The speed of FAVOR

 Once again we experienced a whirlwind of blessings and activity both on and off the farm.  Many times it felt like we would not be able to keep up with what God was doing .. Some people talk about things happening at the Speed of Sound. Others say how it felt like things were happening at the Speed of Light, but as a friend of our calls it, we are  " OPERATING AT THE SPEED OF FAVOR ".. That's right, we have experienced such a favor of God over the last year that it is clear that on our own it would never have been possible .. but when you walk in the favor of God you experience blessings and miracles beyond measure

Outings and renovations, home repairs and celebrations.  One of the greatest favors we have witnessed was the transformation in the lives of the kids on the farm. 

Simply look through the Favor shown to us over the last couple weeks as evident on the blog .   



Thank you all for being such a big part of what we do.. Happy New Year, and all the best in 2019 May you too walk in His favor experiencing one blessing after another . 

Today's reports

My face book and email inbox is getting filled up with different charities sending me little notes to remind me that I have just 3 more days to make a donation for this years tax year.  Julie and I discussed if we should be doing the same.  We both came to the same conclusion that our sponsors do not need any reminding,  You have all been so incredible all year long.  Just look over the blog posts from the last week and you see that We have all been truly blessed and remembered .. Thank you all who have brought so much joy and happiness to those we work with .. and the best part is that we are not done yet, we still have several parties and outings before we are done .. fortunately the orthodox Christmas is not until Jan 7 so it gives us some extra time to be a blessing for Christmas.

Here is today's reports 

Next up as promised is the celebration day with the farm.  They decided to go out for supper at a nice restaurant, and they also invited the small orphanage that they have been doing things with , like bowling and water park with teams , or the three weeks of farm camp.   Well today they all got together again . 

We had a special donation for them to get something special.. we had thought some snacks or something , but someone else brought some for them.  But what they really wanted was a few things for around the orphanage to make everyone's life a little easier .. So they got a vacuum cleaner , a multi cooker, an iron and an ironing board.  

They all had a great meal 

 

Before lunch, the kids from the farm got to go shopping at the Bazaar to buy their own Christmas gifts ...

A couple days ago Larisa sent some pictures of some of the food drops that they made. In one of those pictures was a girl that Emma looked after in the home a few years back.  Emma saw the picture and spotted that she did not have proper winter clothes 

so today they went back and got her and took her shopping for coat, boots and winter pants ...  Another young man we all know and love , Victor, also was able to get a new winter coat for Christmas from his sponsor .. he was very happy.

Larisa was also out delivering more food hampers to families in need .

 

Sibera , Dustan, and Ruslan all came to town this morning to meet up with Vlad to do shopping for a new years party out at the farm.  The best part of shopping day is that when they are done they get to go for a coffee at Giraffe coffee.

Christmas for more 181 kids

181 kids at the Chui orphanage had a day to remember,  games and singing , and dancing , everyone got involved.  Then there were the gifts for everyone.    Take a look !

Vlad was busy with a Christmas party for the farm kids and a small orphanage that the farm spends time with .  I will show you those pictures tomorrow .. But he also did more deliveries of food hampers so some of the families that we work with . 

 

OK so I decided to give you one sneak peek  at the party from the farm. 

You may look and see a group. We look and see individuals.

Today was Christmas celebration at the Red river orphanage.  Some of the boys from the farm came out to help with this one.  Red river is where several of the boys at the farm as well as Sam, our newest boy , grew up.   Sergey knows these kids and knows their history .. He also knows the ones that we have a history with and makes sure that they are in the pictures that he sends me .. Where you may look and see a group , We look and see individuals but some of you out there will look and see your friends .

What a great day celebration it was today. It was sponsored by young men who were from this orphanage, and now live in the US, but continue to support parties and outings for those friends that they left behind.  They experienced first hand the Joy that comes from days like this.  

When they time out of the orphanage system, some of the kids who have no supports and no family will flounder around a bit then find their way to the mens invalid home.   this is were some of our boys on the farm would have ended up.  

One time Emma went out to have a celebration at the home and she wrote me back and said .." Dad its like they are all little kids stuck into smelly old men bodies. "   And she is right. The problem is that we look at them different at some point, and stop seeing cute little kids that we want to love on, and we just see smelly old men that we want to hide away and pretend that they don't exist. 

Thankfully some of you do know that they exist and still see little kids that they want to show love.  That's why Larisa and Tanya have the resources to have days like today .. that's why they get an opportunity to come to the yurts for picnics our out fishing , or this year even to the World Nomad Games at lake Isykool .. Thank you for remembering them !

Here are a few pictures from their Christmas celebration