Stopping for the One in Front of You

I know many of the wonderful people with whom we serve get the same question we do. “With so many, many needs around you, how do you know who to help? You can’t help everyone.”

It is true. It is impossible to help everyone. Reading a book on the way here last March, I was struck by a statement - Stop for the one in front of you. This person serving in Africa learned that God would lead her to the one for whom she should stop.

While here, Lynn and Ruby met a number of people for whom they stopped. A few were homeless elderly. One family to whom they were especially drawn was a small family of three children living in difficult circumstances. They stopped.

Last week, we encountered a “stop for the one in front of you” moment. His name is Aziz. He is four years old and lives in a village about 30 minutes from here. We met him one day while visiting in the village. He looks just like our grandson did at four, with one exception – Aziz has cerebral palsy. We felt very impressed to connect with his mother and grandmother. We learned that up to that point, they had not had an official diagnosis and were struggling with getting him the help he needed.

This Wednesday, we were visiting in Bishkek with friends who we learned were planning a seminar for parents dealing with disabled children. Did we ever listen closely! Quite by “accident” we ran into the physical therapist at lunchtime who would be conducting the schedule seminar on Friday. We made a special trip to the village yesterday to invite the family and Aziz to the seminar where he would be evaluated.

This morning, David rode with the taxi driver to pick up the family and then on to Bishkek to the seminar. It was a very productive day for them as they learned what can be done for him and made connections with parents dealing with similar issues. We will continue to walk with them and finding out what financial support they will need to continue with the right treatment. The therapist was encouraging saying that if he received the therapy he needed, he would grow stronger and more independent.

Aziz spent most of the day with David (who he now calls “grandfather”), either walking around or sitting on his lap. Aziz was a bit frustrated because he talked non-stop to David in Russian, of course, and didn’t understand why David couldn’t talk back.

We truly believe this was a connection divinely arranged. We are praying for a miracle of strength for this precious child – the one for whom we believe we needed to stop.

Aziz had a great day playing with the children and did extremely well. He is a happy youngster, but without intervention, he faces a very diffcult future.

Aziz during his evaluation.

Every Where We Go, We Find Caring, Giving People

Just about an hour ago, we returned to our apartment after a very full day in the capital city. We visited an orphanage, a hospital, and a rehabilitation center for children who have been found on the street. We walk away from these places reminded again of the many caring people who step in to care for children in desperate circumstances. The remarkable thing about these places is that the people serving there are not doing it for a large salary – that just doesn’t exist. They do it because they feel a call to care, nurture and restore dignity to those children whose dignity has been robbed from them.


First Stop - The Hospital

About two weeks ago, David and one of our team partners met this young boy in the village. Through the generous gift of one of our friends, this young man will have surgery soon. It was supposed to be done this week, but he has a cold and the doctor wants to wait. We were thrilled to see his father with him at the hospital.

Second Stop - We spent a few moments at an orphanage this morning and met a wonderful doctor and caregivers. It was wonderful to see the children so well cared for.

Third Stop - A Rehab Center for Children Found on the Streets or in the Bazaar


We were gifted with a tour of this remarkable rehab center for children. This director and staff have created a loving, nurturing environment for these children and many are being successfully reunited with families over time. She has asked us to come to train her staff on child welfare issues. We plan to go on Monday to sit with her and discuss her training needs.

This youngster is one of the children living in the rehab center.

David with some of the children. The little boy in the right front, I think has found a new "grandfather." He wouldn't let go of David's hand.

We have enjoyed the presence of Alisha, a 17 year old from Ohio. She came to this country with a desire to see the birthplace of her little two year old adopted brother. Some of the things she saw and experienced today, I believe exceeded her expectations. She is not only just watching, but also participating. Barely off the plane on Sunday, she joined us in a ministry opportunity, singing and playing the guitar at a local organization. Tomorrow, she will join us on several stops of ministry, including doing a craft activity with children from a village. She will go home, I trust with rich memories of her time here.

Alisha with a new friend from the center. This place really touched her heart and as we were leaving, she said that she must come back before she returns home. We will go back on Monday with planned crafts for the children.

Alisha sharing in a guitar class for a local organization.

Tomorrow we met with a local administration. They have asked us to work with them in the creation of a foster care program. This will be small steps for this region as foster care as we know it, doesn’t exist in this central Asia country. Our hope is to be able to walk them through these early stages so when we do return later this year, we can build upon what they have done.

These weeks have gone so quickly, yet we feel there is much more to do before we head home. Each day brings a fresh new need to our eyes and our hope is to be able to touch some of them...the journey continues....

From the Youngest to the Oldest- They All Have a Story

As we end our sixth week here, I have looked back at the pictures of the people whose lives touched ours just this week. All of these special people have a story....some we know, some we are getting to know and others we hope to know. Whether we walk out of an orphanage or a viillage or a senior's home, the faces of the people we meet and talk with remain with us.

In the villages...

These precious twins live in a village where we visit weekly. This is the first time we have seen them. (Note to Julie - you will remember their mother from the village last summer. She was expecting and told no one in the village she was having twins! Were they surprised!)


This little one was waiting for her "Beannie Baby." Some of LAMb's friends sent them along with us to give to the children.

One of our team members brought crayons and markers for every family in this village. These little ones met us when we first arrived today (Friday)

We were visiting in another village when this little fellow caught our eye. David came and got me and said "I have found a little Micah." He looks just like our ten year grandson did six years ago. The only difference is that this little one can not walk without support. We will follow up his story to see if there is something we can do to assist the family.


These fine young boys greet us every week. Next week, I hope we can sit down with them and have a long conversation. It is hard to do that with 40 people and one translator.

In the capital city....

It is almost hard to remember which day of the week we stopped at one of the hospitals in the captial city to visit this fine young man. I think it was Wednesday. Anne, on the right, is Ruby's niece. Jenia is recovering from surgery.
Well over a year ago, the medical condition of Jenia was brought to the Johnston's attention. Because they followed through, this young man has had a life changing/saving surgery. He turns 17 soon and will be ready to move out of the orphanage where he currently lives.

With the seniors...

We have been able to visit almost weekly in the senior's home in a village a distance from our home. This home is for homeless senior citizens who have no place to go and no one to care. As David sat and talked with Tonya, I looked at her and thought so much of his mother and it broke my heart for this kind, gentle woman.

We have come to love Alexi (center left) and just met Colya this week. These men also live in the seniors home. We understand that Alexi beats everyone who comes in checkers and chess! Lynn Johnston is on the far left.

As this week closes, we are entering a transition time. Our team members, Lynn and Ruby and their niece, Anne, leave for America and Canada this weekend. It has been a very dynamic two months walking alongside of them and we will miss their presence, their energy and their absolute love for the people here. We have learned so very much from them and will never be able to repay what they have given to us and allowed us to do. In these blogs, we have captured only a small bit of what has been done in these two months.

Godspeed, Lynn, Ruby and Anne on your journey home....you have touched our lives in ways you will never know!

There is much work left to do for these remaining weeks....we have started our list of "must-do's" - like working at the orphanage on lifebooks with kids, meeting with social workers regarding foster care and lifebooks, counseling both adults and children (for David, he has folks waiting for him), visiting baby orphanages both locally and other places...and waiting on God to show us the next thing. We are excited as we contemplate the days ahead.

Historic Week for International Leadership and Development Center

This week marks an historical week for our organization – LAMb/ International Leadership and Development Center. Our team partners, Lynn and Ruby Johnston have been working in Ukraine for over six years training social workers and leaders. They have preserved through many challenges as they have offered training to government and non-governmental agencies in the area of child welfare. So many incredible doors have been opened to them and the impact is felt throughout this country.

This week, I have had the privilege of mentoring new national trainers who will now take responsibility for training other social workers and foster and adoptive families. One of the goals of ILDC is to work themselves out of a job, so to speak. ILDC desires to train those within the country who can then build on that foundation. This week, we pass the torch of training family finders to those who will help to build a solid foster care system in this country.

I have found these wonderful people to be so creative, delightful and eager to learn. I have learned so very much from them.

Pictures from the training room....awesome people doing incredible work in Ukraine

Preaching and teaching in Ukraine

David's week has been full of training and teaching as well. He talked each morning to the staff at Father's House, preached Tuesday night and trained Thursday and Friday with Lynn on leadership.

Tuesday night at the sister church of Savlation Church of Kiev.

It is always wonderful to see so many young people and families.

This week and a young boy's journey continues...

We are really enjoying our time in Ukraine with the wonderful people here. David has spoken to the staff of Father's House each morning, is preaching tonight and Thursday and Friday, David and Lynn will hold a leadership seminar. Ruby's week has been full of training new trainers. The goal of our organization, International Leadership and Development Center, is to train nationals to carry on. We fade as they rise.

Both David and I commented this morning that the people of Kyrgyzstan and our life there is never far from our thoughts. We are actually a tad homesick for there. While checking out John's blog, we found a beautiful update on the little boy who now has been operated on. We will continue to follow the story and hope you will, too. See actofkindness.blogspot.com

The next picture you will see of this little fellow will be a smile restored.

Follow the Journey with Our Partners

Every day, we visit the blog our our team partners....Lamb International and Possibilities International. We all share in these experiences together and you will see the joy of the journey.

We invite you to visit as well and mark as a "favorite" ....you will enjoy them!

lambinternational.blogspot.com

actofkindness.blogspot.com

A Buffet of Experiences

Right now, David, Lynn, Ruby and I are sitting in Father's House, a residential center in Kiev, Ukraine, getting ready for a full week of training. We temporarily left our friends in Kyrgyzstan just for this week.

I regretfully left the camera with all the pictures from last week at home in Tokmok, so I can not update the blog with pictures. It was quite a buffet of life experiences last week. For David it was a week of ministering in a village, at the home for invalid men, teaching at the Professional Institute and Mercy Foundation. I had the privilege of sharing the training room with Ruby as we trained social workers who will be be recruiting and training future foster families. This was a first for the country of Krygyzstan. We are excited for the open doors.

More from Ukraine as we begin the week tomorrow.....the journey continues....