Catching up before the fun begins .

I have some great news from our friends today... I will start with Olga here on the right ...Olga is a great friend. She works very hard looking after the concerns of those in her community... and always has her finger in some social justice program... but more important for me is that she is connected, is respected, and seems to love a good scrap... this makes her my # 1 on speed dial, because we all know that at time I need someone that is connected, respected, and yes a scrapper.... LOL... any way I called her today to arrange to have some money transferred to other friends to begin the Christmas parties in the orphanages... I began by asking how her pregnancy was doing... "Great" she responded .. "the baby was born a few hours ago, a baby Girl 7lb 9oz " ... I said " Oh well I will give you a call in the next couple days to do a little business.." She said no problem, she had already had a couple business meetings in the hospital just before I called, and could set up the money transfer in a couple hours.... She expects to be back to work tomorrow....

The next storey is about our friend on the Left... Acel... She and her husband have been trying for more kids for a long time...she was told by the dr's that it was not possible for them to have any more kids... well just before I left in the fall , we were at a friends I she brought up this "wish" of theirs..... we all "discussed" it, and three weeks later, she is expecting... we are all so excited for them.....

The next little celebration is for our friend Anya , Today is her Birthday..... Anya is the driving force behind what we do in her country... when I am in country, she advises me, she keeps track of ALL spending to make sure we have accurate and legal accounting , as well as she takes a personal roll in the lives of those we are helping.... She and her husband Sergey are the driving force behind everything that we do.. their passion and desire to help others is why we are there.... It was through Sergey and Anya that we first met Altynai.... Today is the first day of holidays for her. she has until the 1oth of January off.. It was great to talk with her on skype this morning... She is so excited about Christmas this year. She can't wait to help Sergey and Anya with all the Christmas parties.... We sure miss her....
You probably recognise the kids in this last photo...They are from one of the orphanages that we have worked with for about 4 years now.... we have watched many of them grow into wonderful, beautiful boys and girls... Many have poured a lot into them, and everyone has worked to give them a secure loving home....

it has been announced that in a couple days, there orphanage will have to be closed. Economic conditions are just to tough right now, and maintaining this orphanage has just become to much... This is the orphanage that we cook meals for when we are there , and we also purchase cloths for them regularly..., but it takes a lot more then 1 meal a week to look after a growing child... The majority of the children will be moved to another orphanage operated by the same group that ran there current orphanage... They will be well looked after there, and will be loved... some of the kids who have families near buy will go to a much larger orphanage in the same area... this orphanage has great director, but is severally under funded as well... and when you get so many kids together it becomes very obvious... We have had a bit to do with this orphange in the past, but mostly on a individual child bassis... we have a good relationship with the director, and just before I left in the fall , we purchased a large amount of School books and other supplies for them.... They are on the list of orphanages for the Christmas parties this year... I think that there are around 150 or 160 kids there... In fact I have a request that came in a few weeks ago from them asking if we could help them... there toilets are not working and they need new washrooms built... likely about $2500 to $3000 for the materials, and I could get the men from the rehabilitation centre to do the work for us.... well that is a project for another day, but with a few more of our friends living there, I hope that day comes a little sooner then later... But what ever happens, the kids know that we will continue to be a part of their lives...

Tomorrow will begin our Celebrations in Central Asia. Sergey and Anya will be going into the capital to one of the orphanages there that we have started to work with... it is the one that makes all the crafts that our friends over at sugarplum boutique sold for us on eBay.. they are the first stop when street kids are found and picked up by police. Tomorrow they will receive new coats and clothes as well as a Christmas party, and a substantial donation toward their Craft supplies, thanks to everyone who purchased one of their items off of eBay last month.

Now for a little fun, here is a video I have, called "Ode to Acel" if viewing from FB. you may need to go to the blog to view it... http://www.actofkindness.blogspot.com/