Winter is here .

With just 7 days of coal left, this is not what we wanted to wake up to today at the farm.  We have 40 more families also waiting for coal. If you can help please use the link on the top right.

 

My heart sores !

Many of you know Kamala.  She has three nieces who she got out of a difficult situation last year.

 It has taken until now to get her documents in order and her health checks done for the youngest to be able to go to kindergarten.  

This is such a great thing..  first it gives Kamala a bit of a break after suddenly becoming a single mom of three kids.

It is also fantastic for Vika as she is thriving with the attention and the learning challenges.

We did find sponsors who help with the day to day expenses of three more mouths to feed .

Where we need some help is with the tuition and transportation for Vika.

We are looking for a total of $300 a month to help with this .. maybe you would like to help with all or part of this need.

It makes my heart sore when I see all the pictures of her involved in so many activities at the school and know how great this is for her.

Out of coal

 The boys had a long hard day today.  They delivered 15 families winter coal.  They cleaned out the coal barn.  We have enough coal to heat the farm for 10 days.  They gave away there own coal because it was starting to snow and the needs were to heart wrenching.   They have 38 families currently on the wait list .  We need your help we need $3500 to get caught up.  

Running out of coal !

The boys have continued with coal deliveries .  They did another 6 families today .  Tomorrow they hope to deliver to 15 more families , then they are done.   By done, I mean then the coal is done .   We still have A LOT of families on a wait list , but for now we are trying to prioritize.  Once we are able to purchase more coal we will be back on track .  If you would like to help with this we would appreciate the help. 

 

Hard days

The guys have been busy with the coal deliveries .  I have said before but it is worth repeating.  Please pray for the hearts of the guys as they are on deliveries .  They are lead into so many difficult places and it can be hard on your hearts . 

A couple days ago they were on deliveries and the lady they delivered to shared that her neighbour just lost her husband and has 4 little kids at home, so they went to visit her and brought coal.  She shared how her neighbour has also lost her husband and she has 2 kids at home , so she was next on the list.  On the way back home they stopped to see Gena's widow.  She asked them to go see her neighbour.  They arrived just as her husband died . They had to bring him to the hospital for autopsy then bring him back to the village and bary him.   Sergey says he is thankful for our bus because it's good for deliveries, good as an ambulance and good as a heurse 

The boys helping to bury Gena's neighbour.

Coal deliveries

The babushka has been baking cow poop in the sun and stacking it to use to heat her home. 

Julie and I are still on the road .  Today we were blessed to spend the day with two young men we know and love from Kyrgyzstan.    Feeling so blessed to spend time with them. 

Catching up with Tanya

A few weeks back we visited our friends at the dump.  I am always looking for your people there that are working  to make money for school supplies and outfits to be able to go to school.   Sure enough, we found a girl that did not have what she needed for school.  We spoke with her and made an agreement with her.  She will stay out of the dump and we will provide what she needs for school. 

Now that it's starting to get cold, Tanya brought her shopping.  Tanya says that she will not be shy or embarrassed to go to school now .. she has a new school outfit and warm shoes and coat... She is so happy and thankful.

 Tanya has also been busy with the seniors. She bumped up the food packages a little bit because of seniors day . They took were blessed. 

A special thank you to those that faithfully give to support the help we give Tanya.  

Take a look back a a few posts to the Christmas Wish Book .  You will see more opportunity to support Tanya's work along with many others 

First week of travel

We have been so blessed with our first week of sharing .  I forgot to get permition to share photos from the first week so I will just have to tell you .

I will share pictures of Julie's new shoes from Aurora Shoe company.  She was so blessed by this wonderful gift. 

 

It's cotton picking time, and I think google maps wanted us to experience this as it brought us through about 4 hours of secluded back roads of cotton fields.. it was a beautiful drive. 

In Kentucky we had 1 hours and 12 minutes to stop and see the Ark before we pushed on to our next stop.. it really is a site to see 

We have had so many incredible stops along the way meeting up with friends and sponsors.  The last time we made this trip we visited with parents as the young Kyrgyz kids played.   This trip we sat with some incredible young men and women and discussed where they are now and answered some questions about where they came from ...

Sat. afternoon we arrived in Florida.  We checked the Web site of New life church to see what was on this week, and after a quick swim I was off to a men's night on the beach.  It was such a a blessing and I had opportunity to share some encouraging words .. 

This morning we got to attend two services.. so blessed and encouraged.

Now we are sitting on the beach for a spell before we head back to church for the Jamaican service.. can't wait .

Please don't forget them.

Today was a difficult day for the farm family as we said good buy to a friend.   

Gena had a very colourful past, but in the last few years he dedicated himself to helping those in the community who were facing difficult times.   As we were delivering coal, we could count on Gena to come with us and bring us to families with horrific needs.. they all knew him and loved him .  I got a full briefing on the situation of every family we brought coal too... Some times it is easier when you don't know!.  But Gena made sure we knew.   He haf this little tattered note book and many loose pages of paper where he kept track of everyone and made sure he did not forget anyone. 

This year as we delivered coal he kept turning to me and asking " John , please don't forget food packages for them this winter if you can ! ". 

Gena will be missed ... 

After they finished the funeral, Genas widow gave our guys his note book where Gena had left us a note before he died.. He had 30 names and addresses and a message " PLEASE DO NOT FORGET". 

We have coal ready to go to them and the boys are starting those deliveries now.  But I think of how important the food deliveries to them were for Gena.. In his honor I would like to bring them each a large winter food packages along with a picture of Gena.  I am aiming to raise $1500 to cover the 30 families on his list.   If you would like to be part of honoring his wishes, $50 per family is what that will come out to.   

2024 Christmas Wish Book