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.

Thanksgiving in Kazakhstan!

Just in case you were wondering, does Kazakhstan celebrate Thanksgiving. Well the answer is NO! But we, as Americans, celebrate Thanksgiving American style!

There are just 3 Americans here, now, in our office so we had a small get together, but we had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner complete with Turkey, (fresh, was walking and saying Gobble, gobble just a couple days ago) Broccoli casserole, corn and egg casserole, mashed potatoes with gravy, and three traditional pies; Pumpkin, Apple and Pecan pie, only the pecan was actually walnut as they don't have the pecan nut here.

We had a great time cooking all day, eating till we couldn't move, then eating some more, then plenty of cleaning. Most of all we gave thanks to the giver of life and for all that we have and share in our lives. Wishing you all were right here, with us, celebrating this great holiday!

This Pumpkin pie, pictured here, is ALL MINE and I'm still working on devouring it piece by piece. Actually I shared it with my friends but the Apple was for Beth and Pecan (walnut) was for Sara!

Keep in touch. Love to hear from ya!
Serving Him
Ken

I love my job

Welcome to Kazken's blog. Yes, I'm getting hi tech for your convenience. You can check out this sight to see what's new and get the latest updated information on my work here in Kazakhstan.

I simply love working with the orphan children here in Taraz as they are so full of life and joy whenever we come to visit with them. It is a privilege to help them out in practical ways and simply to be a good friend and role model for them.

Through IRI (Interlink Resources Inc.) we can help by providing furnishings for their living space, celebrate special holidays including their birthday, or building them a safe and fun playground. We take great joy demonstrating, in a practical way, God's love for them.

I hope you will visit this sight often as I plan to update on a bi-weekly time table.