HOPE .. it's the last thing to go...

Some days have a way of turning into events.. It appears that this may be the norm for the duration of our stay here.

We began our morning early with a visit from Vlady.. discussing electricity into the store at the bazaar so Aigoola can set up a sewing machine there, then discussed the building of the new store for the micro loan lady who we are working with , then it was off to Emma's orphanage .

They have a class room and office that has been under halted construction for about 5 years. sponsors pulled out, and now the children are over crowded in their home. There is a young man that if my translation is right, is a graduate from this orphanage and has now returned to try to get many of these "dropped" projects revitalized... one being the class room. He will be having a party next week to discuss what can be done. He is planing on having "influential" people from Tokmok there... I wanted to have Vlady take a look so I would know for myself what the task at hand is.. It looks like the roof can be on and the floor poured for about $3500 and another $2000 to finish it after that. I remember what our friends from Norway said last week at the seniors home... I can't finish it, but I sure can start it... I am racking my brains to see if there is a way that we can inspire the local community to step up and get this job done. I am not sure how that will look, maybe if we can break it into sections, and try a match insensitive with them ... Still waiting for clarification on this one...

Then it was over to the Bazaar to arrange the pick up of the cribs to the hospital, and back home again to pick up Julie and the girls... We had been called to the mayors office...

when we got there we were ushered into council chambers where there was the entire city of Tokmok's city councilors and administrators there along with the local press. The council meeting was opened, and then they began to read out a list of things that we had been involved with in Tokmok... ( or at least what they knew about) many of the things I had forgotten about , but they hadn't. We were then called forward, and presented Honorary social certificates by the council chair, then publicly thanked by the mayor as well.

They had prepared certificates for all of us... It was a very humbling event...




This photo is in front of the White house with our new documents... we tried to not be to excited

but inside we felt more like this

It was really great that Emma and Bekah were recognized for their contributions as well... ore then just for their sake, the fact that in this society, two young girls would be honored in such a way... I am very proud of them and the burden that they carry here .

From there it was over to the hospital for tea with the director and staff. They were so exited for us. It was them that led the charge for this day. The director shared that when she first brought our name forward, the head of the health department asked what was so special about us, she said that she then bean sharing all that she we had done there, and then asked him " Could you have done such things" he said "of course not!" and agreed to put our names forward.

When we first came here , our friend Ed told us two things ... The relationship is the most important thing... make sure you keep returning to those you are helping, and the other was to be very careful never to promise anything that you can not deliver, and NEVER fail to deliver what you have promised.

As we sat with the staff and shared with them the assistant to he director told us something.. She said she had worked along side the director for 20 years. She watched as things became worse and worse for them.. Many people came over the years and promised the world to them... the odd one did deliver , but the majority they never saw again..but what stood out the most for them is that we are the only ones that have ever came back... and in the 3 years they have known us, so much has been done, and not once have we ever failed to deliver on a promise.. The director then began sharing with her staff about the wonderful home that LAMb has, and how excited she is to know that a home like DaySpring is available for them.. She said it is HOPE that keeps them going.. HOPE is the last think to leave you... She then shared about the desperation that must be out there , Just yesterday a little girl was drooped off in front of a restaurant with a bag of clothes and nothing else.. she speaks and is a fun little girl.. from the best they can tell she is about three. Right now, Hope for a future is all that this little girl has left... we will go back tomorrow for a visit with the kids, today we had to run , it was graduation at the University.
Representatives from several Embassies were there to bring greetings, including the US Embassy...

The mayor and his group arrived just in time as well

I was very proud of Dr. David Schooler... yes that's Dave .. he is the new chairman of the boards for IUCA. After serving on the board since the inception of the school, David has agreed to take on this responsibility.

As we work with the needy and the orphans in Kyrgyzstan, we see that for the kids here, there is only one way out. There is only one way to break the cycle of poverty that is a way of life here
.. And as far as education goes, one is quickly rising to the top when it comes to quality , and integrity.. and that is IUCA. For many of the kids we help... this is the key to a new life. The amazing thing is that the University had such a burden for the kids here that they take students soly based their potential of circumstances and not based on their ability to pay... I know of no other University that operates in such a way, but with people like David at the lead, I am not surprised.

It was a big day for LAMb ere in Kyrgyzstan. Search and rescue, and education were in the for front today, but as we sat in the ceremonies, we could not help but think about the thirst strand of our team. Lynn and Ruby who are busy State side right now "Tent making" and working on preparing the structural changes necessary to one day make Search and rescue a thing of the past.... But for now we put our HOPE in the One... Because as the Dr shared ... as all else leaves us, there is HOPE....

so what about tomorrow...

Baby hospital to check on the needs of the kids, Chui Mayors office for a meeting, preparing a business plan for future development at IUCA, meeting with a man coming from Bishkek, nit sure what about, but its just not my time to know, then start shopping for kids day and the 600 disabled kids and orphans that we will be celebrating with, meeting with director at a local orphanage to set up English classes for one special young boy there, then find a Russian tooter for the summer for Aigoola's kids. Day spring training meeting, and finish of with an IUCA meeting with Dave.

As I look at the days ahead, it is easy to get overwhelmed , we only have 2 weeks left, and so much to do.... it's times like this that I think back to last week when we stays at home and took a day off... too bad we can't borrow that day back... I have a few things I would like to do back then..