Wednesday, September 29, 2010

PATIENCE IS BLOGGING THROUGH THE "BACK DOOR"....GRRRRR

(Apologies for so many blogs - for what was to be one blog....the back door blogging is most frustrating here!)
 
Check out the outhouse being dug and built!! 
The new door of the home.
The beds being put together.

--
"When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another."  Helen Keller
 
 

PUSHED BUTTON TOO FAST...HERE IS THE REST

....................When the children arrived I wondered how we would "corral" them into an organized work team.  That was NEVER a problem. Children here know how to help. ...and help they did.  We had a great evening and just look at the pictures to see the hard working team and helpers!!
 
Dayspring Family Life Resource Center is now READY FOR THE NEXT STEP - LET'S START BRINGING IN FURNITURE!!!!  However, we do need a sponsor for some rugs - about $400.  Anyone want to donate them?  Just let us know.  Thanks for the sponsors in the work already done and the furnishings we have been able to purchase so far.....
 
THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!

--
"When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another."  Helen Keller
 
 

28 PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO HELP GET THE CLEARNING DONE!

CAN WE EVER BE THANKFUL ENOUGH?
The cleaning night at Dayspring started with a full day of purchasing the needed items for the kitchen.....and lots of food to feed the workers coming for the cleaning.  We purchased 8 chicken, lots of veggies, pasta for spagetti, and lots fo fruit and cookies.  And a feast was prepared.  28 people gathered together  - but they were not ordinary people.  We had those who were serving who had once BEEN SERVED.  We had one whole family that was the receipient of a home that was given to them as they had been homeless before,  we had a group of children who have been rescued from an orphanage and being separated and are now living with a family of our "on the ground" national workers, we had the project manager and his family, a visiting pastor from Canada, and our incredible LAMb team:  Pastor David and Jayne; John, Julie, Bekka, and Emma. 
 
The evening started when the Vice Mayor and the Director of Family Social Services showed up to see the renovations.  They did their walk through with solomn faces and finally they came into the kitchen and I asked the Vice "Well do you like this work?"  He then smiled and simply said, "Yes."  As he left he wished us good and for a long term relationship with him and the Mayor's office. 
 
Then the parade started when the workers started arriving - and there came a whole lot of CHILDREN!
--
"When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another."  Helen Keller
 
 
<^)\\\\><
Ruby M. Johnston
Director of International Field Operations
Institute for Human Services - Canada
and
<^)\\\\><
J. R. Lynn Johnston
President
LAMb International Canada
BN817007042RR0001
Lynn and Ruby Johnston
406-33 Ellen Street
Barrie, ON  L4N 6E9

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

DAYSPRING IS STARTING TO BLOOM!!!!

Today the bunk beds arrived.  And what an exciting time.  They must each weight a "ton" and it took three men to carry them up stairs to the rooms.   That is three men on EACH bunk bed.  Tomorrow is cleaning day for the home - we have a huge crew coming to clean up from the construction.  We will have a super meal together in the large family kitchen, pray blessings over the home and dream of the day coming soon when we hear the laughter and play of children - children who have HOPE!
 
Tomorrow we purchase the desks for the children.
 
We have so much yet to purchase..
rugs for all the rooms
overhead light fixtures
lamps and tables
pictures for the walls
curtains
shades for the windows
kitchen stuff - dishes, silverware, pans, cooking utinsils, et
table and chairs for 12
sofa and living room chairs
toys
book cases
coal for winter
wood for winter
and lots of accessories
 
JUST TO NAME A LITTLE.    Maybe you want to be a LAMPLIGHTER?   We have several already and will be shopping for their special items this week.  But we need more.  Follow the blog and watch Dayspring Family Life Resource Center GROW and BLOSSOM!
 
BREAKING NEWS - OUR FAMILY MOVES IN NEXT WEEK......WHA HOOO.

--
"When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another."  Helen Keller
 

PUTTING "GOLD" INTO THEIR HANDS!


Yesterday was quite a powerful and exciting day.  Meeting after meeting and lots of plans and training being confirmed.  One most exciting meeting was the delivery of the Field Guide to Child Welfare - which was given to senior leadership of an NGO in Bishkek.  This NGO is working with over 1500 families, some in Bishkek, some in Osh and some in Choponata.  These families are at risk of losing their children, as the children are at risk of abuse and/or neglect.  The Field Guide to Child Welfare is a set of foundation tools for these social workers.  The guides were written by the Judy Rycus and Ron Hughes from the Institute for Human Services out of Ohio.  The guides have received awards for excellence and have been used in several countries as sources for best practice in working with families and children at risk. 
 
Today, these guides are available in the Russian language and we are so pleased to be offereing them FREE OF CHARGE to these key workers out in the field of child welfare.  Thanks to the Institute for Human Service for their sponsorship of the translation, publishing and delivery of these guides.  Just look at the faces of the workers and director and see the smiles of thanks!!!!
 
Next - we are training them and sponsorship is always most appreciated.  It seems people are not often excited about training - but it takes the training and work at the prevention level to keep these children OUT OF THE ORPHANAGES.  Let believe in a KYRGYZSTAN WITHOUT ORPHANS  - interested?  Just let us know!
--
"When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another."  Helen Keller
 

Sunday, September 26, 2010

PACKING THE CONTAINER FOR OSH

This container was packed and delivered to Osh - the ravaged area where there is still so much destruction and hopelessness.  The needs are huge.  Yet, here in Tokmok, once again locals gathered items to send to their fellow countrymen.  Here in the picture, you see team member John helping out with the packing.  We want to thank you - our sponsor for funding this container to be driver on the overnight trip to Osh.  It arrived safely and was unloaded without a problem.  Tonight - families are resting on mattresses, with food and perhaps just a glimmer of hope - we pray for the peace to return soon.
 
Please pray for Kyrgyzstan - October 10 is yet another election date here.

--
"When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another."  Helen Keller
 

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

ON THE GROUND AND RUNNING - ALMOST LITERALLY!

KYRGYZSTAN - UPDATE
 
We met up with our on the ground team on Monday and started planning for our time together.  John and Julie have been here the longest this trip as they arrived in August - Jayne and David a week before us.  All have been going full steam in spite of illness that seems to have "racked" our team.  Let me do a quick update.
 
Iskra:  them men have completed so much of the renovations it is really exciting.  The rooms are starting to actually be inviting.  The Art Director  Zamir has asked for lots of new items and today we went and picked up lots of canvas boards, paints, and other art supplies for him.  In addition, they have completed another 7 paintings (watch for the virtual tour of the home - coming soon.)
 
Kemin:  they are growing and need more beds and some cozy chairs for the family visiting area.  Two grandmothers have gone home with children!  We are thrilled about this.  And the video on the blog shows Olga smiling - as she does now when we arrive.  She especially smiles as she talks about Cassaundra.  In fact that was the very first thing she asked - "Where is Cassaundra!"  What an impression team members make on our lovely seniors.
 
Child Rights Defender League - setting up training with them.
 
Red River Orphanage - tonight was a birthday party for the September birthdays.  Lynn reminded me of how important it is to guard your phones when with the children - they love to push ALL THE BUTTONS.
 
Orphanage Circus Day - tomorrow - taking 123 kids to the circus - the team is going to be on guard to keep them all in the tent on their seats and not become an event on the big ring!  Oh my!
 
Meeting with Mayor's Office tomorrow - about Dayspring Family Life Resource Center; have renos almost finished and will be starting purchasing furniture tomorrow!
 
David and Jayne are busy with IUCA - teaching three days a week!  The students now trust them and  call on them often for help and counsel.
 
SOS - Kyrgyzstan - setting up training for them
 
Humanatarian University - preparing for the upcoming work with them.
 
Mercy Foundation - they are growing and moving forward in some exciting ways.  The Christian Schools are implementing our Life Skills program in full.  We are thrilled, as we thought they would not be able to do this with the new laws around religion.
 
This is a quick update - as I am sort of in the same boat as other team members - need to rest now to prepare for the long day tomorrow.
 
 
 

--
"When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another."  Helen Keller
 
 

testing the back door to the blog



--
"When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another."  Helen Keller
 
 
<^)\\\\><
Ruby M. Johnston
Director of International Field Operations
Institute for Human Services - Canada
and
<^)\\\\><
J. R. Lynn Johnston
President
LAMb International Canada
BN817007042RR0001
Lynn and Ruby Johnston
406-33 Ellen Street
Barrie, ON  L4N 6E9

Sunday, September 19, 2010

THE STORY OF THE SOMALIANS CONTINUES


Two young women - Ubah (20) and Ismahan (18) stranded at the Moscow airport now for six months - from Somalia and living today without hope for their future.



Can you imagine living here on the floor for months and months? We shared with them, prayed with them and left them with some small items. So little for such a plight.



FROM SOMOLIA - THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE HEADING TO CANADA AND FREEDOM FROM THEIR WAR RAVAGED COUNTRY....LITTLE DID THEY UNDERSTAND THE VILE WAYS OF A TRAFFICKER!

This story is not pretty. They are young, were full of hope and are now sitting feeling defeated and hopeless. Six months ago they were boarding a plane from Somolia with a man who promised them passage to Canada where they would find peace and finally hope to have a life.

The hope promised had a cost. There were 23 who were gathered - each having paid the man $3,000 to $4,000 each for this passage. He created papers, bought tickets to start the journey and traveled with them as far as Dubai. From Dubai, another person took their documents and traveled with them to Moscow. This was to be part of the journey which would take them to Latin America and then on to Canada. This might all seem strange to us, but to young people desperately wanting a future, this "Canadian" man seemed to have the answer for them.

In Moscow, things changed. The leader took their documents, told them to wait at the gate area and he would be back soon. He never returned and they were left without documents and without hope. Six months have passed now.

We first met them in the Spring. At that time, there were 17 left in the airport, the others had families that confirmed their identities and they went back to Somolia. Back to what, no one knows. As we were told, when you leave the country and return, you are subject to a fate that is often death. Somolia is war ravaged. The families of these young people have been displaced again and again. There is little to know hope there. Canada seemed the best hope and now the wait.

Today, we took them food, lotions and funds to keep their one cell phone active. When we asked what we could bring back, they asked for very little: A hair cutter, a pair of shoes for the girls, maybe jackets for the cold weather coming (the terminal is either very hot or unbearably cold).

We will be back through the airport in October - and they expect to still be here. Can you imagine. Take a look at the pictures - think of living on the cold floor for six months, nine months - two years. Moscow does little to nothing to help. The United Nations - sends noodles. Others come by and leave small things like books, creams, scarves or whatever they might have that could relieve some of their suffering.

The stories break your heart. I will post above the pictures of Ubah and Ismahan. Ubah is 20 years old and has never been to school. Ismahan is 18 and has been educated by her father who was a school teacher. When asked about school - she said that is not possible in her country, children want very much to learn, but it is next to impossible to complete an education in Somolia.

LOOK AT THE PICTURES AND JUST IMAGINE THESE YOUNG WOMEN - LIVING HERE NOW FOR SIX MONTHS. WHAT HOPE, WHAT FUTURE DO THEY FACE. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO BRING THEM ITEMS WHEN WE RETURN THROUGH, AND YOUR PRAYERS FOR GOD TO INTERVENE IN THIS VERY SAD. CONTINUING STORY!

Friday, September 17, 2010

VIRTUAL TOUR OF DAYSPRING FAMILY LIFE RESOURCE CENTER.... - KYRGYZSTAN

Soon to start furnishing this home for children. Just imagine - having adults working together to ensure children have a permanent home with a family.


Sunday, September 12, 2010

DAYSPRING - RENOS ALMOST DONE





NEXT STEP? FURNISHING THE HOME FOR THE CHILDREN

Imagine, a child coming to Dayspring will be valued as will their family of origin. Dayspring staff will work diligently to find their parents, work with them in hopes of finding a way to reunify child and family. When reunification is not possible, Dayspring staff will seek permanence for each child with a loving family. How could this possibly work?

We will work closely with government, the community and the local churches. We will make the plight of the orphan known. Our local church partner (our primary church partner in Tokmok) will be responsible for coordinating many of the activities of the project. The church we will be working with has been reaching out to orphans and widows for some time. They are the national experts and we want to help them in any way we can.

We are most thankful for our California donor for this project. They funded the purchase of the home and the renovations - now it is time for us to take over and complete the furnishsing of the inside of the home. We need you to help us. And we need monthly donors to ensure the children of Dayspring are well cared for. Are you one of our LAMPLIGHTERS FOR DAYSPRING? You can be by just going to the shower and picking out something to donate or hitting the donate button here in the blog. WOW....LAMPLIGHTERS ARE POPPING UP EVERYWHERE. We have them from across the US and Canada and our very first LAMPLIGHTERS were a group of children from a Sunday School Class in Ohio - from a church of the SAME NAME - DAYSPRING! These children raised $70 by bringing in a quarter at a time!

The shower blog:
www.dayspringsshower.blogspot.com

Thursday, September 9, 2010

TEAM MEMBERS HEADED OUT TODAY



Teams bring their gifts and talents. Jim sang - and touched this dear grandmother's heart. The seniors at Kemin are growing in number - We will take them more gifts and crafts. The blanket here was made by the Newmarket Pentecostal Church - the ladies gave us enough blankets for every resident of the Kemin Home! Thany you so much!


PASTOR DAVID AND JAYNE ARE IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW!

By the time we wake up, they will be in Moscow and waiting for their flight to Bishkek. We emailed back and forth this morning at around 6:30am. Needless to say we are excited for them and look forward to joining them soon. They too will be joining us in Ukraine as well as Kyrgyzstan. Then they will go on to Poland for more training delivery.

John and Julie and the girls are hard at work doing what they do besr - bringing hope and dignity to the many they touch. Check out both our team's blogs:

David and Jayne - www.danjschooler.blogspot.com
John and Julie - www.actofkindness.blogspot.com

And we are getting ready for the spring trips...INTERESTED IN JOINING A TEAM? LET US KNOW - WE HAVE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

CHECK OUT THE SHOWER BLOG


Lynn and the Vice Mayor of Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan - the agreement is SIGNED!


www.dayspringsshower.blogspot.com

THINGS ARE PROGRESSING - JUST CHECK OUT THE SHOWER BLOG - YAHOO!

Monday, September 6, 2010

HEADING TO EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA SOON



Training key leaders in adoption issues - Kiev, Ukraine. NOTICE the Field Guide to Child Welfare at each of their places. This is a set of guides developed by the Institute of Human Services - our partner from Ohio. This guide has been translated into Russian and has been widely distributed. We need more copies - perhaps you would like to make that happen!! Just hit the donate button and tell us how you would like to help! Thanks.



Press Conference - Kiev,Ukraine - Discussion of Alternatives to Orphanages

ILDC - INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER
LAMb International, Institute for Human Services, Father's House and Christian Broadcasting Network were the co-founders of ILDC. This organization has been a dream for LAMb for many years. An organization where nationals were training nationals.

Today that is a reality. ILDC operates out of Kiev, Ukraine. We have four full time staff, an executive director, training director, marketing and fundraising director and a project manager for the project - Adopt Ukraine. Our staff are professionals who are committed to making life better for children and families.

They are working hard to create partnerships across Ukraine that will work with them to bring best practice skills and knowledge to government, schools, non-governmental agencies, churches and individuals who what to better themselves.

Today it is exciting to announce the new blog and website!

www.ildcua.org
www.ildcua.blogspot.com

Be sure and check them out. Oleg, Vika, Anya, Max all are waiting to introduce you to them in the website!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

They Ask Why We Go

The question of why we go has a simple answer - "Why not?" The time in Kyrgyzstan is truly a time that carries meaning for us. It is a time we can see the smiles on faces as they experience someone demonstrating love to them - the love that does not mind "snotty" noses, does not mind sitting on the floor to eat, does not mind being asked for help, and most eagerly wants to offer what ever one can to ease the hopeless feelings being felt.

Bringing hope and dignity is what it is about. Oh, we don't have huge resources, or lots of special talents, but we do have love. We go with hearts just bursting to share and let each one we meet know we love them - because HE first loved us!

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