EVERY CHILD DESERVES A FAMILY

THE BILLBOARD IS UP AND READY FOR CHILDREN'S DAY! We received word from our team member Jayne that the billboard is up today. She sent these pictures and we are so thrilled to see the results.

As you recall this was a decision made with the Tokmok Social Service Department - that we would create a billboard to celebrate Children's Day. We also knew it was a chance to promote our dreams to the community - Children Deserve Families. So, this billboard reads at the top:

Kyrgyzstan's Most Precious Treasure - Its Children
At the bottom it reads:
Every Child Deserves a Family

Sponsored by: Tokmok Social Services, LAMb International and the Learning and Development Center
We consider this a real strong statement for the work of our team! Please be excited with us!

OUR BEGINNING IN UKRAINE

ED DICKSON IS BY ALL MEANS A MAN WHO UNDERSTANDS BRINGING HOPE AND DIGNITY to the masses. He is a mentor to many missionaries and is the reason we first entered the missionary work in Ukraine - by invitation of Ed. What a beginning and a journey as a result of our saying yes to this invitation. Ed is an amazing missionary - doing amazing things - being the mentor to many - even to people he does not know - but know of his work.

This video is a celebration of his values, his mentoring and his dreams. Let's work to partner with Loads of Love and show ED we all appreciate him. See his web site: www.loadsoflove.ca and punch in Ed Dickson Ministry. You will be blessed by blessing ED.

thanks so much.... The LAMb Team

UKRAINE TEAM TRAVELS TO THE USA - BRINGING AWARENESS TO THE NEEDS OF MANY

OUR TEAM IS HERE IN THE USA - MAX AND OLEG ARE WORKING HARD...they have met with many - been as far South as Alabama, as far North as Minnesota, as far East as North Carolina and as far West as Ohio. Hundreds of miles have been covered and many of you - our supporters have hosted our team, giving them a chance to share the needs of Ukraine with you. Thank you so very much.

We are all meeting here in Cleveland, Ohio tomorrow - there will be lots of meetings and lots of "hope" going forth to find partners in the work of building families in Ukraine. Stay tuned for the final report at the end of the time for the team in the USA.

Next week completes the journey of this team. We are ready for a good report and for the "flood gates" of resources to open for the work of ILDC in Ukraine. Touching lives of many in our Adopt Ukraine project, the training being offered to nationals to help them work with families in crisis, the materials we deliver to many to ensure they have solid "best practice" information - all lead to strengthening families and ensuring children live with parents not staff.

Our team works hard to meet the needs of leaders in churches, schools, orphanages, and even government offices. They are committed to bringing the best available information and resources to those working directly with families and children.

We head to Ukraine in just a few weeks and will be workng on our next steps to increase the national adoptions - Adopt Ukraine will grow this year. More children will be matched with families and fewer children will be living in orphanages.

Oh - yes you know the theme - it is the one we carry deep in our hearts - UKRAINE WITHOUT ORPHANS. And this is not just a dream - it is a passion - a vision - a goal - and YOU CAN JOIN THE TEAM TO HELP.

ADOPT UKRAINE NEEDS YOU TO SPONSOR THE WORK.....YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE - JOIN THE MOVEMENT. Consider hitting the donate button for this team effort. UKRAINE NEEDS YOU TOO.

CHILDREN'S DAY - JUNE 1 IN KYRGYZSTAN

EXCITEMENT BUILDS FOR CHILDREN'S DAY IN KYRGYZSTAN

We cannot tell you how important this day is in Kyrgyzstan. It is a day the children look forward to - yet some children just wait and nothing happens. We cannot touch every child in the country - but we can do something for some. Right now Jayne and David are working to carry out the celebration for our little friends at the orphanage in Tokmok. We have combined funds from you - our sponsors and have enough to bring a wonderful meal/celebration to this orphanage - STAY TUNED FOR THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT OUR TEAM WILL REPORT.

BREAKING NEWS - A BANNER TO CELEBRATE FAMILIES - SAYING - "ALL CHILDREN DESERVE A FAMILY". Before we left - we talked with Social Services about the possibility of putting a banner (a billboard) up that celebrated children and families. Social Services loved the idea and the banner is being designed right now by Jayne and Natasha. We will place it in a very busy intersection of Tokmok - high on a billboard and it will be there for Children's Day. STAY TUNED FOR THESE PICTURES.

When we leave the country - things DO NOT STOP. We have a great team on the ground. Yet, one by one we leave for a time. But there are many nationals in Tokmok who pick up the tasks and continue the work. In fact LAMb International now has 10 national staff - all paid to continue the work in carrying out the purpose of LAMb. Let me recap the team of NATIONALS and their talents of our FULL TIME STAFF.....

Natasha - our Country Director
Zukrah - assistant to our Country Director
Acel - our family resource parent for Dayspring
Madlin- our child advocate for Dayspring
Larissa - our project manager and liaison with Iskra Men's Home
Emma - our life skill specialist for Dayspring

Part Time Staff:
Tanya #1 - our coordinator for our on the ground expenses
Ludmilla - our bookkeeper who keeps us straight
Gulmira - our helper at Dayspring
Tanya #2 - our helper for English Classes at Iskra

SO THE WORK NEVER ENDS AND THE ABSENCE OF OUR TEAM IS JUST A PHYSICAL PRESENCE GONE - THE WORK CONTINUES....
DAVID AND JAYNE LEAVE NEXT - THEN THE WRIGHTS. YET, RUBY WILL BE RETURNING IN JULY FOR A SHORT TIME.

FOR NOW - IT IS GEARING UP FOR CHILDREN'S DAY - JUNE 1, 2011. STAY TUNED

WHEN HELPING SOMEONE BRING DIGNITY

THE HIGH MOMENT WAS THE VISIT TO JESSICA'S FAMILY

We  have talked about this family many times on the blog.  They are very near and dear to our hearts.  Over the years we have watched them grow and become stronger and stronger.  About a year and half ago we asked the father, Ooomogon if we might help him get into a rehabilitation center for his drinking issues.  He said that was not necessary, for when he worked he never drank.  He only drinks when he cannot find work - he just gets depressed.  And his work?  He knows construction.  So this time here there have been lots of renovation projects going on with our team member John Wright.  We have always used the construction skills of a local man by the name of Vlady.  And this time Valdy needed help - enter Ooomogon.  We have watched him help us when a recent team did some renovations on his apartment and he seemed skilled.  The result is fabulous - he is working on John's projects and - Vlady says he is a GREAT worker and really likes him.

 

Today  I visited Inura and Ooomogon to tell them we have a sponsor for their son's operation - he has a very strange growth on his knee.  ( Little Maglin is in the picture with his mother Inura and Ooomogon is in the picture fixing his new furnace for his home.)  Dad was busy at work today at home.  Since he has a job and income, he has taken on doing more renovations in the apartment.  He has not asked for a thing - he is working as he makes money.  Today it was such a joy to visit this family.  Father working, as he has two days off; mother visiting with her sister and five little children running around - gladly taking the bananas we gave them and having a little treat and laugh.  It was a happy moment - one that truly shows how helping can make a difference in such a good way.  Dignity and joy was evident in this family.  Father gave me a big hug and kiss on the cheek, mother hugged and hugged.  Little ones - grabbed my hand. 

 

And tomorrow - you can be assured that mother will meet me at church and her little daughter will be with her - Myleta - and what will she do?  She will come straight to me to sit on my lap.  Yes, this is a good thing.

 

And, this was the high moment of my day.  What a blessing to seen WHEN HELPING BRINGS DIGNITY TO A FAMILY.

 

 

--

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.

                                                                                by Robert Louis Stevenson

 

LIFE IN KYRGYZSTAN

BECAUSE YOU ASKED...

 

We are often asked, what is life like in Kyrgyzstan.  We blog different things to keep you in the know, but there are some things that just don't get communicated well.  For example, costs of things are so extreme.  You can purchase a tea kettle like the beautiful one pictured for about $5.00.  Yet, you never know if it will be good or not so good.  In the case of this tea kettle - both John and Lynn purchased one the same day - exactly alike.  One for Julie and one for me.  Beautiful we thought - wow stainless steel.  Well, maybe not so.  Maybe some sort of plastic?  At any rate - early this morning I got a call - "TOSS OUT THE TEA KETTLE IMMEDIATELY!"  It was our good friend John, and it seems his own tea kettle decided it had worked for two weeks and that was long enough.  It rebelled by bursting into flames - (see the picture of John's kettle).  Well, it was an easy decision - toss out the kettle - and go back to the gas stove and a pan!  This is Kyrgyzstan after all.

 

Then later in the day, I heard a knock on the door.  It was my neighbor wanting 20com - she was collecting from each apartment dweller - 12 apartments in all.  20 coms each.  Seems she hired someone to cut the shrubs - 2 men taking all day for just 240coms!  Can you imagine - Well, you likely cannot - unless you understand 20coms = about 40cents.  Yes that is right 40cents.  Meaning these two men worked all day - and very hard for just $4.80.  See pictures - and this was done by hand - no electric clippers here!

 

And the final part of the story - to live here is very hard.   Food is extremely expensive here and costs almost the same as in North America.  Our little babushkas living around us make about $27 US per month pension.  A large bag of rice can cost that much. 

 

So in spite of the tea kettle - we are blessed beyond our understanding to be in this beautiful country with these beautiful people.  Just thought you might like to know some of the realities of life in Kyrgyzstan.

 

--

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.

                                                                                by Robert Louis Stevenson

 

LEAVING KYRGYZSTAN - NEVER A GOOD TIME

IT NEVER FAILS - THERE IS AN ARRIVAL DATE AND THERE IS A DEPARTURE DATE - 

YET THE LIGHT NEVER GOES OUT!

 

Lynn has already departed for home and actually has arrived back into Barrie - now already into the routine of Canadian life.  I am still in Kyrgyzstan and will be departing on Tuesday.  I have the calendar filled in for returns to Ukraine, and to here in Kyrgyzstan. I have dates full of training in Ohio, New Hampshire.  There are calendar dates with the LAMb retreat, family visits and even bookings far into 2012.  Each has an arrival date and each has a departure date.

 

Yet, here I sit - most times not knowing if I am leaving home or going home.  Interesting - it is the same for Ukraine.  When living between several different worlds, your perspective changes, your values get challenged, you find new cultural norms creeping in and life just gets to be somewhat "weird." Yet - both Lynn and I know we were made for a time such as this.  And we are carrying out what we believe is the purpose for our lives.

 

Today was good - planning and completing things - crossing new bridges and opening new doors.  We tell everyone here we just want to serve - and "how can we help you?"  Some receive this question with tears, others with joy and others with disbelief.  Yet the question remains - and the goal remains.  We are all here to do just one thing - to serve.  Today was such a reminder of this for me - as we were busy closing down activities, meeting and saying good bye to our friends and contacts.  It was a day of highs and lows.  Challenges and victories.

 

I am not free to share all the details, but just know - that you -  our supporters are so appreciated.  In the darkest moments of the night - which sometimes come in the middle of the day - I close my eyes and remember words of encouragement and words of support.  Thank you all so much.

 

Tomorrow - we will be dealing with some very important details for Dayspring - Saturday meetings, some coaching with an individual, and preparations for leaving.  Sunday church, spending Family Day with an orphanage, and birthday parties in the eveing.  Monday - back to Bishkek to finish up some work for Dayspring, big staff and team meeting if possible and packing.  Time has moved quickly - and there is yet so much more to do.  There are so many unmet needs - the seniors, the disabled men, the children at the orphanages, the families we help, on and on.  Today when checking with our team member to do some planning for the Fall - she just said - seems we all have so  many different directions we are all going in - so true. The team has made a mark - now working hard in lots of directions to make a difference.  

 

AND WE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU - THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH 
--

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.

                                                                                by Robert Louis Stevenson