Final hours...

Last fall when returning to Kyrgyzstan after the riots, war, and ethnic cleansing, a lot of people asked us if things were different. I shared at that time that there seemed to be an underlying tension and that Kyrgyzstan was a different place. Many people had migrated from the south, and with them came a more “fundamentalist" flavor to life here.

I remember walking through the bazaar and really recognizing it, And if I am totally honest, this small town Canadian country grown boy was at times feeling a little uncomfortable. There was one store in the bazaar that I can distinctly remember looking at the owner, and thinking how much Tokmok was changing.. I did one of those ..pretend not to look... I am sure that he was doing the same thing, because unlike most, he did not stop and stare at me either.

But I could feel such a tension about him... fast forward to last night, a few hours before we were to leave, I got a text message and subsequent call from him... He wanted to say good bye, he said that he is so pleased to know us, and that he is thankful for all that we are doing for his people.. he then went on to say that personally, he is blessed that we are his friend.

After he hung up, I started thinking and wondering how we have made such an impact on him, but then remembered that one day in the bazaar we had heard his wife was home with bad allergies, so we gave them a package of allergy medication, and went on our way.... To the person who sent that pack, we may never know how that one small package of allergy meds will change both his view and ours of the future... thank you...

Some one else came to the house to say good bye... They said that they are not at all concerned about saying good bye because they have absolutely no doubt we will be back, and that they will be praying for us as we wait to see how this will happen. They said that they see so many NGO's and missionaries that come and go. Most tell a story of Christianity.,She then said that from what she knows of Jesus , he was not a respecter of persons.. he treated all the same , and they have watched what our family has been doing, and can understand that now.. She said that as she watches our work here, she sees us working with every nationality and religion, but what struck her the most is that she watched how the Mayors, governors and Government ministers want to have their pictures taken with us, but it is the children in the dumps and the orphanage that we know by name. She said that what is happening here is not a normal thing and that it has taught them all so much...

Once again this has been a real conformation to us that we are on the right track... now we must just be patient and wait to see whats next...
It was such a hectic few days as we prepared to go, so much to do.... when we got to a meeting at the Red River orphanage, the director had been detained in Bishkek, and we had to wait for her for about an hour. So we went over and say on the side of the irrigation canal with our feet in the water.. It was no time at all before the kids gravitated over to us and began enjoying the visit as well... It was nice.. they sat with us and played the remember when game... remember when you took us to the Hot springs,.. remember when we went to the circus, Oh remember when we got the new TV and furniture for the family room, remember when we went to a restaurant after getting glasses...Remember the birthday parties... so many good memories... but really what they were saying was we will always remember that you love us ....