Meeting New People

Last Friday turned out to be an amazing day of meeting new people in Bishkek, spending time with them and seeing how their lives touch and change others.

Before we even left Tokmok for the day's trip to the capital, David had already spoken at the Professional Institute,visited with the orphanage director at the Tokmok home and counseled one youngster there. While he was with them, Nastya, a young adult from the Foundation helped me with English classes. Then off to Bishkek...

After a meeting with the assistant to the Minister of Religion, which is a story for another day, we wanted to take our friend and Foundation attorney to lunch at a place called "Fat Boys."

Natalia, Jengish, Altynai and Ylan, far right, the Foundation attorney, enjoy ice cream after a great lunch. More about Jengish and Altynai below.

Jengish

Before they left, Bekah Wright, one of John's daughter had prepared a gift for a young man by the name of Jengish, and we delivered it. What we knew about the ministry of this incredible 25 year old expanded as we talked with him. He is currently with Teen Challenge and moving next week to work with Youth for a Mission. God has called him to one of the most difficult ministries there could be - ministering to the homeless. Jengish is the oldest of three boys and is responsible for the family. He is extremely proficient in English and a gifted photographer. He was asked by his mission organization to take a position as photographer for them, which would mean he could travel all over the world. He turned it down for two reasons - his ministry to the homeless here and his responsibility to his family.

We thoroughly enjoyed our conversation with this phenomenal young man. To learn more about his ministry, visit his blog - jengish.blogspot.com. You will be extremely touched by his pictures and ministry. He is responsible for raising his own support for his new ministry work with Youth for a Mission. Raising funds in this country is nearly impossible. If you are interested in how you could support this energetic young man with a bright future, let us know. We will send you to the right place to do so.

Altynai and Meeting the Brothertons

Altynai is a beautiful nineteen year old with a bright future. However, just months ago, her future looked grim. The Wright family met her and her brothers and sisters at the Orlovka orpahange, where they had moved after a very difficult family time.

Her story and her desire to go to college was posted on John's blog a few weeks ago and Jeff and Lisa Brotherton, adoptive parents coming here for their new daughter, felt called by God to help support her. Altynai registered last week as the first student to enroll at the new Professional Institute in Tokmok. She hopes to become a translator. In spite of her poor school attendance over the last few years, this remarkable young lady scored in the top 4% on standardized testing of graduating students for the entire country. Her entire school bill will cost about $1,400 a year...what a small price to pay for changing the course of a beautiful life. She is still in need of funds to complete the $1,400 bill for the 2008-09 school year.

Lisa Brotherton shares the story behind her gift to Altynai. The Brothertons are on their referral visit to meet their new 3 month old daughter at the Bishkek baby orphanage.

Jeff, Altynai and Lisa

Not only did we get to meet the Brothertons, but also Kimberly, (in the green) another excited adoptive mom on her first visit to meet her two -year-old daughter.

Meeting all of these wonderful people was a reminder to us that God has called out people from all over the world to meet the needs of the homeless and orphaned. The people we met on Friday are doing just that at great financial and emotional sacrifice to themselves. They would never call it that, but we know and we saw. What an encouragement to us to continue to see God at work through the lives of His people.

Thank you for taking the time to follow our journey...