Each Week New and Interesting Experiences

Every day is different. Our young translator, Natalia, I know would agree. Sometimes we plan - sometimes we plan and everything changes - sometimes we just show up and don't know even what we are doing!

This past week began with teaching and training. David entered his second week in teaching at the Foundation. He has been extremely busy with meetings as plans continue for the opening of the Professional Institute. He also has been doing personal counseling and prayer work with Foundation staff and Chinese church members.

On Tuesday, we started a seven week series training for area social workers and they were so excited. "We've never had anything like this before!" they told us. They asked us to move the room next week to accomodate more workers who didn't know about the opportunity. We will meet each Tuesday for three hours.

These social workers come from a nearby village. Valentina, on the right, wants to open a rehab center for abused and neglected children.

These social workers work in very difficult circumstances each week without many resources to support them.

One of our most favorite things each Tuesday is to have dinner at the Tokmok orphanage. This is Maksat. When we first met him, he had just arrived and was angry and combative. Now several weeks later, he has settled in. When we arrive he runs up for a hug or "high-five."

As we come home each evening we are greeted with many, many "hellos" by our little neighborhood friends. These children live in and around our apartment house.

A visit to the home for invalid men

Visiting a home such as this is a life experience no one can forget. There are approximately 200 men at this particular home with a variety of disabilities - some physical, other mental disabilities. A number of Christian people from Tokmok visit this home regularly. Larissa, who ministers in a nearby village also, is planning to put a craft room there so the residents will have at least one activity to do. To learn more of their needs, visit actofkindness.blogspot.com

This is Sergae. He is seventeen and deals with severe cerebral palsy. He will spend the rest of this life in this home. He was so apprectative of the bags of treats he received. It was so little for such overwhelming need.

This young man was part of a music group that came to perform for the residents.

A Visit to the City Dump

After we left the home for invalid men, we went to the city dump. Many families live near here and visit the dump regularly to find food to eat or items to sell. Today, thankfully, there were only a few families there. We brought food for ten families, which is usually what is there.

These three boys ran from us as we approached, but not before we were able to ask them about their "mama and papa." No "mama and papa" they said before they scaled up the hill of trash. The odor was indescribable as it is extremely hot now in Krygyzstan.


This picture was actually taken from a distance, but Julie was able to pull up the zoom on her camera. This beautiful young girl was hiding in the trash pile. She is one of the thousands of children abandoned or neglected in this country who need a child welfare system that can care for them and provide safe, clean, nurturing and loving care.

We had some exciting developments regarding training at the national level. As soon as I know more details and plans are more firmly made, I will share this incredible development!

The journey continues....