Back to the lake

Well we are on to trip three to the lake .  As they were getting ready last night for 78 more kids today, Sergey got a call from one of the orphanages .  They have 120 kids , 40 had been to the lake and they have asked if we could bring the rest....80 kids .. we have a date next week if we are able to raise the funds . $1200 is needed for this adventure . We would be thrilled if you would like to donate towards this.

Next up is coal deliveries.  Coal this year will be around $100 per family .. we would love to be able to deliver to about 200 families . 

I had enough to get us started today , the first truck arrived and we will start bagging coal .. we will have and deliver as funds come in .  One truck is around $500 enough for 5 families. 

 

Bringing HOPE.

I know it was a lot more then one day , but when I refer to yesterday, I will refer to everything since the last sleep.

We started the journey picking up our friend Nic in Brampton. And better place to meet then at a Chinese Buffet. And what better company the our dear friends Ron and Cathy who drove Nic to the airport . 

We flew to Istambul where we met up with Jayne and Julie at the airport lounge ...Special thanks to Nic for using his lounge passes ... What a great way to spend the 5 hour layover .. I loved being able to have a shower and change my clothes after a long hot flight.

While we were leaving Istambul, our friend Tim was heading out by car from Tqraz with his friends . We have been Blessed by our friendship with Tim and his wife for many years . It will be so good to see him again .

The gardens on the farm greated us with such beauty .. it is so strange to put the seads into the parged soil , then leave .. you never know what will be the result , but you do have a vision .. this year this garden exceeds expectation .

The sun was just coming up as Isar drove us back from the airport.

We had a little nap then a great breakfast visit with our farm family

Max loved his new hat we brought him from Jamacia.  And those are not the fake dreeds the sell .. these are the real deal.

While we were traveling , we were able to send a second load of kids to the lake .  73 this time , only a handful had been out of the village so this was an exceptional day for them.

We have had some doners in Kyrgyzstan that have witnessed the impact th3se trips have had , and they have stepped forward to sponsor the third trip.. what am amazing way to bless people and make memories that will last a life time .. bringing HOPE 

As you know we have our Canada home on Airbnb .  Our last guest checked out on Thursday ,so Friday and Saturday we were able to bring in the crew to remove some trees killed by the ash Beatle .. there were 4 of them all too close to the house for me to safely bring down, but fortunately we had a good summer with the rentals so we were able to bring in the professionals... And man was he professional . Jacob Benjamin Forestry was like watching CirquDeSolie  .. I sat for 16 hours in the plane thinking about his incredible skill.  He claimed up and cut the tree into aboutfifteen 20 foot lengths .. each log fell with such percussion that they all fell into one pile neet and strait. Then he cut them all up into fire wood lengths.

We ended up with a out 4 bush cord ready to split and put in for the winter.

 

When we got to the farm Rada came to see us and share how blessed she was that her operation had been so successful. She shared how she was questioning God how he could let her die and who would care for her children , then God spoke to a stranger on the other side of the world and saved her life .. She discussed with us how she could possible give back by helping others .. she looked great .

Then last night we got a request from one of the families we help with coal. They have two beautiful Daughters that need Back to school shopping .  So tomorrow we will take them shopping and then out for supper .  I have the supper covered , but if someone would like to help with the clothes and supplies that would be incredible .. it will be about $100 each.

Today we have a party at the ranch with the kids from the English school as well as many of our local friends .. stay tuned for photos .

Bus is booked

 65 more are booked and ready for the bus to take them on one of the biggest adventures of their life time . The trip will take place on Aug 24 .  Just before the end of the summer before school starts . 

Lake isykool is something that lots of families take for granted .. kind of like a trip to the city.  BUT for many it is something that they only dream about .  many of the kids in the villages never have the opportunity to travel like that .  They have so many incredible sights around them but never get the opportunity .  

we are a little over half way with the funding , but once we hit the 1/2 way point we went ahead and booked and we are believing that some of you will have it on your hearts to help with this .  We are looking for just $500 USD to make this possible 

Another trip to the lake

 What an incredible day today at the Lake .  I loved getting photos and updates from the group through out the night.  

Here is a letter I got from Sergey with some statistics I thought were interesting .

"Thank God for such a wonderful opportunity to visit Issyk-Kul. 

We were able to take 

68 people to Issyk-Kul.

47 people saw the lake for the first time in their lives.

 10 people were on holiday for the first time 

Everyone was delighted and grateful. The main thing is that when people say ‘thank you’, we say that they should thank God, not us.

 It’s a great pity that so many more people are still writing to us, dreaming of visiting the lake. Technically, we can make this happen today, but it isn’t cheap.

 We spent 1,300 US dollars on this trip. 

If we can raise enough funds for two more trips, we’ll be able to take around 130 more people on holiday. With this money, we hire a coach and buy sweets and drinks for the children.

 We are praying and waiting for an answer from the Lord"

If you are interested in supporting another trip and taking some kids off the wait list please let me know .  We will need donations in by Wed night to make this happen.   If there are not enough donations in to make the trip we will figure out something fun for them based on the donations received .   We are looking at $20 a person. 

70 kids to the lake

 Today is an exciting day as the farm guys load up the bus with 70 kids and parents  from the village and head to Lake Isykool.  We are so blessed that we are able to support this incredible day for some kids who otherwise would never experience a day like this .  First stop of course was to the market to get drinks and snacks 

I can't wait to see them all at the lake . Thank you to everyone who sponsored this event. 

We are down to the wire .. our bags are packed and we are putting some final touches on the scedual . 

Off to the Bazar

This morning brought lots of excitement to our friends.  Yesterday they realized that they need a new cement mixer and hours later they were on the way to the Bazar to purchase it .  Things do not always happen so fast , but shortly after posting this need ,  a sponsor / friend did an e-transfer directly into our account and I was able to transfer it to Kyrgyzstan right away through Money Gram .  so with in hours they were unpacking and assembling the mixer back at the farm.   

There was a lot more excitement at the bazar.  The children of our friend who just received surgery were able to get everything that they needed to go back to school in a couple weeks .   

This shopping spree was made possible through the earnings of the guest house on the farm.  

The honey continues to flow .  A few years back we had a bad year and got about 80 lt of honey , Last year we had our best year with 260 Lt of honey .. This year was over the top with 460 Liters .  this picture below is from the second batch of the season.   

Time for a new Cement Mixer

                     update  .. this need has been covered                                          About 10 years ago our friend Tony visited the farm with his son, and very quickly noticed that almost every job in Kyrgyzstan involved mixing cement . so they went out and bought us a mixer.  What a blessing that has been over the years.  Everything from walkways , foundations, planting playground equipment , home renovations , you name it and at some point out comes the mixer.  It is not just for on the farm. many of our neighbors have borrowed it over the years .  As with anything ,  in time it started to get worn out .. bearings had to be replaced, gears had to be rebuilt, the inside paddles had to be replaced and several times the motor had to be repaired.  Every time it would need work we would think that this was it , but every time it cam back with a little life left in it.   Many of you who have come on work teams will have experiences a day or two with "Tony's mixer " .  Well today "Tony's mixer"  is beyond repair.    We have been thankful for the years of service, but now is time for us to invest in a new mixer . 

As I write this, the boys will be getting up shortly and heading over to a single moms to repair a fence that some drunk men broke on her .. the mixer would have been put to good use .   

A new mixer is going to cost 30 000 som, about $350 usd or $475 CDN .     Maybe you would like to have your name attached to a mixer for the next 10 years.   It would be a great blessing to the farm and those around the village we help.  

Here are a few pictures from over the years .