Pastor Josef's New Building: Part 2

This is the entry-way you see when you walk up the steps and into the side door. To the right, there is a set of steps going down to the basement and then stairs going up to the second floor. Straight ahead is...

... this large room! As you can see, it is already being used for storage (clothing and shoes ready to be given away).

The right side of the basement and..

...the left side of the basement. Two rooms that they are already remodeling. One of the biggest projects down here is making the space dry.

 

There is also this front part of the building (the steps lead to another separate entry and space), but it has been open to the elements for at least a few months due to broken windows and doors. There are 2 or 3 smaller rooms connected to this part of the building.

This is a view of the side of the building.

Thank you SO much for giving money so that the remodeling can begin!
Anyone interested in helping? Come on over and you will be put to good use.

Pastor Josef's New Building: Part 1

A couple Sunday's ago, our home church in New York raised money to give to Pastor Josef and help with the renovation inside his new building.

We first met Josef almost 10 years ago when we joined our church in NY for short-term volunteer trips to Ukraine. At this time, Josef's main energy went into working with children who were either living, or spending most of their time, on the streets. Some of them were orphans, some of them came from alcoholic homes or from parents who were not interested in what their kids were doing.
For these children, Josef, his family and his team provided weekly meals and a safe place for the kids to meet. During this time, they played games, did crafts, learned songs and dances and had people readily available to listen to them and provide for their physical and emotional needs. Most importantly, Josef taught the kids about a God who loved them and encouraged them to pursue great things in life, regardless of their circumstances.

Fast forward to 2015: it is amazing to see what God has done through Josef in the past 10 years.
- The same kids Josef reached out to 10 years ago, are now leaders in the same ministry and in the church.
- A permanent foster home was built in a village just outside of Uzhhorod, where Josef and his team can offer kids a place to stay permanently or temporarily. Currently, he is expanding their original vision of the purpose of the home to include refugees from the east of Ukraine.
- Josef expanded his work to include adults suffering from alcohol and/or drug addiction.
- Though they did not have their own building, Josef began regular Sunday services a few years ago and now has a thriving congregation.
- Josef has raised up an amazing group of young leaders. This group of young adults, they are passionate about God and living their life for Him. They are steadfast and live their life with a purpose.

This new building gives Josef and his team a permanent base in the heart of the city that is their very own.

Here is Josef standing in front of the building. It is situated at a major intersection near the center of the city. Perfect spot!

View of the intersection from the front of the building. If you take the road straight, past the buildings in the photos, you will end up in the heart of the city in less than 2 minutes (by car; maybe 10 minutes by walking).

View from the parking lot: the train station (the small building directly in the center of the photo). Once again, great location!

The main entrance and a Solomiya.

Fedya

Cannot believe this little guy will be 1 on May 15th!

 

 

Uzhhorod, Ukraine

 

Walking into our apartment complex: caught the setting sun right in between two buildings.

Love the cobblestone.

*I did not take this picture*
I just thought it was really awesome.

April Photos

Fedya helping Tato prepare for a class.

Peteffi Park, Uzhhorod, Ukraine

Sometimes, it's just easier to put them both in the stroller...

Playing in the sandbox next to our apartment building.

Plum tree in bloom

Life in a Ukrainian Kindergarten- March 8th: Women's Day

March 8th celebration at kindergarten: International Women's Day
This is a day to honor all women and give them flowers and chocolates. It is similar to how Mother's Day is celebrated in the USA, but it celebrates all women instead of just mothers.

The girls dressed as chickens and the boys as roosters.

She wasn't feeling too good that day...

What we did in March:

1. Went to the doctor almost every week.
Here, Solomiya is waiting outside of the doctor's office. You can see that this is not her favorite place. Ukrainian kindergarten is great, but the kids share every virus and germ with each other. If a child is absent from kindergarten more than 2 days in a row, they need a note from their doctor stating that they were sick, but now are healthy and ready to go back. We had to get a lot of those notes... But, she is building up her immune system, right?
 

We saw these notes on the front door of Solomiya's class at school quite often.
"Beware
Parents
this group is in quarantine
for Scarlet Fever
from this date to this date
The Head Nurse"
The second note describes the symptoms and what to look out for.

This may also explain the lack of posts for the months of March and April.