PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER....KEEP MOVING AND SHARING THE GOOD STUFF

Nickolaev Without Orphans
This Ukraine city has broken wide open.  Today, several hundred people joined together to discuss the movement
to see the region without orphans.  We did two training events at the conference in the area of Trauma.
The local authorities announced the issue of orphans needing families is huge in the region.
One major problem is the absence of fathers in the home.

 The Movement Continues...

Children waiting for homes...

Our translator Sveta.  She is an agriculture expert and a great translator.  What a joy to have
her with us to make this meaningful to the participants.  Just checking the conference
schedule here.

Before Nickolaev - we were in Kherson...great groups there too!

UPCOMING EVENT AND OPPORTUNITY TO HELP.....

LAMb International is getting ready to help sponsor a summer camp in Kyrgyzstan for 50 children.  We plan to join together with two missionaries there to conduct this camp for orphans and crisis family children.  We anticipate the camp to cost about $3000 - with no cost to families, orphanages, or others.  We believe there are donors wanting to do this.  Please pray and consider helping us conduct this five day camp!  Think about this - 50 children for $3000 for five days!  THAT IS $60 FOR THE ENTIRE FIVE DAYS FOR EACH CHILD.  A pretty good deal, wouldn't you say?

And this event will give them a life time of memories!  Good ones!

How about sponsoring even just one child?  Let us know - time is now for the planning.

NICKOLAEV, UKRAINE WITHOUT ORPHANS

The conference begins today....one more motivated city!   Yesterday we were reminded of the impact of how training can make a difference!

She is four years old, she has HIV - Aids.  She is an orphan.  She was taken to visit a prospective family, one that has been committed to learning about orphans.  We know this family well thought the many Trainings they have attended with us.  They listened once again to her needs, her story and accepted her into their family.  One more little child, fragile, and now safe.

This has been a 12 day in a row training marathon....over 200 people trained and excited to make a difference in the lives ov vulnerable children.  Carrying out the challenge.....Ephesians 4:12...."...to activate and equip....."

Keeping the faith....Ukraine Without Orphans!

POSITIVE INTERACTION CYCLE FOR CHILDREN

Training is a catalyst to change.  Each time we step up to the training platform, we are reminded of how important information, knowledge and skill transfer is to those attending.  In addition, we process over and over again the meaning of the learning and ask ourselves critical questions.   What if I had know this 20 years ago?  How might I have used this to help my children and taught them how loved they really are?  Oh they hear this from us and have for years.  Yet we look back and see how even this one little intervention is so awesome and could have even strengthened our own relationships with our children.  This intervention is simple, yet very powerful!

The Positive Interaction Cycle was developed by Vera Fahlberg in 1991 is a great tool for all parents.  The parent pours affirmations into the child:  "Great to have you home early today.", "You are are really showing respect."  "I see you have all your homework done, great job!"

When the parents gives the child affirmations, the child is receiving messages that they are precious to the parent.  When the interaction takes place, the child experiences positives from mother and father and the parents are expecting nothing from the child in return.  The parent smiles, coos, and in general provides both verbal and non-verbal signals to the child that they are loved and cared for.

According to an article in Working With Bereaved Children: A Guide (www.essex.ac.uk), this style of psychological and social interaction is thought to contribute more to attachment than responses to the child's physical needs.  The more social interactions an adult has with a child, the more likely it is that an attachment will form, and the more loveable the child feels.  This is important to the building of a child's self-esteem - the important factor in resilience.

AND JUST THINK WHAT THIS MIGHT DO IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD THAT HAS EXPERIENCED TRAUMA!

Just a few thought from LAMb for the day.

SIMFEROPLE TO BUDAPEST - PREPARING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

FAITH IS MOVING WHEN TOLD TO MOVE AND NOT ALWAYS KNOWING WHAT THAT MEANS - NOAH GOT INTO THE BOAT - PETER GOT OUT!

OLGA is in Budapest, Hungary.  She is our Residential Director in Kyrgyzstan.  Why is she there?  

1.  Learning how to work with children who have disabilities.  This is additional preparation for our DISCOVERY PROJECT.  First step was to send Larissa and Tanya to Alaska, and for them to return to begin training others in the home for men with disabilities.  

2.  This will expand our capacity in the country to work with families, seniors and children where disabilities exist.

3.  We are preparing to start interviews for a couple of additional people wanting to become volunteers and work with us in our projects, and to go forth to Alaska and learn.  Larissa and Olga will begin interviews once she returns from her studies in Budapest.

4.  This was a FULL SCHOLARSHIP training that was applied for and received to have Olga attend this training.  Tuition, travel - everything was covered.  What a blessing.

Budapest - Olga's training time.

The puppies are growing....

LYNN AND RUBY headed to Simferople to start the marathon of training on Trauma.  Amazing picture out the window near the destination - poppy fields galore!  Oh what a beautiful sight.

14 hour train trek...

With about 200#'s of luggage!  And Lynn found a place for each bag in our compartment on the train!

Training update:
Group 1 - Kiev - 14 participants - Leadership - two days.
Group 2 - Simferople - 26 participants (foster parents and orphanage staff) - Trauma - two days.
Group 3 - Kherson - 51 participants (foster parents and orphanage staff) - Trauma 2 days.
Group 4 - Nickolaev - 16 participants (foster parents) - Trauma 1 day
Group 5 - Nickolaev - 48 participants (social workers) Trauma 1 day

To come:  Kherson with social workers, Parents, Conference - Nickolaev Without Orphans and then back to Kiev for an all day team meeting with our Ukraine staff.

BACK IN KYRGYZTAN:

1.  Life Skill Classes continue with great success.
2.  Staff are preparing for the summer camp we are helping with.
3.  Work continues with those youth preparing to graduate this June from the local state orphanage.
4.  Cell Group at Jeremiah House continues.
5.  Volunteer program is being refined.
6.  Work with the local church will be continued to bring a stronger involvement with orphans.
7.  Developing a plan  to bring a mentorship program to Kyrgyzstan from Ukraine - one that will bring mentors one to one with children in the orphanage.

AND IN UKRAINE:
1.  This Thursday and Friday - we are conducting a conference on Child Sexual Abuse.
2.  Pastor David and Jayne arrive on Saturday to begin working with our ILDC trainers to prepare them to conduct training in the area of Trauma.  The will then go on to Poland to do training on Trauma.
3.  Working with Alliance Ukraine Without Orphans and with leader - Ruslan to define potential impact activities for World Without Orphans in Thailand where he will be in October.

We thank our team for their hard work and dedication to carrying out the defining scripture of LAMb - Ephesians 4:12 ."..to activate and equip...."

AND TO END OUR LITTLE UPDATE:
"Some risk like Noah and get into the boat - some risk like Peter and get out of the boat.  Both are faith and you just need to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to know what you are to do - THEN move!'

(Thank you Carla Rogler for the foundation of the above statement!)

TEACHING CAREGIVERS AND PARENTS TO HELP CHILDREN LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES

This is an amazing video.  It tells the story of why LAMb International does training!  You might have asked that question.  Well, here is one of the reasons.

Today and for the next week and half - we are working with social workers, adoptive parents and other caregivers here in Ukraine to build capacity in their knowledge and skills in working with children who have suffered trauma.  Just think...teaching adults to better care for their own children in their own country who have experienced many different kinds of abuse, neglect, loss and stress.

Today, she said, "my team said I do things differently since I started this training!"  Wahoo.  This is music to our ears.

Thank you Lisa for finding this video and bringing it to our attention!

Join us friends -  share this blog and this video!

The LAMb Team

UPDATE 2013

Dear Supporters,

We are so pleased to see the direction of LAMb Canada for 2013 - 2014. We have made some major changes that are leading us to our goal - we want to be a full member of the organization CANADIAN COUNCIL OF CHRISTIAN CHARITIES (CCCC).  This organization is a strong organization that works with charities to ensure best practice in compliance and accounting that meets and exceeds the requirements of the Canadian Revenue Agency.  We are getting closer.

We have hired a new accountant who has been working with us now for the second year.  In January, she also directed us to a new firm and  bookkeeper who has set up a completely new system of bookkeeping and accounting.  We hired this firm and are so very pleased with the work.

One suggestion of the new firm was to develop a new Chart of Accounts, in which they gave us the categories recommended after reviewing our work and scope.  We have done this.  So, now we have 6 Categories for accounting:  General Fund, Missionary Specific, Special Projects, Leadership and Development, Barnabas Group and Sponsorship.  This chart of accounts now appears on our Canada Helps donation site and will be used for designation purposes.

At the April 17th Board of Directors Meeting, the board approved these accounts and requested they be implemented on the Canada Helps site right away.  Done.  In addition, the board approved that all donations of cash and check made to LAMb International would now be receipted annually and in the mail by the 28th of February each year.

We are pleased with the growth of LAMb International, with the work of our board and the new direction toward the CCCC.

For our  USA Charity of LAMb USA, we have applied for membership in a similiar organization:  Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).  ECFA is an accreditation agency dedicated to helping Christian ministries earn the public’s trust through adherence to Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship™, which focus on board governance, financial transparency, integrity in fundraising, and proper use of charity resources.

We thank you for your support and prayers as we continue to grow as a new charity,

The LAMb Team

TRAUMA COMPETENT HEALING HOMES - ONE FAMILY AT A TIME!

TRAUMA COMPETENT HEALING HOMES

Heading to Ukraine on Saturday.  Lynn and I will be conducting training in the area of Trauma.  

Over the years it has become more and more apparent that children who have been adopted from the orphanages have experienced trauma that impacts their lives dramatically.  When families and/or caregivers live with children who have been victims of trauma, it can be both challenging and confusing.  What do I do?  What does this mean?  Can I help?  Many questions surface.

But there is HELP.  The work of many experts have surfaced strong, effective approaches to children and their pain.  We are honored to be able to share this with our families in the countries where we are working.  The goal of course is to help parents and caregivers become Trauma Competent Healing Homes...

Our team members Pastor David and Jayne Schooler have worked tirelessly to pull together quality tools that can be used in training.  We are blessed to have the permission of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and Dr. Karen Purvis to use materials and publications that will support these training efforts we put fort.

Saturday we leave to deliver training to Christian adoptive parents and caregivers in Ukraine.  Here is our schedule.

UKRAINE

May 19 - arrive Kiev

May 22-23 – Crimea - TRAUMA

May 24-25 – Kherson  - TRAUMA

May 26-27 – Nikolaev - TRAUMA

May 28-29 – Kherson – TRAUMA

May 30 – back in Nikolaev to be presenters on the conference Nikolaev Without Orphans – ABOUT TRAUMA

June 1-3  Kiev to work with ILDC Staff

Following our time in Ukraine - Jayne and David will arrive in Ukraine - working with prospective trainers - helping them prepare to conduct the trainings in Trauma we conduct.  It is yet another way to ensure we build capacity in the country - where they are NOT dependent upon foreign workers.

Jayne and David will then head on to Poland to deliver training in the area of Trauma Competent Healing Homes (Caregivers). 

We are most grateful to Orphan Promise and My Home for making much of this possible! 

LIVING TO LEARN - LEARNING TO LIVE

LIFE SKILLS AND LEARNING TO SERVE 

JEREMIAH PROJECT - youth who will be graduating from a local orphanage.  Kosta is conducting a "help session" with the youth.  Each of these youth will be leaving the orphanage next month.  Where will they go?  Who will help them.  We pray Jeremiah Project can be a help to each of them.

LIFE SKILLS AT RED RIVER ORPHANAGE - This training is weekly.  There are 10 youth and they are very happy and excited to be involved with the program.  Here, Katya, our team member works with youth on "manners."

LIFE SKILL PROJECT AT RED RIVER ORPHANAGE -We pray the pilot goes well.  As after this pilot we will evaluate and if all is successful, these youth will continue with the training and there will be another group started.  We have two great team members working here - Katya and Ira.  Please continue to pray for this great program.

RED RIVER ORPHANAGE - HAPPY FACES
LIFE SKILLS TRAINING GROUP

DAYSPRING LIFE SKILLS - we decided that the children needed to learn about money.  They get NO money in their hands, so we decided to give them a monthly allowance.  Here they are holding 100 coms (about $2.00).  They will learn to put 10% into a giving jar; 10% to save; 10% to put aside for needs and 70% for their use.  Both Jeremiah House and Dayspring will now be receiving an allowance to learn how to budget.

KEMIN SENIOR HOME - The Dayspring Family went to the senior home to perform for them for an Easter program.  They shared God, and here they are praying for the seniors.  Again, teaching them to serve, another Life Skill outreach.

DAYSPRING AND JEREMIAH HOUSE GARDENS - The children will learn to plant, care for and harvest their own gardens.  Life Skills being learned - how to grow your own food.

UPDATE....

We have been away from the internet for some time.  After losing our co-founder Don, we focused back into family and friends as we said good bye to our dear brother and team member.  

And today, we return to share the joy of what is continuing on in Kyrgyzstan.  Our team on the ground there is doing awesome work - teaching and equipping our young people for the future.  Let's update some other wonderful news:

1.  Through the efforts of our team members David and Jayne Schooler, we will be sending four people to Texas this fall to be trained in TBRI (Trust Based Relational Interventions).  This training will prepare our four people to become trainers for us in the area of Trauma.  We are sending three persons from Ukraine and one from Kyrgyzstan.  This is a miracle in accomplishment.  

a)  4 full scholarships - worth $10,000.

b)  4 fully paid airline tickets - worth - $5,000

c)  housing for all four from families in the area of the training

d)  showing the Stuck film to raise funds for their food and on the ground expenses

2.  DISCOVERY PROJECT - Olga (our staff) from Kyrgyzstan received a full scholarship to attend a training in Hungary at the end of the month.  She will be going there to learn more about working with children who have disabilities.  This will be a strong foundation to our program in Kyrgyzstan called Discovery.  She will return to do training and support groups for families who have children with disabilities.   In addition, we will use her new learning in our Life Skill program and in our work with the different orphanages where there are children with disabilities.  FULLY FUNDED - worth over $3500.  Grant from organization doing the training...Olga applied for this and was awarded the grant!

3.  UKRAINE - Lynn and Ruby are leaving for Ukraine on May 18th - they will be training in the area of Trauma with Ukraine Christian families who have adopted, working with two different agencies - My Home and Agape.  Training will be conducted in three different locations.

4.  Jayne and David will be heading to Poland in June to conduct training in the area of Trauma.  They will also be doing the same training in Ukraine, working with our prospective trainers in Kiev.

MORE UPDATES TO COME:  BARNABAS GROUP is on the move too.  

HE WALKS WITH THE LORD

DONALD BUCHMAN

A MAN OF GOD - WENT HOME TO WALK WITH THE LORD ON MAY 3, 2013

Our hearts are heavy today, as our team - our family are grieving the loss of Don.  Our earthly hearts rejoice at the same time - knowing his healing is full and complete.  He no longer is restricted, as he has complete freedom in walking with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Don was instrumental in the founding of LAMb International.  He moved on to be the foundation of the legal work, the documentation, editing, and carrying out the role of President of LAMb USA.  He carried out duties of leadership, guidance and development.  Together with Johanna, the USA team moved the ministry of LAMb from 2002 to the present.

After an accident left Don with quadriplegia, he moved on in life to serve in ways that touched many.  With numerous hospital stays, his life became a witness to others of how God restores everything - even in the midst of what man may say is a tragedy.  He was a man of God, a teacher, a trainer, a counsellor, a mentor, a coach, a writer, the head of his family, a brother, a role-model, a sports fan, a father, grandfather and husband.

Johanna, Don's wife has walked side-by-side in the ministry of LAMb International with us.  Many times we four (Don, Johanna, Lynn and Ruby) have laughed and cried together at the honor it has been to be called to serve in His work...to be received into the family of God as missionaries.  We know we are such a "motley" crew.  Age, body limitations.  Yet all He really asked of Don was just to be obedient.

The obedience was given.  The race was run.  The journey completed.  And today Don's healing is complete.

Don - we your team - your family will miss your earthly presence and involvement with our team.  Yet your influence will never be far away.

LAMb International celebrates your life!