One Never Knows - An Update on a Komoz

It all began with a simple question from a little girl living in an orphanage in Tokmok.  "Would you buy me a komoz?"  (the national instrument)

We replied,  "we have a more fun idea - let's learn to earn."  So, working with the orphanage director, the children spent a week "learning to earn."


Here are the pictures from last spring -

                                                                       The director

                                            The children's work plan - successfully completed

                                                            Waiting for their komozes

                                                         The instruments arrive....

NOW THE UPDATE

We just received this from one of the professors at IUCA who works in the orphanage:

Hello Jayne,

Hope you and your family are doing very well. I know that I don't write to you very often due to work load, but today I just cannot stop myself. I have a piece of news for you and I couldn't wait to share it . A couple of weeks ago I was visiting our kids from the "Beikut Yiu" orphanage and when we were talking about their hobbies they remembered about two komuzes "they have earned". According to them it was difficult but worthwhile :). They also said that someone have presented them a piano, and now some of them are taking piano classes. On Sunday when I was observing students teaching the director asked one of the boys (Syimyk) to leave the class and send him to banya. When I asked her later what was going on she told me that Syimyk was going to Turkey to take part in an international contest. A few best komuz player from Kyrgyzstan were selected and our boy is one of them! It would never happen if your weren't there! Who knows, maybe those komuzes will give him a chance in his life and Syimyk will become a famous musician one day!

Best regards,
Natasha

We are so thrilled to hear from Natasha....and just ignites a bit of homesickness for us! Those instruments were purchased with financial gifts from our friends at home.

An Incredible Time of Learning

Over the past number of months, David and I have been on a different type of journey.  It has one in which we have had the opportunity to learn from some of the most dynamic teachers/trainers dealing with childhood trauma- Dr. Karyn Purvis, Dr. David Cross and the team at  the Child Institute of Development in Fort Worth, Texas.

We just returned from a five day clincial intensive on trust based relational intervention (T.B.R.I.). Our learning and experience there will transform everything we do.  During the summer months, we will be integrating this into our trauma training here in the US, with the hope to be able to train this same material in Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and beyond in the months ahead.

Although we have been "assigned" the homefront right now for this period of development and work, our hearts are never far from the precious folks in Kyrgyzstan.  We are planning a September trip in 2012 and more in the spring of 2013 as God leads.

Please check out the Wright blog and the LAMb blog for the exciting things happening every day...

www.actofkindness.blogspot.com         www.lambinternational.blogspot.com

An Amazing Week and So Proud of ILDC

Time has flown so quickly, and we wanted to get pictures up of David's time in Kyrgyzstan, but that has slipped by us.

This week we had the opportunity to do some training in northern California before heading to the Christian Alliance for Orphans conference in southern California.  During the conference the DVD series entitled Adoptive/Foster RX: Solutions For Wounded Families was released by CBN's Orphan Promise. David and I had the opportunity to share on this teaching series, which will be available to the public in June. During the conference, we both had the privilege of sharing in two workshops - Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child and Four Things Your Church Needs to Know about Being a Safety Net for Foster/Adoptive Families.  Our friend and adoptive/bio mom of four, Heather Bench joined us in this workshop.

Of all the exciting things, a highlight to us was seeing and hearing our friends from Ukraine represent the work there.   Oleg, who is the Director of the International Leadership and Development Center (a branch work of LAMb International) spoke in a workshop talking about ILDC's training work in that country.  I was so proud of him as he spoke with such authority and clarity.  Ruslan, the president of Alliance: Ukraine without Orphans project, and also a dear friend spoke both in a workshop and in the closing general session.  What is not known to that crowd is the major work done by LAMb International in terms of training and bringing best practice to this country.  It just was awesome to see them and hear them and know what LAMb/ILDC has been able to accomplish.

Here are just a few pictures of our time there-

 While walking through the exhibits, I had the chance to meet and talk with these children, part of a children's choir touring the US.

 Ruslan, Oleg and Ivan from Russia, address the workshop on orphan care in the former soviet union.

 Oleg share the mission and vision of ILDC!

 Our friends from Ukraine address the general closing session.

Ruslan shares with the large crowd that 6,000 churches in Ukraine celebrated Orphan Sunday last November.

What did we gain from the conference?  We now understand at a greater depth the explosive work of God throughout the world as He is calling His Body - the Church - into action to do something about the massive orphan crisis around the world.  Again, we come away with a deeper level of being "divinely ruined" and a desire for God to continue to use us in His kingdom work.

Major Changes for LAMb In Kyrgyzstan

We are excited for the new  and exciting changes ahead for LAMb...

Please visit the LAMb blog for the latest: www.lambinternational.blogspot.com

Just a few moments ago ( Friday evening 10 pm here), I talked with David via skype. He is having a tremendous time.  He had to leave as the LAMb team, all of them, were heading to visit a new orphanage to serve.  He has had a number of opportunities to speak, including this Easter Sunday at the Chinese Church.  David also shared that some exciting days are ahead for IUCA as more support is gained from around the world.  What a privilege for us to be in on the beginning steps of this young university.

Don't Miss These Updates from the LAMb Team

Today, Ruby and Lynn met our little girls at Dayspring.  Please visit their blog to see these beautiful little girls.

http://lambinternational.blogspot.com/


David is in Kyrgyztan with the Johnstons and Wrights so I will be posting their daily blog (with a lot of envy:) )  David's time there will be shared between Mercy Foundation needs and the IUCA (International University of Central Asia.)

Strengthening Families Ukrainian Adoption Conference Finished Today

What an incredible joy to be here. David and I spent this weekend at the "Strengthening Families Christian Adoption Conference" in Kiev, Ukraine.  Over 200 adoptive parents from all over Ukraine journeyed to Kiev by car, bus or train to attend. Most of these families are parenting wounded children and came looking and hoping for support and encouragement. We pray that is what they received.

For details of this weekend's events, please visit our partner's blog - www.lambinternational.blogspot.com. 

Here are some of our pictures as well..

We arrived last Thursday afternoon and had dinner with the conference organizers.  L to R  Ruby Johnston, co-founder of LAMb, Galina and Oksana, from CBN Ukraine, Kristy Weber, adoptive mom and wife of CBN Ukraine president, Steve Weber, Dr. Ronda Weber from the US and Karen Springs, conference chairman, from CBN Ukraine.

                                                                Registrations begins.

                                                      Opening night on Friday night....

 

Translation of the events...

Dr. John  Bergeron, Lynn Johnston, co-founder of LAMb and David share on a panel.

I had the opportunity to do a general session on the factors of success for healthy adoptive families.

Families from southern Ukraine... Vika in pink next to Ruby, is LAMb, adoption advocate throughout Ukraine. She not only shares about the need for adoptive families through churches in Ukraine, but trains new parents and provide post adoption support. She is amazing.

                                                                    More families

Our book, Wounded Children, Healing Homes was translated into Russian due to the generosity of a donor and was placed in the reception bag of every participant.

What a privilege this weekend has been.  I head home in a few hours and David, Lynn and Ruby head off to Kyrgystan for ministry there. We sat making plans today for the potential of a training trip in September to Kyrgyzstan and in 2013 to  Ukraine. The foucs of those will be on building a trauma informed program for social workers and families.

Leaving for Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan

In just a few hours, David and I again have the privilege of spending time with some incredible people in Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan.  Over this weekend, we will be participating in a national adoption conference in Kiev as part of the partnership between LAMb International and CBN Ukraine.  We have been told that there will be over 200 adoptive parents there. What an opportunity and one we don't take for granted.

On Monday, David and I will part ways as I return to the US and David continues on with Lynn and Ruby for a couple of weeks in Kyrgyzstan. David is chairman of the Board of Trustees for the International University of Central Asia, the new university started by Mercy Foundation. It is so exciting to see how this wonderful university is growing and sending out quality young people.  I hear from the Lynn and Ruby that there is exciting news about our work in Kyrgyzstan, but I won't know for a week what it is!

LAMb ( Lynn and Ruby) have been doing some amazing work on a national scale in Ukraine. Please visit their blog:  www.lambinternational.blogspot.com 

The Wrights are heading back to Kyrygzstan early next week. Visit their blog at www.actofkindness.blogspot.com   Bekah and Emma are already there.

On a personal note:  As we are transitioning to this new stage in our lives, we moved from our Lebanon, Ohio home to a temporary apartment in the Springboro area. After seeking God's direction as to where we should replant ourselves, we have purchased a little home in the Kettering area.  We move into it in early April. David leaves our apartment today and comes home to our new home.  Our new place is centrally located to the four churches that David serves as a counseling pastor.

Thank you for all your encouragement and support....