Friday, May 10, 2013
Crisis Pregnancy Center
Here in Ukraine, we volunteer with a non-profit organization called "Hope & Life". We want to give you an update on some new things that are happening!
1. Opening a 'Crisis Pregnancy Center' is one of the newest things on the agenda.
The abortion rate in Ukraine is quite high. This is from the World Health Organization (WHO) website: "... Eastern [European] countries (in this case: Belarus, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, the Russian Federation, Slovakia and Ukraine) have the highest estimated abortion rates in the world. In 2003 there were more abortions than live births: 103 abortions per 100 births."
The goal of the Crisis Pregnancy Center would be to provide a safe place for women to receive pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, counseling, encouragement to continue the pregnancy, education, etc...
In April, a team of American women came to Uzhorrod to assist with some "ground breaking activites". These women have years of experience in establishing and running "life" pregnancy centers in the US.
Activites included:
- Informing/educating area churches about the abortion issue
- Press conference that included post-abortion stories/recovery process from the US team
- Training leaders to hold post-abortion bible studies
Oksana, who is Hope & Life's president, has also traveled to Kiev to receive some special training at a Crisis Pregnancy center there!
We'll keep you updated as things move along!
Below, are photos from our time with the US team. The first few pics were taken at our intial meeting with the US ladies at the Hope & Life office.
The next few pics were taken at the girls home in Pavlovo. We joined the ladies there for dinner one evening.
1. Opening a 'Crisis Pregnancy Center' is one of the newest things on the agenda.
The abortion rate in Ukraine is quite high. This is from the World Health Organization (WHO) website: "... Eastern [European] countries (in this case: Belarus, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, the Russian Federation, Slovakia and Ukraine) have the highest estimated abortion rates in the world. In 2003 there were more abortions than live births: 103 abortions per 100 births."
The goal of the Crisis Pregnancy Center would be to provide a safe place for women to receive pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, counseling, encouragement to continue the pregnancy, education, etc...
In April, a team of American women came to Uzhorrod to assist with some "ground breaking activites". These women have years of experience in establishing and running "life" pregnancy centers in the US.
Activites included:
- Informing/educating area churches about the abortion issue
- Press conference that included post-abortion stories/recovery process from the US team
- Training leaders to hold post-abortion bible studies
Oksana, who is Hope & Life's president, has also traveled to Kiev to receive some special training at a Crisis Pregnancy center there!
We'll keep you updated as things move along!
Below, are photos from our time with the US team. The first few pics were taken at our intial meeting with the US ladies at the Hope & Life office.
The next few pics were taken at the girls home in Pavlovo. We joined the ladies there for dinner one evening.
The World Race
A couple of blogs back, I mentioned something about a team from the World Race being in Uzhhorod this month. The World Race is a very interesting and unique 11-month mission trip for young adults.
From their website: "It is a journey to 11 countries in 11 months to serve "the least of these" while amongst real and raw community. It facilitates discipleship through the process of discovering into the abundant life He promised. It births partnerships with ministries around the world. It requires Luke 10-like faith."
Checkout their page:
http://www.theworldrace.org
Last year, 3 teams came through Uzhhorod at different times. We got to know some of them, had them over our apartment for dinner and have been following their blogs as they have finished the race or have continued their journey.
In the beginning of May, another team arrived:
They have been visiting the babies at the hospital everyday, helping out with a youth camp and one girl, Heather, has been helping me with my OT patients. When I first met Heather, I found out she was an Athletic Trainer. Also, her last job included working with the elderly who were recovering from strokes and re-learning their ambulation skills. I have desperately been needing to collaborate with another therapist about the ambulation progress of the two CVA patients I see each week. Thank God, Heather came to Uzhhorod- it was definitely an answer to prayer! She has visited both patients with me this past week, offered some great advice and different/new exercises and is planning on coming with me again next week!
And... in June, two more World Race teams will be in Uzhhorod. I am really glad about this because we will be visiting NY in June, but the babies at the hospital will still be getting LOTS of love and attention everyday!!!
If you are interested or you enjoy being a blog stalker- checkout the current World Race team below:
From their website: "It is a journey to 11 countries in 11 months to serve "the least of these" while amongst real and raw community. It facilitates discipleship through the process of discovering into the abundant life He promised. It births partnerships with ministries around the world. It requires Luke 10-like faith."
Checkout their page:
http://www.theworldrace.org
Last year, 3 teams came through Uzhhorod at different times. We got to know some of them, had them over our apartment for dinner and have been following their blogs as they have finished the race or have continued their journey.
In the beginning of May, another team arrived:
They have been visiting the babies at the hospital everyday, helping out with a youth camp and one girl, Heather, has been helping me with my OT patients. When I first met Heather, I found out she was an Athletic Trainer. Also, her last job included working with the elderly who were recovering from strokes and re-learning their ambulation skills. I have desperately been needing to collaborate with another therapist about the ambulation progress of the two CVA patients I see each week. Thank God, Heather came to Uzhhorod- it was definitely an answer to prayer! She has visited both patients with me this past week, offered some great advice and different/new exercises and is planning on coming with me again next week!
And... in June, two more World Race teams will be in Uzhhorod. I am really glad about this because we will be visiting NY in June, but the babies at the hospital will still be getting LOTS of love and attention everyday!!!
If you are interested or you enjoy being a blog stalker- checkout the current World Race team below:
Team Favoured
Start Date: January 2013 Adopt This Team! Latest blog posts by Team Favoured
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Tuesday, May 7, 2013
For Our Family Blog Stalkers
Since the weather has been nice and the sun has been staying out longer, Solomiya has really enjoyed playing outside every evening!
We have a "playground" near our building and some swings, but Solomiya mostly enjoys:
- sitting in dirt and sifting it through her hands
- sitting on the swing for 12 seconds
- looking for puppies
- quietly observing other kids playing
- waving 'goodbye' and running away from me
Sometimes, we will walk to our friends apartment building and hang out there so Solomiya can play with her friends (and steal their bikes and go for a joy ride).
We have a "playground" near our building and some swings, but Solomiya mostly enjoys:
- sitting in dirt and sifting it through her hands
- sitting on the swing for 12 seconds
- looking for puppies
- quietly observing other kids playing
- waving 'goodbye' and running away from me
Sometimes, we will walk to our friends apartment building and hang out there so Solomiya can play with her friends (and steal their bikes and go for a joy ride).
Easter Sunday
Celebrated Easter Sunday at our home church here in Uzhhorod.
After the service, we went to a cafe with friends (for coffee). We also met some new friends! A small team of Americans are here for the month of May. They are part of an 11-month mission trip called 'World Race'. I'll post more about them later.
Then, we drove to a village outside of Uzhhorod and had an awesome Easter supper with our friend and her family!
Traditional Ukrainian dishes:
- Homemade cheese
- Beet and horseradish salad
- Smoked pork
- Breaded meat cutlets
- Soup with pasta and veggies
AND homemade cake! Our friend, Ira, made an AMAZING cake with a combination of oranges, quinces and chocolate!
So nice to spend the day with a family!
After the service, we went to a cafe with friends (for coffee). We also met some new friends! A small team of Americans are here for the month of May. They are part of an 11-month mission trip called 'World Race'. I'll post more about them later.
Then, we drove to a village outside of Uzhhorod and had an awesome Easter supper with our friend and her family!
Traditional Ukrainian dishes:
- Homemade cheese
- Beet and horseradish salad
- Smoked pork
- Breaded meat cutlets
- Soup with pasta and veggies
AND homemade cake! Our friend, Ira, made an AMAZING cake with a combination of oranges, quinces and chocolate!
So nice to spend the day with a family!
Our Car
Yay! Finally found a car!
Prior to moving to Ukraine, we sold our cars in the US and planned to use the money toward a car in Ukraine. Mike has been diligently looking for the past year and a half and finally found the perfect combination: a car that works well AND has legit paperwork to go with it.
It has already been a huge blessing to us! On Sunday, we were able to drive to a village (about 45 mins outside of Uzhhorod) and visit our friend and her family. One of her family members recently had surgery and I had offered some OT help. The bus does not travel to her village on a consistent schedule, so going by car was fast and convenient.
Sorry- no pics of the outside- I will post one soon!
Prior to moving to Ukraine, we sold our cars in the US and planned to use the money toward a car in Ukraine. Mike has been diligently looking for the past year and a half and finally found the perfect combination: a car that works well AND has legit paperwork to go with it.
It has already been a huge blessing to us! On Sunday, we were able to drive to a village (about 45 mins outside of Uzhhorod) and visit our friend and her family. One of her family members recently had surgery and I had offered some OT help. The bus does not travel to her village on a consistent schedule, so going by car was fast and convenient.
Sorry- no pics of the outside- I will post one soon!
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