First Days in Central Asia

Many days when we were here before, we experienced all the emotions. Today was a stark reminder of those emotions we encountered when the depth of the need of people, the grave reality of their suffering is right in front of you.

We left our city and drove about 20 minutes to the town dump. This is a place where day after day, men, women and children come scouring the dump for anything that is edible or sellable. It was windy and slightly warm today, so you can imagine the smells that hit us as we stepped out of the car. The mission today was to join the Wright family and their friend Jodie, in delivering food bags to the families there. This was not just a one time event visiting these precious people, but one of many. The people there know Larisa, an on- the -ground agent of Possibilities International and know she represents many people who care about them.

We arrived just as new loads of garbage were being dumped.

Men, women and children, truly struggling for daily survival comb through every load that comes in.

This young woman separated out what she wanted for the day. Each family creates their own daily stock pile.

Jodie, the young woman holding a box, left the area in tears.  She told me it would be hard for the women who attended her fund raising teas back home in Canada to truly understand what their gifts did today.

As we left, these people who have absolutely nothing blessed us, who have everything.  They praised God for His supplying their need. The young lady on the right led the group in a song.

More food drops
After leaving the dump area, we drove to visit families that have been aided by the work of Possibilities International PI (Wright’s organization). We met a young girl alone at home. Her mother was recently killed in a car accident and her brother had serious injury which required life restoring surgery. Her father was not at home, he was working. What seems insignificant to us – a large bag with oil, rice, potatoes, carrots, bananas, apples, sugar, pasta, tea – is of major significance to them.

This beautiful young lady, living out in a village with no running water, has a dream. She wants to go to school in the capital city. Our prayer is that her dream will be realized.  Larissa, who ministers all over these villages is on the right, John and Julie Wright on the left.

More of Larissa's families.

In a nearby village, we also stopped by to see our special friends, Maksat and Albeck. We first met them in the orphanage and now they live with family members. Both of their parents have died.  We have the privilage in the morning of taking them to the bazaar to buy clothes, shoes, jackets, shoes, etc. Because of our friends back home, we have the resources to do this.  THANKS, Parker and others!

David spent many hours talking with Maksat, on the left and they are special friends.

A Visit to a Special Child
Last spring, we were in a little village not far from where we lived. We met a beautiful family and especially their three year old son who had a severe cleft palette. Through the generous donation of friends of ours (thanks John and Robin) and others, this little one received the surgery that changed his life forever. Where once he was kept hidden by the family, he is now out in the village playing like the other children.

Before surgery - spring, 2009

Today, March 19, 2010 - I have never seen a more beautiful smile.

 
A Small Hospital
After leaving the village and little Arafat’s family, we stopped in to visit a small village hospital. We were greeted by a number of gracious doctors and nurses and given a tour of the facility. This small hospital cares for over 7,800 people in the surrounding villages. They have little resources, little medication and like so many places like this we visit, have no heat in the building.

This is the small hospital that serves 7,800 local villagers.

The staff greeted us warmly. Their jobs are overwhelming with so many needs and little if any resources to meet those needs.

This small heating stove does not even warm the room it is in, let alone the rest of the building.

Each Time It Gets Brighter
Our organization, LAMb International in a incredible partnership with PI, has been involved in the Home for Invalid men, a very difficult place to be. It is the home for over 200 men who are physically or mentally disabled. Once there, there is really no way out.

When we first went there now two years ago, it was a dark, damp and tremendously sad place. Overtime, as the time and finances of people have been put into this place, it gets brighter with each visit. The needs here like so much we see in this country are beyond our capacity to meet, so we simply believe God will send us to those He wants us to see and provide the resources to help in some small way.  We will write home about LAMb's involvement in this place we think of, not as a home for invalid men, but a Home of Hope.


Still a Bit of Jet Lag


We got home late this afternoon from the day’s activities, extremely tired, partially due to the jet lag. We are still on Ohio time, I think. Having rested now, we are getting ready for a very full weekend.

This is the weekend:

Saturday morning: Shopping at the bazaar with children from a local orphanage. These children will be picking out new clothes and shoes for the spring.

Saturday afternoon: Leave for another city two and a half hours away, where the children from the local orphanage have been moved. We spent a lot of time with these children over the last two years when they lived close by and are so looking forward to seeing them.

Saturday evening: Time at the orphanage with the children

Sunday morning: Church with the kids from the orphanage and lunch afterwards

Sunday afternoon: Bring the all the children (maybe 40) to the capital city for activities and eating out at a restaurant

Sunday evening: home and ready for a new week.

I think the journey has begun.  Thank you for caring.

To hear all that LAMb is doing both in Krygyzstan and Ukraine, visit our partners' blog:  lambinternational.blogspot.com