Home

I thought I better get on and do a post to let everyone know that I am home safe and sound...
The last 2 1/2 months have been an incredible adventure, and lives have been changed and more HOPE and DIGNITY has been restored then I could ever have imagined... Over the next few weeks I will go through my photo's and start posting some of the untold stories...
I am thankful to all you who have supported, to my co-workers at PI who work to keep the system rolling, to all our workers and friend in Central Asia who give daily to help those around them... to those that where my standard in difficult times, and mostly to Julie and the girls who sacrificed so that I could remain until this work was com pleated...

Come for a visit

This Saturday, May 30, we are having an all day party.

Emma is 18, Happy Birthday and John is coming home, Welcome Home.

We will have Brunch at 11:am, visiting all day, supper and then a huge Bonfire in the evening.

It would be great if you came when you could and stayed as long as you want. Bring a lawn chair and bug spray.

I can't wait, this should fun, it will be awesome to see everyone.

If you can come, email/facebook/phone us for more information.

Thank you

Joan Marie Lehman - April 7th, 1933-May 15th, 2009

As you know my mom died last week and her funeral was Wednesday. This has been very hard for us and I wanted to say Thank You to all of you who read the blog. I was truly blessed to read all the comments from you who are praying, who love us and were there for us. So many came to the visitation and the funeral, sent cards, wrote to John and called. Many made sandwiches, sent flowers and delivered food.

I can say with joy in my heart that we are well cared for.

Thinking back

As I am preparing to go back to Canada, I have been doing a lot of reflecting as I try to make sure that all the bases are covered... as I do , I am once again overwhelmed by the support for these beautiful people we call our friends... I think of how when we were preparing to come, it was only days before we left that the final funds came in to cover the flights... when I look back and see all that was done, it is so clear that we are not alone in this... many of you have dug deep, and given so that we could give... We take so many group photo's like this one here, but the real hero's, the ones that are really making a difference, can't always be in the photo like Alisha here... Please know that you are not taken for granted, you have been a blessing to us all, and over the next few weeks when I get home, I will try to get personal updates to each of you...

Just got a phone call, saying that one of our young friends will be getting his cleft pallet operation today, I called Christy in the city, and within 15 minutes she was standing in the hospital with the family...... I love when the pieces fall together like that... please remember Arophat over the next couple days....

The perfect burger

Now that's what I call a Cheeseburger.... double ground prim rib, fresh custom made buns, I even managed to find all the trimmings.... Heinz ketchup, mustard, onions tomatoes and lettuce, topped with melted Swiss cheese..... served with Cole slaw and buttered popcorn.... not to mention 24 liters of real juice.....

we even had enough for seconds.... but they still had enough room for 4 birthday cakes... this was a big celebration. we have 4 boys that are having their birthdays in the next few days.....

so we had 4 cakes... I asked Anya if these candles were safe inside.. she laughed and said that it was a good question to ask, but yes they were OK... they looked more like Roman candles to me.... lol

each of the boys got a new ball... I had to laugh.. one of them had a dollar store sticker still on them... considerably less then I had to pay....

But once we saw how happy the boys were, man I tell you it was worth every penny. ... note to self , next time you give out 24 those silly things you blow into that roll out and squeal.... do it as you are leaving....

then to make sure they all got a treat, we had a table with tooth brushed, tooth past, soap, shampoo, and paints and paint brushes....

I did manage to make it out without incident, but I will be seeing them again on Sunday before I leave town....

Winding down

OK so I have just come to realize that I am to far behind to post everything tat has happened and still remain sensitive to some delicate issues, so I have decided to start again from today and play catch up when I get home next week.

I woke up early this morning out in the village.... It was interesting to watch the morning family dynamics.... Torat and Aiperi have to be at school by 8:00, the walk is actually about 35 minutes... up hill... but first, Aiperi has to make the bread and Torrat has to take the animals to the mountain while his mom milks the mother cow... By 20 after 7 they are both done there chores and are off to school... Momma takes the mother cow to the pasture and waits there with it while the rest of the kids get up and have breakfast, they quickly tidy up and make breakfast for momma then Beksolten goes to the field, and Momma comes back for breakfast... then by 8 am, mother is out to the field where she works planting and the kids watch the animals until Torat gets home for lunch, then they trade and the younger ones head for school in the afternoon.... Not a lot of talking, but they seem to have a system....
I left by 9:15 and walked up to the taxi stand... forgetting it would take me 40 minutes...up hill... I caught a cab to the seniors home in the next village over.. I got there just as David and Jayne were arriving with a few other friends...
This was my good buys for the seniors home... It was very emotional, I had not been expecting it, but for many of these seniors they have no family, and even mentioning that it was time for me to go brought out the tears.... Again I was so happy to be able to tell them that David and Jayne would be staying on for another month... scenes from last year. We then headed over to the invalid home and delivered spoons and vitamins, as well as a big bag of tea coffee and sugar for the staff room.... These workers have so little and are required to do so much... We then took a walk through to say good buy to all our friends there... In the barber shop, one young man in a wheel chair came in and wanted to "TALK WITH ME" Buy the time he was done, even the workers there were in tears....They had many presents for me that the men had made including a picture that I had commissioned from them... .. I reminded them that last year I said I would come back and I did, and that I have come many times and I will be back again... Even the director came down from his office when he saw me come... for the first time he did not send for us, but he came down, shook my hand then gave me a big hug.... He again said how thank full they were for our help with the new water pumps for the system... Like the seniors home, it was hard to go, knowing the chances are that several of them will not make it until my return...
I am just feeling blessed to have known them for now... I have seen the awakening in there lives, and am so privileged to be a part of it .
From there we went over to the village for coffee hour... it to was difficult for me, I did not realize how much they have worked their way into my life, and mine into theirs... One of the mothers shared that when her son heard that I was going, he started to cry... I feel bad, I don't even know his name... I got to visit one last time with my new friend, the father of the little boy with the cleft pallet.... It was nice that I had with me one of my friends from the city that as been looking in on his family at the hospital... I was able to assure him that they would continue to be there to help him, then told him that I will likely be back in September when it is time for the next operation... Now I just realized that I missed a couple events , and half a dozen phone calls I received... I guess I will have to ad them to the TO POST pile.... My cell phone packed it in two days ago with all my contacts... so I have been rebuilding my list, then when I went to program them into my new phone, I realized that I have a choice of Russian or Korean NO ENGLISH.... What I do have now is the ability to connect to Internet using the cell phone... Maybe next trip I will do my posts on the road and maybe I will be able to keep up.... Tomorrow is another busy day ... First we will...... oh you better just wait and see.... Going to bed.... first time back into my own bed for almost a week...

Mixed Emotions

This has been a very busy weekend, as well as one filled with emotions... I received notice during the weekend that Julies mom has passed away.. I think of the sorrow that my family is facing at home, and at the same time realizes that I could not make it home in time to be a help in the coming events... I will be heading home on Monday, and will spend the next few days getting things wrapped up here for before I leave.. I feel so bad that I am not there for Julie and the kids, but soon enough I will be with them....

So here is the beginning of the promised report.....

The team arrived at 3:45 and had cleared customs and were in Town by 8:00 to get settled then off for a big day...

9:00 T-shirt Factory
This is the factory where they make the higher end tourist shirts that are in the markets…. Also they make all the police and military uniforms there… We can shop direct for about half the retail price, as well they can specially make anything you like, and have them ready by the time you go home …..
10:00 Dump
At this dump, Larisa finds most of the families that she helps… She goes there regularly to bring food and supplies to them as well as meet any other needs that she can…It was difficult for the team , I don’t think they were expecting to see kids there. This time as well as the hot meal, we brought them Jar’s of Honey… something that will help there imune system, and at the same time will be a real treat for them, something they would otherwise never get to try .
12:00 Invalid Home
This is a home for disabled men… many come here right from the orphanages when they turn 16… It was not uncommon for many of them to die of starvation and freezing every winter…Laurisa's team are the only volinteers that has helped them here.. They have renovated 4 rooms that are used as warming rooms in the winter as well as activity rooms… Many Lives have been changed in the last few months, and we have even begun to see many physical healing as well…... a couple weeks ago PI completed a barber shop and with all the supplies… until now, one blade had to last the barber… 10 days… 287 men and he got one blade every 10 days…. When we spoke with the director he shared that the water pump that supplies the home and two surrounding villages had broken down and the one they had was a loaner… We agreed to purchase it for him… It will be $300, We did not want to appear to take the request to lightly, so we told him we would work on it and will have the money for him by Monday…
2:00 Pizza Party
This is the village where a team from Norwood brought water… it had been 10 years since the town had running water… the water was brought to the centre of town, and put in front of Laura’s house … A house that was renovated by a team from Kitchener 3 years ago…Again, The only contact that this village has had from outside their community has been PI and Lamb workers… Currently we have a once a week “Coffee hour”, and usually have between 35 to 40 people… the entire population of this village is 120 people… The best laid planes of mice and men….. when we arrived, the party was high jacked by a group of the Kyrgy’s ladies… They took us to another house where a celebration meal was prepared, and the team was shown how the babies are swaddled and tied into the cribs and the wooden catheters are used.. ten how they are feed… the problem was wit the time delay in translation, it all was happening before we could make an excuse to be out of there… OH My…… Then after a little dancing in the court yard, it was over to the real party… again there was something about NO FOOD that they missed… we were served Lagman, palmene, soup of some sort, as well as a few other dished, then finally the pizza… this gave us about ½ hour to digest before supper…..
4:30 Beshbarmak
This is a traditional Kyrgies meal… Besh --- Five barmak ---fingers… traditionally it is a common plate and everyone eats with their hands… today the meal has been prepared to western food standards, and only the best meat…no guts…. It is at the home of Acela’s mother in law… she received a simple dream last year of chickens to supplement her income.
Saturday
10:00 Kindergarten
This is a community project that we have been asked to help with … They have renovated the entire building, and are just about ready to open… it has been supported by many of the locals and most of the work has been volunteer.. they are hoping to open on June 1, and needed help with mattresses, blankets, and school supplies… They loved the school supplies we brought as well as the new mattresses… we have been invited back for the grand opening in the 25 , This will be the last day for the team and myself, so I have so much else to be doing, but they want us there as the President will be there as well….. maybe I can get Serge to go for me.
12:00 Seniors home
Many of our friends have been involved in the opening of this seniors home… without documents many seniors are living on the street, and even with the proper documentation, they cannot go to a government seniors home if there are any living relatives… The building needs a lot of work, but the need for this service is so great that they had to do something to help… The director and her husband have given everything they own to open this… PI and our friends have found sponsors to provide food drops, beds, furniture, and last week hot water and a shower…

1:30 Feeding program
This building was purchased with donations from Loads of love, and the play ground was built by the youth team from Norwood… the feeding program is sponsored by PI, right now with the winter being over and fresh food available, the feeding program has been reduced to 3 days a week from 5, but the shut in’s are still contacted daily… The center also runs a 5 day a week children’s program in the summer in the playground. It to is sponsored by PI.
2:00 Orphanage
The kids were eager to put on a dance show for the team , and it was great for them to see the work completed that they had had such a large part in.
4:00 Rahema
This is a mother with 2 little children that was thrown out on the street by her husband , and her documents were burned… she was at the orphanage for a time, and is now living in a house that was purchased by PI last year… she still has some issues that Sergey and Anya are working through with her. But is now starting to try to develop a baking business out of the home. This is the first time that Sam has had a chance to visit the home.
4:30 Aigoola
This home was purchased and renovated by Loads of love for the use of this family of 5 kids and their Mom… The youth team from Norwood built a barn and an out house as well as purchased the winters coal, and food for the animals… The animals were sponsored through PI as well as three sheep replaced a few weeks ago by a LAMb team from Cleavland. The oldest daughter is sponsored to work for the centre in the summer, she helps with both the seniors and the children… They family has just had a sponsor to help them set up a sewing business, and many of the sewing jobs that we find …like the new mattresses for the kindergarten , will be directed their way.
5:30 Baranna Tower
This is one of the oldest buildings on the silk road… it is historically a peaceful village , it is one of the only villages in the region that was not concurred by Gangues con. From the top of the tower, you can see the ancient city walls, and the site of the palace. The team was told that there would be a few other recipients of simple dreams that would be meeting them there… when they arrived, there was 195 people from the surrounding villages to meet them .. We had friends prepare a huge batch of ploff and all the trimmings … despite the rain, everyone had a great time… Getting that many people who have been touched by the program into one place was very moving.
That catches me up 2 days… I will try for some more tomorrow.

posting soon

Sorry to everyone waiting on a post... It has been an incredibly buisy weekend, and I am without internet this week as I have not been living at the appartment... I am in the Capital this weekend, and will be home tonight, then do a big post with photo's etc.. The team is on there way with no difficulties at ther airport... I will see them again in a week....

Dad is here !

It's funny.. I have a team leaving Canada tonight, and I was just talking to a friend... he asked if there was anything that he could send for me... I had to think for a bit, and could not come up with anything.... I can remember coming for short trips, and getting cravings, but I must be settling in here because apart from missing my family, I really am quite content... so after thinking for a few minutes , I said .... Just send money..... That will do... Kidding aside, it will be great to see these guys... Many of them on this trip have had an instrumental part in us being here, I have traveled with most of them, and I know first hand the heart they have for the people of Central Asia... I just hope that in some way, they will be able to see the the impact on this land ,of the work that they all started so many years ago has had..... Just today I was reminded the importance of a visit.... I was remindeed of the HOPE that they bring....

When the kids were young, we had a few very lean years..... When things were at there worst, I awoke one night after a dream... My Father had died a few years earlier, and he had appeared in a dream.. In the dream, I was going into a restaurant with the kids, I had told them that they could split an order of french fries and have water, and that Julie and I would not be eating because we had only enough money to feed them... The I looked up and saw my dad come into the restaurant... with absolute relief I said.. oh we are going to be OK now... Dad is here... you can go ahead and get what you like to eat... I then woke up, and instantly I remembered "If you then, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father give good things to those who ask Him!" I understood so much more at that moment...
Today the director at the Seniors home shared that she had been facing many trials, she knew what she was called to do, but things were just not coming together for her, Larissa kept telling her... Just hold on ... John will be here soon... She said having never met me she did not relay know what to think, but at her lowest moment Larisa called and said. " You are going to be OK now ... John is here" , She told me that that time she was so low that she could only place her hope in my soon coming arrival.... She then told me that she now has seen so many amazing things that she knows where to look for strength and as mush as she is going to miss me when I go, she knows that they are going to be OK now because her father is here.......
I know that there is going to be an incredible up hill battle to get this place up and running, but I too can see amazing things happen there... I have seen The Seniors on the streets, and I have seen some of the same seniors in this loving home... The needs are so huge, but they are going to be OK now.... Dad's here.......

Hanging out with my friends !

Today we headed out to the far end of the valley to take our young guest out to meet our friends at the Seniors home... She made the rounds, and she and Acelbeck even took turns playing the guitar and singing for them From there we headed back along the south side of the valley, and worked our way through the little villages We stopped for a visit at the feeding program that we sponsor there... it was so nice to actually have time for a nice visit... usually I am in such a rush that they get 15 minutes of our time, then we head off, yet they deserve so much more... they are doing fantastic things in their community... This summer they tell me that they are going to have a full children's program in the playground the team built... 5 days a week... all summer long.... The next stop was to Agiloo's house for tea... we had a really nice visit, and I was able to give a Little input to help Ayperi decide what she was going to do when she finished school... She has been thinking of so many different options, but could not settle on anything... When I asked her what she really like to do, she said that she enjoyed sewing with her mom... I then suggested that if she went to the sewing school to learn the business side of things, it might be a good idea... I have had people interested in helping them to start a small business sewing, and I think now would be a good time to get things started.... Maybe we will have Sergey take them to the city next week to find a good sewing machine... I already have orders for many items for them... I could even spread the word with others and see how much more work we could drum up... After that we headed for Laurissa's house where we had supper ... again a stop that I have needed to make for a long time... she was so happy to have us, and again deserves so much more attention then I am able to give her... It seems like every stop I made, they reminded me how many days it has been since they have seen me... I could sware I was out that end of the valley just last week, but I guess the few days I was down has everyone in a dither....

After leaving Larissa's house we headed into our little village... A place I have come to love.... It's a place that the streets are still just a mud pathway, and every time we go we wonder if we will be able to make it in.... there is often no electricity, and the only public utility is the one tap in the middle of the town that we brought them last year.... The homes are so simple, and life is difficult... yet they are always so happy to see us... The daily issues seem to disappear when we get there, the streets for a time are filled with joy.... Today we brought crafts to do with all the kids... They were all so excited... they had never had something like this before as far back as any could remember... The crafts were so incredibly organized... out young friend had a sealed pack for each child, and inside was everything they needed for that craft...

The girls made felt purses, and the boys made airplanes Then every family in the village got a soccer ball..... that turned into a great big game of volleyball out on the street......

in total we had about 25 kids for about 2 hours....
It's funny... I feel so privileged to be part of something so special as this... I think it has been about 4 years now that we have been excepted as a part of this community. As I look back through many years of photo's I have been able to See many of these kids grow up... I just hope that some how we have been able to have a part in shaping their futures in a positive way....
As I watched one of the boys today, my heart was breaking... he is so bright and personable.. and as smart as a whip... I just wonder what his future has in store for him... If he was anywhere else, I would say that the sky is the limit, and nothing is outside his grasp, but I know the truth... the truth is that unless people like you and me continue to stand by him, he faces a very bleak future....
I guess it's days like today , set aside , to just hang with my friends, that I am reminded why we are here.

The Reason Why John was "laying low"

-love from the girls-

A good day !

Today we traveled into the Capital for some long over due visits.. We picked up some friends along the way, and by the time we got there the bus was full.... The first stop was to the hospital... wanted to see a few of the children that we have sponsored operations for, and bring food and diapers to them and their care givers... The first one we found was the little boy from the village that is in for the cleft pallet operation.... His father was at the hospital today as well... It was nice to run into him there.. He said that our friends had been so good to them, and had been stopping in every day to make sure that they are OK... Arafat has a bit of a cold, so they have not operated yet, but are expecting to any day now.... ... We gave the father a little more money to help with food and travel expenses.. I know that he was pleased to see that we would personally take the time to stop in and visit... We then checked in on one of the little babies that we helped with the Hydrocephalus operation... it was just done, so I waited out side, and My friend that has been taking the lead went in to make sure all was well and that the care giver did not need anything... The baby is doing great... I am so relieved that this operation was done when it was ... It truly was time sensitive, but in the 11th hour, the need was met...
from there, Sergey and I ran a few around town while the rest went to the baby orphanage for a visit and to bring Diapers and Yogurt for them... With the rain that we have been having, getting diapers to dry has been difficult, and the disposable ones are like gold to them... and you would think that they are gold if you tried to buy them... that are about twice the price of the ones at home.... that is unless you step back and let me do the negotiating... we got an awesome price, so we just bought twice as many... either way they were very blessed... When the team got there, every one was waiting .. we had made sure to make prior arrangements with the government, so this was an official visit, and the director and the care givers were all there... the team had a great time, and were so blessed to be able to have the opportunity to help..
Lunch was at one of the more western restaurants... all that was missing off the corn and pea pizza was the maio and ketchup....

When the last piece of pizza was gone, their was left a small pile of unrecognizable items... I looked over at Dave and said "I don't quite recognize what that might be" he said "And that's why they are still there my friend ".....

After lunch we dropped a few off, and picked a few up, then headed over to an amazing facility.. This is a place that children are brought to when the police first find them living on the street... When you think of street kids, you never think of three year olds.... I takes a few minutes to get your mind around it. This is an incredibly loving place, and the kids are so well cared for here...It is likely the best centre that I have come across in all Central Asia... They have a school for those that do not have documents yet, or are to far behind, and also provide crafts as a form of therapy for the kids... They then have a Little store where the kids can sell there things... half the money the kids get for there "Bank" that they can use for personal extras , and the other half is used to purchase the materials to make the crafts....

It had been a while since there have been any teams there, so they were getting a back log of items... ..Well lets just say they were doing the Dance before we left.... I will have to see what I can sell off to the PI team coming in this weekend ... if not the last few days Benson and I may be living on casha and rice...... We are going back there on Monday to do some new crafts with them... We have a young lady visiting with us and she absolutely fell in love with these kids and has brought a whole load of fun crafts to do with kids... We are also going to see if I can work out a deal for another 50 football outfits ... being so transient, it is difficult to keep these kids in clothes...

Tomorrow we will be heading out to the other end of the valley to set things up for a special weekend of celebrations when the team comes to town, also I must remember to call to the blind society to order some mattresses for the day care we visited a few days ago... I want to have them ready when the team gets here with the blankets and craft stuff so that we can bring them out on Saturday....

Today was a good day.....

More Company

So I just had some more company drop buy... Alisha and Natasha... I thought for a second I was not going to be watching the movie alone, but I was wrong.... apparently the tent is much more exciting....

This is Monday night... when Acelbeck and I often have house guests for a few hours.. Tonight we decided to go out to the yurts for shashleek then back to the apartment... rather then watching a movie, I thought the kids would be excited to play in the tent I picked up at the bazaar... I un sipped it at it sprang into shape, and every one's eye's got big .. even Benson.... in seconds they were set up inside the tent with the lantern and crayons and paper... they even brought in the radio...

I guess I will sit and watch a movie on my own tonight...hay I might even get to watch an English one....lol

More incredible contacts .

After lunch today I went for a meeting with the Lady responsible for children in the district where my apartment is... She is such a nice lady and cares so much for the kids that she is responsible for... Despite being so very busy, she took the time to take me on a tour of the baby hospital and one of the orphanages in town that I had not been to before... At the hospital they shared some of the needs..This is the first place that children are brought when they are found or given up for adoptions... There is a little bit of cosmetic work that it needed.. not a lot, they have done very well at keeping the hospital clean and sanitary, but could certainly use a team for a few days to help in a few area's.. they also need some, I think they are called "Billy lights" for the babies.. the set that they have is from 1945.... also some basic things would be great like baby cribs or bassinets... What the Dr would really like is to have some of those new UV lights that go above the doors to help control bacteria... They also shared that they have an organization that has helped them from Colorado to pack an entire shipping container , but do not have the funds to ship it... I can imagine how discouraging it is for them when they have what they need, but just can not get it... I have them checking to see just were everything is now and what we can do to help.....
At the orphanage I met a young boy that is orphaned because his parents died of TB.. he has been tested and is closed, but he also has skin problems, and they can not afford the right med's for him... I have a hard time seeing a child suffering for the lack of funds, and I could tell this was equally upsetting for the workers and the government lady as well, so I have told them to go ahead and get the meds for him... also there is another boy that the mother was going to bring to the orphanage because they needed a hearing aid... and the boy is behind and can not attend school.... We did a little networking, and got the clinic that can help, and I have offered to cover the hearing test and the aid .. the total will be under $200, then we also found a contact with someone that provides speech therapy... this will help to get this boy caught up... I can just imagine how relieved this mom will be when she hears ....
Any one that knows me knows I am not a front and centre kind of guy, and would much rather work behind the scenes, but If we truly are going to make a lasting impact here, we need to work with the local authorities when ever possible.... It is just the right thing to do.... And hay it's all about bringing HOPE and DIGNITY...... Thankyou to my friends that made it possible for me to meet these needs on the spot..... It does not always work like that, but I will certainly sleep better tonight knowing that a few kids will sleep better tonight....

A cool new project

Today we started off with a meeting at the office of the mayor's assistant in one of the local villages... They are opening a kindergarten. After a short visit, we went out to meet with the mayor of all the region, and get an opportunity .. to see the facility first hand... It is such an incredible place... they have done so much work there already. The building had sat empty for about 10 years. They have remodeled it, and it looks great.. there is also a huge playground for the kids as well... In this village, many of the parents work in the fields, and to have a subsidized day care will be an incredible help to them. Many of the different projects are sponsored by other local charitable organizations, and most of the work has been a volunteer effort... I am always so encouraged when I see a village coming together to help each other.... The building is now ready for the final touches... This is a photo standing in the play room looking into the bed room... you can see the toys ready on the shelves.... This next photo is a before photo of the bathroom, then here is the after photo... it is nearly finished ... I inquired about what they have left to complete... they are in good shape with many organization pulling together... the only thing that they have not been able to complete is that they need 120 small mattresses, and some school / craft supplies... supplies. I have some friends from PI coming this week, and hopefully they are able to make it through with blankets and craft supplies that Julie packed up a couple days ago.... I will also see what I can do about having the mattresses made for them...

As you can see in this last photo, the volunteers are now busy getting the outside cleaned up.... They are hoping to open on June 1 st for Children's day.... I explained that My resources were limited, but that I would do what we could , but just touring the facility was exciting and encouraging for both of us... As you can imagine this is an incredibly important and a so needed project. It will help bring stability and safety to hundreds of kids who would otherwise be on there own....

Happy Mother's Day

Now if I was just a little more organized, I would have had flowers sent, but as you know I am not always organized... but I do have something to my advantage... I am 24 hours away, and 10 hours ahead, so At least I had a little exra time to plan something... so for mothers day, I took Jengish and Ascelbeck to a nice resteraunt for lunch.... and we thought of you....

Love you and miss you...

John

Back in the village with friends...

I just got in from a busy day. I was out in the village for our coffee hour..... we did well.. it only lasted 3 hours ........ Today we had about 40 including an extra room full of kids...It is such a joy to be with these families..... the problems that the world faces are small compared to what they face every day, yet there is always such a time of joy when we are with them.... Everyone always wants to talk about the "Crisis" that the world is facing, but in this little village, they are not concerned... they say.."What is there to loose when you have nothing"... They are for the most part substance farmers, they grow just enough to feed their animals, and if they have any animals left when the winter is over... this is a good thing. We have noticed more and more families that were scared of us in the past are eager to great us now, Including the family of the little boy in having his cleft pallet surgery.

Today there were many other projects that came to surface... I have been in contact with several of the mayors offices in the region over the last week or so, and many are facing the same things.. they have such a care and concern for their people, and just do not have the resources to do anything... some of the things I will be researching on over the next couple days will be children and Seniors that need hearing aids... help with a setting up a government day care, further projects out at the invalid home, and the list goes on...Some incredible opportunities to build some strong relationships... I have one of my translators that is an absolute networking bomb, at this rate I would not be surprised if by the end of next week, I will have weaved my way through every government office and police station in our end of the valley...

On our way back from the village... we were pulled over by the police... they recognised me in the car... I thought for a little while I was in trouble, then the cop said that I visited the home of a friend of his last week, and just wanted to get a chance to meet me... then asked if I could teach them English... My friend laughed, she said "if you knew how bad his English was, you would not ask this"... LOL.... I guess she has been here to see my entire page turn yellow when I hit the spell check button..... Any ways we covered the valley pretty good today... And tomorrow I will be heading to the rehab centre in the morning to bring more shoes out for the guys... I will have to get the camera downloaded and batteries recharged... I will try to have more photo's tomorrow...

stand by me - all around the world :)

I received this video from one of my friends in Canada .. the message simple read ......

Just wanted you all to know there are many standing by....

As I watched the video I was so encouraged.... it reminded me again that together we Can make beautiful music.... Thank you for everyone that has stood by me and in turn the HELPLESS HURTING and the LOST , not just here in Central Asia, but in the many other countries around this world that friends of PI are restoring HOPE and DIGNITY ....

Even if you are on a slow connection, this is still worth down loading.... do like I did press play, then go have a nap....

Let the rivers clap their hands; together let the hills sing for joy

A miraculous story brought two incredible hands together, and yes the hills did sing for joy.......

So what am I talking about ? The hands in the first photo share a special connection. the strong looking hand in the middle is one that was severely injured a few months ago... It was not known if the hand could even be saved... PI was contacted, and we spread the word.... Then something interesting happened... Someone in the U.S. heard about the story, and shared her own experience of having lost some of her fingers in a car accident... she shared from her heart, and took up the cause of looking for more support... in no time at all, the need was met, and the the funding was in place for Serge's operation... This loving caring father was given a new start on life... Just when he had reached a place of dispare, a ray of HOPE came into his life.... In this photo , you can see those two hands joined together not just in friendship, but as a symbol of the Power of Philanthropy.......



This next photo is taken in the market in town here. 30 soccer uniforms and 30 pair of sport socks were purchased along with juice and Somsa's for one of the local orphanages....

The children were so excited... this orphanage is one that is dedicated to dealing with special health concerns, so many of the children may have serious issues in their lives. The Dr and staff there take incredible care of the kids. Sergey has worked for a long time with this orphanage, and has nothing but good things to say about the director there.. that is one reason we were so blessed to come along side them to help bring water into the building.. this will make things so much easier for them ... I had enough funds to cover just over half of the project... this will be enough to get things started, and we will continue to work away on it as more funding becomes available... I would love to see this completed before I leave at the end of the month. I just love the PJ's on under the uniforms....

I stoped by the invalid home . We had some photo's printed and framed to put up for them... They were photo's of the men from when they were helping with the last renovation... they were so thrilled to see themselves... They will put these photo's up in the new Barber shop....

While in town we made several other stops.... This is Larisa with me as we drop off food and juice for a new family that has just been sponsored.... We actually got to visit 4 newly sponsored families this day.... I will tell you more about each of them at a later date... It was just nice to spend a little time with them and get to know them better... There is so much that we will be able to do to help them ...Home after home, I watch relief from the dispare come over the faces......

As you can see in this next Photo , NOT EVERY ONE is happy I am in town... I guess this guy lacks the ability to understand that we are simply helping those he thinks he is protecting....

He almost got me... you know one good bite, and it would be off to the airport for me, but fortunately my friends warned me and I emerged just a little shaken, but unscathed ... Hummm we have a family Joke... "There are no dogs in Central Asia".... For some strange reason, the first few times we came here, we hardly saw a dog, so we told our girls that they would not see many while they were here... boy were we wrong....

Fortunately this little guy was more bark then bite.... and it was off to see the mayor , I have a special present for him... I brought a team hockey Jersey for him from my home town in Canada...I think it will look great in his office. This Mayor has been a great support for Larisa, and the work she does in his town... you may remember seeing photo's of him at the ribbon cutting of one of the remodeled rooms at the invalid home and also at the ceremony when we helped him by bringing water to the village. He was working on opening a hospital at that time. We only found out about it on our last day in town last year, so I want to discuss with him what we can do to help with this project.... I had forgotten that this was a holiday, and he was not at the office, but being a small village, as soon as he knew I was looking for him he called, and I have been invited to super at his house . A night I am looking forward to. So with a little time left , we went to the dump to make sure there were no kids there... Larisa has been doing a great job at providing for there needs, and encouraging them to stay out of the dump... We did find half a dozed people there... we put together food hampers as well as hot Somsa's and Sharrow... Yumm... but as a special treat, I had small tubs of Honey for each of them... This time the wind was blowing in the right direction, so it was a little more favorable to staying for a visit... we actually had a good time... I am getting to know many of them well, and they ALL know me... next week, we are going to be renting the amusement park in the neighboring town, and bringing all these families there for a special day, then out for supper.... there is still opportunity to be a part of this if anyone wants to help..... since I just spent a little more then I was expecting to help pay the tax etc. on a shipping container full of humanitarian aid supplies that our friends have just received....... they say if you will laugh when you look back on something, you might as well laugh now, so this one will be a BIG laugh....basically I got the figures mixed up in my head, and came up $600 short when I told them I could cover it ...I told Sergey he will have to keep me busy unpacking the container for a couple weeks....Keep me busy if I run out of money...lol...

I then went over to see the parents of the little boy we have in for the Cleft pallet operation, It has been a week now that the babushka's have been in the hospital with him, and I wanted to make sure that the parents could get in to see him as well... so I spoke to them, and they were hoping to go into the city the next day, so I gave the father a special hand shake, and I could feel him melt as I did... As I look at him now, I no longer see a hard exterior, I see a soft kind heart, and a gentle man..I wonder who has changed... him or me.... I wish my Russian was better, sometimes I want so badly to be able to be able to speak, but for now I guess all I can do is speak through my actions...

I made the trip into the Capital today as well to meet up with a friend, he has been such a help with the operations we have been involved with... he or one of his friend has stoped in daily to make sure that the families are looked after. He brought me to follow up on some of the projects that we have helped him with , as well as to bring me to show me another possible project... There is an association of parents that have disabled kids... They support each other so that they can keep there kids out of the orphanages... The Government sees the value in this and has given them an incredible piece of property and building to use in the centre the capital city... it has a place for gardens and work shops and playgrounds as well as an excellent facility for doing physiotherapy... they have volunteers in place to give the children a full evaluation and set up a personal rehabilitation schedule based on the individual needs of the child.... One more example of how the people and the Government are now working together to improve the lives of the children...