First week of travel

We have been so blessed with our first week of sharing .  I forgot to get permition to share photos from the first week so I will just have to tell you .

I will share pictures of Julie's new shoes from Aurora Shoe company.  She was so blessed by this wonderful gift. 

 

It's cotton picking time, and I think google maps wanted us to experience this as it brought us through about 4 hours of secluded back roads of cotton fields.. it was a beautiful drive. 

In Kentucky we had 1 hours and 12 minutes to stop and see the Ark before we pushed on to our next stop.. it really is a site to see 

We have had so many incredible stops along the way meeting up with friends and sponsors.  The last time we made this trip we visited with parents as the young Kyrgyz kids played.   This trip we sat with some incredible young men and women and discussed where they are now and answered some questions about where they came from ...

Sat. afternoon we arrived in Florida.  We checked the Web site of New life church to see what was on this week, and after a quick swim I was off to a men's night on the beach.  It was such a a blessing and I had opportunity to share some encouraging words .. 

This morning we got to attend two services.. so blessed and encouraged.

Now we are sitting on the beach for a spell before we head back to church for the Jamaican service.. can't wait .

Please don't forget them.

Today was a difficult day for the farm family as we said good buy to a friend.   

Gena had a very colourful past, but in the last few years he dedicated himself to helping those in the community who were facing difficult times.   As we were delivering coal, we could count on Gena to come with us and bring us to families with horrific needs.. they all knew him and loved him .  I got a full briefing on the situation of every family we brought coal too... Some times it is easier when you don't know!.  But Gena made sure we knew.   He haf this little tattered note book and many loose pages of paper where he kept track of everyone and made sure he did not forget anyone. 

This year as we delivered coal he kept turning to me and asking " John , please don't forget food packages for them this winter if you can ! ". 

Gena will be missed ... 

After they finished the funeral, Genas widow gave our guys his note book where Gena had left us a note before he died.. He had 30 names and addresses and a message " PLEASE DO NOT FORGET". 

We have coal ready to go to them and the boys are starting those deliveries now.  But I think of how important the food deliveries to them were for Gena.. In his honor I would like to bring them each a large winter food packages along with a picture of Gena.  I am aiming to raise $1500 to cover the 30 families on his list.   If you would like to be part of honoring his wishes, $50 per family is what that will come out to.   

2024 Christmas Wish Book

 

Needs met

Yesterday I shared a bunch of new needs.  I am so thrilled to say that we have great head way with this .  The heating boiler  for the boys house is covered and the gifts for th disabled kids for disabled kids day at Veras school are also covered. 

What is still left is about $250 for food supplies for the Afghanistan refugies, and the next round of tuitions...a little over $3000.  

It's easy to get overwhelmed and think that $3000 is out of reach .. but when we all take a small piece of that it is totally doable.. I think of the back to school bags we just packed. .. that was 700 bags = $7000 in just two weeks .

Packing school bags

700 bags packed and ready to go. 

This week we will start working on the Christmas wish book .  I would like to have that up and running before we begin our trip through parts of the USA so we can print out and leave some copies along the way. 

 

A few needs

 This morning I woke up to several new needs.. some are more urgent then others .. the first was from Aiperi in Pakistan .. she has been helping the Afghanistan refugies and it has been a little while since we have been able to send her funds, and today a group of women walked to find her and ask for food.

Just some of those asking  for help. 

Another need is that I was reminded that at the end of the month the second installment of tuitions is due... I can never quit figure that one out .. the first half of the year is due Sept 1 but the second half of the year is due two months later ... But that's what it is and I need to find about $3000 to continue these needs.   

Another request we got is for Vera .. she works at a school that has about 25 disabled kids and Dec 1 is disabled kids day and she would like to have a party and a gift for each of them.  Maybe about $15 each would be great.  

To add to our list, we need to replace the boiler and some electrical work at the boys house before winter so we will need about $1000 for that.   

Martha got a new home.

   Up in the mountains behind the ranch that Misha works at there is a young family that he has been helping. 

They will wanted to get them a cow , but we're having a hard time finding a good cow for a good price 

Dawson  from the last team did not know about this but did know that she felt that she was to buy a cow for someone , but not the farm because we would eat it 😔.  Well as it turns out the gentleman that helps us find families in need for the coal was wanting to sell his cow.  With his health issues he could no longer care for the co and also needed the money so this day as a win, win, win situation . 

All along Dawson was trying to come up with a name .. she wanted something biblical so had a few in mind .. but when we asked if the cow has a name , they told us it's name was Martha.

 So thanks to a string of connections , Martha has a great new home .

The morning after we landed back in Canada we were wide awake at 3:00 am , so by 4:30;I was out in our orchard picking som apples to bring with us to NL.  Very nice , but not as nice as the apple that Vika picked back in Kyrgyzstan. 

the boys are hard at it with the coal deliveries . Hopping to get as many deliveries as possible before winter hits any day now.

As I shared earlier, we are preparing for a trip through the eastern US.

Here is our route with some dates attached . If you are along this route we would love to catch up, even if its just for a quick coffee, reach out to us and we will see how we can fit you in . We love and appreciate the encouragement from all of you. 

   Oct 19 & 20 Scipio Centre NY

Oct 21 Columbas OH

Oct 22 , 23 & 24 Cincinnati OH

Oct 25 Nashville TN

Oct 26 to 30 Santa Rosa Beach FL

Oct 31 Freeport FL

Nov 1 Columbas GA

Nov 2 & 3 Westminster SC

Nov 4 Maple Hill NC

Nov 5&6 Ashland VA

Nov 8 Scranton PA

Nov 9 & 10 Pine Grove ON

Nov. 16 Brantford ON 

Nov 17 Petrolia ON 

Nov 18 Home 

Hope to see you along the way !

 

Coal deliveries

The last month we , as in , the boys have been busy bagging coal .  We have about 1/2 the coal in so far, so praying for the funds.

I was sharing the with the team how emotionally taxing it can be delivering coal .. you would think it would be fun and fulfilling to be able to bring resources.. but really it is difficult.

I shared how we were delivering 16 tons last fall and by the time we got about 12 tons delivered we were emotional wrecks after hearing all the stories of hardship.

So this day we made it to the first house and we were greatest by a 12 year old boy at the gate .. we learned how both his parents had just died a couple months ago.  His Aunt has come to live with him and care for him, then she got very sick and is bed ridden. Now he has to look after her.  

 The coal we brought may have just saved them from the cold grip of the winter, but some how it did not seem like we had done enough.   We did send a food hamper back the next week, but still our hearts are breaking when we think about him.    That was the first stop.  I think we hade two more stops that day and we were done..

It was seniors day while we were there .  We sent a cake and some honey to a couple seniors that we had been helping .. I got this video from them to thank us.  ....

Can you say "Ewok"

 

As I shared earlier, we are preparing for a trip through the eastern US.

Here is our route with some dates attached . If you are along this route we would love to catch up, even if its just for a quick coffee, reach out to us and we will see how we can fit you in . We love and appreciate the encouragement from all of you. 

   Oct 19 & 20 Scipio Centre NY

Oct 21 Columbas OH

Oct 22 , 23 & 24 Cincinnati OH

Oct 25 Nashville TN

Oct 26 to 30 Santa Rosa Beach FL

Oct 31 Freeport FL

Nov 1 Columbas GA

Nov 2 & 3 Westminster SC

Nov 4 Maple Hill NC

Nov 5&6 Ashland VA

Nov 8 Scranton PA

Nov 9 & 10 Pine Grove ON

Nov. 16 Brantford ON 

Nov 17 Petrolia ON 

Nov 18 Home 

Hope to see you along the way !

 

Canning produce on the farm

We stood out at the ocean marveling at the power of the waves, and prayed for all those facing this power close up in Florida.  

A couple weeks ago with one of the teams we started putting the fence up at the playground.  

While the guys were digging post holes, the girls aided by John and Mirlan were canning food... This day it was Julie's mom's chilli sauce recipe.

We have a team preparing to come for two weeks next fall from Possibilities International.  They will each bring their favorite recipes and have a day where they can share them with the rest of us. 

Over three teams we made 75 lt of pickled beets, pickled peppers, zucchini relish, chili sauce, and 85 lt of raspberry jam and 65 loaves of zucchini Bread.

As I shared earlier, we are preparing for a trip through the eastern US.

Here is our route with some dates attached . If you are along this route we would love to catch up, even if its just for a quick coffee, reach out to us and we will see how we can fit you in . We love and appreciate the encouragement from all of you. 

   Oct 19 & 20 Scipio Centre NY

Oct 21 Columbas OH

Oct 22 , 23 & 24 Cincinnati OH

Oct 25 Nashville TN

Oct 26 to 30 Santa Rosa Beach FL

Oct 31 Freeport FL

Nov 1 Columbas GA

Nov 2 & 3 Westminster SC

Nov 4 Maple Hill NC

Nov 5&6 Ashland VA

Nov 8 Scranton PA

Nov 9 & 10 Pine Grove ON

Nov. 16 Brantford ON 

Nov 17 Petrolia ON 

Nov 18 Home 

Hope to see you along the way !

 

English school to the Kashar

 Kids from the orphanages were just one group that came to the Kashar .  We also brought about 30 kids from an English school we work with .

A lot of them work on there English by watching American TV.  One thing they often see is roasting hot dogs on a stick .. so they were thrilled to have the chance . 

Not only did we have all the toppings but one of the teams hobbies is baking yeast products.. she out did herself when the night before she made us 5 dozen top sliced hot dog buns ... They were perfect. 

On our way back to Canada Julie and I had a 14 hour layover in Rome so we took in some sights by night.   The best time to visit Rome .. no crowds .    

Next up our US tour 

So here is our route with some dates attached . If you are along this route we would love to catch up, even if its just for a quick coffee, reach out to us and we will see how we can fit you in . We love and appreciate the encouragement from all of you. 

Oct 19 & 20 Scipio Centre NY

Oct 21 Columbas OH

Oct 22 , 23 & 24 Cincinnati OH

Oct 25 Nashville TN

Oct 26 to 30 Santa Rosa Beach FL

Oct 31 Freeport FL

Nov 1 Columbas GA

Nov 2 & 3 Westminster SC

Nov 4 Maple Hill NC

Nov 5&6 Ashland VA

Nov 8 Scranton PA

Nov 9 & 10 Pine Grove ON

Nov. 16 Brantford ON 

Nov 17 Petrolia ON 

Nov 18 Home 

Hope to see you along the way !