Pray for the Seeds

 I heard a quote  “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.”  As we are heading into a second year of lock downs , shut downs and closed businesses, it is difficult to always see the the harvest, but if we truly want so experience that harvest , it begins with planting the seeds . 

  

seeds that will be included in the garden baskets being distributed 

 We have just under 250 families that our people have identified that could be truly blessed with a garden basket .  Each basket we plan to  include 30 packages of assorted seeds, 10 kg of seed potatoes , 10 tomato plants and 10 pepper plants .  This will cost $10 US, and will start producing in 6 weeks and last well into 2022.    We have placed the orders and will be picking up all the seeds and be ready to distribute in a couple days .  The total cost for this if we are able to purchase for all 250 families will be $2500.  We have $1000 raised so far so we are looking for help for 150 families @ $10 each  that's $1500  that we need in the next couple of  days .   If you would like to help us plant a seed , If you would like to be part of the harvest, please use the donate button on the top right side of the blog and put "seeds"  in the memo line .  Thank you again for all your support with this incredible opportunity to be a  blessing.   Then   PRAY FOR THE SEEDS 

a Time to Sow

 It is time to plant the gardens in Kyrgyzsytan, and many simply do not have the seeds to put into the ground.  If they miss the planting  we will have more mouths to feed .  The idea is that if we include seeds in the food packages to those who have gardens,  they can grow their own food over the summer .   This really is not anything new for us, we usually help some families with seeds at this time of year , but never to this scale .   We are working on a list now, but expect about 250 families and we are thinking about $10 worth of seeds and seed potatoes  per family .  That's $2500.  We are going ton purchase $500 worth of seeds this week  so we will know the exact price, and our people are compiling a list of people that they know in need so that in a few days we will have the exact totals .  If you would like to help with this , just mark "seeds" in the memo line.    

We will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

It is looking like there will be another lock down any day in Kyrgyzstan .. people are hungry and they are tired .  We asked Vlad if people are behaving and following distancing.  He said that its like this .. "They go to work and get sick and many die, OR they stay home to be safe and starve to death " We too are starting to get tired, and funds for food are starting to get low again and we are expecting a huge need in the weeks to come.  Many of you have blessed us beyond belief, but we need to come to you again and ask for more help towards food hampers.  I can imagine that you are tired of this as well ..  The last few weeks our devotions have brought us to Galatians . 

 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

I just got an update from Tanya a few hours ago.  This is what she has to say ;

Hallo John. I began bring food for need people... I want to say thank you very much from all the people and me for  help from your friends . It was very necessary.. everyone is very grateful.. people say that living now is very difficult without work and cannot afford to buy a normal meal that they want because everything is expensive in the bazaar .. Greetings from everybody. And a lot of good words have been said.  Thank you for not forgetting and helping... I thank God for giving me the opportunity to bring food to houses during these difficult days of life..... We are in prayer every day, thank God for all of you, that through you there is an opportunity to help others

 

Update on the Dental chair

A few weeks ago I shared Vera's desire to set up a dental office right at the orphanage so that the kids could be treated as well as others in the community that need help.  The first step we to get the chair.  Funds were raised and the chair is now in place. 

As we suspected we will need some other supplies.  We have found two dentists that will come to help us, but we had hoped that they would bring most of the tools that they will need, but they will not be able to bring them from their offices as the offices will still be open.  We will need to purchase our own and set up the full office.  The estimates are in, and we need $600 USD or $770 Canadian.  The tools are on hold for us and as soon as the funds come in they will be able to start treating those in need. 

We are ready to re open the guest house and the Kashar & Yurts.  We will have to change things up a bit.  We will have enhanced cleaning and safety measures.  The main farm will remain closed to the guests , and we will not be able to provide meals.  We have set up a kitchenet in each place so that guests can do their own cooking.   We will only have one booking at each location, and will have three days between guest bookings so that we have time to safely get in and clean and disinfect for the next guest. 

the guest house has been cleaned and painted inside and out , and the kashar has been completely cleaned and new bedding, and the water and heat is ready after being winterized last fall . 

 

Cooking with John and Aigoola

Today we had our first public zoom cooking class hosted by Aigoola and I .  There were many that could not make it but contacted us asking for us to tape the event.  so I have uploaded the event here.  In attendance we had people from Kyrgyzstan, Pennsylvania,  Minnesota, Peterborough,  Norwood, Campbellford, Espanola, Sudbury and Thunder bay. 

It turned out to be a beautiful day here in Norwood so I was able to cook outside in the Kazan 

Here is a link to the you tube upload of the zoom meeting.  It took us about 5 minutes to get the sound straitened out but after that it worked well. 

and the finished product 

Today at the farm our new truck arrived .  When we bought the Subaru a couple years ago, This truck was almost twice the price as this one was. We were able to sell the Subaru for almost what we paid for it two years ago and for just a few thousand more we are into a real farm truck .  King cab, 4WD , heavy duty and much newer.. It will easily hold a full ton of coal and will be great for deliveries .

Vera was able to purchase the new Dental chair and some of the extra's needed . 

I had asked for a list and prices of other needed supplies .  They would like a special light as well as a cabinet and special tools .  The total cost for that will be $600 USD.  I will  focus on that need in a few days, but right now I want to highlight a need that is an urgent one. It is for surgery for a friend of ours in Kyrgyzstan .  This family is very active helping orphans and helping Kyrgyz families trying to adopt children in Kyrgyzstan .  Uliyana Needs a surgery right away and they are short $1400 US,  They have reached out and asked for help.  If you are able to help, please let us know, or just go ahead and make a donation using one of the links on the top right side of the blog. 

Urgent need

Today I have a somewhat urgent need to share .  I actually have lots to share including the video from our cooking class, but will post that later after it uploads, but for now I wanted to get the word out.  Our good friends Anton and Uliyana just contacted us asking for help.  Uliyana needs surgery right away for some very serious health issues (Lady troubles) .  They do not have the resources to cover this, and are looking for $1400 USD .  Please if anyone can help with this need, please use one of the links on the top right side of the blog to make a donation. 

Thank you all in advance.

 

Learn how to make ploff and borsolk on Zoom

Last week, I had a request from Aigoola to explain to her how to make Lazagna .  We decided to demonstrate for her on a zoom meeting .  It went very well and we had a great time.   

When we posted on face book , we had so many people share how they would like to attend a cooking lesson.  So Angola had agreed and we have decided to do a Kyrgyz cooking lesson on Monday at 10:00 am eastern standard time, which is 8:00 pm in Kyrgyzstan. 

For our first attempt at this, we will make Ploff and Borsolk .  John will make the ploff and  Aigoola will make the Borsolk.   The total time for all will be about 1 1/2 hours .  Nick will be there as well to help with translation .    If you would like to join us , you can use the link below to zoom .    

John Wright is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Cooking with John and Aigoola .  (Ploff and Borsolk )

Time: Apr 5, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89552709065?pwd=MVJqRUd4Z0hLajdBOXNhMjdVVWI0Zz09

Meeting ID: 895 5270 9065

Passcode: 836072

One tap mobile

+13017158592,,89552709065#,,,,*836072# US (Washington DC)

+13126266799,,89552709065#,,,,*836072# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location

        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

        +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 895 5270 9065

Passcode: 836072

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcwP11hBBQ

We have set the meeting up so that people can come and go during the class.   During the class there will be down time during cooking so there will be opportunity to visit with others in attendance and to ask questions .     I will open the meeting 15 minutes early to give people time to get in and set up.   see you then . 

Starting a sewing business

Vlads   mother has been working many jobs in the bazar, mostly as a sewer.  With all the covid shut downs, she was one of the first to find herself with out work, and even now as things are starting to open up again , the bazars are still on shaky ground, especially with talk of another round of shut downs.  We have an apartment available for her in Tokmok in a nice area that has room in it where she could start her own sewing business working from her home for custom jobs.  Here is a little suit that she recently made for Vlads son Artur.  

So here is the catch .. Vlad is trying to find her a good sewing machine and the materials that she needs to start business.  We are looking for a start up for her of $600.  

between the guest house and the main house on the farm we have a small orchard and flower gardens and part of the chicken run .  We now have the intire big orchard fenced off for the chickens, so we would now like to expand the garden area and possibly make an out door Movie screen on the side of the garage .. so the boys are had at work today reclaiming this land. 

Here is a shot from in the green house .  You can see all the plants ready to move to the fields in a couple weeks as well as some potatoes in bags . in the back half of the green house you can see the spinach that is being harvested now.  

Yesterday , vlad took Marat into the city with him to buy tractor parts, and while there Marat purchased a air sprayer for fine detail air brush work.   We are looking forward to seeing his artistic flare in projects .  Here he is getting instruction on how to use it. 

 

A few updates from around the farm.

A few updates from the farm.  We have a new neighbor across the street from the farm.  There is a very nice family moved in there, and he is a mechanic.  He has agreed to take Marat on as an apprentice , and they are starting with painting cars.  Marat LOVES it and the neighbor thinks Marat is GREAT.  We are so thrilled that this is working out .     

Sibera is doing well.  She has graduated from Law at the international University and is now at school taking further courses and working part time in the legal profession .  Its so nice that we are still able to be in contact with her and touch base every now and then, like this day that we were able to take her out for coffee.  

Today on the farm it was potato planting time. Potatoes are the first crop to go in as soon as the ground can be worked.  S this was the first plowing of the spring for the tractor.  We have special plow attachments as well that go behind the tiller to make either mounds or ditches depending on what we are planting.  

Another spring job is to dig out and clean all the irrigation ditches.  

Back in Canada it is finally warm enough for the green house to be opened up , and we have it in full use.  I have been moving and repotting plants all day.