Simple Dreams Up Date

I am not sure how many of you have been following the Simple Dreams sight... some incredible things have been happening over there... Many children have been sponsored, in fact we have just started into the next orphanage with 150 new faces... It really is heart breaking as I load them up onto the sight... Their eyes just seen to burn into me as I look at them... Then I started to realize something ... out of 150 kids , they were only about a dozen outfits... then I remembered our Dream Agent sharing that when they want to take the kids any ware, they take them in small groups because they do not have enough nice cloths for more then about a dozen at a time...
I just received the final sponsorship for the Hernia operation... a good thing since we went ahead this week and booked lili for her operation ...We have also given out the first batch of blankets.... what a blessing that has been for the Babushka's facing a cold winter ahead. We have also had many other needs met , like trips to the dentist , and baby formula. The scholarships have done very well also... and we have been able to get kids into some excellent schools as well as tutors for those that need a little extra help.... Even some little extras in life like Dance lessons have been sponsored. The word is starting to spread in Central Asia, and We are starting to get more requests for help ... from kids like Anvar and Kamala ...
By seeing the difference that is being made in lives around them, people are allowing themselves to DREAM ... we are seeing HOPE return to the hopeless.... When we started this, I had not taken into consideration the spin off that hope brings... it not only touches those that are blessed when thier dream is met, it reaches deep into hearts of those around them . They see the difference that hope is bringing..It is giving them the strength to carry on . When a new Dream comes in I want to jump right away and say "Yes..Yes .... here you go" to all of them , but like them, I have to have faith .

There are a few other exciting events taking place right now , but I am going to wait until the photo's arrive before I post more on that...

Boxes on there way.....

As we are preparing for Christmas and recognising the impact that we can make , I can't help but think of the Samaritans purse Boxes that are being packed all over North America and Europe this week... We were involved with that again this year, ...though this year it meant a whole lot more to us.

I stood and Watched as they local Ambulance drivers donated their time to travel around collecting all the boxes to bring them to the main depot.... As I watched Case after case of them... I think over 500 boxes in total go out the door, It was all I could do to hold back the tears.... something I have not had much success at lately.... I did not see boxes going out, I saw all our little friends patiently sitting in the circle waiting there turn to receive a box, then siting with bewilderment as they were scared to let themselves believe that it was actually for them.....

The moment you have been waiting for !

We had a great weekend .. It started with our friend David and Barbra coming for a visit on Friday night ... They have been incredible supporters of the work in Central Asia... Years back, I would stop at their house once a month while in the area on business.... Dave caught the bug, and has made countless trips since that time, and has been a driving force for PI in Quebec... We have been blessed to have them as our friends. Then Saturday it was off to Kitchener to the Big Event... We got to town and met up with our Internet friends Jody, Roger and Gabriel... un fortunately Gabriel's Husband Kelly was not able to make it... They had driven over 6 hours for the event... We receive so much support and encouragement from the Internet community.. many of whom have a connection with Central Asia, and have also left a piece of them selves behind... These two couples where There with us , maybe not physically , but certainly in spirit and cyber land....They have been involved in two trips to the village orphanage, and have an invested interest in the kids... It was so great to spend some time with them and introduce them to so many other like minded people at the event. Oh Ya ... and Roger was eager to pitch in and bought a couple cream pies for the night. Another Exciting thing for us was that David and Jayne made the 8 hour drive for the event as well... we had not seen them since we left town..... They arrived with or other friends Lynn and Ruby from Lamb International. They have been such an inspiration to us... I felt as though God had sent them to Central Asia just to bring us the wisdom and support that we needed... with in days of us feeling that we may be in over our heads, they arrived with such a wealth of Knowledge and grace, that we knew that we were right were we were meant to be.... We each did our own thing, but we were always there for each other... That inter dependency and Like mindedness has developed a relationship with them that I can not explain... There were so many others there that night that we have traveled with, it was so nice to see them all... to may to start mentioning names.... then there were those that had traveled to Central Asia , but we had passed in the night... Guys like Marcell .. that still carry an incredible burden for the hurting helpless and lost of Central Asia. Even my friend and Pastor Ron had made the tree hour drive to show his support, and was there with his son. .... I will leave it to Sam over at the PI blog to tell about the totals , but that is not what you are waiting for , its the pie you want to see, so without any further delay.... Now there is one hitch, Emma could not bring herself to throw a pie at me... Bekah had no problem ... so filling in For Emma is one of PI's Dream Agents from Central Asia..

Pie's flying at the BIG EVENT !

Have you ever heard the term " a Cheerful Giver"? well the word Cheerful here comes from the original text "Halari" or Hilarious.... and that is just what it will be when Dominic and I get pied... oh ya Cindy too........ Hilarious...... But the most Hilarious part is that we have over 250 Orphans in Central Asia that are going to have the Christmas they could only dream of.... One orphanage has 150 kids.. they will have a special Christmas dinner and party complete with gifts for all the kids..... and a little something special for their caregivers as well....
At the same time, we are sponsoring a similar even with friends of PI at another orphanage the other side of the capital city for about 40 kids ... in fact the Dream agents there have been working on the Christmas presents for a few weeks now......
There are another 61 kids made up from 2 smaller orphanages as well as some families we have been supporting ...like Aygoola's 5 ... the little ones from the dump, and Ruslan in the house that "your the 1" bought .... These kids have quite the day planed for them. I thought you might be interested in the break down
"HI John
Today we was in the capital city and we talk with manager in "VEFA" about make for kids SKEEDKA for beefburger. The manager will give for us 15% for kids this is will cost 136som ( this is $3.49 for each kids)
for Prince kidsmenu:
Cocacola
hamburger
french fried
little toy
For old people like we :) will cost 159 som ( This is $4.08 for each pers)
$4.08 for :
Cocacola
hamburger
french fried
not toy for us :( :)
I send for you report how many people and kids, and you can read and change if you have other idea.
In the town orphange 18 kids and 2 workers ( Who will go with kids in captial city )
In the village orphanage 30 kids and 2 workers ( who will go in captial city )
Asela's kids 2 kids and 1 mama ( who will go in the capital city :) )
Larisa's kids 3 kids
Our kids 2 kids and 2 workers ( This is Sergey and I :) )
Aigula's kids 5 kids and 1 mama
Rahima's kids 1 kid
drivers 2 drivers

TOTAL 61 kids ($213) 10 old people

We will need two bus for each time ( we will need two time go to the capital city) And I think what need buy food for driver each time this is two time and for us too :) (Sergey and me because we will go two time).
About small gifts will cost 200 som this is $5.13 ( if 61 kids this will spend $312.93 )
And about circus or kids theater. In the capital city in the Christmas day in the theater will show for kids good program and will play with kids is will cost ticket for each kids $2,56 ( If we can go we will need spend for 61 kids $156.16 )
About gasoline from town to the capital city and back 1 bus need $52 ( if gasoline not will cost more
From the village to the capital city and back 1 bus need $77


And TOTAL for all this $999.09 :)

At this point we are only $20 away from all this taking place, so it is pretty much a done deal....
You have all been awesome and have risen to the challenge..... We will stop hounding you now... But for those of you that did not get your donation in and still want to be a part of this.... we do have another 2000 kids in Central Asia in 8 other projects that our Dream Agents work with on a daily basis.... My be in a few years of this I will have the faith to try and raise the $20 000 to reach them all....OH dear what would I have to do for that challenge... Maybe shave my head and beard.... and have my back waxed.....OK so I have gone to far... erase that image ....lol.

PS. if you are wondering SKEEDKA is Russian for discount.... like in "Skeedka John"

Why not to answer emails late at night !

Have you ever gotten up in the morning and realized what you may have gotten yourself into on line the night before... I think of back when I worked night security and would put a bid on eBay at 4 in the morning... then in the morning wondered what I am going to do with a Saxophone.... especially when I don't play any instrument....
Well I got up this morning to realise that I both issued and excepted a challenge to have a pie thrown in my face by my girls.... you see we hit our target of $1000 last night to get the kids from two of the orphanages as well as some of the kids from needy families we have been supporting sponsored for a Christmas dinner in a Restaurant.... This means that Cindy Lajoy will be receiving a pie in the face by her sons... when she mentioned that she wishes she was not alone, I suggested that If we could raise another $1000 we could bring a Christmas party to another orphanage that has 150 kids in it... I then suggested that maybe her husband Dominic could have a pie thrown in his face if we met this challenge, then to sweeten the deal, I agreed to have Emma and Bekah throw pies in my face if we can meet that target... OK so it seemed like a good idea at the time.... well we have now had another $150 in toward the second challenge so $850 from now, things are going to get messy... we will video the event and post it right here for the world to see.... then in another month we will post the photo's and video's of the kids in Central Asia... for some reason, I think that the excitement here will pale in comparison to what will be going on there...

Lajoy Family Challenge

I thought you would appreciate seeing the last post from a different point of view.... Cindy over at http://www.lajoyfamily.blogspot.com/ has looked at this story from her sons perspective.... go take a look HERE then come on back and join the challenge.... if donating from the U.S. please use this link and we can give you a tax receipt.

Another Mcjoyful Christmas

McDonalds has become the "elite" place to eat in the former USSR . The orphan kids never got to go there. Six years ago we started taking these kids out to celebrate Christmas .Our friends have watched in awe as they shake in their seats before the meal comes and, when they finish, take their cups, boxes and even paper placemats back to the orphanage!
So far, we've given over 20,000 orphan children a special Christmas gift that they will never forget ... and they'll all tell you, "God did this for me."

In Central Asia, there are no McDonalds , but that does not stop our friends there... In Xxxx we went to the home for invalid women and kids and brought a party to them... In Central Asia, Anya has been watching the program for a few years, and would love to be a part of it....

The last couple weeks, she has been asking me "What about Christmas" ..."Can we do something special for them " and then the last letter " Remember the restaurant you found that you said was just like McDonald's and even had a play area, what you think we bring kids there ? ".

I have not answered her yet, but I think it would be a great idea... With everything else going on... dare I dream of the kids going out for Christmas I can get going in to many areas some times and spread a little thin, but then I have to stop and think.... why are we doing this, and it's because I want to bring" Hope and Dignity"... I want the kids to know that they are special and that someone loves them..... and how can we give them that message, then bring them a bag of coal for Christmas..... we have around 65 kids we are directly working with through the sponsorship program... To pull this off complete with transportation and a small gift would be about $1000.... So what do you guys think... is this something that our actofkindness readers would like to make happen... let me know what you think. If there is a lot of interest, I will move this post over to the simple dreams sight and add a sponsor button to it.

ONE BIG MEAN DOG

This just in

Hi John.
Sergey and Turat yesterday bought a black dog, and bought collar and catena, food. Whaen Turat saw it now not in the foto, he said " wow, it is bigest than in the foto. And I think what now will go in toilet form the window."
When Sergey and Turat come in the Aygula's house ( Aygula in that time was not at home). All kids was in the house and looked in the window, how Sergey and Turat brought the big dog. They are scared.

Dog ( Boy ) now live in the hen house. Chickens live on the tree . When Aygula back from the orphanage in the house she open the door and just doing couple step, and she saw a big, black and terrible dog ( like in the hair-raiser ) and Aygula slowly went back and open the door and very fast closed. And dog start barking. Aygula start said very loud " Turat, Aypery. Turat , Aypery helpp I want go in the ho-o-o-me ". And one neighbor can see this situation and laugh, and lough. And said " have you a new master of the house ? "
Today Sergey asked Aygyla " Do you live a dog? " she said " Yes, Iike but scared. Turat and Beksultan not scared and bog play with them."

So yes we are thrilled to announce that there is a new master of the house...or at least that is what the neighbours are going to be talking about.... I am sure that in no time the dog will be a part of the family and bring them comfort. Thank you to everyone that made this possible.

circle of support !

Yesterday was my birthday....... actually I don't know were to go from there..I have not been able to bring myself to blog much lately...My blog has always been that ... My Blog...about me... sure I tell a lot of stories about others we rub shoulders with in life, but ultimately I have always shared or stuck in my two cents worth as to how that has made me feel , Some times you may not be interested.... and yes I openly admit that at times I tell stories that may be too spiritual or political in there undertones for some..but that the great thing about a blog... is it is just that The ramblings in my head... .. ..but there is something rolling around in my head trying to get out...so I will just start and see where we end up.......... We celebrated last weekend with Julies family and had a great time.. actually the first time they had all been to our house since before we left for Central Asia... Then Thursday night we went out for supper with my mom. Friday was a great day, I went with nine other friends to a two day men's conference in Toronto, the highlight of which was a concert by Robin Marks. It was incredible , there were over 5000 men there and some great inspirational speakers. After the first nights sessions, we grabbed a bite to eat and headed back to the hotel.. The guys even bought me a little chocolate cake.... When we got in, it was about 11:30, and I set up the laptop and turned it on...Oh Yaaa...high speed... something I don't have at my house... When the computer turned on, the Skye opened automatically, (does not work on my slow dial up) and I saw Altyni's name on the screen... Dan and Jamie were there( they had lead the youth team over to see us, and know Altyni) so I gave her a call.... As soon as I said Dratsvootsey (Hello) she pealed with excitement... It was such a blessing to talk with her.. her English is doing so much better, I hardly had to speak any Russian...She is doing well in school, it has been difficult for her, but she is through the latest round of exams and is feeling better now. She told me all about the new winter clothes that Anya had bought for her, and wants to thank everyone so much for " Giving her her new life...." Today we were back to the conference , the first speaker was a young man that had worked with mother Theresa, then with the homeless in Philadelphia and has actually been arrested several times there for helping the homeless... and has had to stand before the authorities and present his case, as a result has been able to have laws changed ...and hundreds of homeless have been given a new life..... Another speaker told a neat story of a friend of his who in college had skipped a few too many classes, and when he came to class he heard that a major assignment was due two days latter...He raced home, checked the course
outline to see which assignment found the research material, and worked day and night to pull it off.... When the paper came back, he was thrilled to see the fantastic comments... " Great Paper" , "Excellent insight" a few more pages.."Clear and concise" then " You definitely have a great grasp on the subject" ... then as he turned to the last page.... " Too bad it's the wrong assignment! F "....... The point was ... no mater how great a job we do, and how good we are at it... you do not get points for doing the wrong assignment ! The purpose of the weekend was to encourage people to make a
difference with their lives.... not focus on themselves...but to seek to help those around them .... Each speaker covered a different area, but there was a common theme. .....Some will cheer you on from a distance , some will mock you... and many may not understand... The Authorities may be at odds with you at times, and in the natural you may not fully grasp the impact of what you are called to do....But you can not let that stop you... Take note of those that have been placed around you for support and will be there to help you fulfill your assignment, then get busy.... The entire weekend as these sessions were going on,... six months of "assignment" kept flashing before me... While others may have the largest task ahead of them being "What is their assignment?" I have been Blessed with a clear understanding of what my Assignment is ... and yes I have been cheered from a distance...I have been mocked, I have had to present my case to those in Authority, and I know that there are thousands that just do not understand.... but I also have a growing list of those that feel the calling to step up and be part of that circle of support to help continue our assignment.... It has been almost three months since we got home, and our Bordon for the people of Central Asia has been growing exponentially in that time...I guess when I start to blog, my past has been to sit down, and open up ... to tell all.... as the time goes on, that is becoming to painful . I see that I have started to set up walls and not allow myself to go there ..... I have determined the story I want to tell, and tell it.... and sprinkle in just enough passion to keep it real... well that is not how you change lives.... I am not doing justice to you.. I am not doing justice to myself, and I am certainly not doing justice to the people I am trying to
help.... I am sorry for that.... Over the next few weeks I will try to get this back on track.... You need to know our hearts are broken... our friends are suffering....life for them is not all good.... take Altyni for example ... I know what is burdening Altyni right now......I know that she likely cries herself to sleep every night with the Bordon she carries for her family......... she is not aware that I know, nor does she let on that there is a problem but I know ....and I we have already made steps to help.... but some one had to tell me....They had to come out and ask if they could help her . I know that I will never hear the whole storey as they are not at liberty to share all .. But ultimately they turn to PI for the support to make it happen.... They know that we have limited resources and many times to help would be a sacrifice ... They often start or finish there email with I am so sorry John we need help. ..... I have tried to explain to them that they should never have to feel sorry for asking for help, and that it is me that is sorry that we could not do more ... We have even discussed weather we should just sell everything and just go.... we could sustain ourselves for a few years.... we could not help them all, but we could help a few.... But that is not our assignment...... that assignment misses the part about "The circle of
support that is there to help you to fulfill your assignment"...... Well... I am so sorry, but we need your help
This post has turned out to be a little longer then I thought, but I
suddenly have more to say so here is part B and you can come back and read it
later if you like......

Part B) .....Anya I know that you will not appreciate me
sharing this and I know you read the blog, but people need to understand what
Burden does to a person....

We Had been in Central Asia for about a month
and had been working a lot with Sergey and Anya.. They had just come through the coldest and worst winter that any could remember . Both had some health
issues , but not letting on ... they took me so I could pay my Power bill ... As Sergey was heading in I asked if his bill was payed and then gave him money to pay it as well..... I figured that since I was there any ways... I would pry a little more.... I pointed out that they always seemed hungry to us... and asked if they had food at home.." Oh We are fine was the answer" I again asked "do you have food at home" Anya answered " the kids get feed good meals at school.." So I asked again "DO YOU HAVE FOOD AT HOME" Then Anya started to cry.... she said " John it was such a bad winter... people we were helping were dying all around us... we had to help....
Anya you taught me two things in that moment....
1. I had better prepare myself for the day when I would be
asked to put everything on the line ...
2. I can never be to ashamed to ask for help.

Anya It is me that is so sorry, and I will do all I can to share that Burden with you this winter....after all... I am in your circle of support !

Up dates on the last couple of posts.

Great news on the lili operation ... A donation came in last night toward her operation... we now only have about $145 to go... This was such a blessing to me.. I can not help but think of the discomfort that she must be in , and to be so close to a point of being fatal... it must be so hard on her and her family.... My Mom and I were just discussing this yesterday, about an hour before the donation came in . We have been worried about her, and just said that if this was not covered shortly we would have to try to make room on the Visa and then deal with the bill when it comes.... I guess it was Gods way of telling us not to worry and that he had things under control... and that he is talking to some one about it as we speak.
We just had another $30 US come in... we now only need $100 to make this dream come true.
..... THE BIG MEAN DOG.... The dog has been sponsored, and Sergey and Anya will be going on Friday for the Dog... The dog is full grown, and is a specially trained guard dog... this was the wrong person does not get eaten....
This would be so much easier of a job is Julie and I were independently wealthy... then we could just meat the needs ourselves as they came in... but maybe that's why we have this Job... all we can do is present the need and then give others the opportunity to be a blessing and in turn be blessed.

Sample from The Simple Dreams sight .

Here is one of the Dreams from the new sight.. http://www.simpledreams.tv/ .. I re posted this here because I wanted to show the types of issues that are faced on a daily basis in Central Asia . When we arrived in town, we were bombarded with similar requests... each on its own was manageable , but together they become very over whelming.... We simply ran out of our own finances in the first six weeks we were there... We tried to do it on our own... We had to reach the point that we realized that we were not on our own, and that there are people around the world that carried the same bordon we did for the people of Central Asia...We learned that we had to rely on them... Together, we were able to meat thousands of dollars of simple dreams like this one. This is part of the reason for the Simple Dreams sight.... Can you imagine if you were given the sentence that Lili has been given.... For her there is nothing Simple about it... if it was , her life would not be depending on the generosity of others . here is the post .........

_____________________________________________

It is difficult enough when you see people that are in need, but it is more distressing to me when it is GOOD people that are taken down... People that are working to make the world a better place... This is an email that I just received about Lili...

"She has hernia for about two and a half years. Doctors say
it's a third stage and it might be fatal for her if she will not have surgery
within 4 months. The income of the family very limited about 30 dollars per
month. There is no work in their village for them and they live on the mothers pension.
Despite this, the work that they do in their community is
great. They go to theirs and neighboring villages to help old people and
invalids work with the young people. Also Lili would go to other villages
and would do medical check up for residents and people from neighboring
village. "

You know... by helping Lili... we will be helping an entire community...
The cost of this operation is .......$345

_________________________________________

Please check out the sight when you have the opportunity.... You know you don't have to be a Bill Gates or an Oprah Winfrey to be a philanthropist.... we can all be one!

iam1ru?

The Grace to Forgive.....

Have you ever had that ANGER rise up in you... It has taken me some time to properly process this news.... and I must admit, my first reaction was not such a Christian one.... Here is the letter I received.

"Yestarday we went in the capital city with Aygula, and in this time when we been in the capital city all kids was in the school and in this time nobody not stayt in the house and for this time someboby killed two sheeps in the garden, just leave two sheep's heads and foots, and all meat is gone. Aigulya and kids is very sad, and kids cry. I think what somebody knew about what in the house long time not will have people. Is sad,and was mad, but I know what God know this and know who is did, they are very poor because God will work with them.
Please pray about Aigula and kids too, what they will have peace. And I mad about what this happend for Sabira's bithday next day. "

As I was dealing with such feelings of sorrow for the kids and anger and ill will toward whomever did this, I received this email from Acel ....

" Last Sunday Aiperi came church and told us their sad story. Their sheeps are stolen. Next day they found sheeps heads , skins, feet somewhere else. It was about 10 days ago. Soooo sad. But she says, we forgive thouse people and blessed in our prayers. "

It is one thing to Forgive, but to pray blessings on them... So close to the situation, and yet they have such grace to forgive. That does not mean that the hurt is gone, but I am sure they will over come.... I asked Anya what she thought we should do now.... My concern is that first it's the sheep, then where will this escalate to from here ?

"I think what need buy sheep for them because Turat was very sad and he cry. But If we will buy more sheep we need find a good big dog, is will good. I know what in Canada all dogs live in the houses :) And they all like baby in this family :) But not here :) Here dog work like security and here dogs eat food like people eat ( after people food ) and live outsaid. If some people will read this e-mail they will have shock I know :) But is truth our live."

I have asked Anya to start shopping for a BIG MEAN DOG..... Hay ! BIG MEAN DOG works for me.... I would just love to see it latched onto the back side of the next poacher..... OK ...so maybe I am still dealing with this and could use a little more of that grace!

Johnny-bek's "Magnum Opus"

You may have noticed that I have not had a lot of updates recently It is not that I have not been at the computer... it fact I have been glued to it for the last two weeks... With the help of our friends at Possibilities International, I have been working on my "Magnum Opus" . After six months of working in Central Asia with the helpless hurting and lost, We have come home not only with our hearts broken but our shoulders laden with a burden to find a way to help our friends that we have left behind. At the same time, Sam Welten ,executive Director of Possibilities International , has had a brain child of his own.... What if we could find a way to share the SIMPLE DREAMS of those that we are working with, and create an avenue for people around the world to experience the absolute JOY of fulfilling one of those dreams ? It really is the Perfect storm..... From this SIMPLE DREAMS is born.
here is how it works...

step 1. Our workers, (from this point
forward known as, "DREAM AGENTS") , identify a SIMPLE DREAM..., that is, a need
that would alter the course of a life , and that would likely never be achieved
unless someone steps up to the plate...
step 2. We post that SIMPLE DREAM on
line with a couple photo's and the story behind them so that a wannabee
"Philanthropist".., (from this point on known as "DREAM BUILDERS")can have the
opportunity to make a DREAM into a REALITY.
step 3. The DREAM BUILDER selects a
DREAM ,and pays using the attached PAY PAL button. and the ball is in
motion..... the funds are transferred to the DREAM AGENTS bank card, and the go
ahead is given for the SIMPLE DREAM ....
step 4. This is my favorite
step....The DREAM becomes a REALITY...
hearts are touched, people are transformed... futures are shaped... lives become
whole again...Hope and Dignity is restored to those with non.... all because "U did it"
step 5. The DREAM AGENTS take some
more follow-up photo's and send in a report.
step 6. WE post the
follow-up report at the bottom of the original post and move it to the "U did it" file , and the BREAM BUILDER receives an email notifying them of the update,
and the impact that they have made...
step 7. A part that I also
like ... You the DREAM BUILDER receives a tax receipt at the end of the
year so that our federal governments can also be DREAM BUILDERS .... now how does
it get much better then that.

This sight will be a work in progress as we iron out all the bugs, and find problems we never thought of, but what better place to launch the sight then with our friends.....

Before I send you on to the sight, I would just like to take the opportunity to again thank all of you that have decided to sponsor me personally... because of your support, I have been afforded the opportunity to make my DREAM into a REALITY....
Now go have some fun ... click on this photo and check it out.....oh ya... why not ad this photo and link to your own sight as well.... The DREAMERS in Central Asia will thank you for it.

NO MORE PINBALL

It's funny how things happen that catch you off guard ... simple things ... not life shattering... but things that jolt you to reality... The girls got out the lap top that we were using in Central Asia... they were playing pinball on it, and when the game was over, the top three players names are shown... in number three..... Shakeer..... Do you have any Idea what this means ... This means that no one is allowed to play that game again, because if any one beets his score , their name will replace his on the list..... Like if he had a bed room, we would have to close the door and lock it so no one moved anything...

You see Shakeer is one of the older boys from the orphanage . He was at our apartment for a boys day out when they were playing on the computer.... and that's one memory that the girls are not ready to let go of just yet... so for now..... no more pinball

Remembering

I have spent the last week putting together reports for children that have been sponsored, and preparing reports for those that need sponsors. As I pour through the photo's there is a constant wave of emotions. Some times it is nice to watch the video's just to hear the voices again. This is our friend Sergey... he really is the Man in Central Asia... Everything he does if focused around helping others. He and his wife put everything they have on the line to help the kids.... This is a video of us delivering supplies to one of the orphanages.

NOT ON MY WATCH !

The Orphanage in town that Altyni's brothers and sisters are now at is operated by the Mercy foundation. They just happen to run best grade schools in the country... Both there academic and moral standards are next to none. The "Flag ship school in their school system is the School of Blessings, and is located just a few blocks away from the orphanage. We received word today that despite the interruptions in there education and the instability they have experienced, two of the four siblings have passed the entrance exams and have been excepted to this school. The youngest is just to small but will go there next year. Aziz has not caught up enough from his time away. I have no doubt that if we can invest in tooter for him now , he too will excel. Just last spring, he won a country wide storey writing contest.......Aziz is a bright , intelligent and gentle young man , he does not deserve any of the curves that life keeps throwing at him .......I can think of many times in my life that my parents stood up for me and sacrificed, so that I would have a brighter future.... They took a stand , and did not allow me to slip through the cracks when I was assessed with having a learning disability. Now I am by no means an English scholar, and I still struggle daily with my reading and spelling abilities...or lack there of, but I find it ironic that the future of Aziz and many like him , will be shaped by my ability to "plead their case" The greatest obstacles I have faced in my life have now become my tools. Maybe that is why my heart aches so much for children like Aziz that just need some one to stand in the gap for them and say NOT ON MY WATCH!

Picking up steam !

Well this is going to be a busy week ahead...
We have had some real break troughs in Central Asia as well as the home front... One of the greatest burdens on our hearts was for Altyni's family , We just received word that the kids have now been excepted at the town orphanage... This is such a blessing ... This orphanage is only a couple of blocks from where Altyni is going to school, and is also where she is working on the weekends . Anya has worked so hard and has put so much of herself into this family... it is great to see the impact that she is having. This is a photo of Altyni with Anya and Captain Yang at the freshman celebration at the institute. The Hope and potential that is represented by the three in this photo is incredible...Three generations that are going to change a nation.
Now on the home front, We have had so much interest in the sponsorship program, as well as such needs to meet, that we have decided to fast track some of the cases. We will set up temporary sponsorship that we will roll into the full program once the web design etc. is in place. ... so watch in the next week as we begin posting some of the available sponsorships.
Also as We mentioned earlier, we are gearing up for what is going to be an incredible month... We have workers from Central Asia coming to raise awareness for the many programs that we support .
The month will finish with one incredible evening that we are believing will meet the entire years budget of $60 000 for our 22 employees and their projects in Central Asia... Between them, they reach out to literal thousands of hurting and helpless every day.
We have had a few more exciting things happen this last week... I will share a little more in the next few days. But for now I want to close with a comment I received a few weeks back that you may have missed...

In the deserts around the world,
people still live there, 99% of
the time, there is no water, but they still
stay, because every year the rains
come back, even for only 1% of the time.
And that's enough Hope to keep them
going, in that 1% they plant their crops
and advance a little further than last
year. That hope and Faith in the
rains coming every year is why they do not give
up.JJBE you are the rain in
many peoples lives in Central Asia, you are the living
water that they look
for every year, and even though you are not there at the
moment, they look
towards the day when you are again, and then they will build
their lives a
little better than the year before.Let it rain my friends, let in
rain
Blessings Dan :)

To the least of these !

If you are like us when you travel, you like to bring special gifts for those that you are meeting... little things for the ones that are our acquaintances, something a little nicer for those that will be hosting you, maybe even something really special for those that we would like to impress...... But how many of us would save the greatest and the best gift for someone that has nothing to offer in return ! Someone that has no hope, no future, and will likely never be in a place of honour or respect.... Now you know that if I was inclined to preach, there would be a message in here for you ... but I will spare you the lecture, but I will tell you the rest of the story.
At the home for Invalid men in the village, the change of the season is something that can bring fear to the hearts of many... Winter is a time of pain and suffering. Every winter, the cold claims a few more lives, and they may be the lucky ones.... This year, things are going to be different for many of these men. Larrisa is on the Job... She has determined in her being that they will not go down on her watch. We had brought some beautiful hand made blankets hats and quilts for her to distribute.... Quilts like you might find auctioned off here in North America... the type you would give as a SPECIAL presentation ... And that is exactly what she did with them... a special gift for some special people... Now that the days are getting colder, Larrisa brought the blankets etc. for the men at the home ... They could not believe that these beautiful blankets were for them, Here they are taking a closer look at the work that has gone into the quilts.....

I have to tell you that I look at these men, and recognise the faces, but they are so different now from the way that I remember them just a short time ago. They have smiles....

Soon they are going to have something else to smile about... Our friends at Lamb International are working on a food drop for the home, as well as working toward setting up a couple more of these rooms in other sections of the home...

I am reminded of something that someone once wrote... "As much as you have done it for the least of these , you have done it unto me" . I think I am starting to understand that a little better now.

OOPS

Have you ever gotten your kids mixed up? I do all the time ... in fact I usually go through parts of name before I get it right ... like BekEmma or EmmBeck, well today was one of those days. It appears that I got Oksana and Maria mixed up ... Oh I was right that Maria is the little girl from the dump, but the photo of the little girl with the dog is not Maria, it is her new sister Oksana. Oksana is the little girl that knew of Larisa, and walked for days to find her hoping and praying all the way that Larisa would not turn her away... that HOPE kept her going....

Well here is a photo of the family ... I will let you figure out which is which , I can tell you that Larisa is the lady standing in the back, her mother is sitting in the front, and the little boy in the front with the ball is Maria's brother Valera.

By the way don't let the "sour puss" faces scare you... it's a formal pose for any photo.. I know... I think it is a Russian thing....but I must say, I think that the Babushka has it mastered...

Devine Love... The story of two girls who never met.

"How fine to live in the divine love. But it is even better when there is an opportunity to give the divine love for others." ...Pi worker Larisa


One girl, Marina, ( seen on the header of this blog ) was abandoned by her parents and had learned not to trust anyone. Kids her age made fun of her and treated her badly. When we found Marina in the local dump (in Central Asia) Marina was hiding. She had grown skeptical of a world that had caused her unbelievable pain.
The other girl, Abigail , grew up in Canada but one day got a wild idea. She asked her friends, for her birthday, to bring a donation to her party (rather than gifts) so that she and her Mom, Karen, could send the funds to a child, out there, who needed it more than her. Abigail raised over $200! Abigail and her Mom saw Ed Dickson's last newsletter and the funds were sent to a girl named Marina, with a picture of Abigail, and a note from Loads of Love saying, "Someone halfway around the world cares a lot about you!" .

The Big day Here is part of the report received an hour ago from Larisa ...When there came Sergey and brought money and a photo for Maria. And he has told this surprising history about her birthday.It was unusual desire the gift to pass for other child.This my heart has very much touched.We prayed for this little girl with a greater generous heart.And Maria has decided as to buy for Oksana and Valera gifts too. They have been overflown by pleasure.......It was surprising and the first her birthday In their life there were no such surprises before . She cried ...and said " that happens birthday? I thought only in films so happens. "And when was her birthday, at them there were many drunk people which fighted and never gave her of gifts.

This is the newest photo we have of Marina ...... Learning what it is to love again.

Thank you Abigail