The passing of a friend ...

This is the re post in part of a blog dating back to Feb 2008... The day we met NickolaiToday we went with Lena to visit Larisa in the village. (NCKPA) We will be helping her with some of the people that she supports.

Let me introduce you to a few of them. This man's name is Nickolai . He is 77 years old and still works in the fields in the summer. This has been a very bad winter here and he is proof. What he really needs is to go into a nursing home. First we must get him to the hospital for his feet and then get him his documents so he will be able to stay.

We have offered to meet his immediate needs, and will wait on God to provide for his future.

later that day I wrote.

" As I write this I am sitting in our apartment(actually Ed Dickson's apartment) in Town. You see missions from a different perspective from this side of the globe... From home , Missions is something we are called to do whether we go or send. We know that there are needs. We see the photos and have heard the stories, but I don't think we fully understand the impact we are making. From this side of the globe, many live a daily life of pain and suffering. With no hope ... with no faith... and no way out. The governments are struggling to maintain what little social service networks they have. For many the only understanding of hope that they have is not to turn to the church, but to those faithful workers that you support. They can not comprehend the provision... they need it served to them with the skin on! As the needs arrive daily, literally knocking on the door, all they can do is to offer to pray for provision, and wait for the work on the heart of that business man in Ohio, that senior in Vancouver, or the 3rd grader in Norwood............ As we move into 2008, please continue to keep your hearts open to the gentle prodding....the situation may be more urgent than you think. "

A couple months later we posted...

This photo is him with Larisa just before going into the home....

Then last year I posted this update ..., I had a chance to go visit him at that home... it is in the same village as the rehab centre. As I went in, I started to think that he may not remember me... He was in very bad shape when we met him first, and we were only there for about 15 minutes, then we visited him in the hospital for about 15 minutes... and now this is over a year later.... well we got to his room, and they said that he had gone to town that morning... so we waited a little while then left..... but fortunately he returned in time ... we met him in the hall... I was on my own, so he had no reference to know who I was, but the moment he saw me , the tears began to flow down his cheeks.. his arms went out , and I got a great big hug... he was so happy that we came to visit him.... We went back to his room, and it was pointed out to us that he still has his lap blanket on his bed... something that he cherishes.... The blanket was made by some seniors in my home town, and we use them to wrap around food hampers that we deliver...What was so cool, is that he was no longer lifeless... He has developed a personality, he has hobbies and interests ..... he has a life...

I was just sharing with a friend that a difficult as the lows are here, the over whelming power of what we are seeing around us is beyond words.... Lives forever changed, families restored, Hope to the Hopeless, and light in the dark corners.... thank you so much for all of you who have continued to faithfully support all that we are doing.... You are making a difference.

Over the next couple years Larisa continued to visit, and we stopped in time to time.. This morning we got a call that he just passed away.

Larisa is on her way out to the village to do the funeral arrangements, and to be a comfort to his new friends... It's always hard working with the seniors, our time with them is short, but it feels good just knowing that in the final days even years, we can turn a life of sorrow and loneliness into one of peace and joy

Good bye our friend Nickolai.. one of the ones in front of us