Blog  # 5

April 9, 2018

SPRING HAS ARRIVED!

Spring in Molochansk is a welcome sight!  The early spring blossoms are appearing, even the bees are buzzing!  The tree buds are swelling and we are eagerly anticipating the sight of new green leaves.

Many seniors in this area are also anticipating that sight.  Mennonite Centre has purchased 1605 pairs of glasses since that project began for seniors.  Dr. Tatyana Krasovskya, an optometrist, comes to the Centre twice per month and examines 10 – 12 persons each time.  Another frequent request is for assistance for cataract surgery, a total of 19 last year.  The cost of this surgery has increased 75% in the last year! 

  Many of us have experienced the benefit of eye glasses or cataract surgery, but in Ukraine many seniors do not have funds for these services.  Your generosity enables Mennonite Centre to give the gift of sight to many people here.  We wish you could have heard the gratitude and excitement in the voice of the gentleman in the photo, with repeated expressions to the staff: “I can SEE you!  I can SEE you!”

There is a large Psychiatric Hospital in Molochansk with 170 patients at this time.  Many of them are dealing with alcoholism, a problem that has increased here since the war began.  Some are dealing with TB which is also on the increase.  During our visit we checked out some kitchen equipment, which they were asking us to replace.  We also distributed packages of Easter treats, prepared by our staff, to give out to the patients.  Many were very appreciative.

Sergei Lokotkov is the director of the Tokmak Music School and of the Rhapsody Choir.  When we spoke to him last year regarding the territorial changes that are underway in Ukraine, he was quite discouraged, fearing that the local music schools would be closed.  Since then he has become involved in the Ministry of Culture in Kiev.  This enables him to have a better understanding of what is happening at the government level, as well as influence some of the decision making. He is now much more optimistic that the Music Schools will continue.  No doubt there will be changes in the way the curriculum is set up, but as he said, when we get too comfortable in the way we do things, it is time to make changes. They expect to admit adults as well, and are planning classes for choirs, an orchestra, as well as English language studies.  We have always been impressed with the quality of instruction we have observed here in the music schools.  Promotion of the Arts is an important component in building a nation.   

This past week we also received a visit from Dr. Troyan.  Mennonite Centre has aided his hospital in Vladovka for many years.  He did not seem optimistic, however, about the territorial changes and how they would affect the medical field.  There is no mistaking who has entered the building when Dr. Troyan is around, because when he speaks his huge booming voice fills the room.   His voice may sound intimidating but he has a soft heart for the needy persons in his community.  He came to the Mennonite Centre requesting medical help for a 50-year old man who had fled from Crimea.  He was extremely poor, lacked official documents, and needed hip surgery.

  A second request was for a young couple whose 2-year old child was suffering from a broken hip.  The family had very little income and desperately needed help.

This weekend we celebrated Easter in Ukraine.  At midnight on Saturday evening Orthodox believers gather for the Easter service, bringing their paska and eggs to be blessed by the priest.  The embroidery in the photo features the Russian words for the joyous greeting of Easter:  “Christ has risen.  He has risen indeed!”  This was a gift of gratitude from a teacher who was assisted by the Mennonite Centre.

The Easter service in the local Mennonite Church featured a drama and songs of praise from the youth group and their leaders.  Many times during the morning the traditional Russian Easter greeting was exchanged.  We were inspired when during our long afternoon walk in the village, we were able to exchange this greeting with some of the people we met.