BLOG # 2

March  26,2019

Last week we were invited to the MCC meetings on peacebuilding and conflict resolution.  This was an opportunity for MCC’s various partners to learn and have fellowship with one another.  Mennonite Centre cooperates with MCC on several projects.   We appreciated this opportunity to meet and to learn from their workshop.  The well-known peace builder from Ireland, Joe Campbell, shared from his expertise, having devoted 25 years to peacebuilding in Ireland and other parts of the world.

Mennonite Centre purchased a blood analyzer for the lab in the Tokmak Intensive Care Hospital.  We met the director and his assistant who  expressed their gratitude and also explained some of the challenges they face in implementing the government medical reforms.Doctors’ salaries have improved substantially but it is still difficult to attract doctors to smaller centres with outdated equipment.  Many doctors are leaving for other countries.  The director was pleased that their hospital had qualified as an intensive care facility for the area. Acquiring equipment for laparoscopic surgeries would enable them to provide much better services.

The local sports school organized a program to encourage families to improve their physical fitness.  We attended a competition where several family units participated in timed events such as skipping, ball throwing, running, etc.  Scores were kept.  In the end all participants were awarded prizes for participation and a winner was announced.

Today delicious aromas are penetrating our office area.  Seniors  enjoying a lovely lunch prepared by our staff. The number of visitors seems to be increasing.  They enjoy the food and the fellowship and often continue their visits outside, enjoying the warmer spring weather.  Lunches are also sent home to shut-ins and poor families with many children.

The variety and scope of our projects are endless.  The challenge for FOMCU is always to determine the purpose and value of each project and how we can provide the most benefit to the local residents.  We want you, our donors, to know that your contributions are deeply appreciated.  

BLOG # 1  2019

Back to Ukraine

Even though it is hard to say good-bye to our children and grandchildren, we are always warmly welcomed by our friends and co-workers here in Ukraine.  Not only was the welcome warm, but also the weather.  Having come from a world of deep snow and blizzards, it is a treat to see green grass, swelling buds on trees, and early spring flowers.  We see people walking with rakes and hoes to their “dachas” (gardens).  Apparently some have already planted potatoes, in order to take advantage of the spring moisture.

We flew directly into Zaporoschye with Polish Airlines instead of to Dnepro, saving us one and half hours of additional travel by road.  Unfortunately they left one of our checked bags somewhere along the way and we had to pick it up 3 days later.

In the first 4 days at the office, we have already had many requests for assistance from schools for repairs, and pleas from individuals for medical help.   We are always impressed with the dedication of teachers and parents to look after the upkeep of their schools.  The government does not cover maintenance costs and so those are left up to the community.  Often Mennonite Centre helps pay for supplies while teachers and parents provide the labor.

Again we are seeing the insurmountable expense for individuals who need chemo treatments or surgeries.  Many have already exhausted all other possible resources for funding and then come to the Centre for help.  Just this morning we received the heartfelt thanks from a woman whose husband received funding for his third round of chemo.  We wish you, our donors, could have heard her expressions of gratitude.

Today we were invited to visit a school on the other side of the Molotschna River.  These are villages that originally belonged to the German Lutheran population.  Mennonite Centre had assisted this school with several projects in recent years, such as windows, small chairs for the Kindergarten, lighting, internet installation, and a dividing wall to facilitate two Kindergarten classes.  The principal proudly explained, in German, all the benefits to their school.  Students are taught German and English.  Then we were invited to a lovely lunch as their way of saying “Thank-you”.

Our seven week stay in Ukraine is quickly filling up with visits to check on various projects, those already completed as well as new requests for assistance.  We are also making plans for an annual Ukrainian Mennonite Centre board meeting, a legal requirement for registered charities in Ukraine.