It's time for the next step....

This little friend is Arofot.... You likely don't recognise him from the first time he appeared on the blog , so I have copied a section of an older post to refresh your memory

When Julie left, she told me that she felt I should call back to a little boy we saw from a distance in the village... he we standing in the door of his home, and we could see that he had a cleft pallet... others came out to great us , but he was kept inside.... While having our coffee hour, I made a point of asking about him, and told them that I wanted to see what we could do to help.... We met with his parents, and they shared that they have no way to pay for the operation, and even the villagers had tried to pull together to help, but they are all so poor that there is no hope!.... I am the wrong person to tell that there is no hope..... we are all about hope... Larisa met with a Dr today, and we will know by Monday what the cost is going to be, and we will post how we can restore hope to this family...

That was one year ago, and as you can see, Arofot has had his first of three operations, and it is now time for the next... we are all set to go... but we are just waiting on the finances... to read more about his storey and how to help, go to www.iam1ru.com or click here ....

What are you tuned to hear ?

It's easy to get all caught up in the process and forget the purpose!... The purpose is to restore HOPE and DIGNITY to the hurting helpless and the lost.... but the process winds us through an endless path of decision and indecision... Who to help..How to help ..What is the best way to Help... Can we help.. Who will oversee the help... Who will pay for the help..How will we get the money there in time to help... and the list goes on and on... and EVERY single case if different... I am sure that some times there could be a better way.. something we missed, but when I look at impact that is being made all around the world , I just feel so blessed to be part of it.... It seems that every where I look, there are desperate needs... I am glad to be part of a program that allows us to be able to respond...I am glad that as I am focused on those needs in a very small corner of the Globe, that I am associated with others that are working tirelessly in the fields that they have been planted in....

I have had such a burden for our counter parts that are working in the orphanage in Haiti... you may have noticed that I still have the Haiti Video on the bottom of this blog......I am happy that PI has a team preparing right now to go and bring them the help that they desperately need... Friends that are tuned to need ... are stepping out... some are going and some are sending... Where many of the senders do so anonymously, I do know most of those that are going, and have had the honor of traveling with them in the past... Knowing them, I know that they Monosoro's will be so blessed to have them...

I heard a storey of Two men walking down the street in NY City... one was from the city, but the other had grown up in the country ... as they were walking along, amidst the hustle and bustle... cars, and buses, jack hammers and street vendors, the man from the country turned to his friend and said..." Do you hear that.... a cricket!"... the friend from the city said " There is no way you can hear a cricket over all this noise.." but the man from the country was determined .. he followed the sound , and there under a leaf in a planter in front of one store he pointed out the cricket... His friend looked at him and said "How could you have possibly heard that ?" the country friend said ... "JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT HEAR THEM DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE NOT THERE!"... he want on to explain that it was just a mater of what you are tuned to listen to ... He then said "Here let me show you ".. he then reached into his pocket, pulled out a hand full of change and amidst the noise of the city he dropped the handful on the ground.... Instantly, EVERY ONE with in about 20 feet stoped what they were doing and turned and looked to see ..... you see there interest did not lie in the song of the cricket, but in drive for money!

As Sam prepares to take this team to Haiti, I wonder how many still hear the cry of the children.... I guess it all depends on how you are tuned.....

If you would like to help them Make A Difference... you can donate using the donate button on the side of the Blog... Just put Raise the Rubble in the memo box... or you can go to http://www.iam1ru.com/ for more information.... and hay .. check out the final days of the on line auction while you are there...

Some stories are best left untold !

Over on my son's blog today he writes about how he wishes he had the strength or ability to truly blog from the heart... how for some reason he always holds something back.... and I got thinking about my own blog... I like to think that everything is fairly out there for the world to see, yet when I look closely I am not so sure...



I have spent the last couple weeks organizing thoughts , photos , feelings , and simple dreams from the previous month.. at the same time, have played arm chair quarterback from my computer desk in Canada as the work continues... Emma has been busy running errands for me, as well as a very busy teaching scheduled... Along with our friends from LAMb we have dodged our way around earthquakes, hurricanes , riots, revolutions and volcanoes... we have buried friends, and friends of friends who have died at the hands of Man..disease, and those who have passed peacefully from old age... we have counselled children suffering from poverty ,sickness and the most horrific stories of child abuse and sexual assault you could ever imagine... we have comforted the hurting and helpless in the institutions as they have watched the society they know and rely on for their daily sustenance collapse around them....



I have returned home to lawyers and lawsuits, insurance fights and realistate battles , sickness and Mandates, power of attorneys and death certificates......



Maybe I should share more of these things ... go a little deeper, but I have to ask what is the point... maybe it would help with understanding the perspective of how I see things... the old "Poke me... do I not Bleed" thing, but If I allow myself to go there I have no Idea where I will end up....



I have a family that loves me...a wife to share my life with.... (and edits my posts) ..children that honour and respect me , and each are walking an admiral path... My grand son is healthy...and I have an incredible network of friends around the world that time and time again stand beside me...



I think the storey I need to tell is that WE ARE STILL HERE... we have weathered the storms... we have visited the widows and the orphans in their time of need, and we have stood pure, as examples to a nation in unjust times...

Whatever is going on around us, It's the little things in life that can bring it all into perspective... either that or I am just "so dull...."

Here is some of the news and photo we got from Emma today.

..Beksultan has been a good boy since you talked to him :) he even came with us last Sunday. there were some pics of him riding a horse but they were blurry. I was going to send a picture of me dressed like a "princess" by Davina, but i knew it would end up on the blog ....

some day I will have to share the significance of that email.....

Jonah's baby shower

It was a great weekend for family and friends to come and celebrate Jonah's baby shower at the house. It was especially nice that Benjamin and Rachel were able to come up on Friday and have an extended visit and time to relax a little before everyone arrived ...
Even the Sun came out for the occasion and it was a beautiful day...

Kids helping Kids

Over and over again I share how every $1 makes a difference in the lives of those we are working with... Most times, those that support have a clear direction for us about where or how the money is to be spent... they have heard a storey or have seen a photo that has touched their heart... those are the easy ones for us... they are clear ..no brain'ers on our part ... send the money and have the dream covered...



Then there are those that send money that is un designated... they simply say to use it where needed the most... If you have ever had the opportunity to travel with us, either in person, or vicariously on the blog, you will know that often we are lead in some interesting directions... not only that, but sometimes dreams that would otherwise not be met, become the key to unlocking so much , or impacting in a mighty way... we just never know the impact we can have... at the same time with these donations, there is usually a storey behind the donation itself, and that will often make a difference in how we try to fit the gift with the giver... making it appropriate so to speak.....this is where the challenge lies.



Today we received an incredible gift, and it I am sure will go to cover an incredible need... There are two wonderful caring young girls who live in a village near us in Canada... I have only met one of them, just briefly at that, but for a few years now they have followed along on the blog, living every joyous adventure and every heartbreaking moment with us... This weekend, they had a special event of their own... They recognized where the source of there "finances " was and made a strategic plan of how to liberate some of those funds to help our Friends in KG... Last Thursday night, there parents were presented with this Poster at their home...




Saturday was a fabulous family day for them.. the entire day was dedicated to not only raise funds, but to celebrate being a family.. and by doing so, they were able to "liberate" $63.60 to send over to Emma ...



Days of planning went into this by Erin and Kaitryn , Their parents spent the entire day celebrating with them, and now we have the task of determining what will be the best , and most appropriate use of these funds... Emma will be up in a couple hours and I will see if she has anything special in mind...

trying out his new Language skills

As well as all the English classes that we set Emma up teaching before we left, she has had a few more classes spring up. This one is at the home of Sergey and Anya...

Today I got a call from their son Vladic... he was testing out his new conversation skills.. he is doing great... they also told me that even some of their teachers have stared to come for lessons as well... It was so great to be able to talk to him...

The Big Event

The Possibilities International on line "Big Event" is under full swing right now.. This is an opportunity for you to not only get some incredible deals on over 150 incredible items, but you can support the work of PI at the same time.... Phill here has just flown in from Kyrgyzstan where he got his new outfit.. he is just one of the items up for bids..

As well, we brought back a couple more of the nativity Yurt sets made by the kids at one of the orphanages... They have absolutely incredible traditional Kyrgyz felt stitching on them , both inside and out... the last ones we brought back were sold by Sugarplum Boutique to help us raise funds for the kids... the yurts went for over $100 each... so back by popular demand, you have another shot at them over on the www.iam1ru.com web site auction. Check out all the incredible items while you are there. If you get lost, just click on the photo below and it will bring you right there.

Weekend fun

On the weekends Emma teaches out at Vera's community centre, but the best part is that it is in the same village that Aigoola's family lives... I think that this is one of Emma's favorite places, and she looks forward to visiting every weekend. She is there now, and sent me an update photo to show me that the mattress order is coming along well... We have a very large order there right now for a large conference coming to town... after the conference, the mattresses and blankets will be donated to the invalid home...


I know Emma loves to have a bone fire In Canada, so I am glad to see that she can enjoy one there

Update from Emma...

Talked to Emma a few hours ago, she is doing well... We got to wish Davina a happy birthday.. She had met with Jengish in the morning . She gave him some books that Jody had brought for him, as well as the money for the funeral for Babushka Maria... ..This was naturally unexpected, and certainly not in Emma's budget, but some times you have to do what you have to do.. The total for the funeral and Barial was $150... I told Emma that I would let people know in case some one wanted to help... if you would you can use the donate button on the side ...
She is looking forward to tomorrow. She will be teaching at one of the orphanages... in her class she has a young friend that is waiting to be adopted.. he is caught up as one of the 65 waiting children... after the English class, she has an art class with some of the older kids that have never had an opportunity to use real paints, brushes, and canvasses.

Saying good buy to another friend !

This is Babushka Maria , we visited with her a couple weeks ago.. When we first started helping with the Seniors home, we brought her to live there... I would have an extra little visit with her every time I went .. I knew that If I got her aside, she will tell me about everything that took place when we were not there... What she reported back is that this is an incredibly loving and caring home... they feed them to much , change there beds too often and do everything for them.. she had no idea that there ever was such a place, she once told me... Her biggest concern was always that she could not pay them anything because she did not even have a pension, yet they treated her so well, and could I please give them a little money for her..not that they ever asked... they simply showed her unconditional love and grace.... Truly dignity was restored...

But as in everything else you have to know that of course there is a story about how we came to be friends... It was though our mutual friend Jengish... I have riposted a series of reports from Jengish from the last year as he struggled to care for her....

Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 3:51pm
So last week we found a lady in the homeless shelter. When we started talking to her, she told us that she is from Kazakstan. That she sold her house there to move to Kyrgyzstan. Her pension was not enough, and she decided to move to a bordering country that was cheaper to live in, which was Kyrgyzstan. Her first night here, someone attacked her, and took all her money that she had for buying a new house.

They beat her up. I mean, who does that?!! That's crazy. She is just a sweet little old lady.
Anyway, people called an ambulance. The doctors looked at her, and stated that was just in a major shock. So the ambulance took her to the homeless shelter, which is not really a homeless shelter at all. That place is horrid. Maybe you guys saw the photos. But that shelter is very depressing. The blankets are filthy, no bed, tons of crazy people hallucinating, throwing up, coughing and spraying the whole room with TB infected saliva. I mean, you get the picture, right? And there she was, little Babushka(Grandma) Maria, left in a mad house.

We spotted her a week ago. She was never drunk, always thankful for what we gave her. Poor lady looked like she was just waiting for death to come and take her...She didn't seem to see any other way of getting out of this situation.
My friend Nick was very sad (it was his first day at the shelter). He couldn't believe it. He cried.
So him and I decided that we were going to help her. Nick had some money at his disposal, not much, but enough to pay for a day in a cheap, I mean, very cheap hotel type looking thing by Osh market.

We paid the lady that worked there. Then we went bought some clothes for her.
Tomorrow we will go, and look at a house where we can rent a room. If it's good enough we'll pay for it for a month. After that? Hmmm... We'll do everything we can to get her documents back. I don't know how we will do it yet. We'll take her to the Kazakh embassy. I'll let you know how that goes.

Also, I have officially run out of money for the homeless. If you want to help out with homeless lady, please feel free. Participate in saving a granny's life.
What else, there were three more ladies at the shelter. I told them I would come back for them. But when, I don't know. I wish I could help them, but we'll see.I hope they don't catch TB there.
There is also a kid that was stabbed and his intestines are hanging out. He is homeless, and he hasn't gone to the doctors since it happened.It happened ages ago. He just decided to put his intestines in a medical rubber glove. I need to hunt him down and take him to the hospital.
Well, I gotta go now.
Tata for now,
Yours truly,
Jenish

March 20 2010

So we pulled her out of the horrid dark place. But helping doesn't just stop there. So my friends, Nick, Tyler, Sergei and I have started letting people know about her, and raising money.

She is doing fine at the moment. Just resting. She has a little friend now that comes and hangs out with her. That's really nice because she is not lonely. Little cat comes and stays nights in her room. I don't really know where he came from, but I'm glad he hangs with her.
I told her that she should probably start walking more and kinda getting her strength back.
Sergei right now is trying to get her passport back. He has been going to the Kazakh embassy, and filling out paper work for her.
Nick is in Saints Petersburg, trying to find her son.
So things are happening in the right direction.
Once we get her passport we will drive her back to Kazakhstan where she has a place to live and would have a pension.
It costs a little more to get her documents, but we will not have to continually support her.
At the moment we have a little more than 130 dollars for her, and it usually costs about 200 dollars to get the documents, and another 100 dollars to get her back.
Well, I'll keep you posted.

Blessings,
Jengish

Monday, August 3, 2009 at 1:12pm

So as some of you guys know I picked up an old homeless lady named Maria from a "Homeless Shelter" that was more of a barn where sick homeless people were left to die. When I saw her sitting there on that cold floor with no hope in her eyes, I was filled with sadness. I decided, I'm going to do something, anything to save this little grandma.

She looked like my little grandma that died a while ago. So I called up some friends. I asked around for money. We rented an appartment, and took her there. I mean, you can read my blog post and read more about it.

Anyway, long story short, we ended up taking her to the senior home that is in Orlovka. I wasn't able to take care of her. I couldn't be with her all the time since I have a lot of other people I need to take care of.

She had her cat with her, and she would talk to her cat, but really, she needed a real person to talk to. So, I called up John, and he suggested we take her to seniors place.

At first I didn't like the idea but, on the other hand I had no other choice. Grandma Maria fell on her way to the kitchen, and she hurt herself. She spent a whole night on the flour, till I came the next morning. Man, I felt horrible. I was too busy to take a good care of her.

So I took her to seniors place. And you know what guys, that's an awesome place. Staff is awesome. The place is run by this russian lady that is warm and caring. I love that place, and Grandma Maria does too seems like.

Her cat is staying with her, and everybody at the seniors place loves that cat as well.
Anyway, it's so nice to have a place like that. And I'm thankful that place exists. I'm going to visit grandma Maria this week, and will let you know how she is doing.

Truly yours,
Jengish

April 21 2010

little grandma Maria that we saved from the homelessness died today. I didn't make to say goodbye. stupid volcano. I would have made it if it weren't for that volcano. I'm going to her funeral tomorrow. if you don't know her, She was an awesome little grandma

Jengish

All is well

I had to be the over protective father today... Emma had to go to the capital for a meeting to get her Visa extension... I was a little concerned about the unrest, and the fact that the office was in the centre of the last riots... so I insisted that she go with one of our drivers... They assured us that the other driver was just as good, to which I am sure he is, but today he can have a day off because she was going with our driver... fortunately it ended there and Talant drove... I am sure she would have been OK , but we are just not taking chances..
While she was in town, she was able to get a bank machine working.. so we can start getting money back into country again......Emma is really enjoying the teaching and the active pace that she has... tonight she was back to her larger English class of older kids... tomorrow is the small class and the art classes with the little kids...

More unrest in Kyrgyzstan

If you have been tuned in to the KG news like we have, you will see that there has been more unrest in Kyrgyzstan today... This appears to be started because people feel that Russia and the US intervened to get the ousted president out of the country... The general feeling is that he needed to remain so that they could bring him to justice for his actions ...but not likely through judicial means... There are a group of approximately 1000 on the edge of the city that are making there way to the Russian Embassy, however they appear to be held up in a battle when a group of farmers were protecting there crops... This does not appear to be to serious at this point, but everything is so volatile there right now so Emma will continue to lay low and not take any chances...
In other news, some of the air travel appears to be opening up again... Jengish is scheduled to leave the US today and Lynne and Ruby and David and Jayne are scheduled to head for the Ukraine... I have a renewed faith in Aeroflot... they redeemed themselves a week ago when they came in specially to evacuate our friends from the airport when no one else would fly... I was going to find a photo of all our friends traveling today, but then came a cross this photo of Dave with Maksaut and Aibeck... This is one of the days we went out to visit them and bring them food...They were not even trying to hide there smiles this day... they were just so happy that we had come to find them ... I was talking to Emma this morning.. she has had a busy few days.... ... This morning she and Acel went shopping for shoes for the kids at the home orphanage

The director was even more pleased with the large supply of high end Children's vitamins.. we would love to be able to get them for the bigger orphanages as well, but to be effective , you really need a controlled group that we can be sure will be able to take them on a consistent bassis, and we have just not figured out the logistics of this yet...

On the weekend she teaches out in one of the villages, and spends the night with friends there... she sent me some photo's from there house... when they first came in I took a quick look and thought it was their family around the table with Emma. but when I took a closer look I noticed that there was only one of our kids there, and the rest were friends that had come for English lessons... so I guess she is teaching one more class now...

When we first helped Aigola and her family get set up in their home, they had nothing... we had another house that we had just purchased fully furnished, so we split up the belongings between the two... The pans and utensils were very old and some of the pots had holes in them... as well they got an old counter top oven for making bread... it too was old and the door did not stay on properly... Inside, I always wanted to take them out and buy them all new stuff, but part of restoring Dignity is to give the tools and stand with them as they rebuild...

What we are seeing here is dignity taking hold in their hearts and lives... This new oven, and these new pots where earned by them selves. this was ther first big purchase .. they were purchased after the fields were planted...after the family was feed ..after the animals were looked after... They represent so much more ....

I think I mentioned it before , but they have now come to a place that they are the source of hope for others ... Aiperi was questioned by her class..." What do you know about a hard life ?"... she has been restored to such a place that they never knew the tails she has faced... When she began to share her storey with them, they were all so upset and many wept... they had no idea.. they figured that if anyone had it all going on it was her...and that is the reason that she could be so happy all the time... She was able to share where her source of joy was from... and the HOPE that she had for a future....

Presentation

If you remember this photo from last week.. it was of our "Art Studio" .. set up in the front porch.. We were keeping everyone distracted from the situation around us ... The exciting part was that it was the first time for that Altynai or Aziz had used a real paint canvas board..

Today I got this photo from Jayne... it is Altynai presenting her painting to the librarian at the school....

What do dreams know of boundaries ?

When you think of the events of the last few weeks in Kyrgyzstan, there are likely images that are burned into your mind like this one...



It represents a people that have been beaten down and have been forced into a place that they feel they must retaliate or in many cases simply give in and die.... Life has been so hard for them over the last few years, and with the ousted presidents tenancies of driving his people deeper into poverty to exploit the "super powers" into giving infrastructure aid that was used to line his pockets, it was just a matter of time before this was going to happen...and we all knew it...
I have always maintained that true humanitarian aid needs to be delivered not on a large government to government scale, but the most effective way is to deliver it People to people...and I am not saying this because I work with a small grass roots charity... No..it is BECAUSE of this belief that I work with a small grass roots charity....
Billions have been sent in aid from government to government... and where is it now... ..Here is what I think of when I think of the events of the last few weeks... I think of a people that when driven to disparage , found peace and comfort with our friends... I think of places like the baby hospital ... a world of chaos all around, and in a quiet , clean, loving environment , our friend Ruby gives a precious gift to this beautiful baby... her name .... Melana Grace... because that is what she represents to us ... the Grace and peace that we bring .....

It does not end there... as we traveled from project to project, we found Peace and grace... they were all glad to see us, and happy to know we were safe, but really like the Melana, they were safe... removed from the danger and fear...living in a place of Grace and peace... I have had so many that have contacted us asking, suggesting , and even insisting that we pull up stakes and get out... But you just need to spend a day in our wake, and you would understand the importance of remaining.... We are teaching peace to a nation, we are bringing Hope... we are restoring dignity... we are teaching people what it is to dream .......On my flight into JFK a couple days ago, I watched the Amelia Earhart storey... in it she was asked about her journeys.. she responded

"Every one has Oceans to fly..as long as they have a heart to do it, Is it risky ?... Maybe... But what do dreams know of boundaries?"

Grace

what can YOU do for $11 ?

Life in Kyrgyzstan is returning to a new normal... people are working very hard to put the events of the last week behind them and attempt to rebuild... for example.. although most of the Beta store in Bishkek was destroyed, they were able to get the grocery store and part of the restaurant reopened... the rest of the store will likely show the scars for a long time to come...
We have just learned that 2 bank machines in Bishkek have also been reopened, and a few hours ago, they were working to bring the one in our city back on line... here's hoping...
Today was the scheduled day with the city's director of children's services... It is great that she is still there despite the offices being ransacked and the windows smashed, they have been able to get back to business...

They were very happy for the printer that we sent them after the riot... in a land of "Paper work"... this will be a great help...
As well Emma went out with the mayors office social worker to visit some of the families that are in need ... first she went to the Bazzar and picked up some food packets to bring... Here are a few photos of one of the families that lives just around the corner from Emma. She said the mother has TB and is very sick, it's hard to believe , but she weighs just over 25 KG.. about 55 lbs.... they have not had food and they are not registered with their documents, so they could not receive help from any one else. As you look at the little kids, you wonder where we will see them in a few years...or even if they will survive... after all although we were wearing masks, they are exposed 24 / 7 ...... We gave the grandmother the money they needed to get the family registered.... 500 som... that's about $11.... It's hard to believe , but $11 can make such a difference in a life, and in this case, it will be the beginning steps of restoring HOPE and dignity to a struggling family....

Over at the Baby house, our friends from Lamb are helping facilitate the in-hospital care and operations for three babies... our driver Bukytbek has made the first trip to the capital, and will have to bring one more baby in tomorrow... you can follow along with these babies over here ... Have a great day everyone... and thank you again for standing with us as we continue to reach out to the beautiful people of Central Asia ...

A quiet place

As the people of Kyrgyzstan struggle to get back to some form of normal life, the events of the last few days continue to come back to haunt them...
This morning the schools were reopened... When the kids from Altynai's school returned, she learned that the father of her room mate from last year was killed during the revolution... as well several of the students have not returned.. It is a quiet place today... Please pray that God would coumfort them at this time.....
We were also saddened for our friend Buket Back... he is the driver that we have switched to for Emma until things settle down... He was at the funeral of his friend and nighbour yesterday...This young man was cought by a stray bullet as he was eating his lunch... After the funeral, one of Bukets best friends was killed in a car accident on the way home... .. He to was quiet yesterday......
I wish I could say that these deaths were needless and a wast, but the conditions here had finaly reached a boiling point... it was inevitable....

Sitting in Moscow

I have a few hours to kill here in the Moscow airport, so I will go back to the last post and add som captions on the photo's

Yet to be told

Beautiful little Sophia... she is growing more distant every time I see her..hopefully Emma can get through to her

At the seniors home with Tanya the director, and a couple of the Babushka's..Anna and her new friend that just arived.

Checking out the new flools at the hospital... Vlady and the boys did a great job...I was speaking with the director and asked what she was dreaming of next...She said come take a photo of this,.. and she brought me to show me the beds

These springs are so week that when some one sits on them, they nearly touch the floor amd there head and feet nearly touch... Anya was telling me about this as well from when she had her boys

We then checked out the office ... I wanted to make sure the computer was still there and working ... apparently it quit a little while ago, but while the boys were there putting down the flooring, they were able to fix it.

Room after room we went around and saw clean newly renovated rooms...ICU..exam rooms , recovery rooms , even washrooms... I told every one that if we were ever in a bad accident, we would not have to shoot Julie...(As per her instructions) but there would be a sfe place to bring us now...I think back to this time last year... the Dr nearly had a heart attack herself at the thought of me taking a single photo here.. now They have a hospital to be proud of....

Valdic and Arture were over for a visit and saw some of the mosaic art Emma did with Melody and Davina, they thaought it was really cool, but did not have time to stay, so Emma sent the supplies home with them... a few hours later we got these photo's emailed to us....

If you ask me, Sergey and Anya enjoyed the craft as well..hahahaha

I wanted to get a look a little further into the damaged area's before I left...how is this for a road block

This is a popular resteraunt that we would go usualy once each visit as a special treat... not such a treat now... this is the place that was burned by the mob just as Isar brought the team to the airport.

A few of the team came over to say good buy and to get some last minute instructions before I left... I noticed Emma was not in the photo... I think she was hiding from me... just making sure I did not make her come Back to Canada with me .

Every one is gone, and the appartment is empty.. I am sitting here alone.. I think for the first time in a month... Isar will be arriving to pick me up in a few hours and we will make the journey to the airport... It is a bit of over kill to be in a bus by myself, but I did not want the others out at night, nor did I want to be in a small car.. Isar after all is our Super hero.. and I will once again trust him to get me through to the airport...

Every time I go , I never take for granted the friendships we have built , and some where in the back of my mind is always the question ...Will I ever see them again... This trip, that has been abundantly clear...Since I was here in the fall, I have missed the passing of 2 of our seniors from the seniors home, about 6 of the men I knew well from the Invalid home.. I have lost my dear friend Talas , and now young Chopanou, one of our sponsored children cared for by Larisa...As difficult as this has been , I do realise that EVERY one of them died with a peace in their hearts... They all knew that out of nothing , they had been restored to a place of Hope and Dignity... In a land filed with hopelessness and destitute poverty that is something.... All around us there is violance , corruption and greed... yet as I think of our friends .. in the seniors home, Rehab centres, invalid homes , hospitals, orphanages, schools, struggling families... government offices, as well as all our Brothers and sisters here... What they are left with is an understanding of Joy peace, and generosity .... Over the last few days as we have traveled around the valley, we have had some serious conversations about this in light of the current revolution and subsiquent un rest... They all recognise that they have a big task ahead of them to continue being a light in the darkness...

Emma has been very quiet.. she is hard to read at the best of times, but I think she is just trying to keep her head down, hoping that I do not change my mind and make her come home with me ... But I feel deaply that she is needed here... She has a peace about her.. one that is needed now more then ever... I am always in such a rush with so much on the go... that is not what our friends need right now.. they need the quite friendship.. Malana needs some one to sit quietly and rock her.... the kids need someone to sit on the floor with them and play quietly... I don't know if I am making sence right now... but I believe Emma willl give them something that I can't....

I had supper tonight with Lynn and Ruby, and David and Jayne... It was a wonderfull time of fellowship... we were able to relax, and discuss the events of the last month... .. it was nice to "de brief" before leaving, as well as to pass a few small areas of concern over to them to keep an eye on...some of which I have shared, and many that are still in the works. There are just so many stories yet to be told ....

As I was transfering photo's off the computer here to bring back to Canada with me, I noticed several in the Blog file that I have not even begun to share yet.. so I will post them now, and tell the stories later.... ..It will be a couple days before I am back ito internet acces again.. so until then,

Thank you for all your prayers and support.. Continualy we share with people that the provisions are not from us, but we are mearly blessed to be the ones to deliver them... so again to al of you.. thank you for helping our friends in a time such as this....