HUMANITARIAN WORK (containers)

People who write us always ask "How can I help you? What can we send? My answer to you is attend your Stake Humanitarian Workdays. The above picture is an Orphanage Module that is shipped over in the containers I have mentioned. This is where the quilts, wall hangings, newborn kits, baby blankets, handmade dolls and toys go that are made in those meetings. The Hygiene Kits and School Kits are also sent over in the containers. One of the fist ladies I met who represented a charity that is from a very poor community pulled out a "School Bag" that she distributed the last time they received help from us. I can't tell you how exciting it was to see those bags go from our Relief Society to Welfare Square and end up here in Ukraine. I see your faces sitting over your sewing machines at home making these beautiful quilts and school kits that are so cherished by these children. Sister Ray told me the first time she took Hygiene Kits to an orphanage one little girl just clung to it. She didn't even want to open it. She just held it close to her chest. The first time I went to an orphanage I spoke with a little girl who was clinging to a very old raggedy barbie doll with no clothes and a little broken comb and empty perfume bottle. Your handmade gifts are so very special and greatly appreciated. My dear friends, the blankets or school bags, or hygiene kits that you make may not come to Ukraine but I promise you the Humanitarian dept will send it to a country where some little girl or boy will cherish it and feel the Saviors love through your act of service. I want you to know that we are distributing these items all over Ukraine and I am so proud to be able to say "they come from the families in America". We also tell them that the money we use to purchase other items they request is money that comes from families in America. This money comes directly from your donations. Some of you may not be able to attend meetings or sew at home but you can help another way; you can donate to the Humanitarian Fund on your tithing slip. I am so grateful to be able to be here in Ukraine bringing the love of the Savior to these people. I love this work.

HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS

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 me there would be a "special reward in Heaven" for me 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.

Bruce and I with the Ray's at the New Branch Building opening in May

KALININSKY BUILDING

This is the new building we went to see. It is going to be so nice. It is suppose to be ready the end of May. I don't know yet if we will be assigned to this building.

WHAT IS WOMEN'S DAY?

This past week we Celebrated Women's Day in Ukraine. It is similar to Mother's Day in America. Our Branch had a really fun evening that the Men were in charge of. There was music, skits, and food. All the women were given chocolate candy bars just like home. It was well attended and a fun evening. A new couple arrived who will be going to another area in our mission. They have served a previous mission in Croatia. So they felt they were prepared for Ukraine. The second day in Country we had the branch party and when I asked how they were feeling they said "overwhelmed". I guess you just can't get around the "Culture Shock". We took them to see a new 2 story branch building that is being built. It is so beautiful and much bigger than any of the other buildings here. It sits next to a very popular park right on a walking path that goes through the park so it will get a lot of visibility. I mentioned before that Baptisms have dropped by 50% this past year. The building gives us hope that the church will keep growing and have need for that large building in the near future. It is great to be here now while the foundation is being laid. Yesterday was our Wedding Anniversary. It was a beautiful sun shining day here. We got up and went for a walk and bus ride to the store and came home and prepared for a District Meeting at our home. We were all fasting so we had a nice "break the fast meal" afterwards that everyone helped prepare. Elder Permenter showed us his Tennessee Shake after dinner and we all got the cameras out and had a good laugh. We are going on a bus today to visit a school for the blind. It is an hour and a half bus ride. I'm getting a little worried about the bathroom situation (that is always a concern when we leave town). Sunday after our tour of the church building we had a nice dinner at President Andersen's home. We had a great weekend and really enjoyed spending time with the other couples. Oh I almost forgot, a package from home came again. That was great. I have new clothes to wear for spring and Bruce is excited he can charge the electric toothbrush and we have an adapter for our computer that actually fits. Life is great.