Speaking the Same Language - Love and Compassion

We have spent the last several days in New Zealand, first doing training for adoption social workers on Thursday and then taking part in an awesome adoption conference from Friday to today (Sunday).

What David and I have experienced is that people with a heart for adoption speak the same language of love and compassion everywhere we go. It has been a valdiating time here. The people we have met have been so gracious, welcoming and kind to us.

We had planned for three days of sight-seeing, but a residential treatment center asked us to train their families on Wednesday, so we just have two days to see this beautiful country. We leave early Thursday to return to the US.

We have some pictures of the training event on Thursday and will post pictures of the adoption conference later this week.

Adoption leaders in New Zealand receive the internationally acclaimed Field Guide to Child Welfare

Paula Atrill, Director of Adoptions and International Casework and Wendy Hawke, director of ICANZ, an international adoption agency in New Zealand, (and our hostess for these days) attended the social work training and received copies of the Field Guide to Child Welfare written by Judy Rycus and Ron Hughes.

According Paula, the adoption system is under going some major changes in terms of how parents are assessed and prepared for adoption. She shared with us that the information given in the seminar was timely and looks forward to further communication.

We thoroughly enjoyed meeting these foster and adoption workers from around the country. David joined me in this presentation on assessing and preparing parents to care for traumatized children.  It was such a privilege for us to be with them.

MORE COMING ON THE ADOPTION CONFERENCE

Another Journey

We believe that God gives each one of us a life message. For over 25 years, a part of our message has been focused on building healthy adoptive families, supporting foster families, adoptive families and professionals. We leave this afternoon for another journey - to New Zealand. This privilege has been in the calendar for over18 months, and we are excited and humbled by the opportunity. 

Both of us will be speaking at the ICANZ adoption conference in Aukland and presenting a full day of training to social workers as well. It will be fun to meet new people, hear their stories and hopefully, support them in their work and with their families.

We return on June 10 and plan to be home for most of the summer preparing for our September return to our dear friends in Krygyzstan.

Thank you for your interest and support...the journey continues

Between Hello and Good Bye

It is about 9:00 PM on Monday night and in a few hours we will board our plane and head for home. It is hard to explain, we are heading for home, but, we feel like we are leaving home. I guess that it is okay.


This morning, I had the privilege to speak to a large crowd of staff and many visitors at the Mercy Foundation here in Tokmok. There were probably 8-10 nationalities present all of whom had the main thing in common—personal faith in Jesus Christ and a desire to serve Him.

I started the morning talk with how Jayne and I like to walk if we have time here in Kyrgyzstan. There are three reasons, I said, why we like to walk. The first is we need to do so—so many simple carbs and sugar here. Secondly, when we walk, we are able to take in the details of houses, yards, symbols, and so many other things that are missed when one speeds by in a taxi. The third reason we like to walk is that we like to see the children who are at play in every block through which we pass. The children are beautiful and we love to see them.

The children do something when we walk by that has taught me a great lesson. As we pass, they say “hello” and then in a few seconds they say “good-bye.” Of course, we always responded in like manner and they were so pleased that they apparently were able to communicate with the “foreigners.”

I shared this story of the kids with the group this morning by saying that last March we said “hello” to our friends here and now, this morning, we are saying “good-bye.” The lesson I wanted to share is that each one of us says “hello” to life, and some time later, each of us says “good-bye” to life and how the most important thing to consider is what we do between the “hello” and “good-bye.” A favorite song of mine came to mind. It is When It Is All Said and Done.

After sharing the story of the children and making the application to life, we showed a video and power point presentation as to what God had allowed and enabled us to do here from the day we said “hello” to this morning when we are saying “good-bye.”

Between Hello and Good Bye

We were with the children at one of the Foundation Orphanages - A Weekend at Kara Balta

The teens and children had quite an entertaining program. This is the orphanage where the children from Tokmok that we know so well were moved in December. They all seem to be doing well.

      The three teens in this picture have special pen-pal ties to friends in the US
.

Having lunch with them on Sunday before returning 2.5 hours to Tokmok.

We were with the young people at the university

One thing David enjoyed was sitting outside under the trees talking with students.  They sought him out reguluarly. We have truly grown to love these young people as we have spent many hours on campus.

Afternoon of the last exam - what a great feeling for everyone.

We were involved with the ministries of the Foundation

Speaking on Sunday...

  Leading a seminar on character studies for the school system

We were with children and adults within the community living in difficult situations

This precious baby represents many children living in orphanages in need of medical treatment. The work of LAMb has started "Babies Bound for Blessing," which is a sponsorship program that will enabled babies to be taken to the capital city for much needed medical treatment.  Please visit www.lambinternational.blogspot.com for more information on this criticially needed program.

When the team from Canada was here, they minister  in a prison two hours from home. This picture was taken shortly before the riots broke out in Bishkek and the team had to detour around the city in order to be safe.

The LAMb team, including an incredible group of folks from Canada, did a complete makeover in the home of this family. We talked about it before on the blog.  We are so excited that the mom pictured here, has taken the leadership to get her children to church.  She came yesterday, asking for nothing.  We see God really working in this extreme inpoverish family.

Our team continues to be involved in the home for invalid men.  Once a dark place, light has come and one can see the difference.

We blogged just recently about the on-going work at Kemin.  Our prayer is that the community will step up and support this much needed home for homeless elderly.

As the time approaches for our van to pick us up at 2:30 am....we prepare to leave, again enriched by our encounters with this beautiful people...encounters between our hello and goodbye. 

It Was More Than Just Getting Out A Newspaper

About eight weeks ago, an enthusiastic group of young people arrived in the journalism class to begin something brand new - the publication of the university's first newspaper. The one barrier we faced is that our class was scheduled for 8:00 am on Monday mornings!  But they came.

On May 20, the first edition of the paper was released on campus and the student journalists were excited.

First edition of the IUCA Today campus newspaper.

Students get ready to distribute the papers.

Editors, Dasha and Michael give the college president the first look.

This newspaper project wasn't about getting out the first edition, but rather giving young people a new vision for what they can accomplish.  From the responses of these beautiful teens, I think they got it!

Last Sunday - A Day of Opportunity

Sunday was, indeed, a day of opportunity for us as David spoke twice to two different groups - a Chinese group and a Krygyz group two hours away from us. We were also able to spend the day with a family that we have grown to love over the two and half years we have been coming to this country.

Due to some sensitive issues here, I am just posting pictures of David and then some children.

It Was Children's Day at this local meeting

Just precious....

This is a traditional Kyrgyz instrument.

David had incredible cross-cultural speaking opportunities today. He spoke at this meeting to the heart of the father and husband in the home.

Melodie and Davina always capture our hearts.  We took them out to lunch at a restaurant where they have never been and it was such a delight to see them enjoy everything. They are the children of the house parents for the new family type foster home that is currently being formed.

And, yes, she ate the whole thing!

Davina was not quite demonstrative as her older sister.

Sunday was a wonderful day of meeting many new people and we plan to be with them again in the fall for parenting seminars and other topics.

"Call To Community" Luncheon A Success

A number of weeks ago, we were visiting the homeless seniors' home in Kemin as we do quite reguarly. While having tea with the director, we were more keenly aware that Tonya and her family are carrying the load for this home. They have little or no support from anyone to care for all the needs of fifteen elderly grandfathers and grandmothers, most who have no family. We decided to plan and sponsor a luncheon and invite local government and church leaders to hear about the needs of the home. Today was the day and it was truly a success.

Over 18 local people came to hear the needs of the seniors' home and the response was very positive. One young woman, who works in the government office stood up at the end and said, "I live in this town and didn't know this home was here. We will find ways to help them."

The vice mayor attended as well and when I thanked him for coming, he said, "These are our fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, we need to take care of them." He promised to do what he could, although government financial aid is limited. I want to share some pictures and highlights of the day. Here is the video that we showed the group, of course, they saw it in Russian.






Volunteers Helped with the Meal Preparation

The volunteers were there early this morning to prepare.

         We had a wonderful lunch prepared by these ladies from the community.

Of course, Natalia and I were busy cooking, too. 

Government Officials Attended

The vice mayor (right) with another government official were impressed with all the work that Tonya and her family have done in the home.

As we were leaving, the young lady in the grey sweater stood up and told us that she lived in this town and didn't know this home was here. She promised to find help.

Anatolee played his wooden spoons for entertainment at lunch.

We prepared a "help needed" list to hand out to the guests and encouraged them to place them around town.

We are so thankful that God brought the people to us today and we are trusting Him that the seniors' home will receive help from their community. We have scheduled another luncheon for October 1 - Seniors' Day.

It Is Not All Work....

It is not all work…there’s time for fun


Our work here is often busy with difficult, desperate situations with broken people, needy families and children. However, to keep everything emotionally balanced, we delight in our relationships with our friends. On Friday evening, we planned a TGIF party with two sisters – Sophia and Zenia….before we left to go to the shaslick place, we had invited 7 more and our party grew to 11, which required two stuffed taxis. It was great.

As David and I were sitting with this beautiful group of people, we were amazed at the different nationalities sitting at our dinner table – Kyrgyz, Chinese, Ethiopian, Russian….simply amazing. We all had something in common…we are of like mind and heart. We also marveled at these young people who have very little, who work very hard for very little, yet have such the spirit of gratefulness. Truly amazing.

Here are some pictures from Friday….

Our server brings "shaslick," like kabobs into the yurt.

Inside, everyone is waiting for all the picture taking to stop so they can eat.

Zina, (l) our friend from the Foundation and a great help to us,with Natalia, our LAMb team member.

Altynia, is a university student. She is a young lady with a remarkable story of redemption. Peter, a friend from the Foundation is sitting next to her.

Sophia, a friend from the Foundation and a great help to us as well.

Seasi, our friend and also faithful driver with Altynai's brother.  He was standing with her when we picked her up and is Kyryz custom, we had to ask him three times if he wanted to come...and he finally said yes!

It was heartwarming to hear the laughter and see the fun of the evening, knowing that this time was a brief respite from difficult days. The young people stayed behind to dance and visit...Natalia's mom, David and I went home sooner than they did. :)