THIS WILL WARM YOUR HEARTS

TODAY WAS A MOMENT WE HAVE BEEN LONG WAITING FOR. Training with the staff we have in Kyrgyzstan. And not only was there training for them - it was the FIRST EVER TRAINING TO BE CONDUCTED AT DAYSPRING.

Think about this - not only are we getting ready to open for the children on April 12 - we are now ready to open for training - and who will we be training?

1. Children from Dayspring and a local small orphanage.
2. Crisis Families
3. Prospective adoptive parents
4. Church leaders
5. Social workers
6. Government leaders
7. And MORE.....

The children will use this room for life skills, crafts, art projects, teaching and training moments. And we will watch this pilot process (cannot call it a project anymore) make a difference for the families and lives of children in Tokmok and maybe, just maybe for the children of Krygyzstan as a model process to get children into families.

We pray for this - with all our hearts. AND - we thank Jayne for taking this lead and bringing the Kyrgyzstan LAMb staff together for this moment in time - soon to be a very historic time for all of us who have been waiting for DAYSPRING FAMILY LIFE RESOURCE CENTER TO OPEN.

MY NAME IS.....NEVER TO BE THE SAME AGAIN.

JUST TO KNOW THEIR NAME - HOPE AND DIGNITY RESTORED

What a joyful experience for all on Saturday as the LAMb team watched the men grow in excitement and happiness to have an English class for them. This was the first of a series of classes our team will conduct. Julie and Bekhah are ESL teachers and have committed to giving lessons once a week to these men.

18 in TOTAL SHOWED UP! In a room which mighT accomodate 10. But that did not distract them - these disabled one by one came forward and showed their picture and their writing ability by showing and SAYING - "My Name Is............"

JUST TO KNOW THEIR NAME - TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THEIR NAME WITH US - WHAT A BLESSING FOR US AND FOR THEM. But like Jayne said in her blog about this - we are learning their names - they are learning to say their names in English - yet OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THEIR NAME.

ISKRA HOME FOR DISABLED MEN - NEVER TO BE THE SAME..

JUST IMAGINE THIS...

WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - WANTING TO HELP AND HAVING NO FOUNDATION OF KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO DO THIS....and you know - printing is never as exciting as donating for needs of food, shelter, etc. But this need is so real and so important for the UP River work.

We are looking for 50 people who will take on this challenge - We want to get the knowledge into their hands - we have the capacity, THEY ARE TRANSLATED, we just need your help to get the tools printed.

WE ARE OUT OF BOOKS THAT HELP OUR WORKERS IN BOTH UKRIANE AND KYRYGZSTAN. The Field Guide to child welfare has all been distributed - we cannnot give away any more of the four set series. Yet we have a very very very cheap publisher who will print each set for $7.50 for the SET. WE ARE SHOCKED BY THE LOW PRICE AND WANT TO PRINT FOR THOSE BEGGING FOR THE SETS.

SO- 50 PEOPLE ARE NEEDED TO TELL US THEY WILL HELP. EVEN IF YOU CAN ONLY DONATE FOR ONE SET TO BE PRINTED - THAT IS JUST $7.50 - BUT IF WE HAD 50 PEOPLE - WE COULD DO SO MUCH MORE.

Would you consider helping this cause and getting the books into the hands of those begging for the resource to help them? Hit the blog donate button if you can.

Thanks..

1 set - $7.50
2 sets - $15.00
10 sets - $75.00
100 sets - $750.00

Just imagine the good you can do....

PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR JAYNE SCHOOLER

NORTH AMERICAN COUNCIL ON ADOPTABLE CHILDREN

WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE JAYNE SCHOOLER AND BETSY KEEFER SMALLEY have won a prestigious award - A NACAC ADVOCACY AWARD.

Jayne has authored many books on adoption, is a national speaker on the subject and is considered one of the US most prominate experts on adoption. We are so very proud of her. She is our team member and serves with a servant heart everywhere she works and goes. CONGRATULATIONS JAYNE

Besty is a colleague from the Institute for Human Services, has co-authored with Jayne on several books and too is considered a national expert on the topic of adoption. Betsy has shared her expertise in Belarus and in Ukraine as well. CONGRATULATIONS BETSY

It is with great pleasure we can announce to you they have both been honored by NACAC for this great reward.

DAYSPRING - GETTING ALL SPRUCED UP

WOW THINGS ARE MOVING RIGHT ALONG - CHECK THIS OUT:

1. Blankets made and delivered for the beds!
2. Mattresses made and delivered!
3. Tile for the concrete entrance to be purchased tomorrow and installed next week.
4. Cupboards ordered and to be installed next week.
5. Simple changes to be made with Mayor's agreement - signing next week.
6. New Child Advocate - hired.
7. Life Skill Specialist - hired.
8. Church on board to begin getting volunteers - DONE.
9. Supplimental heat system purchased today - and to be installed next week.
10. Invitation for open house - ready to go to printer.
11. Food arranged for food table for open house.
12. Plans for organizing the opening - almost complete.

And if that isn't all - we have just hired our father from Jessica's family to do some construction on another project of the team - the renovation for the fire that destroyed a widow's home. LAMb team is getting RADICAL FOR SERVING!

UP RIVER AND DOWN RIVER

WORKING UP RIVER IN UKRAINE RIGHT NOW WHILE THE DOWN RIVER TEAM CONTINUTE WORKING IN KYRGYZSTAN: How can we ever explain the work we do in this part of the world. We have an awesome team that is working hard up river - doing the best we can to teach, train and encourage people to live differently than ever before. At the same time we must meet the pressing needs that are in front of us....THE DOWN RIVER WORK.

We reported the devastating situation with Jessica's family - well it is improving daily with the help of our down river work. We took supplies to kill mold, paint to cover the walls once again and equipment to paint. Here is what occured. The father of our family did all the work. He did a fine job - so with the ever pressing needs of our down river work - we will be hiring him to do more work - like helping renovate a home where a widow was left to figure out what to do after her home was destroyed by fire the same day she was conducting cultural activities to remember the death of her husband just 40 days before. Our father from Jessica's family can do this kind of work! He just needs a job to get back in the work force. Well, want to help this woman - and we want to build this family.

So - we can not only see the down river work occuring - we see the job, the hope giving our family a potential new chance. Watch the developments and be ready to consider sponsoring one of their children - helping with vitamins, clothing and food...giving them a boost during this building time.

UP RIVER - Ruby is working in Ukraine - training social workers who are invested in "gatekeeping" to keep children out of the orphanages. Remember we are praying and hoping for a Ukraine Without Orphans and a Kyrgyzstan Without Orphans. We are training over 25 trainers to carry out this mission. Tomorrow we will certify them and send them out to make a difference. They are eager to help children realize their potential - see families loving and keeping a safe home. We believe in what Father God has told us to do - to teach to show them how to live. Praise Him for this opportunity to WORK UP RIVER TOO!

STAY TUNED THIS WEEKEND TO SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP US UP RIVER!

UKRAINE WITHOUT ORPHANS

Logos for ILDC Ukraine and ILDC Kyrgyzstan.

RUBY IN UKRAINE:
PREPARING TODAY TO CERTIFY 20 NEW TRAINERS - this is a major accomplishment for our team in Ukraine. By certifying 20 new trainers who are now prepared to conduct training in the area of strengthening families and protecting children. These 20 trainers will be working across Ukraine to keep children out of orphanages and in families. This is just one of many activities in Ukraine to see that children stay out or orphanages and will grow up in families.

Alliance, Adopt Ukraine and others are working in partnership with many different organizations to REALIZE A UKRAINE WITHOUT ORPHANS.

The big celebration for the trainers is on Thursday - we will have pictures for you after this event.

LYNN IN KYRGYZSTAN:
JESSICA'S FAMILY - Lynn delivered new paint, special mold killer and all the tools necessary to do the job. The home will be repaired - it is just concerning that we cannot really fix the apartment building roof. However a partner made a good suggestion - how about getting the Bishkek Habitat for Humanity involved with this family. Lynn is on a mission to see if we can do anything here. Pray for favor in this area. This is a family that is really trying. We can help - we just need some additional helpers.

DAVID AND JAYNE ARE IN KYRGYZSTAN and will be gearing up for lots of work getting Dayspring ready.

JOHN AND JULIE AND THE GIRLS ARE getting a little rest since their team just left - and they have just spent two weeks in high gear.

RUBY IN UKRAINE - LYNN IN KYRGYZSTAN

THE ON THE GROUND TEAM IS GROWING - Pastor David and Jayne arrived today in Kyrygzstan, and Ruby left today for Ukraine. Lots to do in Kyrgyzstan and lots to do in Ukraine.

KYRGYZSTAN

1. TEAM ONE - from Ohio arriving on April 3rd
2. Woman's Conference - April 9th
3. Men's Breakfast - April 9th
4. Gearing up for the Opening of Dayspring - April 12th
5. TEAM TWO - arriving on April 15th when TEAM ONE LEAVES
6. TEAM THREE - arriving on April 24th

UKRAINE

1. Working with the Gatekeeping Project for Ukraine
2. Planning training for those working with vulnerable children and their families
3. ILDC team strengthening
4. Leadership training for different NGO leaders in Ukraine

JUST SHOWING UP AND STOPPING FOR THE ONE IN FRONT OF US - SERVING AND SHARING EVERYWHERE WE CAN...

BREAKING NEWS....AND WE ARE PLANNING FOR A SPECIAL GUEST TO COME TO SEE DAYSPRING BEFORE THE OPENING - THIS GUEST HAS ASKED TO COME AND SEE THE PROJECT BEFORE THE OPENING - WE WILL MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT LATER...BUT IT IS EXCITING.

JESSICA'S FAMILY

VISIT TODAY TO TAKE SOME SUPPLIES turned out to be most disturbing. Irnura and her husband were very sad to show us the kitchen and the mold that came over the winter with the leaking roof and moisture that came into the walls.

Last year our Mapleview team did a renovation on the home - working with the family our team plastered the walls in the kitchen and we painted everything. Although the family is doing okay, the mold is causing illness and concern for them.

Father said he could clean and cover the walls with new heavier paint. What to do - we know the dangers of mold. Yet, he will do the work, and get the room once again in better shape. So, we will get him the required materials and this will be the course of action. The family would never be able to afford such materials. For now, they kept the kitchen door closed and kept the children out of that room.

You will remember Medina is the child who now has the new glass eye. She is doing fine and looks beautiful as you can see in the picture. She is their oldest child. The baby - Mealana is growing and is very cute.

This is our little family and we love them. Yet, it is so clear to see how the cruel winter and poverty conditions beats them down again and again. We took a bunch of food - will make a few nice meals - but the bigger picture is dim. Mold, poverty and difficulty finding work. Please pray for Jessica's Family. They are faithful and doing their very best.

IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPONSOR THIS FAMILY'S NEEDS - LET US KNOW. THANKS SO MUCH.

WORKING UP RIVER TODAY

TODAY BOTH ENDS OF THE RIVER WERE BEING COVERED. John and his group were down river - "pulling people out" - helping villagers, by sharing food and their time. They ended their day working with our dear friends at the Home for Disabled Men in Iskra. We were up river - "working to keep people from being tossed into the river" - working with young persons we are coaching this morning and afternoon. We then headed to Bishkek to meet with the Director of the Child Rights Protection Agency to talk about getting things moving here in the area of child welfare - to see A WORLD WITHOUT ORPHANS.

We completely planned a conference today - to be held in May. This conference will draw attention to the plight of the orphan and hopefully put additional ideas into the minds of the leadership here in Kyrygzstan in how to divert children from the orphanages. Remember we have over 60 babies/childen now who are waiting to go home to their adopted parents. Yet things have NOW BEEN STOPPED FOR OVER TWO YEARS. And the orphanages have increased here by 100% since 1991.

Working up RIVER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND DOWNRIVER TO GIVE HOPE TO THE HOPELESS. The meeting was very encouraging - watch for some additional news about this meeting very soon.

SENIORS GET NEW ROOMS

ROOM DIVIDED AND NOW THEY HAVE THE BEGINNING OF A CLINIC: Cola, the husband to the director of the Kemin Senior home did the work himself and he is so pleased and proud. When we were there on Wednesday, he was smiling from ear to ear to show us his work.

The seniors are not permitted to live in co-ed rooms. Therefore they were illegal for a time, as this one big room housed both men and women. The room is now divided and ready for the use Tanya the director needs. One side for men, one side for women or those persons with illness that should be isolated for a time. AND now they have the makings for their clinic room.

Tuesday, Lynn is going with Tanya to pick out the wallpaper for the rooms. Adding a little beauty to their lives.

All this for them - and donated by a wonderful couple who dearly love our seniors. Tks, C and D for loving them!

FROM SENIORS TO CHILDREN - THE DAYS ARE FULL

WEDNESDAY - SENIORS ENTERTAINED US AND WE PREPARED THEIR MEAL.
WEDNESDAY EVENING - TRAINING WITH COUPLES AT THE LOCAL CHURCH.
THURSDAY - TRAINING AT DAYSPRING AND MORE FURNITURE ARRIVED; OFF TO THE DUMP WITH THE WRIGHT CREW
THURSDAY AFTERNOON - MET WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES ABOUT DAYSPRING - GAVE THEM A TOUR....AND STARTING A COACHING PROJECT WITH STAFF AT MERCY FOUNDATION.
THRUSDAY EVENING - TRAINING WITH YOUTH AT THE LOCAL CHURCH.
TOMORROW - MEETING WITH TEAM TO BEGIN COACHING PLANS THEN HEADING TO BISHKEK TO MEET WITH CHILD RIGHTS DEFENDERS LEAGUE - DISCUSSION ABOUT UPCOMING PLANS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
SATURDAY - MORE COACHING
SUNDAY - LJ SHARING AT A GATHERING; RUBY HEADING FOR UKRAINE; PASTOR DAVID AND JAYNE ARRIVE

FABULOUS NEWS - DAYSPRING REGISTRY COMPLETE

BISHKEK BREAKING NEWS

Today we spent the day in Bishkek - and the first and most important stop was to see the lawyer about the final documents required before Dayspring registry would be completed. We needed this final step in order to bring children into the home. TODAY IT IS DONE - THERE IS NO MORE TO DO TO COMPLETE THE REGISTRY - IT IS DONE AND WE ARE READY TO BRING IN THE FINAL ITEMS NEEDED FOR THE CHILDREN! THIS IS AMAZING NEWS.

The lawyer confirmed we were ready to GO. There is nothing stopping us now. We purchased additional items needed after leaving the lawyers and delivered them back at Dayspring on the way home. We now have just completed the purchase of 6 tables for the Multi-Purpose room, an easel, cupboards for the Multi purpose room, chairs, clothing wardrobes for all the bedrooms, supplimentary heating units for two large rooms that were cold this winter - and the deliveries have started.

We will soon be looking for sponsors for each of the children - this might really excite you - you will be kept up to date on your child, get letters from your child and be able to communicate with your child. We are really thrilled by this.

Tonight has been a full cooking night - cooking beef for a GIANT pot of beef vegetable soup for our seniors. Made a GIANT slaw salad and the rest gets made tomorrow morning. 20 liters of soup in hand and away we go with the Wrights and the Snarrs to see our dear seniors.

Yesterday we picked up about 30 bags of crafts made by children of an orphanage in Bishkek. We purchased them (one of our sponsors is purchasing them) to take home to conduct a Fundraising Event at the Kempenfest on the shores of Lake Simcoe this August. Stay tuned for those details - BELIEVE ME YOU WILL WANT SOME OF THESE ITEMS, THEY ARE AWESOME.

Tomorrow night we are doing a couples seminar at a local gathering - about 25 couples expected and lots of sharing to be done. Thursday is a full day - meeting with Dayspring staff: How to Bring a Child Into the Home and How to Do Initial Needs Assessments. Then in the afternoon - meeting with a group of young adults who are the next stream of leadership for Mercy Foundation - the Christian oranization we work closely with here. Evening - back to another gathering - meeting with a group of youth - Choosing Friends and Building Relationships.

SO FOR TODAY - CELEBRATION - DAYSPRING IS READY FOR CHLDREN!

DIGNITY AND HOPE WITH THE ART AT ISKRA, KYRGYZSTAN - THE DISABLED MEN'S HOME

THE ART CONTINUES: You never know if things will be sustained after you leave from here, but our hope is fulfilled as we enter the art room at Iskra, the home for disabled men in Iskra, Kyrgyzstan. The men were hard at work, nice pillow covers done and placed on the side of the room - piles of material in the room that is being used for making NEW SHEETS - thanks to a LAMb donor. The men were happy, eager to have us look at their work and so pleased to say thank you for all that has been done to bring dignity and hope back to the men of Iskra.

Emma Wright made a wonderful comment when she was working in Ukraine - she had gone out to the home for disabled men and women and was conducting some craft activities with them. She returned to Krivoy Rog to share her thoughts. "These men and women are just children in big bodies, they need this and it is so wonderful to see them have fun and enjoy making things."

Yes, Emma, it is not only fun, but it is THE RIGHT THING TO DO. EMMA, YOU ARE ONCE AGAIN A RIGHT/WRIGHT! We love you!

WHOEVER GIVES A CUP OF COLD WATER....

Iskra is near and dear to our hearts - This dining room is in desperate need of renovation. The floors are lumpy and have broken concrete; the walls broken, tables broken, chairs broken. The nicest thing in this room is what you see - the wonderful man and the simple table covers purchased by a team member last year.




We desperately need to help them replace their drinking cups here at Iskra. Look at the rust and chipped paint. In addition, they do not have enough for all the men. They must wait and take turns to have something to drink.



What a joy to go with our team members and our visiting team from Canada and take vegetables out to the home. Food has increased in price so much that everywhere we go we hear about the needs of food.


When you see the smiles that come to their faces when they see the van open and the food literally falls out! What a joy to see them so quick to help take it out and get it to the kitchen. It really is just a cup of cold water.....that begins to touch the parched lips.


Our LAMb crew today - led by John. The Snarrs and our wonderful helpers from Iskra Men's Home.




AND OF COURSE with the snow and opportunity to make a snowman! John cannot resist and the snowman appears!




RADICAL MEANS BEING THERE! When a new director comes to the Iskra Home for Men, we never know what will happen. Will we be allowed in, will the men be taken care of? Lots of questions. However today we were encouraged. Larissa - our on the ground person has worked hard to build the relationship with this new director. Lynn and John both feel we have a good chance to continue and help these wonderful men.

UPDATE: The Art Department is going strong. They also now have a room prepared for visiting family members. There is a new classroom and our LAMb team - the Wrights are going to do a six week English course with about 10 interested men. They are making sheets for the beds and have given us their additional needs: cups, new dining room, update kitchen - floor is wet all the time with water leaking from the pipes; new pillows, blankets for all the beds, some new mattresses, 100 beds and spoons. And ONE BIG SURPRIZE! They asked if we might find some sponsors for some wardrobes to put their stuff. Seems some of the men now have more than one set of clothing! Imagine - for the first time in years - they have more than one set of clothing.

DONORS - THIS IS THANKS TO YOU - AND NOW THE JUST NEED A PLACE TO PUT THEIR STUFF! WHAT A JOYFUL SONG THAT WAS TO OUR EARS.

RELATIONSHIPS MEAN EVERYTHING

WHEN YOU ARE NOT PROTECTED - IN THE EYES OF OUR NEIGHBORS

Last night around 12:30am we received a phone call - very shocking at that hour. It was a friend of ours from Mercy Foundation. Seems one of our babushkas had been checking every couple of minutes out her door, because our door to our apartment was open - not closed. She worried somehthing had happened to us - maybe we were inside or maybe we left in a hurry and just did not close the door. She took the responsibility to guard the door for hours.

She was concerned about closing it, but finally around 12:30pm closed the door and called our friend Tanya - you see we cannot communicate to well with our dear Russian speaking babushkas. But she was clever - and once Tanya called us and called her back - SHE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GO TO SLEEP.

Well, this morning - did we ever get the dickens when we stepped out to go to the store. The "dickens" carried on for about 5 minutes and I am sure we were scoled appropriately. Anyhow - see the picture of the make-up. Ruby and babushka Valentina from just one floor above us. Vera babushka had already headed out to shop - in the new WINTER WONDERLAND WE ALL WOKE UP TO THIS MORNING!

ILDC: THIS IS THE SAD REALITY!

PLEASE READ THIS - THIS WAS JUST POSTED BY OUR STAFF IN UKRAINE...IT IS HEARTBREAKING - WE NEED YOUR HELP ON THIS ONE.


ILDC: THIS IS THE SAD REALITY!: "We have a new family that we work with right now and we would like briefly to share with you about this family and their story. A widowed f..."

LAMb TEAM ON THE MOVE

KEMIN VISIT TODAY WAS TO TAKE FOOD AND STOCK THE PANTRY WITH ESSENTIALS - This appeared to be lunch today at Kemin Senior Home. We joined with the rest of our team and a family here from Sterling - the Snarrs and took a load of food to them today. Tonight is a different story - food has been delivered. Potatoes, onions, cabbages, sugar, flour, rice, pasta, carrots.



STOPPING FOR SOME EGGS AND A VISIT - John and Julie wanted to stop at a family they have been helping - and here their son Sasha was eager to say hello. Just a little tyke that is so excited to see a member of the team pull up - especially Big John!




ALEXY FROM KEMIN SENIORS - He is grieving the loss of his very special friend. In February there were three deaths at the home and Alexy's friend in town. We have heavy hearts for their losses.




DUSHEBEK FROM KEMIN SENIOR HOME - The Snarrs entertained with music and the group of seniors were eager to join in, clap and bounce their feet. What joy music brings to the soul.






TRAINING - DAY TWO. Developing a plan to help a child when they need to be placed into care - here is a group from the SOS Villages working on a plan for a 9 year old child.






ACEL AND EMMA - discussion of the lectures - waiting for the next activity. Acel is our Mother at Dayspring and Emma will be teaching basic life skills to the children for the next 10 months. Emma is John and Julie's daughter. She (Emma) is member of the LAMb team and another RADICAL.



RADICAL MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS TODAY..

THE SUN SHINES WHEN A SENIOR SMILES

WOMAN'S DAY CELEBRATION WITH OUR SENIORS...BABUSHKAS; Anya, Tonya, Ryesa, Katya and Olga.



Anya - she said she had American legs (wearing warm boots from the United States) and a Kyrgyz head (wearing a nice warm hat from Kyrgyzstan). Anya is always cold, but here pictured with our Country Director - Natasha - she is warm and oh so happy!



The winter was difficult for our seniors. Three seniors passed away and just last week a very good friend of one of the men passed away. There is great sadness in the home for the losses.

With the dawning of spring, there is a fresh excitement and new hope in the home - most seniors were out-of-doors when we arrived. Spring is bringing the new hope once again. They were also so excited to know our team is back.



The new chairs LAMb purchased last year are quite beautiful. We are now getting ready to remodel one of the large rooms by dividing it and making it more useful.
A special area for those sick and needing to be separated from others. And a place for a nurse/medical person to work when they come to the home.

And the friendship area will get some additional furniture. They have moved the craft tables out to the dining room to accomodate the increase of residents. So...back to the design table and a new look they have requested.

MORE TO COME

We found out they are about out of coal, so more is on the way. They used over 16 tonnes last year. The remodeling of the rooms has been scheduled and food will need to be delivered. They are down to one bag of potatoes, out of rice, flour, sugar and basics. The increase in food prices has really been difficult for them and continues to be a challenge for their weekly needs. So food drops are needed desperately.

FINALLY, we are scheduled for one of our frequent cooking events with the seniors. Next Wednesday we will be making a LARGE POT OF VEGETABLE BEEF STEW TO BE SERVED OVER RICE, WITH A WARM BREAD. We can already smell the sweet aroma! Ready to jump on the RADICAL ROAD OF SERVING AND HELP? WE WAIT.