Down the valley

Up early for the first day of the 14 day marathon... Our goal was to stop in and visit the east end of the valley, as well as put the schedule together for the next two weeks.

First stop : pick up Larisa and her Daughter Tanya. we have set aside two full days with her, visiting the families at the dump, the east village families, the invalid home, as well as all the families that she cares for....

We then headed to Aigoola's house to drop of Beksolten who spent the night with us. It's not hard to tell where she lives now that she is in the mattress and blanket business....(These are the new blankets and mattresses for the apartment...since I gave away our other ones the last trip.)
One of the first to great us was Benjamin (names after my son)

When we got into the house, we found that Aigoola had been busy and had a wonderful FLOOR set for us ... for those who have not experienced it, .. this is a Kyrgyz tea !


We also got a chance to see the blanket room that contains the next batch of blankets that we will be delivering tomorrow to the baby orphanage and the baby hospital...

While the Ploff was cooking we went for a quick trip to track down one of the kids that is sponsored, who is no longer in the orphanage.. He is not transitioning into his new school well.. He lives with his Babushka, and she is having trouble with him... We found him, and he was so glad to see us... We have a very good relationship with him, and he respects us.. When others have talked to him about his attitude, he would just start crying.. We were able to talk to him today, and keep it on a positive note.. We are making arrangements for Torat to be a "Big Brother" for him.. he will be a friend, as well as a tutor to help him get caught up in school... as well if he had and emotional needs, Torat and family will be able to help him work through it. One more time I am amazed at how it all comes around, and those you pour yourself into , can become a key player in helping others.

After "Tea" at Aigoola's we went to see Vera and Olage and hear about all the wonderful things happening at their community center... to see the expansion and to make planes to join them next week as the start to branch out into some of the surrounding mountain villages... Oh Ya ... and TEA... which this time included Borch ....T.....along with cookies and candies....

We then headed over to the orphanage to say hello and to make planes to take the kids shopping this week for their spring cloths and shoes... we are up to 44 kids here now. most are new and came with nothing ....

It was nice to spend times with the kids again... I can't believe how much they are growing ...

The orphanage has now developed a little side business.. they have opened a bakery in the Kitchen that PI had built them. they have people selling bread for them at all the little Bazzars in the east end of the valley..

We have had a doner that had asked us to set up some dental visits.. we are in the process of identifying urgency and get the first wave of kids in for work... Some of the mouths we looked in today , it was not hard to see that there was a problem... this little one will be going to the dentist on Tuesday... we figure that we will have about enough money to fix up between 40 to 50 of these darling kids...

From there we headed over to the Invalid home... It was nice to see one of my friends from the invalid home... he is doing so much better now, and has moved to the seniors home... he was glad to see us, and was the first to meet me when we got there...

Jody had a good visit with Tanya..... the director.. and had lots of questions for her... We have identified several needs there... our timing is just right , and they are ready for another good shop to fill the cupboards.. as well as some spring shoes... as well we are going to put together small gift packs with new outfits for each of them...

We are also making arrangements to sponsor a nurse for the next 6 months to come out every other week to give spend a day with them and help out... we will share more about that soon.

While we were at the orphanage, We were excited to see all the kids, including neighborhood kids playing on the play ground equipment... I thought you would enjoy watching this cutey little fella playing on the slide.... If you are viewing this on FB you will need to go to http://www.actofkindness.blogspot.com/ to watch the video.

We finished off the evening with a visit / planning meeting with David and Jayne... It was great to see them again... they had just arrived in country this morning, and are ready to get right down to business ...

in ther jungle with our friends

What a great night we had... we had some of our friends over.. and some of the families that we have come to love as well.. it was nice to be able to just sit around and enjoy each others company...
we had a big day today, and have a couple stops to go, but \i wanted to get this email off... the ionternet is a little intermitant right now... I will try to get pictures up tonight...

David and Jayne have just arived, and we will go have supper with them in about 5 minutes .... and we will set out our plans for the next few weeks....

Journey Home

I am not sure if it is the fact that we have just spent 4 days traveling and we are dead tired, or if it is just the emotions of returning home, but I had "a moment" today.

My mom grew up spending summers on the northern shores of lake Superior in Northern Ontario. As a kid growing up, she would always tell us about how when ever she stands on the shores of that great lake, she can feel herself welling up , and has to fight back the tears... Not sure if it is the overwhelming size and awesomeness of the lake, or if is her past calling out to her from across the water... I had that experience today ...

It was very early, and still dark as we drove home, but about 10 minutes out, the sun began to rise.. I could not tell where it was rising from, but the valley began to glow, and with it the snow capped mountains began to emerge from the dark and and started calling out to us.. the majesty of them , and all that they have come to represent to us... For the rest of the ride, I began reminiscing of all that has happened in our lives in this little end of the valley.. the friends we have made, the fun times we have had, and those who are no longer with us... ... It's just good to be home.

We got to the apartment and did a bit of unpacking, and have been having a series of short power naps as we have been visiting with guests as they have come buy. Tonight we will be having a small get together.. about 25 people here at the apartment for supper... supper is on and will be ready just in time...We will get out the camera and post some photo's tonight.

flight cancled

well we are waiting in New York... seems we arrived in some sort of wind storm, and our flights have been cancled... try again tomorrow...

first customs 11 minutes

We just flew through the first border crossing... 11 minutes from the time we got there, we were threw the line and on our way again... We are now in our hotel in Syracuse NY..

On our way with heavy hearts...

The last few days, our young frind Talas has not been doing well... I were scheduled to stop to see him on our way home from the airport... Acel has been telling us that Talas and his father have been asking how much longer before we get there ... With bags loaded in the car, and only 1 1/2 hours before we pull out, we just got the call that Talas has just passed away... with the timing of his passing so close, I have to believe that it was meant to be... None the less ... it still hurts....
We are driving to JFK in NY... about 9 hours, then flying to Moscow where we will have a 10 hour layover, then on to Central Asia.. we are expected to land 4 am Monday morning . I will post when we get settled

Because we know them !

For our readers from Canada , you will no doubt be following the storey, but for those not, I will fill you in ..

Yesterday afternoon, one of our Provincial police constables was pulling over a truck with concern of potential domestic violence. When he approached the truck, he was shot point blank, and passed away... right away it was on the news . The accounts told of the officer being a great man.. 15 year veteran on the force, a loving family, active in his community , and a deacon in his local church, a life style he lived out all week...

News like this is upsetting .. there is never a good time... it stays in the back of our minds for a bit, but life goes on...

This morning we learned that the officer was a closs friend of very good friends of PI... A couple that have traveled extensively with Pi around the world... I have had the privilege of being on several trips with them... If those you keep company with is any indication of what type of person you are, this officer was truly a great man..

Taking one for the kids... despite an incredible fever of heights, our friend takes a group of orphan's on a Farris wheel... hence the white knuckles

So why do I bring this up now ? I was discussing with a friend this morning that for some reason, situations take on a whole new meaning when we get to know people and their stories... Is this tragedy any worse now then it was before we new the connection ? yet now I see things from a new perspective.

I shared last fall how it donned on me that I would go into an orphanage scanning the faces of 200 kids looking for the one... I go into a hospital, walking past hundreds to stop at the bed side of of one. I am remained again of the storey of the Sheppard who would leave the 99 sheep to go help the one lost lamb.... as the pace starts to pick up for us this trip... I will be making a conscious effort to take the time to stop for the one in front of us... and get to know them ..

Almost packed

The bags are all packed, and we just have this little stack of stuff that needs to fit in our carry on!

International Woman's Day

Today is International woman's day... A day that is a very special holiday for the women in Central Asia... They asked me "Do you not celebrate women's day in Canada' I said EVERY day is women's day in Canada" .. the problem is that I was the only guy with 6 women living in the apartment... note to self.... don't always use the outside of your head voice. hahaha If you remember from last spring that even Fred got in on the action .... we can't wait to get back so Julie & Jody can through another woman's day extravaganza... as for Fred... he is off seeking fame and fortune, but we are pretty sure that Phil will get himself out of this sticky situation in Guatemala soon, and be able to join us... you can check out Phil's adventures by clicking on his Photo...

A chat with Altynai...

I was talking to Altynai today.It was so nice to have a little visit... the closer we get to returning , the slower time seems to moving...
I was asking about Aigoola's family and how Altynai thought they were doing. She shared something with me... as she was speaking , I began to get all chocked up...

Altynai said that she had gone with Sergey and Anya out to Aigoola's house a few weeks back for her birthday, and had stayed a couple days for a visit and to help her finish up a big order... that night when everyone else had gone to bed, the two of them sat and began to reminisce ... They discussed how when they first met, they were both in very different circumstances... both Aigoola's and Altynai's families were living in the orphanage, and Aigoola and Altynai worked long hours to care for the many children... they had sat together late one night, and together they dreamed of better things to come... Altynai said that Aigoola told her that they needed to have faith and one day life would be so much different... Altynai dreamed of one day having a real home for her family, and wanted to graduate high school and one day go to a good school... Aigoola dreamed of Having her family together again in there own home, with animals, and some sort of business that she could support the family... They realized that today, they are both living their dreams....

The storey of these two families is one that spans across the globe... it winds and weaves it's way through the lives of hundreds, and has been shared with thousands... each step of the way, people have blessed and people have been blessed, and not always in the direction you might think... They serve as a reminder to me that yes we can make a difference... not just for now but for generations to come... Thank you to every one that has had a part in the restoration of hope and dignity to these families...

These are exciting times....

I told all our friends in Central Asia that things were going to be tight this trip... Despite the incredible needs, for some reason I did not have the faith to see past the economic times and the pressure being put on world aid right now. We set the targets very small for such a trip despite the fact that our friends have shared thousands of dollars worth of needs ....
Do I think that there are legitimate concerns there with lives in some cases hanging in the balance? .... you bet...Do I think that more is needed... most definitely.. . Do I have faith in the wisdom and direction of our PI workers and their burden for those around them.... I believe there are none better.... So why do I try to down play and limit what we set as a target with so many needs on the table.... I guess in a land of such heart ache and disappointment, I do not want to let them down.... you know "do not promise anything."...yet time and time again, and this is one of those times , when we keep the direction and focus , provisions will be there ..... exceedingly and abundantly more then I could ask or imagine... If you take a look at the thermometer, you will see that with one week to go, we are over the top.... now the scramble to get all the bank transfers completed and US funds purchased before we go...This is the exciting time in every trip... it is a time when we are able to accomplish the unexpected.
Now I have a little more faith that needs may just be met... exceedingly and abundantly more then even Larisa or Anya could ask or imagine !
Thank you to every one who has put faith in us and helped us meet our goal... but no need to stop... if you have seen anything on the blog that has touched your heart that I may have missed, please feel free to make a donation.
We will continue to post needs as we come across them over the next three months... please continue to follow along as these needs are met and updates are posted ....

Relationship is everything

Meals out, the Circus, The Ballet, Shopping trips, parties at our home... These are just a few of the things that we have planed for the next few weeks and months in Central Asia.. They are all fun events that are designed to bring hope and restore dignity to those we are working with ..

Children that have been institutionalized , and those living in destitute poverty often feel that they are in this situation because no one cares about them... and if no one cares, what is the sense of saying anything about the injustices that they face... even if it is something that is deeply effecting them ... As Children are bounced around from home to home and orphanage to orphanage , it is easy for them fell less and less worthy of love. As well , they start to see those looking after them not as parental figures, but just authority figures.. Kids are not stupid... they know who is there out of responsibility or a job, and who those are that genuinely care about them.

That is why it is so important that as the children are moved around, we do everything we can to keep in touch with them.. to seek them out and continue to have interaction with them... As well, they need to have a trust in those that are working with us as translators... I know that there are better Translators out there that could be much more professional, but I am not trying to impress any one..Those that translate for us are first and foremost loving and caring people that have a heart for those we are working with ... They become in many ways more emotionally involved with the kids then we are ....

The "Fun Days" Are so important. they are times when the kids are able to step out from there circumstances and just be kids... but so often these times become more then that... Something as simple as cooking with them in the apartment can open up doorways into feelings and situations that they would never have otherwise shared...

Over and over we have been blessed with the wisdom of our friends from LAMb and the role that they are able to take as situations rise to the for front. It is part of something special that is going on. So often, while doing some menial task, when all is quiet, that small door begins to open ever so slightly... and with very limited language skills and sometimes great hesitation , it begins.." Dad ... you know how....." Some times the things that you hear are so horrific and so unbelievable that you are sure that you are lost in translation... but no ... what you are witnessing is the beginning to a LONG road to a sense of well being , and a sense that they are actually worthy of love. Many times we just carry on as if this is the most normal conversation in the world... But in side you feel your heart racing, you begin to get light headed, and begin feeling that sharp pain in your nose.... Fortunately words are not always needed, a gentle smile, a small comforting hug... just being there means the world at that moment... There will be time to discuss this more later and time to set up counseling with David and Jayne...but for now... you just BE THERE... I guess that is the crux of it.... BE THERE... JUST SHOW UP... that's it .. JUST SHOW UP....The rest is not any of our business....

This was all confirmed to me again today when I read the post of a friend of ours Cindy Lajoy. The Lajoys had three boys adopted from Central Asia, and have just returned home with 2 girls... Here is her post from today.

The girls are outside playing for a bit, I am sitting here typing because I need to "put this" someplace and need prayer.
We are making orange rolls together, Matthew is gone with Mr. Steve and we are alone, relaxed and working together kneading the dough, working the flour in gently, side by side the 3 of us.
Angela, speaks, not looking at me...
"Mama Petropavlovsk bad, bad mama..."
I, stupidly thinking she is talking about one of the orphanage mamas say "Which one?"
She gets a look of horror on her face thinking I have made an incorrect assumption that she is talking about me and says "Nyet you Mama!! No no! My Mama Petropavlovsk!"
I point to my tummy and say "Your first Mama?"
"Da"
We go back to working quietly, Olesya saying nothing and apparently oblivious to the meaning.
Again Angela says "Petropavlovsk Mama bad...America Mama good, good Mama".
She then adds with hesitation and stuttering "Babushka...Petropavlovsk good Babushka, Mama bad..." then she points to the butter knife on the counter, picks it up and with a stabbing motion says "Mama...uh...Babushka".
She looks at me, will I accept this knowledge? Will I be able to handle it? What do I think of her because she comes from this? All is unspoken yet somehow understood as she stares in my eyes over Olesya's head.
I stop, I look at her...
"I am balshoi sorry, Angela...big...big sorry."
She continues to look at me, one of the few straightforward gazes we have yet had...
"It's OK" she says.
"I love you" I say.
"Da" she responds, head down. Then adds again for effect...
"America Mama good Mama."
Not often that the average homemaker discusses the murder of her child's grandmother haltingly over the making of a sweet role.
God, please give me wisdom, I need it now more than ever. Give me insight, give me the words when needed and the intuition to know when words would merely get in the way.

Thank you for the blessing of Angela and Olesya, let me be worthy to mother them the way they deserve to be mothered. Thank you that she felt safe enough to open up so soon, despite her fears. Thanks for Matthew,Josh and Kenny paving the way for these moments.

We have so, so much ahead.
Cindy


This video I love... I have showed it before, but it speaks such volumes to me... You can see three kids in the video... each one of them have seen and experienced things that just make me sick to think about, but because of an unconditional love that has not only been shown to them, but has become part of their lives, they are able to Trust , to love, and show love to others...

Such Potential

I was talking to Anya this morning... She was having a heave heart moment and needed a shoulder to cry on... It always seems to happen like this that as the winter starts to fade away, the emotions rise to the top... It's like when you were a kid and something bad would happen at school, and you held it together ...until you got to the safety of your mothers arms and then it all came out... It has been a long few days for Anya as she has mad the rounds for us. I think that just maybe my phone call was that "safe" caring voice that she needed.... I know that what was the breaking point for her would have been OK on it's own, but it was just that.... a breaking point.

She has stopped to visit one of our kids... he had left the orphanage when it closed back at Christmas, and has been living with his Grandmother... any time they had met with Anya, it had been in town, but today they went to her home... The home was very organized and nice, but it was only 1 very small room that they both lived in ... there was nothing extra... The Babushka is Deaf and is able to read lips... a little... Our young friend has been struggling with school... or at least struggling to show up for school is more like it, and now the police are involved. Anya wanted to have a little talk with him to try to get him on the right track....

When she went into the house, she was overwhelmed.. the Babushka is a wonderful artist, and would have no problem supporting themselves with her art, but she has been giving her art away, and not charging... It never occurred to her that she could sell it, and that this might be a way for them to earn the little extra that they need so that she could keep her grandson out of the orphanage.

Some times people get into that place were they just can't see the opportunities around them... I guess this is what set Anya off... to think of all the struggles this little family has goon through, and All it would have taken is someone to spend a little time with them and "market " her talent.

Anya already has plans in place to find a dealer in the capital to sell her art for her, as well she is going to help set things up for the Babushka to teach Art lessons. This will be something that Emma will be able to help with when she gets there... We just had a donation from Emma's youth group, and had used it to get the supplies she needed to set up art classes.

Anya did finish off our conversation by telling me " Oh ya ... you bought one of her paintings for your apartment... You gave her $25 and she cried..."

OVERWHELMED

Our friends from LAMb went out to the invalid home today to bring a food drop... With them they brought a Dr friend of theirs to give an assessment... We have seen so much in the past that it is difficult to be objective... I know things are bad, but compared to what they were, things are so much better now... but that did not count for much when the assessment came in... they write:

When you see their faces, touch their hands, exchange their smiles, you know it is why you have come. Over 250 men live at the home for disabled men! Over 250 who are waiting each day for someone to care. The staff care, the doctors care, the director cares, but who else? You see their needs so clearly and you are quickly overwhelmed.

* serious outbreak of lice
* rooms in wrecked conditions
* only one sheet per bed - no washing machine or dryer in the facility
* wash a bed by hand and wait for them to dry - days? where does one sleep in the meantime?
* cups rusting - lead lined
* not enough bowls for each person to eat
* a few rusty spoons
* no hot water for showers - well no showers - only a few old tubs
* broken toilets
* room after room without electricity - in the halls only
* no reading items, no crafts, nothing to do

No point in going on. The new director borrowed $1,000 to start some work - the men are painting six room and they look good. This brings dignity - they have a purpose. How can we help? Paint? Funds? Floor coverings? Spoons? Cups? Might you have an idea? We are OVERWHELMED and in that moment of sadness that sometimes comes upon us in those dark moments of the night. What can we do?

Lynn and Ruby ....I really am not sure how to answer that... I have been their many times and come away feeling the same desperation... I guess what I keep telling myself is "We need to do what we can ... and before you know it we will be doing what others said could not be done." .. That said, we only have a very small budget for more repairs and supplied when we get there... I am afraid that it is not much... we will trust that it will expand !... I know that this week, Jody's husband Roger will be hosting an event to try to raise funds to help there as well. These men are dear to my heart.... I will spread the word.. we still have a week before we leave ... we may be able to do more........

Fwd: From Anya

After heading one direction up the valley yesterday, Sergey and Anya turned around today, and headed the other direction today... what was waiting for them was another orphanage full of wonderful kids... As I look at them, I can't get over how much they have grown in a few short months since we were there with them ...They too were excited with their little gifts and the celebration.

From there it was off to the Seniors home ... I had a good laugh... I see in the photo,s that Babushka Anya was the first one up to greet them .

This next Babushka is Jengishes adopted Grandma.. he rescued her off the streets a year ago... He is in Florida right now taking a course on dealing with people with substance abuse, so I am sure he will be happy to see that someone was in to visit her

The last stop was at Aigoola's ... At the end of a long day , it is always nice to stop and have supper with this family... they are such a blessing to us and to every one that has met them...

Now you have to take a look over at http://www.iam1ru.blogspot.com/ and check out the antics of Phill Anthropist as he is traveling with a team in Guatemala building homes and helping with a medical clinic.

"We're In This Together"

You take the good , you take the bad, and there you have....!
As We are preparing for the next trip, we are busy gathering up all the little things we need to fill our bags... Vitamins, cold meds, creams, hot chocolate, and so much more.. I have been hearing from all our friends with their small requests...ambasol, cold sore cream, formula, school supplies ... but then there is Larisa... she sends us an update... .. I think she must have taken some sort of management training at some point. I was taught that when you have something bad, you give .. +,+,-,+ ... here is the letter you can read for yourself

John we received money .Thank you
We bought iron for press bedclothes because lice everywhere and
Medicine from lice , sewing machine, thread, needles and other for sew all necessary for invalid house.
Thank you from all man they very glad.

We have good news .
Girls have heart disease perform an operation.
Now she is at home.
She is well.
She isn't pant now.
She play, smile, glad , eat normal and speak .
For her necessary second operation.
I Thank for your support because she now live .
Thank you for support. They give you regards and wait you in guest.

We serve for one family ,Yong mother her name Mira. She ill cancer of uterus. terminal cancer. She have tow children.
We are very disturb .
We buy for her food ,fruits, vegetables.
They live poor.
John if you could bring medicine from cancer for her .We need support for buy for her all necessary.
In Kyrgyzstan haven't normal medicine.
Now she is at home because doctors said cure waste of time ,money, etc.

Now We have room in invalid house for homeless person. We asked director one room for homeless person . Now they can't freeze .We brought them things .in invalid house give food.
Today there are 8 homeless person .
They very ,very glad.

You show you this things when you come

Good by.
We wait you .


"If you could bring medicine for Cancer with you" .... I just do not know how to respond to that... Once again, that is so far beyond what I am able to do... I would not know the first thing about what kind of medicine she would need , let alone the dosages, and whether I could even get it across customs... We will most definitely do what we can do, and I will have her taken to one of our Dr friends there to see what is needed. Her request appears off the top as being so unrealistic, but then who am I to say...Is it any less realistic then many of the requests I bring forward on this blog... like $8000 for projects over the next few weeks in country... or the idea of coming away and leaving Emma behind .... I guess the way it all works is the amazing thing here... you see it's simple not up to me... we are all in this together.... now I digress... It reminds me of a song my son wrote called "we are in this Together" In fact maybe I will close with that..(or open with it... depending on where it shows up... because I am not going to spend any more time fighting with Blogger about it .hahaha) I will post a You tube video from a group here in Canada that is using his song as their theam for this year....

Mens Day ...

In Central Asia, there is always an excuse for a Holiday... generally they end up mid week, so the day before and the day after turn into holidays as well, and seeing as there are now already THREE days off mid week, there is no sense in going to work for one day, so that means it turns into a full week with a weekend on each side... or at least that's the way it seems when you are trying to get anything done... Unless the thing you are doing is celebrating ... Sergey and Anya have been doing just that... the latest holiday last week was Mens day, and next week is Ladies day, so this week they have been having combined celebrations with all the kids...

They brought them all body wash, shampoo and other toiletries, as well as photo's of themselves taken a few weeks ago at one of the Christmas Celebrations... they were all so excited... then they brought out the cake and the special meal...

Boy we can't wait to get there to see all our little friends again... These are the kids that had to change orphanages at Christmas time, so it is extra important that Sergey and Anya make it out to see them regularly, as well as us when we get there, so that they will know that we still love them... I was just counting the kids... Our nice little group of 13 kids that expanded to 17 is now 45.... but you know what... the last one is as special as the first.... we just need to show them that....If you would like to help us bring them this message, you can donate to this trip on the right side of the blog....

Going for the GOLD !

There are many things in life that I do not understand.. In my position, I come across social injustices regularly.. I have come to recognise and if I dare say, almost except the fact, that people do bad things to people... We make excuses for them we say things like " Well they have been through so much them selves" or "Don't judge another person until you have walked a mile in their shoes"..or even "remove the plank from your own eye before you try to remove the speck from your neighbours" I am sure you know all the lines....

But let me tell you the other side of the storey.. There are times when You have a glimpse at the "Mile" that some one is walking ... and you know the trials they face. but through it all, they rise up and show the greater side of humanity...

Every one in Canada has been so hyped up about the Olympics and the great standing that our athletes have achieved.. I hear phrases like the sacrifices they have faced and the honour that they bring to their nations... and the the role model they are to the generations to follow...... This is all fun and exciting, but this to me is not the greater side of humanity that I am talking about.... We are giving out gold in all the wrong places.....

This photo is my grandson Jonah at 1 day old... the Dr is in to give him a once over... this is a man that makes the rounds day in and day out caring for those around him ... I bet he did not even get to see half the Olympic games... yet he deserves a gold.....

That photo has a particularly special meaning to me... you see it is an example of what is good in life.. it is people caring for people... but more then that, it is the final inspection so to speak of a new beginning.... All is well, Jonah and Mom are doing great... The whole process has had a bit of an edge to it for me... As many of you may know, This past fall, a good cyber friend of ours experienced the unthinkable when her son Matthew passed away only a few hours after being born.... Talk about "Being through so much " ... I have no need to walk a mile in their shoes to imagine the hurt they are feeling, yet with more strength and courage then any Olympian I have seen yet. they have stepped forward to make a difference in the lives of the hurting and the helpless... Only hours after hearing the terrible news, I was contacted by Lori and her husband, and asked to help facilitate a donation of an EKG machine to a hospital in Kyrgyzstan... You can read more about their storey by clicking on their photo bellow....

Lori and John have run the race that none of us will ever have to face, and because of them , thousands of children will face a better life.... Loving and caring Dr's in Kyrgyzstan will have the tools they need ..like the one's my Jonah's Dr has at his disposal....

As a result of the dream that they had for the hospital. some amazing things have happened . Let me fill you in a little.... There are actually two small hospitals in the city that are located side by side... neither on has access to an EKG machine.. in fact they have to send their patients to the capital about 1 1/2 hours away... for a simple test.... Sergey and Anya have met with the Dr's from both these hospitals as well as the main hospital director... It has been decided that the best thing to do is to open a small heart clinic in the hospital to serve both hospitals... The donations that came in in honour of baby Matthew have not only provided the needed EKG machine, but as well , a portable hand held unit that can collect data from room to room, then come back to the clinic to be read and examined .... We sent the first machine with LAMb, and we have the second one with us. As it turns out, LAMb is hosting an incredible Dr from the US that was very familiar with this particular device... so this week, the Dr's have been receiving training . As well , LAMb's Dr has been able to convert the machine to 220 V as well as convert the machine into the Russian language for them....

You can only imagine how excited the Dr are... This was a touch down... a grand slam... an over time goal... you choose the metaphor, but the fact is...it deserves the gold in my books....watch the video below as they are learning how to work the machine

To view the video from FB you will need to go to

http://www.actofkindness.blogspot.com/

Hay but that's not all.... Last Fall when we did the renovation, the job grew so much that we did not have the funds to replace the floor, so we just did a patch job.... Well after the purchase of the machines, the leads, the paper, and all the shipping and training etc... we still had $500 left.. I spoke with Lori about this, and she is excited to be able to cover 25% of the cost of the new floor for them.. ..... now that's what I call a victory lap....