Blog # 6

April 17, 2018

Spring is advancing quickly here.  Many trees and shrubs are  dressed in white and we’re thankful that it is not snow.  The blossoms are filling the air with their perfume.   

We spent several days with Drs. Art & Marlyce Friesen visiting hospitals and other medical projects.  Reforms are being planned, beginning with Level 1 or primary care.  These began on April 1^st and will continue for the next 2 years.  These will be followed by reforms in levels 2 and 3.  Sadly, some of the changes that need to happen are not coming soon enough.  One hospital reported losing 7 doctors because the salaries are so low.  Professionals are leaving for other European countries and taking jobs there that are unrelated to their training because they can make a better living.  Unfortunately, young professionals are the people Ukraine needs to improve life here.

Dr. Irina served the people at the Mennonite Centre for many years, but she has now left for Italy.  We are pleased that Dr. Petrovna, a pediatrician, will be filling her position.  She has lived in Molochansk most of her life and is well known among the local people.

When we met with the chief doctor in the Shiroke Territorial Region there was a much more positive attitude towards the reforms.  We sensed a good working relationship between her and her nursing staff.  During our conversation they were all crowded into the doorway and      participating in the discussion.

When we visited the rehab unit in the Zaporizhzhye Oblast Hospital, we met several recently trained physiotherapists, eager to learn the most recent treatment procedures.  They were telling us of a training program being offered online followed by a practicum at a hospital in Lviv.  The instructors were from North America.   They were very interested, but the cost was prohibitive for them.  Mennonite Centre will pay the tuition for one student, who will then be qualified to teach the others.  Anya, a mother of a five-year old daughter, will receive this training.

Last night we had a wind-up barbecue with our staff.  We are always sorry we can’t communicate directly, but we treasure their friendships and are pleased that they support each other.  They appreciate that they are able to work at the Mennonite Centre and we value their services.

Our term in Ukraine is quickly coming to an end.   We are always saddened to bid farewell to our friends here.  Those connections have enriched our lives!  We are repeatedly told how the Mennonite Centre, supported by Canadians, has enriched theirs.   

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.

Blog # 4

April 3, 2018

ZAPORIZHZHYE AREA VISITS

We spent several days in the Zaporizhzhye area visiting various people for whom Mennonite Centre has provided assistance.

Our meeting with a Seniors’ art and dance group was quite delightful!  They meet biweekly for art and dance instruction, and, of course, fellowship.  Our Centre assisted with art supplies and some costuming.  We were warmly welcomed by the group, who wanted to hear our personal stories and about our connection to the Mennonites.  They responded with questions and stories of their own.  We appreciated the emotional support they were providing for each other, such as for a gentleman who had just lost his wife and towards one of the women dealing with a cancer diagnosis.  Tatyana, their leader, a believer, cared genuinely for these people and had established a very positive environment.

On Saturday we drove out to a nearby village to visit the Prodnikov family.  They escaped from Crimea during the Russian takeover, leaving behind their property and many possessions.  He is a bee farmer and generous Canadian donors have provided the family with bee hives, assistance to purchase land and renovate a small house.  They produced 200 kilos of
honey last year from 16 newly established hives and hope to expand their operation.  They are still struggling with finding a better market for their honey as well as for the roses they are growing on their land.  Mennonite Centre assisted with medications for their 3-year old
son who was suffering from a severe rash and allergic reactions.
He is doing much better now.  Unfortunately, the financial assistance provided by the Ukrainian government for Internally Displaced Persons is now being clawed back, adding another challenge to a family trying to establish a new life for themselves.

The next day we observed a swimming class at the Zaporizhzhye Classical University.  One of the instructors was a former Olympic athlete who had participated in Athens and Beijing.  She, together with another teacher, is dedicated to working with physically challenged children.  Mennonite Centre had provided some equipment for use in the pool.  We were interested to observe Nikolai, a young boy who had lost both legs from the knee down and part of one arm due to a grenade explosion.  That accident had hit the news and so Olga Rubel, Mennonite Centre’s manager in Zaporizhzhye, had gone to the hospital to inquire how we could help.   Mennonite Centre paid for some of the initial treatment in Ukraine.  Following that, with funding from other sources, he has received prosthesis for both legs in Canada. He loves to swim and is progressing very well, participating in local and state competitions.  Perhaps someday he will compete in the Para Olympics!

We met Yuri and Natasha on Sunday morning.  Both former drug addicts, they now share the love of God with the homeless, drug addicts, and the

terminally ill.  They feed about 200 people three times per week of which Mennonite Centre covers about half the cost.  Their charity:  “Love without Boundaries” is appropriately named.  We have met few people who follow Jesus’ teaching and example of love as closely as this couple!

Through our work at the Mennonite Centre we meet many people facing various challenges.  We also get to see people responding in helpful ways, often with the financial assistance of agencies such as ours.  Thanks for your part in meeting needs in Ukraine.