their "BALL OF STRING"

I can remember a Christmas a long time ago, when we asked Emma what she would like for Christmas .. So much she could have come up with , but all she wanted was a ball of string.  In fact when ever anyone would ask her what she wanted or what "Santa " was going to bring her, she would simply answer String !  rest assured she got her string that year  and  she was thrilled .  We have learned when dealing with orphanages to ask the needs and the wants rather then just bringing what we think they would like.  This year since we would not be having parties in some of the orphanages we contacted them and asked what the kids wanted .  So along with their individual gifts we packed, they got a special gift of their choice.  For the treatment center it was a new couch for the common room . 

Over at the Chui orphanage they wanted a big mirror ... I thought thats right up their with a ball of string hahhaa but if its a mirror they want , it is a mirror they will get.   

of course we did not stop there.  They each got a personal gift as well. 

It is not un common for people to bring candies and cookies to the orphanages during the Christmas and new years holidays , so we have focused more on some fresh fruit this year . 

We are holding back about 30% of  the budget for each orphanage so that we can bring another large delivery of fresh fruit around the first or second week of January .  

Next up , Kamala and our Bishkek team are shopping today for another home orphanage that we help out from time to time and that often visit the farm. Photos to follow soon . 

 

In Love and Prayer

We have added a few others to our Christmas list.  Vera made a trip with her friends to see the front line workers in her village hospital.  Other years we have held parties for their kids but this year we felt it was best to forgo the big party, but decided to bring Christmas hampers and gifts for their children to them.  They were so blessed to know that they are not forgotten .. it can be a thankless job surrounded buy so much pain and suffering but today they are feeling the love. 

Someone else feeling the love is the homeless shelter.  Because of your donations we have been able to bless them with food, clothing and cleaning supplies to help those living on the street . 

These donations have allowed them to continue the great work that they do .  A week ago I shared our team bringing supplies to them, but shared that this was the end of our budget .   

Thankfully later that day we had a few donations come in that will allow us to bring another delivery .. We are now at the point of one delivery at a time , but with the faithfulness of you our sponsors, we are able to be a part of some awesome life changing transformations like this gentleman  who is getting a fresh start ..

you know everything that we do has a price tag attached to it .. that is just the way of the world we live in.  What is exciting is that some times the price tag is pretty small compared to our bang for the buck .. and what a bang it is when we come along side such a great organization .   ready for this ?  

BANG

Thank you for making this possible  !

Christmas deliveries are continuing from one end of the valley to the other .  Not big parties , but personal gifts and bags of everything needed for a do it yourself Christmas feast ..   our own version of "Hello Fresh" or "Chefs Plate "  meal kit deliveries" 

It has been great to be able to get vitamins out into the hands of people who need them .  We just had a large shipment of vitamins come in so we have been able to get them to those  that have been waiting .  With such nutrient deficient diets mostly due to poverty, vitamins are the first line of defense against viruses .  The family that we order the vitamins through made a donation of their own to our workers .. They gave us these great vitamin loly pops to give out on our travels . 

We have had such mixed emotions .. we are so grateful for the hard work of our team. For their good health and protection, for the continual support from so many of you that have kept everything in motion , and for our own personal protection from the world around us. all at the same time we wish we could be boots on the ground .. it has been too long .  Now here in Ontario we are entering into a full lock down for the next month, so it is not looking like things will clear up any time soon .     

A couple days ago we had our family Christmas .. we had a out door camping theme .. complete with a snow man building competition ..   Making the most of the situation, this will be one of those Christmases that our grand children will never forget .  

Bekah may think she is in the lead , but 1/2 hour later her snowman did a face plant so I think the prize has to go to Eli . 
 

Julie and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a merry  Christmas.  I believe this Christmas  can be what we make of it .. Make yours a safe and blessed day .. reach out to each other and send words of support and encouragement . build each other up in love and prayer .. 

Be blessed.

 

Johnny Depp visited the orphanage today .

 

Todays Christmas celebration was organized by Sergey and Anya,  With a little help from family and friends they were able to bring gifts, food and games to the orphanage in Orlofka .  

Packing gift boxes 

The kids loved each getting their own box with special treats . Next up was the games .. Extra special was that Johnny Depp was there to lead the excitement. 

Here is a short video that Sergey put together from the days activity.

After the fun and games and gifts they all enjoyed a special celebration meal ... PLOFF.  

We were also blessed to be able to leave them with extra food for the next few weeks .   

Thank you all for supporting these great Christmas parties .  

In all things give thanks

Winter is such a dangerous time on the roads in Kyrgyzstan.  Many of the roads are not plowed and quickly turn to slick ice.  Today was a hard day for one of our team who slid into a concrete bunker while out on deliveries for us.  At the same time we got word that one of the boilers blew up in the green house.     Winter is never one of my favorite times of the year.  We are in better position then most in Kyrgyzstan so unlike for most, replacing the boiler and fixing the car while are expensive and inconvenient, are an option.  An option that would not be there for many.   I just see this right now as more of a distraction.. there is so much to do right now and our guys did not need this .  

This will in no way stop us from the work at hand ..and right now that work is delivering food and Christmas gifts to hundreds of children from orphanages hospitals and families in need. 

We have been talking with our contacts inside specific orphanages this year to see what we can do for the kids knowing that we will not be going into the orphanages our selves.  

As we were making plans for the individual orphanages , the treatment center asked about medication , and if we could use some of the Christmas money for that.  We told them that this was specifically for gifts, but that we would move quick and see if we could raise the $200 that is needed .. So let's take a moment and give a plug for the wishbook where we are looking for $10 donations for medications .. I would like to send out the recourses for this as soon as possible .

I am so thankful that God has protected our workers on the road, that he has protected the boys when the boiler blew up, and that we can trust in him to provide for the needs before us in the orphanages and hospitals and in every situation .. we are blessed 

 

I could loose heart ...unless

Food and coal, food and coal, food and coal .. it seems like every day is delivering food and coal .. I could loose heart unless I believed that we would would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.    If I take a step back though I can see the individual .. the lives of the ONE that received something to eat today, or the family that will turn the heat back on tonight .  I just get so overwhelmed when I think of the lives that are being touched every day. 

In the city Kamala and her team have been busy shopping and packing food hampers for families .  

They are all so thankful when Kamala shows up with food.  

It was great for them to be able to bring the forth delivery of supplies to the homeless shelter.  Unfortunately these deliveries may be coming to an end as they have now used up their budget for helping here unless we get more donation's designated for the homeless arrive in the next few weeks. 

 We were blessed to be able to visit some of Aigoola's family and bring some food hampers to them as well.  That includes a delivery to Aizada . 

Wish book update

I wanted to give an exciting  update about the Christmas Wish Book. but before I do we will tell you a little bit about what our team has been been up to.   One of the young girls we help in Bishkek had a birthday yesterday.  Kamala is our person that is in her bubble and helps her navigate life.  Dianna does not like cake , so after a beautiful supper that they prepared for her, they put the candles in a pizza .. 

That was a big hit, she loved it . 

The boys from the farm were back out on deliveries delivering coal and food to some families that they got word of that had a need. 

Here is a little update about  the Christmas wish book donations that have come in and what we still have a need of . 

*We have been blessed to be able to cover Tanya's  need at the mens home and those families from the dump. 

* Vera's request for gifts for children and for the family that she is working with have also been covered .

* Tokmok baby orphanage fruit covered 

* we have delivered 150 tons of coal and continue to deliver more every day.   

*We have purchased $1000 worth of vitamins and have half of that covered.  

* a couple large food and clothing drops at the homeless shelter. 

* one sheep for a family to deliver. 

*We have also had a couple of the sets of camping gear covered. 

*we have also received donations for Christmas at two smaller orphanages.    

*Now for food hampers, we are hoping deliver 100 Christmas hampers this year and have 50 of them covered. 

*we do have a couple pizza parties covered so far as well .. 

We are doing great, but please don't panic and think that you have missed your chances to be a blessing, we still have about $6000 worth of possibilities to choose from. 

So here is what is  left 

Red river orphanage   $750

Chui region Orphanage $750 

Blind society 200 x $5  = $1000  $500 to go 

Small home orphanage we help in Bishkek $250 

Ivonofka Children's treatment center   = $500 

vitamins $500 

Christmas food hampers 50 x $20  = $1000 

Camping gear 8 x $150  = $1200 

*along with these items we will have an almost unlimited number of blankets, rice, coal, orphanage food and cleaning supply deliveries .  

Thank you to everyone who has donated,  shared,  and challenged their family and friends to make donations .. every little bit has made a big difference.