Notes From my Little Friends

While we were in Thailand, we missed our monthly visit to Savva Orphanage. When others from our team visited, they returned with a stack of letters from the children. It is fun to see how much my being there means to the kids and how much they miss me when I am not there. I thought I’d share some excerpts of some of those letters with you.

"I am so glad that I met you. I am happy to write a letter to you. I like you. I wish you could be here with us all the time. I am happy when we are together."

"I like it when you come and celebrate our birthdays. Ken, you are my best friend." Masha

"I love you Ken. You are very funny and the best. I remember when we played soccer together. I look forward to your coming and playing my favorite game with me."

"Remember that I love you so much. I won’t forget you. You are like a father to me and you are special to me." Luba

As many of you know, in order to work in Kazakhstan our company requires us to find financial sponsors. As the economy of Kazakhstan continues to increase, the cost of living has also increased. All utilities and grocery staples have increased 30% or more. As a result, I need to have some more people join me in my work as financial sponsors. I need about $300 more each month in order to continue impacting the lives of these children. This need could be met by finding 12 new sponsors that can donate $24 per month. I also need about $4,000 in one-time sponsorships. Thanks to all of you that have made my first four years in Kazakhstan possible. I can’t imagine doing anything else and am looking forward to my future here.

Note: Contributions to my work can be made online using the donate button on my blog. If you would like information on how to make a donation in a different manner, please email me.

Savva Letter

One of the orphanages that we work with is Savva Orphanage. It is two hours outside of Taraz and has about 190 children. A couple months ago, we were given a letter written by the head caregiver and asked to have it published in a local newspaper. It reminded me of the difference we are making in the lives of these children. I thought you might enjoy reading it on the Interlink blog.

Easter in Kazakhstan

This was an Easter unlike most Easters I've known. We started off with worship and the Word from a local Russian speaking Korean church. Fortunately I have a translator.

So the service and fellowship was very good and it's unique to be with others who celebrate the Resurrection in a different culture. The team, with Olya, took a drive to the mountains for more fellowship, sharing, singing and relaxing while having a great picnic etc. Fortunately with the Rav4 we are able to navigate the dirt trail through streams and bushes until we reached the perfect area.

On the way back we came across a local Kazakh who was riding his horse managing his flock of sheep. We've run into him before and again having Olya as our translator we were able to communicate with him. He loves talking to "The Americans". Only this time he had a surprise. In a plastic sack he held a lamb born just 2 hours previously. He took him out for us to see, hold and take photos. Olya is holding the new born lamb, Sara is standing then there is me and the Kaz Shepperd man.

I couldn't help but reflect over the significance of seeing a newly born lamb on Easter Sunday!

It was a great Easter, wish you were here.

Great Vacation in Thailand

I went to Thailand for a 2 week vacation. One great advantage of working overseas is going to different countries for vacations. I may never have thought of going to Thailand if still working back home. A walk on the Sandy beach is a beautiful thing especially when sharing it with someone very special. Olya and I have been dating for 3 months now and enjoying the relationship God has given us. Jason and I had a Chariots of Fire moment when I decided to race him to the beach. It was great fun and we both collapsed on the beach from tripping in the water. We went to Bangkok for a couple days, then onto the beach at Hua Hin and after the beach onto Chaing Mai for more activities and relaxation. We took a ride on Elephants, took a Zip Line excursion, shopping, eating out, rode Jet Skies, walked the beach for shells, went on a Safari and also saw a light and water show, went to a Go-Cart track and so much more. Sara Coggins went with us and helped setting up this vacation as she had previously visited Thailand a couple years back. Thanks to Jason for meeting us from America!

Something NEW!

In case you have not heard, I started dating a local Russian gal here who works with me at Interlink and also speaks fluent English. Olya is a wonderful young woman who is strong in her faith and has also traveled to America for graduate studies at Columbia University in N.Y. She started a new program at our office to reach and teach basic life skills to graduating orphans. It's called Youth Impact and it is greatly needed here as orphans who graduate have little to no options in life and little to no guidance. Here is a recent photo taken at my place where we shared a romantic Valentines dinner I prepared for her. It was the absolute best Valentines Day of my life.

Burrrrrrrrrrrrr !!!

Christmas and New Years have come and gone, but the cold weather is here to stay. We've had more than 2 weeks of 0 to 10 degrees below zero weather. Burrrrrrr !!! The team here invited my English Club over for tree decoration. They don't celebrate Christmas here but do use the evergreen for New Years celebration. Still they do not decorate like we do in the homes. We also had an American style pizza dinner and watched "It's a Wonderful Life" They got a good dose of American culture that night.

Love to hear from you guys. Tell me how you celebrated Christmas and New years. I'm looking very forward to 2008! I hope you are as well.

Keep me posted and don't forget to vote!
Love you all
Ken

Beautiful and Pratctial

All orphanages have a concert room and it is frequently used. This particular building is not for orphans but is used for those children who are physically or mentally handicaped. Interlink (IRI) tries to help them out on ocassion.

These new curtains are both beautiful and practical. They add beauty to the room and also they are made there where ladies teach children how to sew. We only purchased the material. These children have severly limited vocational opportunities and sewing is one of the few things offered to young girls. So our ability to help them purchase materials is a really big help for the children and bennefits the whole school.

We were invited to the opening concert and enjoyed it very much.