ANOTHER BUSY WEEK

We closed a project at an Aid's Clinic

Elder Kinghorn and the Doctor with a water Distiller the Humanitarian Funds provided

We took the Doxey's with us to do the Health Fair at a Boarding School and then came back to our house for a light lunch
This is the Doxey's visiting a classroom at the Boarding School
we are all holding some of the Crafts the students have made

We went to the office for a staff meeting.

Elder Green giving Sister Solomonson some last minute instructions before he leaves the office for his next area

Elder McKinney will stay to "hold down the fort".

Look at this clean desk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We took the Health Fair to the Library

and a Boarding School we went to President and Sister Fry's for dinner

Elders Hunt and Sutherland

We had dinner at the mission home to say good-bye to some amazing missionaries

We had a staff meeting on Tuesday and Transfer Meeting on Friday.We had a baptism on Saturday

and then we had the four AP's (Assistants to the President) to our apartment for dinner. (I don't have a photo because my camera card wasn't working.) Elder Dorman was excited to "finally get to come to the Kinghorn's for dinner". We were lucky that Sister Jadamba and her new companion came over and cooked for us. Sister Glen and Sister Ward joined us too!!!What a treat a homecooked meal that someone else made. It was Mongolian food and Sister Jadamba is a great cook. It was delicious!!!!!

HOSPICE HOME

Today was another hard day in Ukraine.

I don't want to complain but my heart is heavy and I think I will feel better if I write a little. We went to visit a Hospice Home with two women who are from a large Humanitarian Fund here in Donetsk. During the hour long car ride we had an opportunity to talk about various organizations that we have both worked with. They asked us about our impressions of Ukraine. I found myself reflecting on the difficult things I have tried to understand about this Country. I shared my impressions of how the Elderly and the people with Special Needs are not treated with much respect. We were soon deep in a conversation about "invalids" (which is the word they use for anyone who is handicapped in any way, even the elderly). They wanted to know how the "invalids" in America are treated.

It made me reflect on what it was like for children born with Special Needs when I was a child in school. They did attend the public schools but they had their own "special" classroom and we never interacted with them. I remember they were often referred to by a term by mother never allowed us to use. Retards. I remember that they always rode a special bus to school ever day. Sometimes children would make fun of them as they walked to their bus after school. It brings tears to my eyes to think that this is how we treated children with Special Needs in my elementary school. There really was no mainstreaming. There was no Americans with Disabilities Act. We really had no opportunity to interact with these children and had such strange ideas and beliefs about their mental and physical capabilities.

Which makes me wonder about the way people here in Ukraine view the "invalids". Maybe things will change here someday.

So many times I get frustrated that the people here don't understand the capabilities of these so called "invalids". I can't understand this mentality of "shipping them off" to homes to be forgotten. I am appalled that the "invalids" in the orphanages and baby houses have no toys. There seems to be the belief that they are not "teachable". For example, we are going to visit an Orphanage with the missionaries for Christmas and want to bring games to play and leave with the children. When Olga, (our interpreter) asked what the mental ages of the children were we were basically told "they are mentally delayed so they won't be able to interact with you".

In a facility of nearly 100 children the Director felt that only 30 of the Children could play with us

Long Sigh here.............................

however,

Maybe there is hope......

As I reflect on what life was like just 40 or so years ago in America I am amazed at how much has changed. Having worked in the field of Special Education I have seen how from the moment a child with any type of disability or delay is born the parents are given options that were not offered to parents 40 years ago. Maybe there is hope that one day things will change here too. I thought about the day I saw a mother struggling to get off a Marshruka with a very large child who clearly had a cerebral palsy in her arms. There are no accommodations anywhere in this country for wheelchair or strollers. So a trip to the doctor requires that a parent carry their handicapped child to the bus stop and hold them in their arms on a crowded bus and then walk to the doctors office.

I have a whole new appreciation for the "Americans with Disabilities Act".

So, that is how our day started........

Then we arrived at the Hospice Home.

It is a home for the Elderly and people infected with HIV or people who have cancer. It is run by the Provaslavic Church. We were greeted by a Priest who volunteers his time at the Home. He introduced us to some of the guest. One elderly woman was brought there after a severe beating by her son that left her with broken arms and legs. Another lady was dropped off at the front door by her children who took her belongings and her passport so that they could continue to collect her pension. Another persons family who left him at the home never came to visit however after he died they came to collect papers that would allow them access to some property the man owned. They didn't even pay for his burial. In the winter the Home opens it's doors to people to come in out of the cold during the day. These are local residents who do not have heating in their homes so they just come to sit and stay warm.

Perhaps that is why I have been feeling like I have this incredible weight on my shoulders. Feeling like I just want to cry.

Today was another day that I found myself just wanting to sit and hold someones hand. When I found myself walking with Angels on earth. I am filled with gratitude for the people we have met here who are committed to making changes even when they have so much resistance and so little support.

Today was a day I found myself filled with gratitude for the loving family I grew up in and the family I have waiting for me at home.

Some days I look around and I feel a bit overwhelmed. There is so much pain and suffering. I feel frustrated because the numbers of people who seem to be involved in trying to make Ukraine a better place just feel so small and insignificant. I feel like I am once again looking at a beach filled with starfish that have washed ashore and I desperately want to save them all. I want to call out to the strangers walking by, "come, don't you see, they are everywhere, come help, please, they are going to die if we don't do something,"

So my plead to you this beautiful Christmas season is look around you. Find someone who needs your love, or your time, or talents and reach out in Christlike love to them. We can't save the world but we can make it a better place by reaching out to one another. If you would like some ideas of how to do this go here. This is a new sight I found and it is filled with wonderful service ideas. Bless you all.

ORPHANAGE VISIT

These two sisters were celebrating a birthday when we entered their classroom .

Have I mentioned I love kids?????

Today we went to an Internat (that is what they call the Orphanages) only this was more of a boarding school. The children were between the ages of 6-16. Most of them still have families of some kind. Some of them come from single parent homes, some from families with many children, and others from homes where parents have addiction problems. I asked if any of them are adopted and the director said, last year one child went to a foster home. She explained that many of the parents still have parental rights they just can't afford to take care of their children. When I asked if they get to see their families she said, "yes they can go home on Sundays if they want." Once again, we peered into the rooms that the children sleep in and there was absolutely nothing personal in the rooms. The picture above is one of about 8 sleeping rooms we saw. I am not going to say anymore about that. Except it is very sad to see. I mean look at these faces. They were so cute. We wandered into this classroom and they were having a birthday party for the twins in braids. I talked to the children in English while Olga translated and asked them if they could tell me their names in English. So one by one they eagerly raised their hands and said,

My name is Natasha

My name is Andre

My name is Julia

My name is Volva

My name is Nastia

Then I asked them to tell me how old they were and we went around the room again. They were so eager to stand a recite

I am six years old

and

I am seven years old

some of them would laugh or giggle afterward they spoke.

They loved it when we took a group picture and they could see themselves in the camera.

I had so much fun as usual I found myself wanting to ask, "can I come back and play tomorrow?"

WE CLOSED ANOTHER PROJECT

Yesterday was a fun day. Elder Kinghorn, Olga, and I got to return to a hospital we had visited several months ago and see the equipment that the Humanitarian funds provided for them. These two tables were just a few of the items they received.

We also purchased 2 wheelchairs, several procedural beds, a walker, a bedside commode, a massage table, and IV poles They were so grateful for everything. They just couldn't thank us enough.

It was one of those days that we went home feeling really good about the wonderful opportunity we have been given to be Humanitarian Missionaries.

Now, we just have about 15 more projects to close. Which means we have had request from 15 other organizations and their projects have been approved, we just have to get through all the red tape and get their equipment delivered.

SANITORIUM

How cute is this little guy with the ball?
Look at that face. Give me a blanket under a shady tree and a bunch of little children and I am good to go.........
You could just come back to get me in about 4 or 5 hours and I would be perfectly happy.
We went to a facility today that was called a Sanitorium. They use the term differently here then we do in America. Here a sanitorium is a place people go to recuperate. This facility is for children ages 1-7 who have special needs such as cerebral palsy, down syndrome, or language delays as well as children with psychological problems. The child on my lap was born in a prison.

I was told most of these children are orphans but they don't live in orphanages they live in hospitals. I am still trying to understand who determines where the children are placed. Everytime I think I have it figured out I learn something new. At some point it is determined if they can go to a "normal school"or if they will be sent to an "internat"(orphanage) to live. One facility told me before children turn 4 they are evaluated at a hospital to determine where they will be placed.

Here is where I got lost. I don't understand how they can go to a "normal" school if they don't have families. Sometimes I get overwhelmed while communicating through an interpretor and it is difficult to go back and ask questions. I guess that is why I am still piecing together information.

So here is what I was able to understand. This facility has 2 buildings each house 25 children between the ages of 1-7 who have various "special needs". The government pays for them to come here 36 days each year for therapy. They receive Physical Therapy, Massage, and Speech Therapy. One of the ladies told us they try to focus on "social adaptation" and education.

Here is an interesting fact. The highest paid employee at this facility would be a doctor who makes $240.00 per month. The teachers/nurses make about $140.00. The lady who does the laundry makes $100.00 per month. No wonder they have a hard time finding staff. Another interesting fact is, the government allows the facility the equivalent of $1.66 per day per child for meals, clothing, medicines and any other needs.

I find this disturbing!!!!!!!!!

The other thing I want to share is the unbelievabe truth is that I found myself thinking "this is a nice place." Something I never would have thought when I first arrrived in the Country.

Here's why.................

They have a nice big outdoor area where we found the children playing. They have some really nice therapy equipment. There was a room with a big tub filled with balls, there were large therapy balls, squishy toys, wooden toys for stacking and stringing, lots of books, walkers, and standers. I even saw a nice wheelchair. As I have mentioned before, this is a nice facility

but, that is what it is, a facility where children are being raised. I am a little alarmed that I am becoming accustomed to seeing childen institutionalized. This is not a home. There is no mom, no dad, no brothers and sisters, no consistant person in these childrens lives.

When these little ones go to bed at night one woman prepares 25 children for bed. She takes all these little ones into the bathroom where they are given a sponge bath every night of the week except one day when they have a real bath. These sweet little ones aren't allowed the luxury of playing in a bath filled with warm water and rubber toys, spongy letters, or bath paints. There's no lap to climb into for a bedtime story. This one woman sits in a room outside 3 little sleeping rooms.

The very sad truth is these little children are being raised in intitutions and this is their Disneyland. This is a nice place to come and run around outside throwing balls, and digging in the sand. This is a great place to come where you can play with other children. This is a wonderful place to come and sing songs, and listen to the piano, to have a nice person rub your back with lotion. But how do you tell them it's time to go home?

The sad thing is this, they are only allowed to come once a year for 36 days. I wonder how a child feels when they realize they are not staying but have to go back to the hospital where we were told "nobody cares about them" and "nobody has time to pay attention to them."

I find myself saddened once again by how this country treats it's children. I don't know how this makes any sense to anyone. Once a year for 7 years children are allowed to come here and stay for 36 days. And when they are not here they are being raised in a hospital by a nurse who doesn't have time to care for them. They are not placed permanently until they are 4 and then they will probably end up in an orphanage or an internat.

I won't go on anymore. This is one of those times that I have to look at the glass as half full and not half empty. Tonight I have to be grateful for what they have and not for what they are missing. I have to be grateful that these children are some of the chosen few who are given this wonderful experience each year. The staff members were nice and seemed to enjoy the children. I am thankful for the dedicated staff who work for practically nothing so that these children can experience joy in their lives.

HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS

I would like to answer a few questions people have asked me about the Humanitarian Program of the Church.

Where does the money come from?

• first the money that is used comes from members of the church worldwide who donate to the Humanitarian Fund

Who does it go to?

• the funds are used to assist organizations who help the poor and needy
• we do not provide assistance to individuals
• we have worked with; hospitals, schools, institutions for the handicapped, boarding schools, orphanages, women's groups, a veteran's group, and an organization that supports people raising large families, a blind school, a day program for "invalids", and shelters.

How do you find the organizations to help?

• sometimes we will get a letter from an organization that has had assistance from the church in the past.
• sometimes a local church member or Branch President will know of an organization that could use some assistance and they will make a referral.
• when things are slow we go looking for places that are doing great things to assist the poor and needy.
• we work with other non-governmental agencies like the International Relief Development who will recommend possible organizations to partner with.

What happens after you meet with the organization?

• we (the Humanitarian Couple) write a letter supporting their request for assistance and it has to be approved by our directors in Kieve and then they send it to the Directors in Moscow for approval
• we don't give any organizations money. LDS Charities pays the vendor directly for the items that have been requested. The whole process takes 3 or 4 months.
• when the items have been delivered we meet with the organization one last time to celebrate the arrival of their new equipment.

What happens to the Hygiene Kits, School kits, Blankets, Newborn Kits that are made in the Relief Society (church's women's organization)?

• Those items are sent to the foreign countries in large containers by ship. We have to have a partner organization like The International Relief Development (IRD) work with us to bring the containers into the country.
• In Ukraine we have partnered with IRD. They are the consignee for the container and they locate organizations who have a need of the equipment and distribute the items to those organizations. They are very good about inviting us to see the containers unloaded and attend the distribution. I have posted some of these experiences in previous post.

Can we send items directly to you to distribute?

• I appreciate your desire to help with our Humanitarian work in Ukraine however, it is not that easy. When large quantities of items are sent they have a difficult time clearing customs. There is a concern that the items will be sold. We have even had items disappear sometime in transit from America. There is also a tax or duty added to items that are brought into the country. So the church has been very clear that they do not want friends or family members sending items here.

How can I help?
Go to the blog http://www.peaceablewalkldshsp.blogspot.com/ for my post about how to help.
or you can go to the church website: www.lds.org/ldsfoundation/welfare/welcome

HOSPITAL VISIT

THIS IS THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOSPITAL WE WENT TO VISIT TODAY.
They had requested help with purchasing wheelchairs.

HUMANITARIAN WORK

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Today was one of those days that I found myself walking down a road I could not have imagined a year ago. This is Elder Kinghorn following Olga, our Interpreter and a woman we met on the bus. We had just walked about half a mile from the bus stop to this trail and then crossed some railroad tracks when I decided to stop and take a picture. Sometimes I just have to stop and "take in" what we are experiencing. What has become normal to us now would have been quite surprising when we first arrived in Ukraine. We were on our way to a major Hospital that treats spinal cord injury patients and we were walking on a dirt path that trailed past gardens of Sunflowers and summer vegetables. We could see the hospital in the distance but no multilevel parking garages, no ambulance entrances, no signs directing doctors to park in one parking lot and patients in another. In fact, there really aren't parking lots in the hospitals because there are so few people who drive. We have become accustomed to seeing a line of people as they come and go to the hospital from the bus stops usually carrying sacks of food. The woman with Olga said her husband is a patient at the hospital and she could lead us there. She explained to Olga that her husband had an accident and was paralyzed. This was his second time in the hospital and he had been hospitalized for two months this time. She had her hands full of two large bags which probably contained food. Most of the families bring food from home to leave because the hospital only serves borche in the evening. Now that I think of it I have never seen an ambulance entrance or an emergency room entrance in any of the hospitals we have visited. The second picture is what we saw when we actually entered the hospital.

HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS

 March 11, 2008
Today we went to a school for the blind. It was registered in 2005. They have 2 very small classrooms for blind students. Each classroom is used by 4 students at a time. The students rotate throughout the day. They have a total of 24 students. However, they also work with older clients as well. Some of the students receive instruction in the home. I remember reading about this organization in a journal another Humanitarian Couple kept. I was so impressed with the Principal Anatoliy and how much he has accomplished in just a few years. We met one of their students who is entering the University soon. We also met about 4 or 5 women who we were told were all retired teachers who volunteer their services. Anatoliy really wants to teach people how to function as productive members of the society. He wants them to become educated to do more than just “menial work” He said he would like to see them be able to enter professional careers and be treated like "normal" people. He asked the Church for a computer to assist with teaching their students. He would also like to send some of the children to a Summer Camp so he is trying to find Sponsors to send his students to camp. It seems to be very common for children in Ukraine to go to camp during the summer. Many of the organizations we visit are looking for sponsors to help send children to camp. The unique thing about this request is most of these children would not have this opportunity because of their visual impairments. His goal is to give them the same opportunities as "normal" children. We then visited a shelter for young adults 18-23 who were raised in orphanages and now have nowhere to go to live or learn job skills. They are housing these young adults as well as trying to provide support in finding jobs. They only stay at this shelter until they find a job. Their goal is to try to find jobs that provide housing. Olga said these are usually unskilled factory jobs, they use to have dormitories for Mine workers but she said it is so dangerous nobody wants to work there. We found this place on our own and the lady was so surprised we were offering help without anyone asking. It is kind of a strange concept isn't it. I want all of you at home to know that this is one of those organizations who would benefit from the HYGIENE KITS, BLANKETS AND BEDDING AS WELL AS CLOTHING DONATIONS THAT COME FROM AMERICA. All these young people were abandoned at birth and lived in orphanages their whole lives. Can you imagine how special it would be to have a homemade quilt? Keep up the work sisters I am so proud to represent our Relief Society. Today, Anatoliy told us there would be a "special reward in Heaven" for people like us for doing this work and I want you to know that I am just the messenger your love comes through to them in these blankets and hygiene kits.
Thank-you Thank-you Thank-you. It was a good day.One more day of being very thankful for Olga and these wonderful people who dedicate their lives to making other peoples lives better.

This picture was taken on our recent visit to a Kindergarten for children with Language Delays. In Ukraine Kindergartens are like Day Care Centers in America. The children are as young as 18 months and leave after they turn 5.

KINDERGARTEN

                   LOOK AT THESE SWEET FACES

We have discovered whenever children go outside here they wear a hat. This is so cute. We did see one exception yesterday a little girl was carrying an umbrella.

We visited another Kindergarten today. This one was for children with Language Delays. I just have to say when the Director finished taking us on a tour of the facility and she asked us if we wanted to do anything else my response was "yes play with the children". I just have to find a school to volunteer my time. I miss being with children so much. I mean look at these faces. They are absolutely adorable. She did take me out to the playground and I found a little toddler who looked lost and when I sat down she came right up to me and sat in my lap.

HYGIENE KITS

Last week when we visited Ukrainsk they had just received a delivery from the IRD(International Relief Development) of items from a Latter Day Saints Charities container. So when we arrived we were able to be there as they unpacked the boxes. I can't tell you how thrilling it is to see these Hygiene Kits, School Kits and Newborn Kits be delivered. They were so happy as they took them out of the boxes. This weekend was a big celebration. It is called, "The Day of Protection of Children." Ukranisk had a very big celebration with a parade, picnic, and performances. They delivered the items from the container to families during this day sometime. This is Nadya and our interpreter Olga and me in the center. Nadya is the lady who lost her husband in the mining disaster. Nadya told me the families were so thrilled to receive them. So keep up the great work ladies it is definitely going where it is needed. I am so proud to be associated with you all and to be able to do the Lord's work here in Ukraine. Your hard work at home makes all of this possible. Thank you so much.

WE HAVE FINALLY CLOSED OUR FIRST PROJECT!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are so excited. Our very first project has closed. The request was written,(in January) approved by Kieve, approved by Moscow, contracts were signed with the vendor and the organization, and the blankets were made and have been delivered. 64 blankets were delivered to a shelter for families and a shelter for teenagers. We opted not to take the very long drive back to Nikoliav for the ceremony so the Branch President attended the presentation for us. This is President Dobrovolsky presenting the blankets. We hope that the rest of our projects will not take quite so long now that we finally know what we are doing. We are just thrilled to see this day and look forward to many more wonderful opportunities to be instruments in the Lords hands.

I LOVE THIS PICTURE
BRUCE LOOKS SO HAPPY. IT REALLY CAPTURES THE JOY OF THIS WORK

VISITING UKRAINSK

I find myself sitting at the computer wondering how I even begin to share with you the experiences Bruce and I have had this past month. My mind is filled with images of places we’ve been and people we’ve met.
I think this picture of Bruce captures some of the feelings we’ve had. This was what Bruce and I both agree “our best day in Ukraine”. This is one of those times that I know words can’t even begin to convey the amazing day we had. We found ourselves at the end of the day sitting with Olga under a make shift gazebo in the middle of a green meadow that surrounded a pond with 5 new friends who hours earlier had been complete strangers. We had just spent the last hour snacking on cheese, and bread and toasting (with juice) to, “helping others, and friendship”. We had been invited to join the representative from the International Relief Development (IRD) to visit the Mayor of a small town called Ukriansk. We had told her previously that we are looking for organizations that are teaching people to become more self-reliant so we went to see if we might be able to do a project in Ukrainsk. The Mayor, Vitaly has been working to rebuild the city since 2002 when they had a terrible mining disaster that trapped and killed 35 men. The Mayor and one of the women whose husband had been killed in the mining disaster had been our tour guides as we came to know the small town of 13,000 people though their eyes. The woman, Nadia was a representative of a woman’s organization and was hoping we could help them purchase some playground equipment for a public park. There is not one park in the whole town. The Mayor is a true Hero. He was proof that one person really can make a difference. He told us how in 2002 when he became Mayor he got busy firing the people who were responsible for the mining disaster, and other city officials who were not doing their jobs. He told us how the city was in desperate need of proper heat and running water. They had 241 apartment buildings and only 19 of them had hot running water. He said in 2002 they had electricity breaks that lasted 1-2 weeks. The mine closed and the town was slowly dying. The Mayor and his friends began the transformation by physically going out on the streets and picking up trash. He went to the Media and pleaded for help rebuilding the town.

What we saw when we began our tour was a lot of old buildings but many happy people. The Mayor had asked some parents to meet us at the location where they want to build the playground and as we stood in this vacant lot around the corner comes mothers and fathers pushing strollers or carrying toddlers in their arms to meet us. They told us how much they need this play area, and how much the Mayor has done for their town.

Then we went to see the Kindergarten. Nadia had taught here for 24 years. She just lit up when we entered the building. I have to admit so did I. When we entered the first classroom all these little 2 year olds were sitting in a circle reading a story. Bruce sat down and they all started smiling and performing for us. It was so cute. I didn’t want to leave. Then we went into the next classroom of 5 year olds and they were even cuter. They were more than happy to pose for pictures and stood with their arms around each other. One little boy said to his little friend, “she took my picture twice”. They were adorable. Smiling faces everywhere. I want you to know that I could feel the endorphins kicking in. There is nothing like being in a room of happy children. Then reality hit. We learned that last winter the kindergarten had no heat and when the children needed to take naps they had to put hot water in water bottles to place in their beds to keep them warm. I couldn’t believe the condition of the old water boiler. I just kept saying, “Wow”. It was so old and rusty, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
In an attempt to try to rebuild the city the Mayor has made affordable housing available to young families. The mine has reopened and some other plants have been opened in the area. So now they have 2 kindergartens with about 100 children each and 80 children on the waiting list. The Director told us when mothers are pregnant they put their child on the list. We saw one woman walking up to the building with a small child at her side and she was holding a plant. The director said, “she wants us to get her child in the school but we don’t have an opening right now.”Remember that Kindergartens are like our Day Care in America and the children begin when they are as young as 18 months old. We left the kindergarten and headed for the mine. What a grim contrast. I didn’t realize how much so until I got home and looked at the pictures I had taken of the Mayor and Tatiana. The expressions on their faces showed the pain of the memory of the needless disaster that had claimed 35 lives just 6 years earlier. I saw that pain again as we sat under the gazebo at the end of the day and our friend told us of the love story of her and her husband of 20 years and how she was left alone with her 17-year old son.

We got back in the cars and headed for the sports center. It was more like an American boys and girls club. As we approached we got out and entered this little Garden of Eden in the middle of town. The old building was surrounded by beautiful flower gardens. There was a little wrought iron fence in the front of the building with a fresh coat of bright blue paint. We were greeted by more smiling faces, this time teenagers. There were a small group of girls talking with one or two boys sitting on a bench. They quickly came over to greet the mayor and pose for a picture holding the new sports balls that Lubov had brought from another sponsor. Around the back of the building we found a group of boys playing soccer. The mayor and Lubov joined a small group of teenagers for a game of volleyball while Bruce and Olga and I stood and watched. I want you to know if I wasn’t wearing a dress I would have jumped right in. We watched as the Mayor and Lubov both turned into kids again for just a few moments. More smiles and laughter were exchanged by all. When we entered the building we found a room with a ping pong table, another room with a boxing ring, with some punching bags, and a room for gymnastics and dance. Lubov had told us earlier that this sports facility was the dream of the Mayor. The mayor had felt it was really important that the young people had this opportunity to develop talents and participate in healthy activities. We were impressed when we approached the group of boys playing soccer when the Mayor asked one boy by name where he was yesterday. Lubov says he knows everyone by name.
Our next stop was the music and art center. This was located in another building that we had to drive to. We were greeted by the Director of the music school. The children come here for art and music lessons after school. The lessons aren’t free but they make them available to the low income families at a very low cost. The director said that they don’t have a piano, and the children have to buy their own instruments. So I gather all they have is the building and the teachers. Well, you have to start somewhere. The Mayor says they have many talented students but no money for instruments. Then we entered a room where three teenage girls were taking an art class. It is hard for me to describe the limited amount of supplies they have. Let’s just say, this was definitely another lesson in gratitude. There was a still life display in the front of the room and I was so impressed with the drawings the instructor showed us her students had done of it.

I don’t know how to summarize this experience. Except to say that we started the day sitting at a long executive table across from 2 complete strangers and we were ending the day sitting in a meadow under a gazebo having a picnic with two people we would never forget. Can one person make a difference? You bet. This man, who was raised in an orphanage, was breathing life into a city that had died. We had seen the fruits of his labor. The buildings were still old and dilapidated; many were still without proper heat and running water. But the people were happy. They now had jobs and were raising families. This one man was contributing to the future success of hundreds of Ukrainian children. Our new friend, Nadia had been raised in an orphanage as well. She was amazing. She had lost the love of her life in a tragic mining accident and yet I laughed more with her than I have laughed with anyone since I came to Ukraine. When it was time to leave we joked about just getting a tent and staying there for the night. It was one of those moments that you just don’t want to end. It was one of those moments when you wonder as you reach out to shake hands, if they felt what you felt. Somehow you know that even without sharing the spoken language your souls have shared something that surpasses anything words could convey.

TRIP TO BULGARIA

We are back from Bulgaria. We had a wonderful two day conference with 20 other Humanitarian Service couples from all over Eastern Europe. It was a great trip. We met some wonderful people. It was two days of talks and presentations. We have returned rested and ready to go to work. Tomorrow is District Meeting with the missionaries at our house. It has been raining all day so I made Chili to have when our meeting is over. We met with the Branch President today to discuss teaching classes on "Strengthening the Family" to members of the branch. He said we were an answer to his prayer. He has been fasting and praying to know how to strengthen the members in the branch and he felt like this would really be good for our branch members. So Bruce and I will be teaching lessons along with the other couple in our Mission, the Clark's once a week to members in the branch. We are really looking forward to this. Today was Easter in Ukraine so Olga says that most of the week organizations will be on "holiday." So we will have to see how much we can accomplish this week. We returned home to find the Internet off on our other computer, which is the one with Skype and Windows so I won't be able to phone anyone until that is up again and with the holiday it could be awhile. Happy Birthday Monroe and Maverick. Nana and Papa love you SO much.

MAKEYEVKA KINDERGARDEN

This week found us traveling down a different road. We were back in Donetsk visiting organizations. This is Bruce following Olga (our interpretor) and a man we met on the bus who offered to help us find the Kindergarten we were looking for. He was leading us down this road where we passed 2 men searching through the garbage cans for food and a poor injured dog with a lame foot, then through all these apartment buildings. We passed one open doorway where a woman was sitting on the floor the man smiled and waved as we passed. He told Olga it was his apartment and that was his mother. This was one of those moments as I stopped to take this picture when I found myself thinking, "it is strange what we have become accustomed to." We had just traveled by the bus transferred from the bus to a marshooka, met this man who got off the bus with us and led us down this road, the men rummaging through the trash, the injured dog, the holes in the road, trash on the ground, just felt so "normal". As I walked behind Bruce and caught a glimpse of how out of place he looked in his suit I just had to have a picture of it.
Once we arrived at the school our new friend said goodbye and went on his way. Well, I have to take back what I said about Donetsk. There are some nice friendly people in Donetsk too. Like I said before it is all in your attitude.

INTERNATIONAL RELIEF DEVELOPMENT (container delivery)

We were invited to attend the unloading of a 4o foot container that was all Orphanage Module items. It was so fun to be there and see all these wonderful things come into the Country right after visiting the Orphanages who so badly need these items. We saw quilts, clothing, diapers, crib items, receiving blankets, newborn kits, and these cute stick horses that someone in America makes by hand. I was so excited to see everything. I love you all.

We brought 6 young missionaries with us to visit the second Orphanage and when we went to meet with the Director I asked if the Missionaries could go visit with the children. The Director said yes, but you should have seen the missionaries faces when they realized they were going to be on their own. They said, "what should we do?" It was so cute, Elder Kinghorn said, "you don't have to worry it will come to you. They'll love you. Just go and you'll know what to do." I was so relieved when we returned about 45 minutes later and found them sitting on the floor in two circles of missionaries and young boys and girls playing what looked like "duck duck goose." They were all laughing and having a great time. I told the Elders I was so relieved to see them having fun. I felt like a mom who had left her kids at Daycare crying at the door and I didn't know when I returned if I would find them still sitting by the door crying. The Elders said, " It was really bad at first. We all just stared at each other for about 2 minutes. They were watching TV and when one of them turned it off some of them got mad, one girl said, lets listen to the missionaries. We didn't know what to do or say so we decided to play the game. They said, "they caught on faster than the students in our older English Classes. It was really a blast."

ORPHANAGES

These kids were so cute. We were having a tour of the facility and came upon all these girls. They were so happy to see us. They kept saying "hello" in English. Then they would say, " my name is _____". Then they'd laugh. They love speaking English and having us understand them. We were swarmed in a matter of seconds. This orphanage is for children 6-16 years old. They have 157 children housed on 4 floors. They said 67 children are under State Protection. I think that means they were permanently removed from their parents. The Director said that the children here do not get adopted because they are older and people just want younger children. That was so sad. They also go to school at the orphanage. The second Orphanage houses about 82 children who are 3-18 years of age. They said they have about 20 children a year get adopted. They go to school in the community. The director said some of the children have been adopted by Mormon families from America. We were very impressed with both orphanages. The first one the children were housed in dormitory style rooms with about 6-8 beds in each room. They have been doing alot of remodeling in the last 2 years and had a very impressive facility. The children's rooms were so clean it was hard to believe children actually slept there. They had separate floors for the girls and boys and each floor had a very nice lounge with a big screen TV. They even had a gym with a basketball hoop. They had a recreation room with a ping pong table and very old weights. I think their request for Humanitarian Aide may be for some weights for the rec room or exercise equipment. We visited the classrooms while the students were in class and it was so cute. They would all stand up when we walked in. One class had 6 year- olds who said they don't know English they are studying French so they all wanted to show us what they could say in French. Elder Kinghorn said he could take any one of them home they were so adorable. They all had little black and white clothing on skirts, vest, sweaters. The teacher was very proud to tell us, "this is not just for the holiday, they look this nice everyday". It was a much nicer facility than I could have imagined, however, the sad fact is this is their "home." This was very apparent to me when we entered the hallway where the 3-5 year- olds were in their beds napping, with their little shirts and pants laying neatly on the chairs next to their beds. As we walked by and saw a few of them stirring I thought of how Wyatt and Monroe like to crawl into our laps when they wake up and just "snuggle" for a little while. Where do these little children wander off to when they wake from their naps and whose arms hold them? Who tucks them in at night and who do teaches them to pray to Heavenly Father. Yes, these were nice facilities but there is no substitute for a HOME. These children are being raised without parents. I can't imagine what it would be like to grow up not having a family. The other thing that is hard to comprehend is these children go to camps in America where people come to see them to decide if they might adopt them. I can't imagine what the rejection feels like when they are not selected and they must return to the orphanage. They already have to live knowing their birth parents didn't want them and then they have to continually be disappointed when they meet potential adoptive parents who do not want them either.