Stay in Stay warm

With current temperatures reaching record lows in parts of Kyrgyzstan right now , people are recommended  to stay in and stay warm.   I am glad that our friends are not heeding that warning, the fact is that if they stay in, people could die !    

Morning frost settling over the farm 

Current news from Kyrgyzstan
"BISHKEK, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The cold winter weather has caused the deaths of 15 homeless people in the Kyrgyz capital this week, local authorities reported Friday. They were found to have died of hypothermia."

"AKIPRESS.COM - Parliamentarians suggest to give 1-week break for school children due to extremely cold temperatures that came to Kyrgyzstan these days. "We all feel how cold it is outside. Not speaking of the regions, we have -30C in some parts of the city. It's very struggling for the children to attend ".

In the last couple days  they have had to make several food and coal drops.  We have even had to have Dr Tatyana come pout and make some house calls.  One senior had fallen and cracked her hip. Auxana had a minor stroke, and another lady has a herniated back.   These situations are all compounded when it is so cold out.  Once again we are blessed that we have the coal and food to be able to respond quickly to help.  We are also blessed that we have such a fantastic modern Dr that works with our team to help people through the system. 

   

The little baby that Aiperi has been helping is doing great.  when it was six weeks old it was still under six lbs, now since the formula has been supplies, it is now over 11 lbs.  What a blessing. 

You know it is cold outside when the door handles start to freeze over.  But in side the zucchini have started to bloom.  

With the chores done and families helped, there is still a little time to have a good game of UNO or Dutch Blitz 

Sunday  Julie and I will head for the city,  We have to be at the airport by 3 am for our flight to Cincinnati for the training that we will be attending under David and Jayne Schooler   

We are about $350 away from covering all the expenses for this great experience.   I have been talking to Vlad and he is excited as well. and wants us to take lots of notes so we can brief him when we get back .  We are praying that one day we will be able to have David and Jayne in person to the farm .. 

If you would like to help us attend this conference, please use the donate link on the side. 

Global Orphan Care

I love this picture of Sammy seen here investigating the Buk-choy.  I would be doing the same thing if I was there, checking out the roots.   

We have started planting and re potting plants for the spring now. . Aigula is getting a break from the cold, and getting her hands into the dirt as she repots strawberry shoots 

here is a nice morning harvest of lettuce, spinach and radishes 

We continue to provide food hampers to those in need.  This batch of food is heading to a lady in our village who had a bad fall and is off work right now .  I am blessed that we are able to do things like this now with out always having to come back to sponsors each and every time.  We have a small budget designated that allows us to act quickly in situations like this. 

Something that we have never had in our budget is training courses for Julie and I or the rest of our workers for that matter.   

Many of you will know David and Jayne Schooler.  The last several years they have been working with    Back2Back doing trauma competent caregiver training. 

There are very few couples that are as well equipped to teach such a course, and for us there is the added benefit of  them having a deep understanding , knowledge and even an existing relationship with many of the kids that we work with. This insight will bring a relativity for us that I do not believe we could find anywhere else.   

I have shared, and even joked about the situations that we face on the farm especially, and many of you have joined in our amusement. When we put aside all the joking and are serious for a moment, it is almost overwhelming the responsibility that God has given us for the well being and development of these kids.  We are charged with the responsibility of meeting these kids where they are and then walk with them into a future with out pain and trauma.  We need to learn to Do that .

We are thrilled to have Vlad on the farm and this Youth worker position is one of his key responsibilities now.  Although we have been blessed with an incredible farm with over the top produce and food production, that is NOT who and what we are.  Our number one responsibility has to remain the kids.

If you know me you know that I am the last person that would be interested in going to a training if was for any other purpose, but this is too important to pass on.  Please consider helping us with this

Someone has covered our conference fees, we have a place to stay while in Cincinnati. We have had donations enough  to cover parking in Toronto and part of our ticket costs.  This will leave us about $500 short on the flights. The flights have begun going up daily as we get closer, so a couple days ago I went ahead and booked the flights.    We, buy faith are going .   Any help would be appreciated .

training opportunity

Julie and I have an opportunity to attend a training for caregivers dealing with kids who have experienced trauma .  This would include almost ever kid that we come into contact with.  What makes it even more special is that two of the key presenters are David and Jayne Schooler who we have worked with in Kyrgyzstan.  They have a heart for KG and for the kids that we work with.  We will have a special opportunity to discuss with them ways that this training will directly relate to the work we do as they have seen from first hand experience.  

I post this for two reasons..

 1. some of you may be interested in attending yourselves, and 

2. this was not in any way in our expected budget, and we are looking for some help to make it possible.  

We believe that by attending we will gain valuable information that will help us, and those we work with better serve the kids that we help.  Julie and I are looking for $1000 to help us make this possible. If you would like to help us out, please use the link on the right side of the page. 

Welcome Aiden

Aiden was born this afternoon .. Emma and baby both doing great .. OH and so is Jengish 

born at 12:42  7lbs even 

They were blessed to not only have such a wonderful hospital like the PRHC, but to have their charge nurse be a long time supporter of the work that they do in Kyrgyzstan.. I love the way God had his hand on everything .. right down to Bekah being here for the birth before she heads back to Kyrgyzstan late tomorrow night .   . Thank you to all who have been praying . 

More coal needed soon .

With 220 000 lbs of of coal to start with , what I thought was almost impossible has happened .  We  are running out and will not have enough to make it through the winter.   We have simply given out too much .  But it is hard to not provide coal when it is so cold out and the needs are there.  

We have enough coal to last about 2 more weeks , that is IF we stop giving it to people coming in need !

not really something I want to do.  We would like to get another 2 or three loads ( about $800 to $1000 )to make it through the winter .   Please let us know if you are able to help with this .

here is a video of some of the coal that we delivered so far this winter.

In the green house , floting over the fish we have the next batch of seedlings sprouting ,  

BokChoy 

Red Lettuce

starting new tomatoes 

Spinach is ready for harvest 

Home for the holidays

So happy to have some of the boys home for the holidays . Denis has been working in the city and staying to help his mom .  Marat is doing great in Art school and is home on weekends and holidays 

Nuric is trying a new thing, for a month now he has been working in Kant in a window making plant and living with friends there.  He calls almost every day to keep in touch .. its nice he could come home for a visit over the holidays 

Aiperi is loving that meals on the farm include fresh produce from the green house . 

I got this message from the kids that are at the farm today ... 

"May this year be blessed for you. Seven of us are happy and happy because there is a loving caring parents"