Team Northview on their way

 Today a team is departing Canada on their way to the farm .   We are so looking forward to having them here with us .  There days will be filled with work around the farm, and helping and encouraging our kids as well they will be doing some special days at several orphanages and seniors home. Some of the men from the mens home will be coming to the farm for horse back riding and a picnic. and then of course there will be back to school shopping trips . It will be a fun and exciting time for everyone.  But as you look at the size of the team, we face some small logistics like toilets and showers .   

In the spring we started adding an extra shower room and a toilet room , we have even pout in our own back up water suply for when the water is not running in the village, which often happens when we have groups.  Then the existing shower needed to be replaced 

We have also finished the inside of the rooms we started in the spring 

I have been trying to get the farm vehicles fixed in time for the team .    This morning I was with no car and had to go to town.  One of the mechanics was nice and offered me a loner car while mine is being fixed .   I think the team will love this .  

I think it might actually be a step up from the car we had for Sam to drive the last time he was here 

Today was another harvest day for the hay.  We got another 350 bails today 

Julie was doing some gardening and was able to get the rock garden under control .... a bit 

Tomorrow the team will be in the air and we will be making some last minute alterations on the farm and doing a great big grocery shop.    

Construction begins ... right after these wings

We are just coming up to the half way point in our stay so we needed to do a trip out of Kyrgyzstan for the day so we can come back for another 60 days.   We have this down to a science.  We spent last night at Bekah's , then left her place around 11:00.  We went for a great lunch in Kazakhstan and were home to Tokmok by 5:00.                                                                                                                               Back on the farm the kids were hard at work with Vlady this weekend.  They are pouring the floors for the new indoor shower / toilet and bedrooms. 

   

While the rest of the guys were mixing and pouring cement Nuric was digging the hole for the septic tank .   The team from PI will be arriving this week and we will be ready for the walls to go up. 

Compel them to come in !

"Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled."

Today we celebrated Sammys second birthday, and what a celebration it was.    Aiperi had been planing for days , and was excited to be able to invite so many close friends, as things turned out many those that she was expecting were not able to make it , but some how the table was still full .. there were about 45 guests .  I over heard Julie talking to Aiperie .. They were discussing who everyone was. I had to chuckle when Aiperie said " and those kids, I have no idea who they are. "  

I was reminded of the scripture where we were told to go into the highways and the byways and invite them in so that the table would be full .  

A few days ago I shared a request from Larisa to take some of the men from the Invalid home to Isykool ... it was short notice, but you guys came through and made it possible .. Today we got a report from Tanya about how the trip went .. 

"Hallo Julie. Sorry for my long reports with mistaks but want to share with happy days of boys . We have spent three days on Issyk Kul. Boys didn't want to leave. It was their first trip to the lake. Sasha and Zamir were born on Issyk Kul but never were there after .We have celebrated the birthday of Almaz. he was very happy. The first day we have found the good house two floors and is cheap .also all conditions.the beach was nearby it is also possible to come around by car for convenience of Zamir. When we have told boys that we will live in this house they couldn't believe. After we have gone to the lake and there rode the boat and bathed. Later went to cafe. also walked on the city of Cholpon-Ata. We have spent the second day in mountains of Kirchin there was a holiday the World games of nomads. everything was very beautiful to .biught a lunch. Boys rode horses.pictures with a camel and an eagle... .last day we have brought boys to the box and different games on a horse. Then have gone to the Narodni shop to buy food and cake for celebration a birthday of Almz. Boys have been very surprised. They have gone to shop for the first time. Also could choose food which him there is a wish also big cake. Thanks a lot that have helped to fulfill a dream of boys. for them it is not forgotten days .they are very happy. When we have brought them to the men's house all heartily welcomed them and claps. boys have said hello you and many thanks that you have taken care of them and have given the chance execution of their big dreams. Thank you so much."

off to school

Well everyone is off to school today. here are some of our Tokmok students 

And here are our Bishkek kids from the farm . 

It has been a lot of work getting them all ready for school . but they were able to carry through with the help of Vlad and Olga . 

Nuric just got home from a couple weeks with Vlady in Northern Russia .  There are stories that are sure to follow, but one thing for sure .. everyone sure missed Nuric .  

This week the work has started back at the baby and children's hospitals in  Tokmok. Today Sergey dropped off more supplies so the work could continue 

Larissa has a dream

 When there is no HOPE, it is hard to dream .. thats when people like Larissa step in and dream on their behalf !

When you spend your days in an institution with 270 other disabled people, the hope of one day feeling the fresh clean mountain air on your face, and the experience of salt water splashing your ankles .. all seem so impossible.     Well for some, thanks to Larissa, that dream my become a reality.  This weekend she would like to bring some of them for a few days to lake IssyKul .  We know we can not bring them all but we can start with half a dozen.  Larissa has asked if I would please put the word out and see if we can  help make this happen .. They have been working and saving and have raised enough money for  1 night , but she would like to surprise them and extend that stay a few more nights .  What she is looking for is $50 a person to make this possible    

Just imagine living here  

then waking up here

If you would like to help with this dream  please let me know , or you can donate on the top right side of the blog .  Thank you for anything you are able to do. 

time to get proactive

I had a friend that challenged my thinking one day, and that has followed me over the years since that time .  He said that there is a big difference between Proactive and Reactive ministry.  Reactive is simply responding to the needs as they appear. You know ... Stop for the one in front of you.  This can be an incredibly daunting task some times as the needs are so great. There are so many to help, but if we can start with those in front of us we have a start...   But here is the real challenge ..  Proactive ministry is not just waiting for the needs to appear, but it is going out and looking for those needs and responding to them BEFORE you are asked.  There can be so much HOPE and life transformation that takes place in the proactive..

Many times those in the most desperate places lack basic HOPE .. Hope motivates , HOPE encourages us, HOPE can pull us out of the dark places..but with out HOPE there is no faith , no drive , no motivation... those with out hope may not be found as" the ones in front of you" because they hide away in the shadows .. Proactive Ministry is found in the shadows seeking out those who have no name and bringing them into the light   

It was not that long ago that we had a farm full of kids with out HOPE .. this week they are starting University and Collage .. something that just a short time ago would have been impossible.  On top of that there was a small issue of  about $15 000 tuition and living expenses .. Take a look up at the thermometer on the right .. those needs have been met. So exciting .. 

So what does that mean now ... it means time to get proactive. 

Do not be Daunted

I remember at the end of one my first Missions / humanitarian aid trips feeling a sense of dispare .. there was just so much hurt that we saw and so much need that was left  and it felt like  what we had done hardly made a dent.   In my dis-pare a friend told me , "Even Jesus did not heal all the sick he did not visit all the poor, but as he was on the cross he said "It is finished"  What makes you think you can do better. ?"   

When the task seems to be so overwhelming I think it is human nature to just not start it at all ..but what if we all did not abandon the work, but instead thought " I can do my part?"  I have another good friend that says simply ..

We>i

Art in the park

This week we had 30 guests to the farm for the night.   With that many guests we decided to bring the things from the gift shop out to the garden where there would be more room . 

The first sale went to a couple that was walking along the road and saw the paintings and came in and bought one .  

 

We even sold about 40 ltrs of honey 

After breakfast we went up to the yurts for a picnic complete with the eagle hunter and horses 

Vlad and Ravil put on a great lunch . 

Tuition update

We are so excited for Argin. For many years he has had a dream to study at a tourism collage in Bishkek. Life has thrown so many hurtles at him, but after all these years and detours it all came together yesterday when he was able to go in and pay his tuition and sign his contract.  

The last couple months we have been working at raising the funds needed for everyone to go back to school this fall.  There has been a bit of an awakening at the farm and everyone has started moving from the past and started thinking about their future .  We sit in the cafe and dream with the kids and talk about what their likes and dislikes and what they see for their futures .. It has been really cool seeing them begin to dream .  Next was getting past all the hurtles with getting their documents in order, police checks, military certificates, medical checks, and the list goes on , but we did it ! they are all ready now.    

I am still stressing a little bit about suddenly having all the tuition expenses , as you can see on the thermostat on the side that we are a ways to go with very little time left.  About half of the funds raised so far are monthly commitments  so that puts us in need of about  $3500 right away and another $400 a month . here is a breakdown of those expences and what the various studies will be.

Please if you are thinking you can help with this , NOW is the time.  I don't want to push too hard , but soon we will have to start dropping some of the support,  something I can not bear the thought of after all the work planing and excitement we have seen . 

Back in Kyrgyzstan

Well here we are in Kyrgyzstan for another few months.  We had Bekah send a car for us at the airport .  We got a chuckle out of the sign he had, but there was no doubt it was for us because how many John and Julia Rits can there be out there.  After we booked I found out that Air France had changed its baggage policy and had gone to one bag , fortunately I figured this out while I was still in the window to cancel the flight as it was no longer the cheapest flight if I had to pay extra for bags . Before canceling,  I decided to call the airlines to see if there was anything they could do .  They told me that there was nothing that they could do to let me bring a second bag with out charge and that was reserved right for premium class passengers.  With very little persuasion  they agreed that if they just bumped us to premium at no extra cost  then we could get the extra bag each. DONE, We stayed with Air France, and it was wonderful, especially on the long haul flight.  

 We spent the first day with Bekah then the next day picked up some friends and sponsors and brought vitamins and Banana's to the Baby orphanage before heading to the farm for lunch .  It was great to be back .