Giving thanks in our hardships

 I was reminded today that even during our hardships we need to be bringing thanks to God .  

For many of the villagers this is a difficult time with out water, and needing to come up with the resources to connect  to the new lines when the time comes ... And yet they are focusing a celebration to thank God for this life giving water.   So many messages around that come to mind.

Today the village leaders came to is with this idea to have this party to thank God .  We were happy to support the village with purchasing the sheep for the event.   

Interesting ... Them explaining to me the need to bring thanks to God in our hardship. 

"Kan chygaryp koyolu...with the shedding of Blood!" 

Crisis averted.

More water works today. we are digging the trenches now because two of our water lines are not up to code so need to be replaced.   a lot of work .

Yesterday we ran out of water before finishing deliveries and when we went to refill, we ran into some engine troubles.  Early this morning Sergey was into the village with the truck to get it fixed.  It turned out to be just a couple of sensors.  Crisis averted. and we are back on deliveries today.

Here is something fun.  Someone in the village bought a new holding tank for the main kitchen .. that was a real blessing.   right away they got to work installing it .

This will be such a blessing to have a clean potable water , and an abundance of it. 

Today as Vald was heading out to deliver water in the village.  It was pouring rain so I was able to get a coat for him from donations we had brought with us . 

  The fridge in the work kitchen was one of the ones that was destroyed in the power surge .  Today we went up to the Kashar and picked up the fridge from there and brought it down to the farm.  I will get a small one to replace it, then when we have more cash flow we can get a bigger one .  

 

Trusting His Powerful Hand .

Lots going on around the farm today.  The trench on our street is finished and today they laid the pipe. 

while that is going on our guys are still out doing water deliveries... this will likely be the routine  for the next couple of months.  

We have some guests that will be leaving the US in a few hours so we have been getting ready. 

Today we were able to get the bridge over trench. 

The corner room was always very dark and only had one little window.  Today we finished  installing a window looking out into the orchard . 



we put in a live edge sill on the window.  I still have a little bit of trim on. I will pick that up when I go into Tokmok in the morning. 

With the guests arriving on Thursday, they will have with them some landscaping clothe.  

Because of the situation with the water this year , we will have to scale back the gardens this year .  By planting through the black clothe we will choke out the weeds and reduce the amount of water required.

last fall we spread spinach seeds over the garden .. this helps to choke out weeds and it starts to grow early in the spring .  Now that we are going to plant part of the garden, we will transplant the spinach into a row between the garlic and the raspberries.  

Along with the apple trees the currents are doing very well, look at all the blooms. 

We have gone back to planting in trenches rather then on mounds as well since we will not have flood irrigation .    This year is definitely going to be a challenge.  Knowingly planting in a dry parched land.  

Isaiah 41:19-20 (NIRV) states, "I will make trees grow in the desert. I will plant cedar and acacia trees there. I will plant myrtle and olive trees there... Then people will see and know that my powerful hand has done it."

Pouring out blessings as the sun goes down.

I remember being at a camp meeting a long time ago.  Pastor Sam shared about the mother who shared her oil .. she was told to bring every container she had and the oil would be poured out with out running out. He then charged us with bringing our containers to the next service.. It was hilarious all the different containers that showed up... But most of all we all came expecting.   

Today they all came expecting .. and the variety of different containers we just like that camp meeting so long ago.

some seeds were given out today as well 

House after house people were there to get water.  I actually found it to be a little bit emotional .. after just half a block I had had enough and decided to go back home.  I am so blessed to have friends and a team here to continue pouring out blessings as the sun goes down. 

 

We could use some help!

Some times things can just seem to close in around you,  like today,  All around us the drive ways have been dug up and will probably remain that way for a few months.  We did get our vehicles out and parked on the side of the road .  I guess first off, tomorrow morning we will need to build some sort of bridge across the trench.  

This is a small problem compared to the new one that came to light .  It is the responsibility of the home owners to reconnect there own lines to the new water lines.  We have 4 lines to connect on the farm and 3 more on the hoses of our staff.  The expected cost for the new house lines and reconnection will likely average around $200 each house .   We are now looking  for  $1400 to reinstall new lines and then likely another $200 to repair the driveways.  

Today we were out to Orlofka to visit Aigoola .  we had a great lunch. 

When we got home.  We purchased Baktaguls  flight ticket back to Turkie .  She will fly out in about 2 weeks.  It has been nice having her here with us for the last year, but now it is time for her to return . we are wishing her well.  


 

Working through some jet leg

We have been here at the farm for 6 days now.  Jet leg has not been kind to us , but we are moving ahead .  We brought with us some beautiful high end work jackets and gloves. Everyone was so blessed and right away they knew of some others who would really appreciate them. 

We brought  a lot of seeds with us then also purchased many more.  Baktagul and I spent a day sorting and packing. then we started delivering .  The first batch went to Vera and Oleg.  

We spent a day getting ready for when the water is being shut off. We added new leaf springs to take the weight of the water, then purchased a new tank.  We will be able to start water deliveries as soon as people start to run out of water that they have stored up. We have also set up an out door shower for the boys. 

checking out the new fridge to replace the one fried in the power surge .

the kids loved the new hoodies that a previous team member sent for them .

The apple trees are in bloom, the boys are out cutting grass. and we are preparing the gardens to plant.  With out water this spring we are going to have to scale back the size of the garden . I have weed cloth to go down over drip irrigation lines so although the garden is smaller we hope to increase the yield,  

    
The guys have come up with some interesting new lights over in the work shop.  I got to see them when I went over to pick up the lap top that they were re building for me.  It needed a new battery, more ram and needed a Russian operating system;  Its now ready to go to its new home.