Our LAMb Team In Kyrgyzstan

Although we only had two and half weeks in country this time, I had many opportunities to spend quality time with the LAMb national team.  We were together a total of five times, planning for the future with some training mixed in.   I shared with them a key task and one core principle that we hope they will develop for the kids in Dayspring.

Key task: That they grow, study and learn what it means to be a trauma-competent healing presence in the life of the children of Dayspring. We spent a number of hours talking about what that meant and have a plan of study for them with materials that Ruby will be bringing next week.  They were so tuned in and enthusiastic about learning these new things.

The Core Principle:  Although there are, of course, many principles to be put in placed while dealing with a traumatized child, I asked the group to make this one their theme:  Connect before you correct.  This foundation concept from the work of Dr. Karyn Purvis is key to healing for a traumatized child.  We did several role plays to demonstrate what this means and I told them it would be a skill that would need development.   We will continue communicating with them while home, giving them assignments and discussion.

LAMb staff:  Larisa, Natlia, Madlin, Zuhar, Emma, Acel and baby Emma, of course.
We  were finishing up the renovation list for the Iskra men's home.

With little notice, we also were asked to train a group of social workers from Tokmok.  I was glad to do so and wondered how many of them I would remember. On Wednesday morning, we arrived at one of the government buildings to a room full and I recognized most of them.  One even asked me about how our dog was doing...because way back in the spring of 2008, I had mentioned to them I was concerned about him.  It was fun to reconnect with these folks and share with them some of the new things we have been researching and studying. They asked great questions and asked for more.

Part of the work LAMb does, and we share as part of the team, is training in the area of child welfare.  I really appreciated the opportunity to do that this month.

Winding Down and Heading Home

It is 8:30 pm and in about four hours the van will come to pick us up and take us to the airport.  Saying good-bye is always difficult and perhaps even more so this time.  We were much more personally involved in one-to-one conversations and ministry and felt deeply connected to many people - Mercy Foundation folks and the students. Also, we are uncertain as to when we will be back.  That makes saying good-bye a bit different this time.

However, I wanted to capture our last few days here so as to not forget them.

IUCA Students for Dinner
Celebrating a job well done, we had a number of the IUCA students over for dinner. What we were celebrating is the completion of their summer work in the US and how much they have learned and experienced.  Four of the young people worked in Alaska at a center for the developmentally disabled. Others worked in fast food restaurants, amusement parks and other opportunities. We are so proud of them for giving their best.

Aihan, (Ohio), Ulan, Eliza, Mahabat (Alaska), Daliya(Ill) and Altynai, (Alaska)....
most of them are planning a return trip next summer.

Genyia - my life can make a difference in someone else's
A number of our friends had the opportunity to meet both of the visiting students from Kyrgyzstan that were living in families on our area.   Genyia stayed the summer with John and Robin Wientge and family - neither party will ever be the same.

Last weekend we met Genyia in Bishkek.

We had the privilege of having lunch with Genyia when we first arrived. We talked with her about a number of things, but David asked her a very important question. "How do you see yourself as changed?  She answer, "I now understand that my life can make a difference in someone else's."  She told us that she wanted to do some volunteer work and of course, we were excited about that.  Today, she met us again to make a very important connection.

A Serious Conversation
Genyia had the opportunity to meet Christy Wall, who serves with a work to disabled children and families in this area of the country.  She works in orphanages, helps families parenting disabled children, works in a children's hospital..and much more.  She shared many opportunities with Geniya today.

Geniya looks extremely serious in this photo, but she is really excited about the many things
Christy shared with her .  As we left, we overhead them making plans to visit the
children's hospital after Geniya's classes on Tuesday.  
"My life can make a difference in another."   

We have been involved in some way in Kyrygzstan since the fall of 2007.  We love the people here and are committed to them.  We are looking to God for direction and how He desires to use the love He has put in us to serve these beautiful, warm and loving people of this hurting and broken country.

All in a Day

It is late Wednesday afternoon and in a few hours about 13 IUCA students will be coming for dinner.  However, I didn't want to let the events from yesterday slip by without recording them.

Mid-Morning Tuesday
Right after morning devotions at Mercy Foundation, the LAMb team went to the bazaar for a buying trip for the Men's Home and the Kemin Senior's Home....quick trip though the bazaar, a stop at the wholesale ice cream store for ice cream, and stopping back at the Foundation to pick up some more folks to go with us and off we went.

We arrived at the men's home to the always waiting crowd.  When I think of them waiting...it is all they have to do...waiting for someone to come to see them, to know that they are there.  As I looked around at the men there, what I really saw were little boys. Although their bodies grew, they remain little boys on the inside - stuck in what feels to us, a hopeless place.   There are many needs here and in a future blog I will share them. One of our translators told us yesterday that the men  are afraid that winter might come.   It was like they hoped there was a way to avoid that reality....Reality is that it will.   Two winters ago over 70 men died there from the cold (inside the building) and starvation.  They have no heat in their dining area..but that is another blog to come.

Here are the pictures from yesterday at the men's home....

The visiting crew - Mercy Foundation staff are seeing the men's home
as a ministry outreach.

 Ludmila is making her second delivery of over 1,000 eggs

Peaches, peaches and more peaches

Ice cream, ice cream and more ice cream

This gentleman is in charge of the art room where many projects are created
and sold to help  resupply the art room.
 This is part of LAMb's mission to restore dignity by rehabilitation and development.

After we finished delivery, we visited some of the project needs in the building, which we will talk about at a later time.

Off to the Senior's Home
LAMb has been involved in the senior's home from the very beginning and every time we visit there we see improvement. This home was established for homeless elderly.  It started with 8 grandmother and grandfathers and now is home to 25.  The greatest need here for them is coal for winter!

We lovingly now call Ludmilla the "egg lady" because she is on  a mission!
 She is bringing scores of eggs to the senior's home as well.
This is her first trip here, but I know won't be her last.

Visiting with Katya...

Lydia really misses Ruby..she asked for her.   A number of months ago, Lydia was able to return home to live with her only daughter. However, a number of weeks ago, her daughter died unexpectedly and she again was homeless.   She is also going blind....."please tell Ruby to come," she said.

Praying with Katya

Touring more renovation on the second floor....  

Stopping for tea before heading back to Tokmok.

A Wonderful Conclusion to the Day
Aihan, a student from IUCA, spent the summer in Waynesville with Ruby's sister, Caroline and her family.   We had the privilege last night of having dinner in her home. It was such an honor to be asked and it was a wonderful, wonderful dinner. Aihan and her mother gave us a tour of their spacious, beautiful home, garden and "mini" farm.   It was so special to us to see Aihan in her home as she has visited with us in America.

Aihan's mom prepared a wonderful meal for us.

Aihan and her mom....her brother wasn't home yet
and her younger sister is studying in Bishkek.

What a surprise and treasured gift!

Aibek came home after his football game for a quick dinner before taking us back to Tokmok.
 He is an incredible young man as well. 

Our very short 17 days here ends very early Saturday morning, but it has been a joy to be here...regretting that we are not staying longer this trip

What We See Almost Everyday

Almost every day we have been here this trip, we have been on the campus of the International University of Central Asia  (IUCA).  This infant university is transforming the lives of its students and we see it every day.  These dynamic young people have a dream to impact their country in their chosen professions. Most have the character and integrity to do just that.

But, also what we see most everyday is the nearly crippling financial need of most of the students.  Raising tuition $100 or $200 a year for us at home is really nothing, but raising it here could make the difference between a student even entering the university as costs rise. Just today, the student we sponsor wanted to go to Bishkek to a conference tomorrow, but literally didn't have the 100 soms ($2.00) need for transportation and lunch.  Of course, he is going tomorrow...we couldn't let him miss this opportunity.

David and I carry the deep concern for these precious young people. We don't have the knowledge or skill on how to help raise funds for scholarships, etc.  Our friend, John Wright has come up with a wonderful plan, and we want to help him get the word out, but feel so inadequate to do even that.

Let me briefly share what the plan is and it sounds so simple.  We need 20 churches across the world who would say..."we will support the scholarship fund for 12 students."  That would be $50 a month per student.   When he proposed that to us, it sounded perfect, but how do we even get that word out? 

Maybe some of you reading this have done something like this and can offer help and assistance to us.  John has created a wonderful website about the scholarship fund and students are pictured there.  Here is the website: http://www.iucascholarshipfund.com/

If you have ideas about how to help us get the word out...please let us know.  I just wish you could see what we see in the lives of these awesome young people.

Sunday's Happenings

Just like at home, we are "enjoying" near 100 degree temperatures...David's favorite thing...However, that didn't stop the activity for today, of course.

Whenever we go to the Chinese church, hear what we hear and experience what we do, we are reminded again of how big God is and just how many people He calls His own around the globe. Today, a beautiful group of students from Hong Kong shared in the services. They are here scouting out mission opportunities for themselves.

These young people have such a beautiful spirit and a desire to serve God.

After lunch, we went over to the Mercy Foundation gym for the afternoon teen and youth services.  David had an opportunity to share and also pray with many of the young people there.  It was so good to see the familiar faces of young people we know. Everyone of these young people have hopes and dreams for the future and it was wonderful to be able to speak life into them today

This young man and his family escaped the chaos and rioting in Osh  a year and a half ago
and are making a new life in Tokmok.

Many young people came forward to pray for loved ones, themselves, school..the list continued.

Couldn't help but get this picture....aren't they beautiful.

Our time here is quite different as there are no international team members here from LAMb, with the exception of Emma and we haven't seen her yet....and almost all of the administration of Mercy Foundation, including Elder Yang, the founder and John and Christa, left yesterday.   Our Natalia arrives home tomorrow from a vacation and we will be so glad to see her! The busy schedule begins tomorrow...

Getting Down to Business

After a two day postponement of our trip due to the hurricane, we arrived without incident on Wednesday morning. With only two and half short weeks here, we are busy right away.

The Board discusses the exciting things happening at IUCA
and the challenges ahead.

On Thursday, the International University of Central Asia Board met for their fall meeting. David is serving as chairman of the board and Ruby, although thousands of miles away and in the middle of the night, joined the meeting by Skype.

Classes have resumed on campus and it was wonderful to see so many of the returning students that we knew from last year.

We love IUCA and are committed to helping this most important institution grow and continue to transform the lives of students there.

Our Special Dear Friends at Mercy Foundation
This morning, we joined the staff at Mercy Foundation for their morning devotions.  We have grown to love these people over the 3.5 years we have been coming here and simply desire to support and encourage them. As we hear their stories, our hearts are broken for the tremendous struggles they have and the mountain of personal challenges they live through every day.  Please join us in praying for these precious folks. David has a very important role in ministering and counseling with a number of them.

Sharing together at morning devotions...

Up Next Week
As Lynn often says....it is too soon to know....and we are seeking God's direction for our time here...wanting to show up where He would have us be.  What we anticipate is that David will be extremely busy with the administration of IUCA, counseling Mercy Foundation folks, meeting with students with whom he worked with last week...and the list continues.   I plan to spend a lot of time with the LAMb staff here, meeting with Larisa to plan renovation projects for the men's home, visiting the senior's home and much is unknown.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and caring about the people for whom we also care very much!

Transforming a Life- Transforming a Generation

For the last three and a half years, we have been involved in the development of the International University of Central Asia in Tokmok, Kyrygzstan. It is an amazing place with the most amazing students and faculty. BUT, IUCA has a tremendous need. Before we share that, may I share a word from David, who is now the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of IUCA.


I was there before Mercy Foundation opened the academic doors the fall of 2008. It has been my privilege to not only teach several classes there, but, I have had the opportunity to come to know many of the students personally. They are incredible young people who are getting an education in order to change their lives, the lives of their families, and the condition of their country. A vast majority of them could not be there without outside financial help.


When I think of IUCA three words come to mind.

The first is TRANSFORMATIONAL. Students are not just getting an outstanding education, they are experiencing transformation of how they think, dream and hope. It is nothing short of a miracle.

The second word is UNIQUE. Most of the universities in Kyrgyzstan are located in the capitol of Bishkek which means that a lot of students cannot go due to finances and distances. Therefore, many of the villages and small towns are left out. IUCA is not in Bishkek, but it is in a smaller city about one hour’s drive. Most of our students come from villages and rural areas.

The third word is EXCELLENCE. Some of the finest administrators and faculty are gathered on the campus to provide competent, honest and challenging academics supported by a strong social and moral context. IUCA is truly one of a kind in Kyrgyzstan.
 I ask that you join me and my wife and a host of others to see to it that no student who wants not only an education, but a new life, is not turned away because of finances. Thank you.

DR. DAVID L. SCHOOLER


Chairman, Board of Trustees, International University of Central Asia


NOW THE NEED

This year IUCA will have hundreds of  students who require assistance. The brightest minds in the country, yet with out our help , they may not be able to complete their study. The problem is a big one... over two hundred thousand dollars BIG . But we have an idea ..
Did you know that if just 30 people around the world committed to find us just 12 sponsors of just $50 a month, we could guarantee that the doors of IUCA continue to be open to the least of these, for years to come....

If you are interested in being a LAMb sponsorship rep in your area, please contact  (John Wright) sunmasterjohn@aol.com or us jayeschooler@aol.com and we will send you everything that you need to make a real difference... video's, photo's, brochures and posters, even testimonials from current IUCA Students . Everything that you need to get started

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO BE ONE OF 30 PEOPLE TO FIND 12 SPONSORS?

YOUR HELP IN FINDING SPONSORS WILL TRANSFORM A LIFE AND A GENERATION!