DAYSPRING UPDATE

Welcome to Dayspring.

CHILDREN NEXT WEEK? JUST MIGHT BE....

The documents are finally all signed. We had them done once, then so many things happened...essentially they just do not know how to handle this very different type program - we do not fit into a box that has already been defined:

1. Mayor's office decided they needed some different guidelines - needed new documents....to reflect this. Did that and then....

2.The government changed their structure - needed new documents..checked out what they wanted and did that...turned them in and then...

3. We have a new mayor...new documents again.

They are complete and we are ready - our area mayor's office said they are ready to place children now.

ANOTHER INCREDIBLE TURN OF EVENTS - the Governor's office (this is the mayor and vice mayor's boss) heard about Dayspring and the Vice Governor came for a visit. She was mightyly impressed with the program concept and the idea of family for children - children who will not be living in an orphanage. She ask for me to come to her office, since I did not meet her at the Center.

My visit was astonishing to say the least. She wants this pilot to work as much as we do. She asked about more homes as such and we said - "let's get this one working well first." Her comment - she picked up the phone and called the Vice Mayor and requested a plan by Monday of how and when they planned to utilize Dayspring, reminding them of all the children who are "living homeless" at the local outdoor market.

Dayspring is new and the concept is so new to Kyrgyzstan. The slow movement is for a purpose and will make us so much stronger as we move forward. WE ARE READY. After a team meeting today - we are so excited to know we have come this far and are still so sure it is THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

HANDS OF HOPE WE HONOR YOUR FOR ENTRUSTING US WITH THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY!!!!

UPDATE ON SLAVIK

My heart just dropped to my knees when we visited Slavik's grandmother Galena today. First, his uncle Volodymre was there and he was sober. Grandmother was eating and she really looked good considering she had just had a stroke not long ago. She still cannot talk clearly, however Anya was able to pick up some words and write to her on paper to help her understand us.

His sober uncle was willing and able to give us some detailed information. He knows about where Slavik is working in the field in Kazakhastan and when we talked about sponsor funds available for helping him when he returned to Kyrgyzstan - he began to have ideas of how we might contact him. The uncle agreed to talk to a person he is sure has the phone number of the man who took him (bought him?) to Kazakhastan. He took Talant's phone number and said he would call Talant with this man's number and then a plan could be made to bring Slavik back to Kyrgyzstan. This is huge progress as nothing else has been as encouraging up to this time. We really had not idea of exactly where he might be. This seems very hopeful.

The grandmother said she really wants to know where he is as well. I really believe she is grieving over him not being there and does not understand what is going on. Remember he was living with her up until the stroke. And the proof of him there hit me between the eyes.

I looked up into this cupboard of sorts while we were comforting the grandmother and my eyes stopped at a clear reminder of Slavik and our time together. There in this cupboard was a white and blue book with the title "ABOUT ME" in Russian. It was a Life Book. We had these made in Cleveland, Ohio for the children at the orphanages in Kyrgyzstan. Slavik made his life book, choose a baby picture from the many pictures sent to us from families (one he felt might have looked like him as a baby) who had adopted Kyrgyz child and put the picture in the book. He filled out pages about his favorite things and what he dreamed about in his future.

THERE WAS HIS BOOK - Where is Slavik? We pray he will soon return to Kyrgyzstan. Maybe his family cannot keep him, nor perhaps should they be permitted to keep him, maybe he won't want to be helped. Yet we cannot just MOVE ON WITHOUT STOPPING FOR HIM.

HE IS THE ONE IN FRONT OF US!

INTERNET IS BACK ON - SO SORRY ABOUT THE DELAY IN THIS IMPORTANT DATA

TASTE THE MISSION

You are invited to attend "TASTE THE MISSION".

Come and hear the story of 'the river' and catch the vision for A WORLD WITHOUT ORPHANS.

Saturday, August 13th 2011, 7 - 9 pm. In the Kempenfelt room, 2nd floor, at the Nautica Condominiums 33 Ellen Street, Barrie, Ontario, Canada.

RSVP by August 6th to Ian or Arlene Forsyth at IANFORSYTH@GMAIL.COM

Thank you for your continued support.

Ruby is presently completing a week of training with social work leaders in Kyrgyzstan and will be heading on to Siberia on the weekend. Please keep her covered in prayer as she travels and serves.

SLAVIK

...the hidden shall be found....

Today started and ended with the search for Slavik. First thing this morning we went to a home thinking it was his father's or mother's to find it was an aunt - in fact the aunt that is caring for Slavik's sister - Vika.

When we first asked about Slavik, she indicated he was with his grandmother. After discussion about the fact the grandmother had a stroke (which did not seem to surprize her) and that Slavik was no longer there - she said he was probably with his mother in Orlovka. Still somewhat resistant, we told her about the sponsor wanting to help him - a sponsor who wanted to give a significant amount of funds for his support. She came out of the gate and suggested she send Vika to Orlovka and see what she could find. And she would call Natasha later. Progress.

Then after making our rounds in Iskra and Kemin, we continued on to Orlovka to see what we could find out. We went to the address that we were told was the mothers - only to find another woman - one who knows the family well. She told us Slavik was with a family who is working in the fields - possibly in Kazakhastan or in a city outside of Bishkek. She became very helpful when she heard of the sponsor (which we have some promises of only - by the way) and then sent us to a different part of the village to find the mother. We did not find her - even after asking the village "she knows everyone person". However we are not to be discouraged - we headed back to Tokmok with a plan.

Next - we ask Sergae and Anya to return to the persons they talked to and let then know about the "sponsor"...telling them we must see Slavik in order to give the funds.

REMEMBER HIS FACE EACH MORNING AND NIGHT AND PRAY FOR HIS SAFE RETURN. He is 11!!! and at the hands of someone just wanting him for ALL THE WRONG REASONS - work OR?

DAYS HAVE HIGHS AND LOWS - BUT THE CONSTANT IS LOVE

First we start loading the watermelons, then six people and then more watermelons - making a total of six people and 50 watermelons!



And then we tell Dabu - well we can likely get in 50 more - ya!




Then the watermelon parade starts at Iskra - hey all come get a watermelon - lunch has a treat today!

And the cost for this 50 watermelon treat? A grand total of $32.00. Hey you watermelon babies out there – hit the donate button and this can happen every week for just $32.00 a week. Who said you needed to be rich to bless others?


WHAT A DAY!

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

With the minister - looking over the training materials for next week!

AWESOME DAY IN KYRGYZSTAN...

Today was really busy and full - but oh so productive. I will update quickly and hope it all makes sense to each of you.

1. The ministry is a go for the training. The minister is really keen to help her country develop strong families and see children with families not in orphanages.

2. We are moving forward in finding Slavik..and we are so happy to say the minister is helping us - involving the immigration police. Let's continue to pray for a fast and safe closure to this child selling ordeal. Tomorrow Natasha and I are going to see his parents and propose a little deal.

3. Tomorrow we will be out to Iskra, the home for disabled men and Kemin, the home for homeless/abandoned seniors. We will be together with most of our LAMb team who are the nationals here on the ground AND WITH ABOUT 50 LARGE WATERMELONS!!!! JUST IMAGINE THAT ROLLY POLLY VAN! We are so excited.

4. Got some more good news - hopefully the ministry will help us in renovating the kitchen for the men...we have one gift, but need about $5000 more to do the job.

5. And some more good news - the funds have arrived for the floor in the dining room at the men's home. Remember - a former director literally ruined a perfectly good floor - ripping up stone tiles and piling them up - for what purpose? That left a very uneven and dangerous floor. Such a dreadful situation....but soon to changed thanks to a wondeful donor!!!!

6. I will be doing a journal with lots of information - if you are not on the journal - let our partner know: lambinternationalusa@gmail.com

7. International Adoption continues to be a challenge here - had a long and very clarifying talk with the Minister today. It is not going to be resolved soon. At lease not as soon as we all so desperately want. 65 children remain in Kyrgyzstan who have been matched with parents in the US. It is a burden of waiting they have carried for going on three years. The children in the meantime are growing up in orphanages. Please pray for a resolution that brings these children home to their parents.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER - PLEASE JOIN US FOR A WORLD WITHOUT ORPHANS!

WE CAN DO THIS...

KYRGYZSTAN IN THE MORNING....

The LAMb retreat -- a true Kyrgyz style shasleke evening!

There has been too much time that has passed - so much has happened since our last post.

CANADA
Then we had the LAMb retreat. It was held at our cottage on Round Lake just outside of Havelock, Ontario. It was a time of planning for the future - of visiting our vision and mission. We praised God for what He has done and what is to come. We are all excited about the future and are just waiting for what God has in store for our team.


UKRAINE
Lynn and I were in Ukraine with our partner and friend Judy Rycus. We had a board meeting for ILDC - Ukraine. It was very good. Our team there is working hard to make a difference.
Judy received some very deserved rewards for her contribution to Child Welfare in Ukraine. Judy is one of the co-authors of the Field Guide to Child Welfare. It is fully translated into Russian and has been widly distributed in Ukraine as well as in Kyrgyzstan. In fact we are printing 1500 more copies for distribution right now. There are four books - so figure that out - 1500 X 4. WOW! That is a lot of printing.



KYRGYZSTAN
Ruby is heading there alone. There is much to do...training child welfare leaders, getting the new papers signed for Dayspring with the NEW Tokmok mayor, the NEW department in charge of the placement of children in our city and hopefully ending the long journey of bringing children to Dayspring. The government changed, city leadership changed and that changed everything for us too. Don't you just love bureauracy?




So much more to do as well - the journey to find Slavik will continue. (See the blot from the Wrights for the full story. actofkindness.blogspot.com) Slavik was sold to work and sent to Kazakhastan. He had previously lived at the Tokmok Home in Tokmok - a Mercy Foundation orphanage. He then went to his grandmothers, who had a stroke and sent him to live with relatives. It seems he was sold to a person for about $20. He is 11. OUr team know him well. We cannot just accept this - we MUST do all we can to bring him back to Kyrgyzstan and care for him. Pray please for Slavik.

Heading out to our dear seniors, visiting the Iskra home for disabled men, visiting an orphanage and checingk on countless others. The days will go all too fast.

SIBERIA
Then off to Siberia for a conference/dialogue on Child Welfare. We will be there with the Department of Justice from the US, our partners at IHS, Ron Hughes and Judy Rycus and with several other invited guests from APSAC. We are hoping that the sharing of ideas, we can be of service to our Russian colleagues. This dialogue is an invitation to share our work - our practices and our hopes for the future - A WORLD WITHOUT ORPHANS.

AND GEARING UP FOR A TEAM IN THE SPRING....ARE YOU INTERESTED? LET US KNOW WE NEED YOU TO JOIN US AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!