A visit from Princess Anna

Early yesterday morning Denis came over to the house to say good buy.  He gave us all a big hug and promised he would be back for visits.  He is going back to Bishkek to live with his mom. We are praying that all goes well, he has a a confidence knowing that he will always have a place at the farm.   

Yesterday they got the electricity turned on at the Ranch.  the barn had all the doors welded shut, so Ulukbek brought the grinder up and got things opened up.  As well we were able to get the house cleaned out and painted, 

Later in the day they moved some furniture up to the house. in hopes that today or tomorrow some of the boys will move up there with the animals 

The ranch is covered with old dried up thistles, so we spent a few hours digging them out and burning them . 

Back at the farm we had a family come out to the "petting farm " so that there son could see animals close up.  He was very excited to experience life on the farm. 

Aiperi and Mirlan are working hard at moving the rose hedge .  They are going to put it along the back of three of the properties as a fence to slow people down from coming in from the back. as well this will open up the gardens between the farms . 

Koder and Marat got the roof almost finished yesterday , and today will start on the siding . 

 

The chickens and ducks were pretty pleased that I have started plowing the fields. I have about 10% of the plowing done now .. we still have a couple weeks before planting starts. 

Mirlan is doing a lot better these days .  He has been helping Turat with a small job putting down tiles .. and is able to follow instructions .  

Evenings are a fun time on the farm .  After supper there is a great time of socialising  We have a young musician from Germany who is here volunteering on the farm.  he is giving lessons to the kids in the evenings .  

Last night was movie night , and the feature was Frozen.  As a special bonus, We had princess Anna join us for the movie and popcorn .  Very exciting for everyone .  We had 15 in our living room at the guest house for the evening. 

Just got a call that the sheep and cows are starting to make there way to the Ranch so I better go. 

Green house update and more

Yesterday the doors got installed on the second green house, so we are set and ready to roll with it.  The tomatoes started in the first green house are now all transplanted.  Ulukbek and his son where working hard at it today . 

the cucumbers are continuing to do great .  

New windows are in at the main house .  now they just have to cement around them 

the addition is coming along great, and Marat loves his NEW glasses . 

 

all the supplies ready for the kitchen at the main house 

this family would like to thank everyone who provided vitamins .. 

 A quick update on a couple other needs I had shared .    he young friend was able to get his tuition and dorm expenses covered by one of our loving supporters.  As well the hospital funds came in and the work will be finished and the clinic ready to open possibly as early as next week . 

We have been refinishing an old table as well as a second coat of finish on the table from the guest house.  

For those of you who have read through to the end of this post  We do have a need that we would like to find a sponsor for.  We currently have about 15 pigs. We do let them out from time to time to play in the garden, but next week we will start planting the fields so we need to come up with a large secure area for them outside.  In the past we have tried wire, and they walk right through it , we have tried wood and they eat there way through it , but we have found these large steel fences .   

We already have the foundation and the posts in, and will be able to cut these into three pieces to give us a 4 foot high fence all the way around this pen.  To do this would be $250   

While I was working on this post, They got the old counter out of the kitchen.  It needs to be washed and bleached, then will be hooked up along this wall .  

A bit of a frustrating day.

I received a message from a young man we know here  In the past we have given a loan for his school and he was very faithful in paying it back. Today he is about to finish his final year and has until April 10th to have his tuition and dorm paid in full or he will not get his diploma. 

Hello John! My name is xxxxxx. I am a student of the 4th course at the University. I am writing to you with a request for help. I have a difficult situation with payment of full tuition and living in dormitory, because of the difficult financial situation in the family. Parents are temporarily unemployed. In the family besides me three more children: two younger brothers (first- ninth grade, and the second-second grade) and younger sister (in kindergarten). Every year, I was earning money for my education and paid for, but this year turned out awkward. In this year i wanted to start a business, have invested my money in my business and I went bankrupt, unfortunately. Two years ago I also had the situation I needed 8 thousand soms, you loaned me and really helped me out. I am very grateful for that. If this year you could be able to help me to pay the full tuition and for living in dormitory, I'd be able to finish my education in the University in this year, and after graduation I will be working and will be able to repay the debt.  the total needed for me to continue study by April 10th is 60 thousand som ($ 869 US) for a contract 19 150 som($277 US ) payment for dormitory.

we brought more guests up to the ranch yesterday and as soon as we got there the young guy from next door with the horses came over for a visit and a trade.. our guests rode the horse around the mountain and he got to drive the hunter around the mountain.

We are thrilled to see a new business start up with some investors from Canada .. looking forward to seeing great things. 

One of the highlights of our day yesterday was to receive news that FLIGHTS ARE BOOKED for or friends from Espanola to come for a visit to the farm in the fall.  They are heading to Romania , and hay thats close right ? 

we have started pouring the new foundation under the house, and repairing the shutters 

we are really pleased with this Burgundy brown color.  Emma says its good because the other color of brown is what people use to paint the floors and that would be disgraceful to  paint your hole house the color of a floor. hahaha 

Dustan needed new clothes.. he had grown out of everything so we brought him to the bazaar  for this dapper new outfit. 

while at the bazaar they picked up new socks for the rest of the kids on the farm . always a welcome treat . 

The arm broke on Marats glassed, so I took them in to the optometrist to see if he could fix them . Marat will be having another operation in a couple weeks, and will have a different prescription after that, so we just needed a temporary fix. He said "lets see" ,then  took them from me and snapped the other arm off, then snapped the lens in half and crumpled the frame up and then dropped it on the counter and said " No I can't fix them you will need to buy new ones"  I believe I am being tested because I DID NOT reach over the counter and punch him in the head ..... it must be an example of grace.!   instead I called Jengish who had some words, and today I went in and picked up his replacement pair. 

I had ordered eight bunk beds for the Kindergarten . they were supposed to be delivered today at 10 am .. at 11:30 we tried calling and they were going to call the driver and see where they were , again at 12:00 , 12:30 and 1:00 but she never returned our calls with an answer , so finally at 2:00 we got a hold of the owner of the company who said that they had already delivered and set up the beds ....At Chui Orphanage..... problem is that they were not for the orphanage they were for the Kindergarten.
Finally at 3:00 they showed up with the beds, all assembled , so now they would not fit in the door and would all have to be taken apart and reassembled inside.  

On a hopefully brighter note, the new doors and windows for the kitchen and green house will arrive tomorrow.  Lets hope it goes a little smoother then today .