On Tuesday, we visited Sevastopol, a large city on the Black Sea coast. Just recently, Mulberry added a second Abandoned Baby Ward ministry in this city. Our new worker, Olya, is married with two sons and has a heart for serving these children. She is working for less than the minimum wage.
When we arrived at the hospital, I had to wait outside while Olya went in to get permission for me to visit. She is still new to the hospital staff and has to be careful about protocol.
We entered through a narrow, rusted door. The halls and stairways are unlighted. I’m not sure whether the dark made the place look better or worse. But, it sure didn’t look like any hospital in the U.S.
The Abandoned Baby Ward consists of four rooms on the second floor. There are two rooms for the children and two treatment rooms. The treatment rooms are set up with IV stands and inhalers. The windows are so leaky that they plug the leaks with pillows.
There were four children in the ward. In the first room, there was a two year old from one of the orphanages. He was being treated for “breathing difficulties” and treatment includes isolation. He stood up on the stained linens in his metal crib and clapped his hands when we entered. The “toy” he was playing with was one of his socks. He has Down syndrome. The nurse said he was much improved and would be going home soon.
The other room had three children. There was a three year old boy and his one year sister. The two have been removed from their parents. We weren’t given any details but the little girl jerked away whenever one of us touched her.
The third girl appeared to be about three years old as well. There isn’t any way to know for sure because she was abandoned in the local train station. The authorities are trying to identify her parents.
In Ukraine, each hospital patient is responsible for providing his or her own food. There is no kitchen. The nurses in this ward are given a budget of $0.20 per day per child for food. The children eat cereal two or three times a day unless something more substantial is donated. This will be part of the assistance Olya provides.
I’ll have one or two more updates later.
Don’t grow weary,
Charles
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Luba at Project Sasha
I spent last Monday at project Sasha. That staff has such a high turn over rate that it is impressive how well they function. I met one new team member, Igor, on this trip. When I asked him why he wanted to work at Project Sasha, his reply was simple. “I love these children.”
That has to be the reason for the whole crew. The economy has deteriorated so badly in Ukraine that even with raises of 30-40% over the past year, salaries are still below the government measured poverty level. Everyone tries to hold a second job to make ends meet.
Let me tell you about one incident I watched unfold on Monday. Luba has been at Project Sasha less than a year. She is finishing Law School and could be using that degree for a much better paying job.
It appeared that the children at Project Sasha were younger than in previous visits. One seven year old girl from a family of eight caught my eye. She was small with long blonde hair and blue eyes. And, she was very shy, hardly making eye contact. Luba started “fixing” her hair and soon discovered lice. Some of the staff and volunteers groaned loudly and ran for the disinfectant. I could see the shyness in the girl’s eyes becoming fear. Luba leaned over and spoke very softly. She got a pair of plastic gloves, special shampoo and began to calmly shampoo the girl’s hair- thoroughly. Then Luba cleaned herself. When I grow up, I think I want to be like Luba. One other thing- Luba was on vacation this week.
Luba has asked to host a transitional center. For a transitional center, we would provide her with an apartment and she would take in two or three girls who are now living on the streets. The cost would be $800-$1,000 a month. Kostya, our Ukrainian Director, is looking for a suitable apartment. I’m looking for funds.
That has to be the reason for the whole crew. The economy has deteriorated so badly in Ukraine that even with raises of 30-40% over the past year, salaries are still below the government measured poverty level. Everyone tries to hold a second job to make ends meet.
Let me tell you about one incident I watched unfold on Monday. Luba has been at Project Sasha less than a year. She is finishing Law School and could be using that degree for a much better paying job.
It appeared that the children at Project Sasha were younger than in previous visits. One seven year old girl from a family of eight caught my eye. She was small with long blonde hair and blue eyes. And, she was very shy, hardly making eye contact. Luba started “fixing” her hair and soon discovered lice. Some of the staff and volunteers groaned loudly and ran for the disinfectant. I could see the shyness in the girl’s eyes becoming fear. Luba leaned over and spoke very softly. She got a pair of plastic gloves, special shampoo and began to calmly shampoo the girl’s hair- thoroughly. Then Luba cleaned herself. When I grow up, I think I want to be like Luba. One other thing- Luba was on vacation this week.
Luba has asked to host a transitional center. For a transitional center, we would provide her with an apartment and she would take in two or three girls who are now living on the streets. The cost would be $800-$1,000 a month. Kostya, our Ukrainian Director, is looking for a suitable apartment. I’m looking for funds.
Friday, July 18, 2008
On the way to Crimea
Dear friends and family,
I’m sitting in another airport- Detroit this time- heading back to Ukraine. Mulberry has a lot going on right now and I’m eager to meet with the staff over there.
On this trip, the construction discussions will be more urgent. We have always talked about the work that needed to be done. But, on prior visits everyone understood that we were still a long way from having any money to actually begin work. With the matching pledge and some encouraging responses from some of you, we are ready to talk seriously about construction.
In case you missed it, Yakov’s Light foundation in New York has committed to match the first $100,000 that Mulberry raises for construction. YL is actually funded by a Jewish family that supports at-risk children around the world. Their interest is purely humanitarian. They support work regardless of religious affiliation.
Our first pledge came from a long-time missionary working in Simferopol. I know his ministry is hurting financially right now, but he feels that the work Mulberry is doing is worthy of sacrifice. What an encouragement!
Galina Gudvil is having some modifications made to her rented home. Now that we have a long-term rent agreement, some structural issues are being addressed. I also want to hear all about Vanya’s and Galina’s trip to Israel and the doctor’s reports.
Hussein has been installing a divider to separate the abandoned babies from the rest of the hospital. That funding was provided by a group who has supported his work for many years. Hopefully, I will be able to visit the hospital on this trip.
An abandoned baby ministry has begun in a new city, Sevastopol. This new work is being provided for by a group in Iowa. Our new worker there says that conditions are deplorable. I hope to meet with her and offer some encouragement. There is also a girl from Project Sasha in a home for unwed mothers in Sevastopol that I plan to visit.
The Project Sasha staff has promised to tell me all about their work this summer at different camps. They were invited by the government to work at a couple of summer camps and the government was so impressed that they have already been invited back next year. These are state sponsored camps and our staff is presenting Christian lessons. No wonder the staff is so pumped up.
I’ll try to keep everyone updated as this trip progresses. Hopefully, future updates won’t be this long.
Don’t grow weary.
Charles
I’m sitting in another airport- Detroit this time- heading back to Ukraine. Mulberry has a lot going on right now and I’m eager to meet with the staff over there.
On this trip, the construction discussions will be more urgent. We have always talked about the work that needed to be done. But, on prior visits everyone understood that we were still a long way from having any money to actually begin work. With the matching pledge and some encouraging responses from some of you, we are ready to talk seriously about construction.
In case you missed it, Yakov’s Light foundation in New York has committed to match the first $100,000 that Mulberry raises for construction. YL is actually funded by a Jewish family that supports at-risk children around the world. Their interest is purely humanitarian. They support work regardless of religious affiliation.
Our first pledge came from a long-time missionary working in Simferopol. I know his ministry is hurting financially right now, but he feels that the work Mulberry is doing is worthy of sacrifice. What an encouragement!
Galina Gudvil is having some modifications made to her rented home. Now that we have a long-term rent agreement, some structural issues are being addressed. I also want to hear all about Vanya’s and Galina’s trip to Israel and the doctor’s reports.
Hussein has been installing a divider to separate the abandoned babies from the rest of the hospital. That funding was provided by a group who has supported his work for many years. Hopefully, I will be able to visit the hospital on this trip.
An abandoned baby ministry has begun in a new city, Sevastopol. This new work is being provided for by a group in Iowa. Our new worker there says that conditions are deplorable. I hope to meet with her and offer some encouragement. There is also a girl from Project Sasha in a home for unwed mothers in Sevastopol that I plan to visit.
The Project Sasha staff has promised to tell me all about their work this summer at different camps. They were invited by the government to work at a couple of summer camps and the government was so impressed that they have already been invited back next year. These are state sponsored camps and our staff is presenting Christian lessons. No wonder the staff is so pumped up.
I’ll try to keep everyone updated as this trip progresses. Hopefully, future updates won’t be this long.
Don’t grow weary.
Charles
Monday, July 14, 2008
June 27th Entry
The North American Christian Convention is next week in Cincinnati. Mulberry will be there in booth #215. Be sure to stop by if you are attending.
Recent news from Ukraine has been good. The Project Sasha staff so impressed the coordinators at the government’s summer camp that they were asked to work a second camp. The benefits here are far-reaching. Not only do we get to send some of our kids who would never have this opportunity, but we are able to share Christ’s love with a lot of at-risk kids. Many of the campers have come to Project Sasha in the past. Many will come in the future.
Vanya, the eleven year old with severe physical problems, just returned from Israel where he was seen by several specialists. Early indications are that he will have more surgery later this year. The doctors believe that his difficulty walking is the result of nerve damage suffered during a surgical procedure in Ukraine.
A three-year lease was negotiated for the home that Galina Gudvil has been renting. The owners had been trying to sell the house, but were persuaded to take it off the market and sign a lease. These agreements are notoriously unenforceable in Ukraine. Pray that the owners honor their commitment.
The families at Dyetski Dom are in their normal summer mode. I had a note from a mother with nine children. She said that the four boys had received scholarships to Christian camps and things were pretty boring with only the five girls. Can anyone imagine how life with five girls, ages four to seven, could be boring? Another family is spending the summer at their farm. They will raise vegetables to eat throughout the winter. The children in this family are learning the rewards of hard work.
A generous donation is making it possible for us to upgrade the computers used by the families and Project Sasha. Soon, I hope to be able to provide links to websites with current pictures and family news.
Our second Project Compassion ministry is now operating in an abandoned baby ward in Sevastopol, the second largest city in Crimea. Early reports about the conditions we found are depressing. I’m glad that we were led to add this ministry. Hussein is completing construction that will separate the abandoned babies in his hospital from the rest of the patients. Both of these additions are the result of special gifts.
Our monthly operating budget continues to be strained. The Ukrainian economy isn’t improving and we are experiencing a summer slump in support.
In spite of the economic situation here and in Ukraine, we will be kicking off a capital campaign in the coming weeks. Yakov’s Light, a foundation that supports work with children around the world, will match the first $100,000 we can raise for completion of the Dyetski Dom building. This construction will allow us to house two more families, each with ten children. That’s twenty children who won’t spend their lives in one of Ukraine’s state institutions.
I would be glad to share more information with each of you personally, just ask. As always, feel free to forward this to others that would be interested in Mulberry’s ministries. And, let me know if you want to be removed from this list.
Don’t grow weary.
Charles
Recent news from Ukraine has been good. The Project Sasha staff so impressed the coordinators at the government’s summer camp that they were asked to work a second camp. The benefits here are far-reaching. Not only do we get to send some of our kids who would never have this opportunity, but we are able to share Christ’s love with a lot of at-risk kids. Many of the campers have come to Project Sasha in the past. Many will come in the future.
Vanya, the eleven year old with severe physical problems, just returned from Israel where he was seen by several specialists. Early indications are that he will have more surgery later this year. The doctors believe that his difficulty walking is the result of nerve damage suffered during a surgical procedure in Ukraine.
A three-year lease was negotiated for the home that Galina Gudvil has been renting. The owners had been trying to sell the house, but were persuaded to take it off the market and sign a lease. These agreements are notoriously unenforceable in Ukraine. Pray that the owners honor their commitment.
The families at Dyetski Dom are in their normal summer mode. I had a note from a mother with nine children. She said that the four boys had received scholarships to Christian camps and things were pretty boring with only the five girls. Can anyone imagine how life with five girls, ages four to seven, could be boring? Another family is spending the summer at their farm. They will raise vegetables to eat throughout the winter. The children in this family are learning the rewards of hard work.
A generous donation is making it possible for us to upgrade the computers used by the families and Project Sasha. Soon, I hope to be able to provide links to websites with current pictures and family news.
Our second Project Compassion ministry is now operating in an abandoned baby ward in Sevastopol, the second largest city in Crimea. Early reports about the conditions we found are depressing. I’m glad that we were led to add this ministry. Hussein is completing construction that will separate the abandoned babies in his hospital from the rest of the patients. Both of these additions are the result of special gifts.
Our monthly operating budget continues to be strained. The Ukrainian economy isn’t improving and we are experiencing a summer slump in support.
In spite of the economic situation here and in Ukraine, we will be kicking off a capital campaign in the coming weeks. Yakov’s Light, a foundation that supports work with children around the world, will match the first $100,000 we can raise for completion of the Dyetski Dom building. This construction will allow us to house two more families, each with ten children. That’s twenty children who won’t spend their lives in one of Ukraine’s state institutions.
I would be glad to share more information with each of you personally, just ask. As always, feel free to forward this to others that would be interested in Mulberry’s ministries. And, let me know if you want to be removed from this list.
Don’t grow weary.
Charles
March, 2008 list of Mulberry Childfren
List of children of Charity Foundation Dyetski Dom in Yevpatoria, Crimea, Ukraine:
Goryanov family – 9 Children.
1. Goryanov Sergei – 14.09.1997yr.
2. Goryanov Aleksei – 24.07.1999 yr.
3. Goryanov Aleksander – 11.07.2000.
4. Goryanov Dmitriy – 08.05.2001.
5. Goryanova Anastasia – 08.06.2001.
6. Goryanova Olga – 01.07.2001.
7. Goryanova Nadezhda – 24.01.2002.
8. Goryanova Marina – 17.08.2002.
9. Goryanova Ksenia– 12.09.2003.
Matsevich family – 11 Children.
1. Matsevich Alina– 20.06.1993.
2. Matsevich Karina – 25.09.1997.
3. Matsevich Bogdan – 08.11.2006.
4. Kulakova Irina – 04.06.1988.
5. Kulakova Olga – 02.11.1992.
6. Volkova Marina – 30.11.1997.
7. Volkova Evgenia – 11.07.2000.
8. Volkov Nikolai – 25.05.2004.
9. Gavrilov Oleg – 15.06.2004.
10. Chernishova Evgenia – 28.12.2000.
11. Chernishova Elena – 28.12.2000.
Chernov family – 4 Children.
1. Chernov Fillip – 28.10.1995.
2. Ovod Angelina – 31.07.2001.
3. Ovod Diana – 11.11.2003.
4. Stemplevskiy Michial – 21.11.2003.
List of children of charity organization "New Hope" in Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine:
Gudvil family – 5 children.
1. Popov Michial – 14.09.1990.
2. Vasina Aleksandra – 07.11.1994.
3. Gudvil Ivan – 24.121996.
4. Gubin Viktor – 10.04.2003.
5. Roschina Yana – 27.10.2003.
Shalbetskiy family – 7 children.
1. Zhestkaya Alisa – 22.12.1988.
2. Salnikov Fyodor – 23.01.1998.
3. Lubach Viktoria – 02.05.1995.
4. Sergeeva Anastasia – 09.07.2002.
5. Belih Elizaveta – 04.10.1995.
6. Larionov Aleksei – 23.07.1997.
7. Emelyanova Anna 05.09.2005.
Tsaritson family – 1 child.
1. Dubenko Alina – 24.10.2003.
Ovsyanikova family – 1 child.
1. Slabinskaya Nadejda – 20.12.1990.
List of children of Adaptation Center "Pilgrim" in Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine:
Galina Osipova family – 3 children.
1. Gusak Timofei – 25.06.1992.
2. Cherkaskiy Daniil – 02.04.1992.
3. Kravchenko Aleksander – 03.07.1993.
Roman Zadirenko family – 3 children.
1. Zabavnov Yuriy – 23.02.1989.
2. Dobrovenko Vitalii – 25.07.1989.
3. Dobrovenko Vladimir – 29.06.1988.
Totally there are 9 families in the ministry, having 44 children:
Biological children – 7.
Adopted children – 8.
Children with guardianship – 15.
Family type children's home children – 11.
With paperwork not completed – 3.
Goryanov family – 9 Children.
1. Goryanov Sergei – 14.09.1997yr.
2. Goryanov Aleksei – 24.07.1999 yr.
3. Goryanov Aleksander – 11.07.2000.
4. Goryanov Dmitriy – 08.05.2001.
5. Goryanova Anastasia – 08.06.2001.
6. Goryanova Olga – 01.07.2001.
7. Goryanova Nadezhda – 24.01.2002.
8. Goryanova Marina – 17.08.2002.
9. Goryanova Ksenia– 12.09.2003.
Matsevich family – 11 Children.
1. Matsevich Alina– 20.06.1993.
2. Matsevich Karina – 25.09.1997.
3. Matsevich Bogdan – 08.11.2006.
4. Kulakova Irina – 04.06.1988.
5. Kulakova Olga – 02.11.1992.
6. Volkova Marina – 30.11.1997.
7. Volkova Evgenia – 11.07.2000.
8. Volkov Nikolai – 25.05.2004.
9. Gavrilov Oleg – 15.06.2004.
10. Chernishova Evgenia – 28.12.2000.
11. Chernishova Elena – 28.12.2000.
Chernov family – 4 Children.
1. Chernov Fillip – 28.10.1995.
2. Ovod Angelina – 31.07.2001.
3. Ovod Diana – 11.11.2003.
4. Stemplevskiy Michial – 21.11.2003.
List of children of charity organization "New Hope" in Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine:
Gudvil family – 5 children.
1. Popov Michial – 14.09.1990.
2. Vasina Aleksandra – 07.11.1994.
3. Gudvil Ivan – 24.121996.
4. Gubin Viktor – 10.04.2003.
5. Roschina Yana – 27.10.2003.
Shalbetskiy family – 7 children.
1. Zhestkaya Alisa – 22.12.1988.
2. Salnikov Fyodor – 23.01.1998.
3. Lubach Viktoria – 02.05.1995.
4. Sergeeva Anastasia – 09.07.2002.
5. Belih Elizaveta – 04.10.1995.
6. Larionov Aleksei – 23.07.1997.
7. Emelyanova Anna 05.09.2005.
Tsaritson family – 1 child.
1. Dubenko Alina – 24.10.2003.
Ovsyanikova family – 1 child.
1. Slabinskaya Nadejda – 20.12.1990.
List of children of Adaptation Center "Pilgrim" in Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine:
Galina Osipova family – 3 children.
1. Gusak Timofei – 25.06.1992.
2. Cherkaskiy Daniil – 02.04.1992.
3. Kravchenko Aleksander – 03.07.1993.
Roman Zadirenko family – 3 children.
1. Zabavnov Yuriy – 23.02.1989.
2. Dobrovenko Vitalii – 25.07.1989.
3. Dobrovenko Vladimir – 29.06.1988.
Totally there are 9 families in the ministry, having 44 children:
Biological children – 7.
Adopted children – 8.
Children with guardianship – 15.
Family type children's home children – 11.
With paperwork not completed – 3.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
