pictures of Tony's grandchildren and great grandchildren.
We then left there and went to the gospel meeting that had been arranged for five o'clock. The usual people showed up and were all very happy to see us. Gilles and Rylan spoke gave a word in the gospel, but Flo had to do the interpreting because Vadym didn't make it back in time for the meeting. We had brought clothing along for a young woman who just had a baby boy. Forgive me as I cannot remember her name just now. It was nice to see everyone again and after a long day we made our way back to Lviv.
Tony Leniuk, Barb Arsenault's father, has a sister living in Ivano Frankivsk as well as a niece in a neighbouring village.
Three boxes were sent along with ours in late February and set aside when they arrived. We loaded these in the van along with other things we had brought along for some of the Christians in Ivano and headed out. Once we got to the village of Yavoriv, we had to ask around about Maria, Tony's niece. One lady we asked directions to came along with us in the van to bring us to the right house and while we were driving along we met up with the Maria we were looking for so we brought her home. We explained who we were and that we had a letter from her uncle as well as a box for her. She was very happy to talk to us, introduced us to her brother but didn't seem too sure of things. We left after a short time of talking and proceeded to Ivano to find the address to deliver the other box.
Vadym, a Christian we know, got in with us when we got to Ivano so that he could help us find the address we needed. It was actually very simple to find the place. This was a typical forty year old structure with five storeys and many apartments. We found the door we wanted and Vadym went before us all to see if there was anyone home. He came down, announced to us that yes there was someone there and that "no" there was no elevator!! Five flights left some more winded than others, but we all managed to get there! Flo and I had gone first and we got to the fifth floor just as a lady opened the door. This was the apartment we were looking for so Flo started to talk to her. She took one look at us and promptly closed the door! Flo knocked on the door and a younger woman answered. It was indeed the apartment we were looking for and the lady who had opened the door was Natala, Tony's sister. Her daughter let us in the apartment in total disbelief that we were standing there. Flo explained to her who we were and what we were doing there. Lesia then told us that she had just arrived from France where she works and was visiting her mother and her 22 year old son for three weeks. She said that they were just sitting and talking about their relatives in Canada and there we suddenly appeared at the door. She kept saying it was nothing short of a miracle. When she explained to her mother that we were there because Tony and Barb had asked us to deliver this box to them and to deliver a letter to her, she put her face in her hands and just sobbed and sobbed. We were all invited in and made to feel very welcomed. It took a few minutes for Natala to regain her composure, she told us that Antonio was her favorite brother. It has been quite a few years since she has last seen him. Flo told her what she could about Tony and the family. Flo was instantly made part of the family when she said that her granddaughter Kimberly is married to Tony's grandson Matthew. We sat and had tea and probably the strongest coffee we ever had!! Flo spoke to Natala about God and about the Bible and we were told how when the communists came they took all the Bibles and anything that was remotely Ukrainian looking or sounding. She told us of pictures being destroyed because they had blue and yellow in them which are the Ukrainian colours. She had a Bible there and we had brought a New Testament.
Next Tuesday we are heading to a village past Ivano so we told Natala and Lesia that we would stop by and bring some pictures of Tony's grandchildren and great grandchildren.
We then left there and went to the gospel meeting that had been arranged for five o'clock. The usual people showed up and were all very happy to see us. Gilles and Rylan spoke gave a word in the gospel, but Flo had to do the interpreting because Vadym didn't make it back in time for the meeting. We had brought clothing along for a young woman who just had a baby boy. Forgive me as I cannot remember her name just now. It was nice to see everyone again and after a long day we made our way back to Lviv.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sunday
Sunday was the most encouraging day we had in awhile. About half an hour before anyone else came to meeting, Katia arrived. This lady has been coming to the meetings regularly this spring. She was a co-worker with Tanya at the hospital. Tanya told us about her and her husband who are taking care of their grandson. Katia had called Flo earlier last week and told her that she really wanted to speak to her about what she had been hearing at the meetings. They had a good chat and Flo mentioned to us that this dear lady is very near getting saved. Then another knock at the door brought another pleasant surprise. Natala with her two children arrived. They have to take a 25 minute bus ride into Lviv and then get on the right marshrutka to get to Flo's apartment. It was the first time they came and we were very happy to receive them. We have visited them on several occasions, bringing some groceries and clothing. Natala is a school teacher making a very small salary as is the case with all teachers here. So to have them come all the way from the village to attend the meeting and hear the gospel was very encouraging for us. She had heard the good news of salvation at her house before as Flo has spoken to her. Then the regular people came in for meeting. A few minutes meeting started Oleg (Flo's nephew's son) came in and he had brought another guy along with him. This was very encouraging to us also.Anatoly sat and listened and told us that he would come again next Sunday and bring his wife along with him. We look at this and again wonder at the fact that we are leaving for Canada in ten days when there are so many people interested in the gospel. We are so thankful that Misha keeps the meetings going by himself throughout the rest of the time when there is no one here.
After the meeting we headed out to our local wholesaler and purchased groceries for the gypsies we were going to go visit. When we arrived at the gypsy colony we were so well received. We know that perhaps we are well received because we are bringing food and clothing. But this time things were a bit different. The people were very relaxed and seemed to be comfortable with us, not clamoring for what we had brought. Gilles and Misha spoke a word in the gospel to the group that had gathered. For the most part people listened very well. You have to be there to appreciate the distractions that come with speaking to this group of people. Of course there are many children and the smaller ones are often crying. So the mother breastfeeds them while listening to the speaker. Other little children are running around. There was rock music coming from the "house" where some of the men had gone to sit not being too interested in what was being preached. Dogs are barking in the background. So it is quite the task for the men to speak and stay focused. But overall there was a good crowd listening. We distributed the food afterwards and stayed and talked to the people. Rylan entertained some with his juggling expertise. And of course we took many many pictures as they all would like a copy for themselves. We promised them the pictures when we returned either in the fall or next spring.
After the meeting we headed out to our local wholesaler and purchased groceries for the gypsies we were going to go visit. When we arrived at the gypsy colony we were so well received. We know that perhaps we are well received because we are bringing food and clothing. But this time things were a bit different. The people were very relaxed and seemed to be comfortable with us, not clamoring for what we had brought. Gilles and Misha spoke a word in the gospel to the group that had gathered. For the most part people listened very well. You have to be there to appreciate the distractions that come with speaking to this group of people. Of course there are many children and the smaller ones are often crying. So the mother breastfeeds them while listening to the speaker. Other little children are running around. There was rock music coming from the "house" where some of the men had gone to sit not being too interested in what was being preached. Dogs are barking in the background. So it is quite the task for the men to speak and stay focused. But overall there was a good crowd listening. We distributed the food afterwards and stayed and talked to the people. Rylan entertained some with his juggling expertise. And of course we took many many pictures as they all would like a copy for themselves. We promised them the pictures when we returned either in the fall or next spring.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Update of Mikola
First of all the boy's name is Nicolai.
We returned to the orphanage where Ruslan had brought this 22 year old lad Nicolai.
Avrell and Ruslan had a bit of a chat with him as Avrell had bought his a Russian Bible and Ruslan interpreted for Avrell.
The director at the orphanage has a contact in a city about an hour away who will take this young man in and give him a job. If he proves himself that he can work, the man will hire him on a full time basis.
This is more than anyone could have imagined. He will get his papers before he leaves. I am not sure exactly when he will be going to Chervonograd to work but the director as Viliky Lubin said he would keep him there till it was time for him to go. We are all very happy about this.
We returned to the orphanage where Ruslan had brought this 22 year old lad Nicolai.
Avrell and Ruslan had a bit of a chat with him as Avrell had bought his a Russian Bible and Ruslan interpreted for Avrell.
The director at the orphanage has a contact in a city about an hour away who will take this young man in and give him a job. If he proves himself that he can work, the man will hire him on a full time basis.
This is more than anyone could have imagined. He will get his papers before he leaves. I am not sure exactly when he will be going to Chervonograd to work but the director as Viliky Lubin said he would keep him there till it was time for him to go. We are all very happy about this.
Friday the 16th
We had a bit of a quiet day today, trying to take it easy on Rylan who was suffering from jet lag and sleep deprivation!
We visited the one of the children's orphanage with some cleaning supplies and clothing and shoes. We were given a tour of the facility and were able to see the little ones sleeping. They have a very nice place with lots of room for the children, age 2 - 4, to play. It is brightly painted and there are many toys for the children. The director was telling us that she is very impressed with the fact that we aren't looking for publicity. She mentioned how many groups go there and donate something. They go in with their TV cameras and make a big show of their generosity. She said that when the orphanage needs something a bit later and call on this same group, the group doesn't seem to remember who they are and just never return.
Just an interesting fact about this orphanage. During the second world war, this institution hid 40 Jewish children. Years after, these same children, now adults, most of them living in Israel, had a special commemorative plaque made for the orphanage to recognize their help during the holocaust. The plaque is in Ukrainian and also in Hebrew and is on the wall beside the door for all to read.
We are to return here on May 21st for a concert that the little children will put on for us. We look forward to this as it is always a pleasure to see the small children perform.
Later on in the day we went to Andre & Lecia's for supper. Andre is related to Flo through his father. Andre's father and Flo's husband were brothers. It was a huge meal with salads and cold cuts first with some bread, followed by fish and then borsch and after that some chicken.....don't forget the desert. Flo had a nice time chatting with them. A couple of hours went by and we returned home full.
We had a bit of a quiet day today, trying to take it easy on Rylan who was suffering from jet lag and sleep deprivation!
We visited the one of the children's orphanage with some cleaning supplies and clothing and shoes. We were given a tour of the facility and were able to see the little ones sleeping. They have a very nice place with lots of room for the children, age 2 - 4, to play. It is brightly painted and there are many toys for the children. The director was telling us that she is very impressed with the fact that we aren't looking for publicity. She mentioned how many groups go there and donate something. They go in with their TV cameras and make a big show of their generosity. She said that when the orphanage needs something a bit later and call on this same group, the group doesn't seem to remember who they are and just never return.
Just an interesting fact about this orphanage. During the second world war, this institution hid 40 Jewish children. Years after, these same children, now adults, most of them living in Israel, had a special commemorative plaque made for the orphanage to recognize their help during the holocaust. The plaque is in Ukrainian and also in Hebrew and is on the wall beside the door for all to read.
We are to return here on May 21st for a concert that the little children will put on for us. We look forward to this as it is always a pleasure to see the small children perform.
Later on in the day we went to Andre & Lecia's for supper. Andre is related to Flo through his father. Andre's father and Flo's husband were brothers. It was a huge meal with salads and cold cuts first with some bread, followed by fish and then borsch and after that some chicken.....don't forget the desert. Flo had a nice time chatting with them. A couple of hours went by and we returned home full.
Yosopovitchy
Our little orphanage was on our agenda for Tuesday the 13th. We drove up there once again to deliver some kitchen sinks & cabinets which had previously been ordered.
The orphanage now also has five new windows in place on the school side. The roof that was caving in has also been repaired. All these repairs are made possible through the generosity of Christians back in Canada and the States. The director has often told us how thankful the staff is there because of the repairs and renovations that have been done, and how they don't know where they would be without this help. The first time Yosopovitchy was visited there was not even soap available to them for washing. Ruslan was telling us that the food used to come from the workers themselves on a daily basis. One would bring bread, another would bring eggs, another vegetables and with that they would feed the kids for the day. Life has been made much more pleasant for the children in the last few years.
Even today, there was a box of shoes of various sizes brought along for the children to try on. All the kids got new shoes. Quite a bit of groceries and cleaning supplies was also purchased and brought along.
The plumbing repairs that need to be done will all be done after we are gone back to Canada. The washroom in the school side will all be redone as was the one in the orphanage side.
This was our last visit there for this spring/summer. Flora will return in the fall Lord willing.
While we were in Yosopovitchy, we drove a bit further and went to Stryii to visit the carver and his family of 6 children. We had groceries for them also, an amount that will perhaps last them a couple of weeks. There was some clothing brought also, as well as some footwear. Gilles had brought along a calendar with pictures of moose and some pages from a hunting magazine for Michealo to look at as he loves to carve animals. His oldest son is now starting to carve also and is proving to have some ability. It was with sadness that we left them as our time in Ukraine is quickly coming to an end. They have heard the gospel on several occasions and assure us they are reading their bible and Maria tells us that she prays for us constantly. The condition these people live must be seen to be believed. Even as we visited today, the air outside was warm but the inside of the house was damp and dark and had such a strong musty smell that we all wondered how it was that they weren't all sick. They never open the two windows fearing a draft will give them problems. They have such a problem with cockroaches that the new refrigerator that was purchased for them a year and a half ago is still not being used. They are worried that it will get infested with cockroaches so they leave it in the middle of their living room covered with a blanket. You have to appreciate the fact that the "living room" is also the bedroom for six people. The truth of the matter is that they will never be able to get rid of these cockroaches as they don't have what they need to do anything about the problem. What they really need is a new apartment. We can only imagine how many other people live in similar conditions.
The orphanage now also has five new windows in place on the school side. The roof that was caving in has also been repaired. All these repairs are made possible through the generosity of Christians back in Canada and the States. The director has often told us how thankful the staff is there because of the repairs and renovations that have been done, and how they don't know where they would be without this help. The first time Yosopovitchy was visited there was not even soap available to them for washing. Ruslan was telling us that the food used to come from the workers themselves on a daily basis. One would bring bread, another would bring eggs, another vegetables and with that they would feed the kids for the day. Life has been made much more pleasant for the children in the last few years.
Even today, there was a box of shoes of various sizes brought along for the children to try on. All the kids got new shoes. Quite a bit of groceries and cleaning supplies was also purchased and brought along.
The plumbing repairs that need to be done will all be done after we are gone back to Canada. The washroom in the school side will all be redone as was the one in the orphanage side.
This was our last visit there for this spring/summer. Flora will return in the fall Lord willing.
While we were in Yosopovitchy, we drove a bit further and went to Stryii to visit the carver and his family of 6 children. We had groceries for them also, an amount that will perhaps last them a couple of weeks. There was some clothing brought also, as well as some footwear. Gilles had brought along a calendar with pictures of moose and some pages from a hunting magazine for Michealo to look at as he loves to carve animals. His oldest son is now starting to carve also and is proving to have some ability. It was with sadness that we left them as our time in Ukraine is quickly coming to an end. They have heard the gospel on several occasions and assure us they are reading their bible and Maria tells us that she prays for us constantly. The condition these people live must be seen to be believed. Even as we visited today, the air outside was warm but the inside of the house was damp and dark and had such a strong musty smell that we all wondered how it was that they weren't all sick. They never open the two windows fearing a draft will give them problems. They have such a problem with cockroaches that the new refrigerator that was purchased for them a year and a half ago is still not being used. They are worried that it will get infested with cockroaches so they leave it in the middle of their living room covered with a blanket. You have to appreciate the fact that the "living room" is also the bedroom for six people. The truth of the matter is that they will never be able to get rid of these cockroaches as they don't have what they need to do anything about the problem. What they really need is a new apartment. We can only imagine how many other people live in similar conditions.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Truskavets & Rylan's arrival
We woke up to a beautiful sunny sky today, a perfect day for a drive to Truskavets where Ruslan had arranged for us to visit a school.
The drive seemed short today, probably due to the great weather.
We arrived in good time, picked up Ruslan and proceeded to go to the school where we were expected. We spoke to about 200 students, ranging from six years old to fifteen/sixteen years. They were very attentive and listened to the messages very well. For the youngest class we sang "Jesus Loves Me" and they then sang a song for us. In another group, they sang again and a young girl sang a solo. The children here are encouraged to sing on their own and in groups. They are not shy at all.
There was a special group of students who were putting on a play for mothers in honour of Mother's Day that just passed. We were invited to attend and were treated to some wonderful singing again. Also one young girl sang and played the bandura. Their costumes were so nice and traditional Ukrainian.
This group of students then came to the auditorium and we were able to talk to them of the gospel. All the kids received either a new testament, depending on their age, or a children's bible. They all got laminated gospel texts that we received from the assembly in Clinton. (Many thanks for these....everyone loves receiving them) They were all given prizes according to their age group and also some gift. It was a very pleasant day for us and for the children.
We drove back home and had cabbage rolls at Flo's for supper! Avrell and I walked to the center to our apartment and at 8 Ruslan picked Gilles and I and Avrell up and we headed out to the airport to pick up Rylan Yade. His flights came in at exactly 8:30. So tonight hopefully he will have a good night's rest. Lessons for Gilles and I tomorrow morning so now I should go do my homework! God bless you all.
Helene
The drive seemed short today, probably due to the great weather.
We arrived in good time, picked up Ruslan and proceeded to go to the school where we were expected. We spoke to about 200 students, ranging from six years old to fifteen/sixteen years. They were very attentive and listened to the messages very well. For the youngest class we sang "Jesus Loves Me" and they then sang a song for us. In another group, they sang again and a young girl sang a solo. The children here are encouraged to sing on their own and in groups. They are not shy at all.
There was a special group of students who were putting on a play for mothers in honour of Mother's Day that just passed. We were invited to attend and were treated to some wonderful singing again. Also one young girl sang and played the bandura. Their costumes were so nice and traditional Ukrainian.
This group of students then came to the auditorium and we were able to talk to them of the gospel. All the kids received either a new testament, depending on their age, or a children's bible. They all got laminated gospel texts that we received from the assembly in Clinton. (Many thanks for these....everyone loves receiving them) They were all given prizes according to their age group and also some gift. It was a very pleasant day for us and for the children.
We drove back home and had cabbage rolls at Flo's for supper! Avrell and I walked to the center to our apartment and at 8 Ruslan picked Gilles and I and Avrell up and we headed out to the airport to pick up Rylan Yade. His flights came in at exactly 8:30. So tonight hopefully he will have a good night's rest. Lessons for Gilles and I tomorrow morning so now I should go do my homework! God bless you all.
Helene
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Ruslan & Mikola
Ruslan, our driver sometimes has to work at his regular driving job. He drives a full transport to Poland and then returns to Ukraine with another full load, then drives it to the eastern area of Kharkiv. From Lviv to Kharkiv is approximately 950 kilometers. I am not sure how much mileage he covers in Poland. Nevertheless the trip usually takes him about one week to ten days partly due to the fact that anyone crossing the border into Poland has to go through customs and this is an experience that can only be believed if a person goes through the process. It can take two to four full days before he gets through the border.
About ten days ago he was off to Poland and then Kharkiv with extra problems delaying him at the border on his way back. Finally he got through and after a few hours of rest at his home, left once again for the trip to Kharkiv. On his return from Kharkiv, Ruslan noticed a young man on the side of the road and just felt a compulsion to pick him up. Ruslan related the story to us this morning. This young man is 21 years old and his name is Mikola. His father died when he was young and he has no idea who his mother is. He lived in an orphanage till he was 15 and then was left to fend for himself as is often the case in orphanages. In Ukraine everyone has their personal documents with them at all times, ready to show them to the authorities if need be. If you do not have your passport and your personal documents you encounter a great deal of trouble and if you happen to lose them it is very costly to get another set. Of course Mikola didn't have any documents having left them in a coat or somewhere....he is not sure where they all went but he doesn't have them. For six years he hasn't had any documents. His life has consisted of hitchhiking from one town to another looking for some work or some food and some sort of shelter. When Ruslan picked him up he said he was on his way to a certain town where he knew someone who would let him sleep in the crawl space under the house in exchange for some help. Mikola told Ruslan about his experiences at the hands of the police, sometimes being fed by some and sometimes being treated badly and told to leave the area. He has slept in the forest on many occasions and his goal in life is to find food to eat. Ruslan asked him when the last time was that he had eaten. It was two days since his last meal. They pulled in at a restaurant and Ruslan ordered them both a full meal. Ruslan told Mikola that God was giving him a chance to change his life and to get his life in order. He told him about the Lord Jesus dying for him. He brought Mikola with him to Lviv and stopped at Flo's apartment to get some clothes for the young man. Afterward Ruslan brought Mikola home and asked Tanya to cook something for him. He supplied Mikola with blankets and pillows and let him sleep in the back seat of the van. If there had been room in their apartment he would have let him sleep in the apartment but there is no extra sleeping space in any of these apartments. The next morning Ruslan told Mikola that they would set him up at an orphanage we often visit here. (Viliky Luben). He would stay there till we were able to get him some documents or find out where to get them for him. The director at the orphanage took him in and Ruslan was very relieved that he was at least in a warm place with a roof over his head and some food in his stomach. Just this morning the director spoke to Ruslan and told him that Mikola would have to return to the Odessa area where he is from to be able to get his necessary papers. So we will be getting him his bus or train fare to return to his area to get the papers. Ruslan is hoping to be able to stay in touch him Mikola to help him out where he can if he needs help.
It was very unsettling to know that this young man of 21 had no family, no home, no food, no clothes, nothing of those things that we often take for granted. And when we look around here we sometimes see people who are obviously having difficulty in life, whether they are out begging, or drunk beyond reasoning or just seem to be desperate. We are sure Mikola's story is just one of many. We would ask you specially to remember this one young man in your prayers, that his life would change as a result of Ruslan coming into his life and bringing him the gospel as well as real Christian care.
About ten days ago he was off to Poland and then Kharkiv with extra problems delaying him at the border on his way back. Finally he got through and after a few hours of rest at his home, left once again for the trip to Kharkiv. On his return from Kharkiv, Ruslan noticed a young man on the side of the road and just felt a compulsion to pick him up. Ruslan related the story to us this morning. This young man is 21 years old and his name is Mikola. His father died when he was young and he has no idea who his mother is. He lived in an orphanage till he was 15 and then was left to fend for himself as is often the case in orphanages. In Ukraine everyone has their personal documents with them at all times, ready to show them to the authorities if need be. If you do not have your passport and your personal documents you encounter a great deal of trouble and if you happen to lose them it is very costly to get another set. Of course Mikola didn't have any documents having left them in a coat or somewhere....he is not sure where they all went but he doesn't have them. For six years he hasn't had any documents. His life has consisted of hitchhiking from one town to another looking for some work or some food and some sort of shelter. When Ruslan picked him up he said he was on his way to a certain town where he knew someone who would let him sleep in the crawl space under the house in exchange for some help. Mikola told Ruslan about his experiences at the hands of the police, sometimes being fed by some and sometimes being treated badly and told to leave the area. He has slept in the forest on many occasions and his goal in life is to find food to eat. Ruslan asked him when the last time was that he had eaten. It was two days since his last meal. They pulled in at a restaurant and Ruslan ordered them both a full meal. Ruslan told Mikola that God was giving him a chance to change his life and to get his life in order. He told him about the Lord Jesus dying for him. He brought Mikola with him to Lviv and stopped at Flo's apartment to get some clothes for the young man. Afterward Ruslan brought Mikola home and asked Tanya to cook something for him. He supplied Mikola with blankets and pillows and let him sleep in the back seat of the van. If there had been room in their apartment he would have let him sleep in the apartment but there is no extra sleeping space in any of these apartments. The next morning Ruslan told Mikola that they would set him up at an orphanage we often visit here. (Viliky Luben). He would stay there till we were able to get him some documents or find out where to get them for him. The director at the orphanage took him in and Ruslan was very relieved that he was at least in a warm place with a roof over his head and some food in his stomach. Just this morning the director spoke to Ruslan and told him that Mikola would have to return to the Odessa area where he is from to be able to get his necessary papers. So we will be getting him his bus or train fare to return to his area to get the papers. Ruslan is hoping to be able to stay in touch him Mikola to help him out where he can if he needs help.
It was very unsettling to know that this young man of 21 had no family, no home, no food, no clothes, nothing of those things that we often take for granted. And when we look around here we sometimes see people who are obviously having difficulty in life, whether they are out begging, or drunk beyond reasoning or just seem to be desperate. We are sure Mikola's story is just one of many. We would ask you specially to remember this one young man in your prayers, that his life would change as a result of Ruslan coming into his life and bringing him the gospel as well as real Christian care.
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