tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305686582024-03-13T07:02:46.085-07:00Ben and Lil Stobbe's blogs from UkraineA description of our experiences and impressions while serving as North American Directors at the Mennonite Centre in Molochansk and Zaporozhye, Ukraine.Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-86477502122384977252019-09-28T01:44:00.000-07:002019-09-28T21:38:52.092-07:00Blog #6 Some Good Things Come to an End<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Ukraine Blog #6<o:p></o:p><br />
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This, our last week here in Ukraine, was an overlap week
with Alvin and Mary Suderman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will
be staying here in Molochansk until the end of October. Alvin is our Board
Chair.<o:p></o:p><br />
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We started our Monday morning with a meeting at the Canadian
Embassy in Kyiv. It was our hope to get further information and insight on the
reforms that the newly-elected Ukrainian government is planning. Our findings
were that the new government members are young (average age in the 40s) and that
they are busy passing new laws. For we former bureaucrats who value policy,
process and procedures, this seems a bit hasty. But we have to admire their
energy and focus to make changes. We did get some helpful information on some
changes that could impact our work.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We had a powerful experience in Kyiv while standing at the
site where young Ukrainians were shot by Russian snipers during the Maidan
revolution. This is becoming the birthplace of a new Ukraine. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This week we attended a celebration of the 30-year work of
Florence and Otto Driedger. They were instrumental in getting schools of social
work, victim offender reconciliation, and the Florence Centre, started in
Ukraine. Alvin made a presentation on the European history of Mennonites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was followed by Ukrainian historians who
spoke on the recent gravestone findings in Zaporizhzhya, and the opportunity to
use these stones as a way to further tell the Mennonite story and enhance
tourism opportunities. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Our meeting with Probation Manager Uriy seemed to bring
together our various meetings this week. Uriy just came back from an
international conference on Criminal Justice Reform held in Kyiv, and he
mentioned a point of interest from the conference; that reforms may raise
expectations that may be difficult to deliver. That was also said at our
embassy meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spoke of the ongoing
development of victim/offender reconciliation projects for youth; that was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>also mentioned at the Driedger celebration.
The message of change seems to be getting out. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The week ended with a nostalgic return visit to the former
Mennonite village of Vladovka, Waldheim in days past. Here we met with Dr.
Troyan, the past chief administrator of the local hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This hospital built in 1908 by the Kornelius
and Aganetha Warkentin family is now being transformed into a medical clinic
with three family physicians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr.
Troyan’s services are no longer needed after 42 years of service at the
hospital and he has joined others in the downsizing exercise. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has been a good friend of the Mennonite
Centre and of many Warkentin descendants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today was his last day there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
gave him a small gift, many hugs, and a sincere goodbye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His loud voice and somewhat gruff manner did
not dampen his love for his community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This hospital was in the eastern side of Molotchna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Muntau hospital was its equal on the
western side of Molotchna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Currently
these hospitals no longer receive overnight patients but are operating as
clinics only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really is the end of an
era. We left Vladovka with some sadness, but also with many
wonderful memories of the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It still looks neat and tidy, even in its decline.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLnXOuscN2yWbmhWx8r3wp02Ge8ZP7KaOrD2VlTeeUMqb-Gy74mEaf89hYzpXIP3VuRw0PNwbHLHqbpbMHX67nKA2teMDSAxzQQyLFx6XcPsbylntiOiRmowrjqwbsoBX-tQ/s1600/IMG_5523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLnXOuscN2yWbmhWx8r3wp02Ge8ZP7KaOrD2VlTeeUMqb-Gy74mEaf89hYzpXIP3VuRw0PNwbHLHqbpbMHX67nKA2teMDSAxzQQyLFx6XcPsbylntiOiRmowrjqwbsoBX-tQ/s320/IMG_5523.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aganetha and Kornelius Warkentin</td></tr>
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It is interesting and exciting while in our retirement
years, to be part of ongoing changes in this country. To be in good health,
encouraged and supported by you dear friends is indeed something to be very
thankful for.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">If you wish to know more about the work of the Mennonite
Centre, you can check out our web site at: </span><a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/"><span style="background: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> or
follow our daily activities on Facebook at: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/"><span style="background: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-34707457058039240192019-09-19T11:27:00.000-07:002019-09-19T11:27:03.138-07:00Blog #5 Meeting Ordinary Ukrainians on Their Own Turf<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">WEEK 5 IN UKRAINE, 2019</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
was a mixed week made up of visiting projects, making new friends, and
attending meetings. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were joined by friends Bernard and Eleanor
Harder who came out to explore family roots in the Chortitza area of
Zaporizhzhia. On Sunday we went out to the Mennonite Church Harvest Day
celebration. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a generally agrarian
country that has had its shares of famines, (some of which were deliberate,)
locals take thanksgiving seriously. It is not a national holiday but a time that
people set aside to say thank you to God. The simplicity and sincerity of the
service of celebration is what particularly struck us. In a gathering of about
50 people, there were at least 10 who came to the front to express thanks.
There were ministers opening their well-worn Bibles, mothers who recited poems
and told short stories, and young people who had recently come out of orphanages
who led in singing. During the nearly two hours, others had to walk up and exit
to visit the well-worn outhouse, the only washroom on the premises. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To top off the event we all went to an
adjoining room where there was enough food to fill us all up for the rest of
the day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was good old-fashioned
fresh produce and baking; you consumed the calories for the day at the dinner
table and then burned them off working the garden. Here the joy of food stems
from hard times. It is appreciated for more than taste and presentation; it is
remembering. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Early
in the week we were trying to confirm the actual house of Bernard’s parents. We
were told of a 93 year old man who had been living in this village for a long
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Victor Penner, a respected
Mennonite historian from Zaporizhzhia, was our guide and interpreter. Soon we
were joined by a young man who quickly took us to the home of the old man. He
walked out of the house with his daughter and it wasn’t long before they
started telling stories. This 93 year old still drives the car even though he
has never had a driver’s license. The police let him drive in the village.
Together with his daughter they maintain a one acre vegetable garden. He left
Odessa as a 23 year old and was advised to look for a Mennonite village where at
that time, one could claim a well-kept empty house, the yard complete with
fruit trees and gardens. The former residents had either been exiled to the Far
East or they had fled to the west 5 years earlier. He said he found this
beautiful place still looking well kept. At that time he vowed that he would
always keep the place in good shape because this is how it was given to him.
Here he raised a family and now for the first time he met the son of the
Mennonite parents who had lived across the street before the war. And for the
last 70 years the house, which has been added on to, remains well maintained in
a yard full of trees, flowers, ducks, chickens and a massive garden. As Victor
Penner said “He represents the best of our Ukrainian culture.” We felt honoured
to be standing with him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Later
in the week we met with Denis, the Director of the Shirokye Amalgamated
Community Council. This amalgamated community is made up of 20 villages, many
of them former Mennonite villages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the short time period of a couple of years, he has accomplished an amazing feat
in keeping local tax money in the community. This council has been rated #1 in
all of Ukraine for its progressive improvements. Many of these villages are
close to the city of Zaporizhzhia and in the past they have seen many people from
these villages move to the city. Denis seeks to reverse the depopulation of the
villages. He is continually encouraging the development of varying enterprises in
these villages and better transportation corridors to the city. They have
already had a number of people move back to some of these villages. Based on
what we have seen, these quiet locations with clean air, big gardens and quiet
streets are more desirable and ideal for many folks, whether elderly or young couples
raising their families.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For
your interest, here is a picture of one of the oldest former Mennonite houses;
a log house possibly going back to the 1830s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is in the village of Schoenhorst. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">If you wish to know more about the work of the Mennonite
Centre, you can check out our web site at: </span><a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/"><span style="background: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> or
follow our daily activities on Facebook at: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/"><span style="background: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-85344664485423884862019-09-13T23:16:00.000-07:002019-09-14T01:30:56.711-07:00Blog #4 Signs of the Past<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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WEEK FOUR IN UKRAINE, 2019<br />
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Towns like Tokmak are growing and show signs of prosperity. On
the other hand, former Mennonite villages like Lindenau are withering away into
obscurity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The seemingly endless,
massive fields reach out to touch the sky and neighbouring fields afar off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beautiful fields of various sorts (many of which are sunflower crops still awaiting harvest) surround these villages in which deserted
and empty brick houses with broken windows can be seen. The only things of any
value are the bricks, and particularly bricks from former Mennonite houses
because of their longevity. Vehicle traffic on these country roads is generally
light, but the tandem heavy duty trucks carrying sunflower seeds or grain continually
carve up and destroy the pavement, creating great heaves in the pavement particularly
in the sweltering summer months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One’s
imagination might liken it to like a child’s fully loaded gravel truck driving
on their playtime plasticine clay. Other sections of roads are mostly huge
potholes, holes which often overlap one another the whole width of the
road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We think these trucks at least should
be required to come back with a load of gravel to fill up these moon-like
craters. The only positive thing about these country roads is that you seldom
get enough speed to have a serious accident. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flat tires?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, that’s another issue.<o:p></o:p><br />
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On Wednesday, we had a visit from 4 members of the
“Restoring Molochansk Together” group. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is a registered organization that encourages everyone here to help clean up our
village. Right now they are very focused on cleaning up what they call “The Molochansk
Park.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have come to know these as the gardens adjacent
to the former Mennonite estate of the well-known Willms house. They have
installed lights, cleaned up old junk, garbage, scrubby weeds and undergrowth, made flower beds and generally cleared a lot of these areas to make it an
appealing and useable site by walkers and passers-by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The park will also be used for some
outdoor events. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have provided funding
to purchase new flowers for next year. It is difficult to say “no” to a
volunteer-run group that wants to restore the gardens that your ancestors once
developed and used. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On Tuesday, Ben took a trip down to the villages along the
southern stretch of Molotschna. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
stately Reimer castle/house and signs of the Cornies’ Juschanlee farm are still
there but one wonders how much longer it can exist in the same way. Rudy
Friesen in his very informative book, “Building on the Past,” describes the house as
having a “Dutch baroque style common to northern Europe.” Similarly, the brick
windmill in Alexanderkrone is an example of a Dutch windmill. This is the last
standing windmill in the former Mennonite colonies. A question to ponder might
be whether we shouldn’t be advocating to tourist agencies in Zaporizhzhia that
these two structures should have heritage protection status, as they are a
connection to our Dutch Anabaptist roots.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This week we had lunch with Lilly Buss, the Director of the
Kutusovka Seniors Home. This restored former Mennonite Church in Petershagen is
currently a nearly full-to-capacity seniors home with 13 residents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Housing up to 4 women in a room who seem to
have more differences than similarities, can present unique challenges. She is
very thankful for the medications we provide for her residents. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">If you wish to know more about the work of the Mennonite
Centre, you can check out our web site at: </span><a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/"><span style="background: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> or
follow our daily activities on Facebook at: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/"><span style="background: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-26150196380674224132019-09-08T06:55:00.001-07:002019-09-08T06:55:57.370-07:00Intertwining Cultures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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WEEK THREE IN UKRAINE, 2019<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">We spent most of last week in the city of Zaporizhzhya. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This city is well known for its big industrial
plants and its rich Cossack history. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mennonites
first came to this area in the late 1700's, settling in the Chortitza area where they had been directed to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This included Chortitza Island which had formerly been
the home of Cossacks. Chortitza Island is now the home of a living museum of
Cossack culture. Imagine our surprise when touring the museum we spotted a
beautiful old chest that appeared to be almost identical to a chest we have at
the Mennonite Centre, a chest which we received only recently. A Ukrainian family
living in a former Mennonite house had this chest in their attic and gave it to
us. A Ukrainian guide at the Cossack Museum told us that some old artifacts from
other cultures may well be in the Cossack Museum. Actually, we rather appreciate the fact that different cultures have shared treasures. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">On this island there is a former Mennonite cemetery which is
now being used as a Ukrainian cemetery. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Perhaps it can be said that in death, and also in life, the two cultures can mix.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">But in the current Ukrainian life, not all of its aspects remain steeped in past ways and traditions. The First Bell ceremonies acknowledge new grade 1 students and the opening of the
new school year. We attended First Bell this week at a 450-student school in the city. It was an event filled with countless roses, very fashionably-dressed children, proud parents and grandparents, and most amazingly, there were none of the traditional long drawn-out speeches! It was
difficult to find parking, kids were everywhere, and there was overflowing and endless energy and enthusiasm.
We met with parents of children with autism who have been integrated into this school. They thanked us sincerely for
providing materials for the two new classrooms.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The next day we went to visit the burn unit at a local
hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have supplied some specialized bandages
and gauze to this unit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We</span> cannot recall
any new hospitals that were built in the Zaporizhzhya Oblast (province) since
independence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have relied on
hospitals built by the Soviets and Mennonites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a daunting task to adapt new and advanced technology to these heavily bricked, concrete-burdened hospitals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that is not the biggest of their problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
there are new doctors receiving salaries only slightly more than the cleaners, older doctors who pine for the past, and less-than-adequate funds allotted for patients' meals,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one would hardly know where to start in the task of "fixing" these situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hospital
reform will be expensive no matter which way it is looked at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are attempting to help in small
ways that make a big difference, and also to assist people in getting necessary medications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Towards the end of the week we took a generally good, less-traveled road to the village of Maryevka, a village of about 1600 people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have an interest in this village because
we have been supporting a family where the father has been bed-ridden for a number of
years and the mother who has spent a good part of the fall and winter days taking the
wheelbarrow out looking for and gathering firewood to heat their very modest house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Last January we started supplying firewood to this family during the coldest months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year we will likely try to do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mother is a well-read individual who knows a
lot about Canada, including Quebec’s unique history within our country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">We also had the opportunity to reconnect with Anatoliy
Tiessen. The story of Anatoliy and his father Vasily,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> is remarkable. One night in 1931,</span> the KGB came to the home of 5-year-old Vasily Tiessen. They took away Vasily's parents, their destination most likely Siberia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Eventually Vasily and his two sisters were placed in different orphanages; Vasily in one and Frieda and Leanna in another. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At age 16 Vasily was taken by the Germans to Germany to work in a factory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At 21 he returned to his village,
married, and had a son Anatoliy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> In 1957 w</span>hen
Anatoliy was 7, his father was picked up and interrogated by the KGB.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appears that he somehow slipped through
the cracks when he returned to his own village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The normal procedure would have been that he would have been shipped off
to the east because he worked for the Germans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, influential people in the community rallied behind Vasily and
convinced the authorities to let him stay in the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anatoliy knew he was different than other Ukrainians</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> but he never knew his father was Mennonite</span><span style="font-size: medium;">.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">His
father never talked about what happened while he was interrogated in 1957.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Vasily died in 2002 leaving a </span><span style="font-size: medium;">lot of unknowns from his past that his son Anatoliy will never have the answers to.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">But yet, he
still offers a quick smile that is reflective of his positive outlook.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The road to the future still has lots of potholes.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">If you wish to know more about the work of the Mennonite
Centre, you can check out our web site at: </span><a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/"><span style="background: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> or
follow our daily activities on Facebook at: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/"><span style="background: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-46630046259467190192019-09-01T05:35:00.000-07:002019-09-01T05:35:11.509-07:00In the Groove<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
WEEK TWO IN UKRAINE, 2019<br />
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Since the election of the new president and the parliamentary changes, Ukraine has been in transition. Independence Day was on Monday, August 26. Cities and villages saw people gather in the evening to hear singing and watch cultural dancing, celebrating Ukraine's independence from Russia. The country has independence but is not necessarily united. Many people have high expectations from the new government while others feel that it may not have enough previous experience. We recently had dinner with a local couple, and both of them had very different views regarding the new government.<br />
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At the beginning of the week we had a visit from a senior medical person in the area who suggested that by the end of October, the government will announce whether or not the long-standing hospital in Molochansk will remain as a hospital. He thought it probably would be a day clinic and continue on with the seniors' home on the second floor. We heard a similar story from someone who suggested that the old Mennonite hospital in Zaporizhzhya would also be shut down. Not unlike so many other countries, Ukraine is starting to consolidate medical services.<br />
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On Wednesday, we had a great visit with our good friend Yuriy, the Probation Supervisor in Tokmak. Since the Probation Services conferences that were held last fall with BC Corrections Analyst Lisa Crawford, Yuriy has been travelling the country, holding seminars about the changes in Probation practices. He has received a special award for all his work toward reforming the probation service and having their program accepted into the European Probation Union.<br />
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On Thursday we traveled to Zaporizhzhya. To try some different accommodations, we had decided to go into what we thought might be a type of an Air B&B apartment here in downtown Zaporizhzhya. The apartment was built before WWII in the Stalin years. The location is fantastic. The apartment is slightly less so. It takes a little getting used to accepting and working with half a shower curtain and finding about a half roll of 100 grit toilet paper. But the bed is comfortable, and if you have enough layers of paint, the walls can be, and have been made very quiet. The apartment itself is really quite safe; the knives are so dull that you can barely puncture a loaf of bread. But then the breaking of bread is best done by hand anyway. There is a lovely park right across the street and two very nice coffee shops right around the corner. What else could we want?<br />
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On Friday morning we went to meet museum officials at the museum on Chortitza Island. We wanted to hear from the museum director regarding their plans (and dreams) for the recently discovered Mennonite gravestones. They had many questions for us as well. While there are several gravestones that are virtually still intact, by far the most are broken into smaller pieces. As of Friday they had 150 broken pieces with inscriptions on them. They should have most of the gravestone pieces including those with inscriptions removed from the old barn site and taken to a storage area for further cleaning and matching. The museum authorities are very excited about this project, hoping ultimately to use these stones as an opportunity of reconciliation with the Mennonite community. Saturday morning we went to the site and watched while they excavated more stones and rubble.<br />
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About a month ago our organization was approached by a Ukrainian humanitarian organization to see if we could assist them in supplying backpacks for young students most of whom are just starting school. These are children coming from needy families. We funded 40 of the 70 backpacks given out. It is not surprising that when we arrive at occasions like this, Ben is asked to say a few words. He soon had a microphone attached to his shirt, and a reporter there with his filming assistant, was asking him about our work and how and why we help these local kids. It was a public event held in a park in a stage area most often used for theatre and band performances. It was delightful to see how the children so proudly hugged and donned their new backpacks.<br />
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On Friday evening, we went to the apartment home of our friend Yuri, who several years ago had turned his life of alcoholism and drugs around, becoming a major advocate for homeless, alcoholics and drug-addicted people in the city. We provide some of the food ingredients for meals that he cooks, transports, and distributes to down-and-outers in several of the city parks. Yuri has also formed a support group of individuals who have successfully gone through rehab and other dramatic life changes, and others who are in the process. They get together with their spouses and their young children every Friday night at the home of Yuri and his wife to support each other, to have some time of socializing and reflecting on life, including spiritual values. Some of these people have gone on to receive further schooling and have become chaplains in prisons. This particular Friday saw a smaller group of about 25, everyone seated albeit a little crowded, into their apartment living room. They have up to 35 in attendance. There was plenty of good food spread on the table in honor of a participant's birthday. Even though some of the sharing during this meeting drew tears, there was an abundance of laughter to be enjoyed as well. That's what defines many in this country - tears and laughter.<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">If you wish to know more about the work of the Mennonite
Centre, you can check out our web site at: </span><a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/"><span style="background: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> or
follow our daily activities on Facebook at: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/"><span style="background: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-73577043710741756652019-08-24T10:33:00.000-07:002019-08-24T10:33:16.012-07:00From Bones to Stones<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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WEEK ONE IN UKRAINE, 2019<br />
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We arrived in Dnepro on a warm Monday afternoon. We were told clearly while landing that no picture taking is allowed anywhere at the Dnepro airport. That was our first reminder that Ukraine is still at war. The next reminder was the sight of young armed soldiers walking the length of the Dnepro dam as we drove into Zaporizhzhya. When we arrived at the office in Molochansk we were met by a very good Ukrainian friend who is involved in collecting comfort goods for soldiers at the front. They currently need a washing machine for one of their tent sites. She will submit a request. The previous day she had attended a funeral service for a young man who was killed at the front.<br />
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Even though the stalemated front is not that far away from us geographically it is still easy to forget that the country is at war. However, reminders of Ukraine's difficult past abound. This week we drove to a demolition site and came upon a scene that filled us with a sense of being in a surreal dream.<br />
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In late July of this year, workers were cleaning up a site where an old Soviet era building once stood. They were starting to dig up the foundation when they started to realize that the foundation was made up of gravestones. They contacted the local museum authorities who quickly identified the stones as Mennonite gravestones. Boris Letkeman, the Director of the Mennonite Family Centre in Zaporizhzhya and well connected to local government authorities, passed the news of the discovery on to people in Canada. The Director of Chortitza National Park, Maxim Ostanpenko, strongly feels that these gravestones need to be protected and preserved. They had been moved from a nearby cemetery, probably in the 1930's. The Friends of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine have provided limited funds to assist in the recovery of these gravestones.<br />
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Lil and I visited the site within hours of arriving in Ukraine. While there were no workers currently at the site, we wandered about looking at this pile of broken stones. We realize that these stones with German inscriptions, once buried by the Soviets and now in the process of being resurrected, give messages of hope and conviction for generations to come. These mothers, fathers and children will not remain silent. A new generation of Ukrainians will not hide their past; with people like Maxim and others, the stories will be told. <br />
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Every year we provide financial aid to about 35 students who are, or will be going to university or trade schools. These are students who have financial needs and come from difficult home situations. This week we had a visit from Father Peter, a Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest who was asking us to consider students from their church community. We will review the students' circumstances and their goals, and consider them with the other applicants.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">In one sense it seems like it has been a quiet but yet a full week. In the new Ukraine, children stop us on the street to practice their English. Locals come together to form a park cleanup society, and homeowners brighten the streets by lining the roadsides with planted flowers.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">If you wish to know more about the work of the Mennonite Centre, you can check out our web site at: </span><a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/"><span style="background: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> or follow our daily activities on Facebook at: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/"><span style="background: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/</span></a><br />
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-49234612771175435702018-10-28T07:34:00.000-07:002018-10-28T07:34:42.204-07:00Support Across Borders<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of the many reasons we enjoy coming to Ukraine is having the opportunity to learn from each other. Our experience seems to be that when we come together it is not just to teach but to listen, and this creates energy and enthusiasm. This was evident in two outstanding events this week.<br />
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Last Saturday, Mennonite Church leaders from various European countries came to Molochansk. Some of these leaders were pastors; others included business leaders, leaders of large charitable organizations, and one lawyer. This group of approximately 20 women and men came from Spain, Portugal, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Poland, Netherlands and Lithuania. They represented small and medium sized Mennonite Church communities, some of whom could trace their roots back 500 years. These leaders come together every year to discuss emerging issues, successes, and to offer encouragement to each other. This year they met here in Ukraine.<br />
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After their meeting, I gave a PowerPoint presentation on the work of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine. After the presentation I led the group on a tour of significant former Mennonite villages in Molotschna, In the evening, the youth of the Molochansk Mennonite Church gave a spirited evening of music and story telling. They had a question and answer session with the leaders. The European guests ranged in age from 50 to 70. Imagine five of them shuffling up onto the stage to pick up three guitars, a set of drum sticks, and another positioning himself behind the electric piano. They were joined by the local youth lead guitarist and then the improvising began. The youth in the audience looked truly surprised at this display of talent, possibly wondering, "if this is what a bunch of old Mennonites can do, what must the youth be doing?" In reality, several of these leaders were members of bands in their communities. <br />
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Another highlight of this week was having Lil's daughter, Lisa Crawford, come to Ukraine to meet with Probation Officers in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Lisa is an analyst with BC Corrections, specializing in high risk offenders. She has also worked as a probation officer, and as a manager supervising probation officers. In the picture below, Lisa is giving a presentation on current community corrections practices to probation officers in the Tokmak office.<br />
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Following the meeting in Tokmak, Lisa traveled to Zaporizhzhia to meet another, larger group of probation officers. Also in attendance were some interested university students.<br />
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Uriy is a long-time probation manager in Tokmak. I have met with him for several years during our trips here to discuss matters related to criminal justice. However my experience is now somewhat dated and it was good to get the latest thinking on risk/need approaches that are currently practiced in BC. Pictured here are Uriy, Lisa, Oksana our Director, and myself.<br />
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The event in Zaporizhzhia was attended by the State Director of Probation Services in Zaporizhzhye, and his Deputy. Just over a year ago the national government passed a new law bringing probation services in line with those offered by most western countries including Canada and Europe.<br />
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The attentive group of approximately 60 was very appreciative of Lisa's informative presentation, and there was a lively question period that followed. All the PowerPoint slides had been translated into Russian by Oksana in advance of the meetings. The format for providing reports for the court was also of great interest to them. The Probation Officers, who get salaries from the government, are expected to pay for their own computers, office rental, furniture and all other supplies. They are very committed to their work.<br />
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This is our last blog for this year. We have had a wonderful time here and have felt very much appreciated and supported by so many people both from Canada and Ukraine. Thank you for your support and interest in the work here in Ukraine. We are convinced it is making a difference.<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you wish to know more
about the work of the Mennonite Centre, you can check out our web site
at: </span><a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/"><span style="background: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> or follow our daily activities on
Facebook at: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/"><span style="background: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-28490745202993125982018-10-20T23:48:00.000-07:002018-10-20T23:48:14.192-07:00Contrasts of Sounds of War and Sounds of Music<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last Sunday, the 14th of October we decided to take a drive on the west side of the Molotchna river, an area dominated by a large hill that leads up onto a plateau. This large hill stretches for miles in a rather unusually long hilly formation and is known as the Colonista Hills. On this particularly beautiful fall day we drove through an area that was populated in the 1800's by German Lutherans and German Catholics. We marveled at the many colours, including vibrant shades of red, orange, gold, and yellow. When we arrived at the top, we were greeted by the sight of lush verdant fields of green grasses, likely winter wheat crops. Where there once was a large collective farm that now still has 3 or 4 large storage barns standing, there is currently a very large privately owned farm operation. From our vantage point at the top of this hill we could see our town of Molochansk and other small villages in the distance. Even with the slight haze that covered the landscape that day, it was a spectacular view. Taking in these grand vistas gave us a true feeling of serenity and peace.<br />
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Unfortunately this picture of tranquility was not always able to be enjoyed in times past. In fact, this exact site and surrounding landscape together with its people in the villages below, experienced everything except tranquility. Seventy five years ago in September 1943, Russian troops were advancing into the former Mennonite villages in the Molotchna area. The Germans took the high ground up on the hill, and the bombarding began. At the very time that Lil and I were there, it would have been 75 years ago the Germans and Russians were fighting a vicious war, fighting to maintain or gain possession over this hill for over a month. Now there is a striking war memorial site near the top of that hillside. Through the crosses we could look down at Molochansk. We tried to imagine the booming explosions, the screaming, the rumbling of the crawling tanks, and the occasional red-leafed tree that no doubt was not even noticeable, not to mention being able to be seen for its beauty during the warfare and turmoil surrounding it.<br />
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Today some of the the signs of battle remain. In the picture below you can see rusted shells lying scattered in the grass.<br />
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The Germans were not the only ones at the top of the hill and moving westward. Surviving Mennonite families and mothers and children climbed the hill to make their way westward with the retreating Germans. They started the long arduous walk, undoubtedly occasionally looking to their left to get the last views of their former villages.<br />
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The following Monday we found ourselves back in Tokmak, a city of close to 40,000 where we took in a wonderful concert by Rhapsody Singers. The concert was held in a recently built, cozy Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The Friends of the Mennonite Centre provided some funds for building materials. Now the church is too small and they are putting up another building for a Sunday School and other meeting areas. Father Taras the priest proudly showed us the Mennonite bricks they are using. Historically the Rhapsody Singers have served primarily in Orthodox churches and it is good to see them now offering their services in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church.<br />
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The highlight of the week came when the leader of the Rhapsody ensemble brought his young daughter to the Mennonite Centre to give us and the staff a short concert. This is a delightful little girl who loves to sing, and she plays her 6-string guitar beautifully.<br />
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Pictured below she and her father are playing a Ukrainian duet. The highlight of the concert was when her parents both joined her in singing Leonard Cohen's, Hallelujah.<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you wish to know more about the work of the
Mennonite Centre, you can check out our web site at: </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/"><span style="background: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/</span></a></span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> or follow our daily activities on Facebook at: </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/"><span style="background: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/</span></a></span></div>
Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-32685306276019218922018-10-14T03:19:00.000-07:002018-10-14T03:19:27.412-07:00When did Ukraine get Independence?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When, would most Ukrainians say they gained independence? Most would give the date of August 24, 1991, the day when Ukraine became a separate country, independent of the Soviet Union. This is the date that Ukrainian independence has been celebrated for 27 years.<br />
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However, when a Canadian friend asked a Ukrainian what date Ukraine really gained its independence, she stated that it occurred sometime in 2014, after Russian military intervention in the southeastern corner of Ukraine. It was at that time that Ukraine felt the need to actually become independent. Sadly, too often in history it takes a war or a conflict to develop one's own sense of destiny. This person said that it was only after the war began that the country started to feel and act in an independent manner. It started to seriously build its own army, reach out to other European countries, and make significant legal changes. <br />
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This weekend Ukraine will celebrate one of its 11 public holidays. On October 14 Ukraine celebrates "Defender Day". When Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union everyone celebrated "Defender of The Fatherland" Day. Ukraine has now abandoned that holiday but has instead integrated it with a previous Cossack holiday held on October 14, "Day of the Ukrainian Cossacks". That celebration by the way, started in the 12th century and now has been revived with the bringing together of the army and the Cossacks. One of the ways we show independence is by bringing together something significant in our history and combining it with something current.<br />
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We were invited to a local school to see their youth, together with some adults celebrate "Defender Day". The community youth band students performed and are still enjoying many of the instruments donated by Friends of the Mennonite Centre in Canada, as well as others which were purchased by the Mennonite Centre. In the school gym, the sound carried effortlessly and the youth played very well. A much-acclaimed group of young dancers came on stage and skillfully showcased their talents in their beautiful bright costumes. There were also a few national songs sung by various talented and powerful voices that didn't really need much amplification. Young soldiers and veterans received special awards and strong applause from all in attendance. The dancing group returned and this time was accompanied by a number of male youth dressed in Cossack attire. The boys in particular displayed great agility in near-acrobatic dance maneuvers; all this combined with swift and intricate sword skills. We thought it might be wise to have an ambulance nearby, but everything went well. This dance number meaningfully portrayed both the present and the past. Young soldiers and veterans received special awards and strong applause from all in attendance.<br />
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Perhaps the most dramatic part of the program was when the dancers were joined by a number of male students who represented soldiers in their uniform costumes. It is difficult to look at these young students dressed as soldiers, realizing that in a few short years they could be at the front. They were accompanied by a very talented young voice singing a nationalistic song.<br />
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This part of the program ended with a very thought-provoking depiction of a young soldier being carried off the stage; as one who had sacrificed his life for a new independent Ukraine.<br />
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But independence doesn't only come as a result of war. It can also develop from a peaceful, open society that people can be proud of. A few days ago we were reminded of a very real change in the new Ukraine. Our driver was stopped by a policeman who when approaching the car with a non-threatening voice, stated "I stopped you because you are required to have your daylight running lights on," and cited the applicable Article number of the legal code. He was very professional and basically reminded our driver to turn on the running lights and have a good day. There was no hint of requesting money.<br />
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A mother reminded me this week that one of her two daughters lives in Crimea and requires a visa to get out of the country. She knows her travel options are limited. Her younger sister with her Ukrainian passport, has now gone to Germany on more than one occasion with her new biometric passport. That also gives a sense of independence and much sought-after freedom.<br />
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And this week the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been recognized as a separate orthodox church no longer under the rule of the Moscow patriarch. For many, this is a monumental milestone, reaffirming their new status in the Eastern Orthodox world. <br />
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To our friends, cherish the freedoms that have been given to you.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you wish to know more
about the work of the Mennonite Centre, you can check out our web site
at: </span><a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/"><span style="background: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> or follow our daily activities on
Facebook at: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/"><span style="background: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-56749007918366386692018-10-07T02:24:00.001-07:002018-10-07T02:24:44.781-07:00Strong Women who are Changing Ukraine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In the 3 years that Lil and I have been coming to Ukraine, we have been pleasantly surprised at the evidence of a number of positive changes that have taken place. Since 2015 there have been significant changes in policing, education, medical services and infrastructure improvements, to name a few. We feel a sense of thanksgiving in knowing that "Friends of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine", (FOMCU) has played a role by assisting with financial aid, the implementation of some of these processes. But there is no question that Ukrainians themselves, in many cases women, have taken initiative and shown strong leadership. In this blog we want to introduce just three of these women.<br />
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<u>Irina, Chief Doctor of the Shirokoye Territorial Region</u></div>
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Only a few months ago, doctors were given the freedom to develop their own family practice in a community. Previously if a person wanted to see a doctor they would most often have to go to a hospital to see a doctor there. Presently, doctors can accept patients and develop their own practices. In the Shirokoye territorial region, a young energetic doctor went to the council and worked together with them to establish a clinic that would serve several surrounding communities. She recruited other doctors including some very experienced doctors who left their hospital work to join her in the clinic. Through her initiative, the territorial council was able to re-direct some funds from the hospital to village clinics. We helped this clinic purchase inhalers, urine testing machines, and 2 blood testing machines. So far 8,000 of 12,000 residents, or 2/3 of the territorial region, have signed up at clinics with various doctors. A blood testing machine is seen in the following picture.<br />
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Doctor Irina could have practiced throughout Europe but she chose to stay and work in the former Mennonite villages of Chortitza, now known as the Shirokoye territory. She worked together with the council and with other doctors to develop a community medical model where patients come first. FOMCU Board member Dr. Art Friesen and his wife Dr. Marlyce Friesen were instrumental in helping them get their new clinic equipment. Here Dr. Irina is pictured with Ira a council deputy, Olga Rubel our director in Zaporozhye, and Ben and Lil.<br />
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<u>Angelika, Director of the Prometei Centre;</u><br />
<u>Changing Attitudes and Approaches towards Children With Disabilities</u></div>
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Several years ago, Angelika wanted to develop and start a program that would help children with disabilities particularly autism, with the hope of enabling them to develop social skills well before attempting to go into the public school system. She was convinced that the sooner she could get these children into a program, the better their chances of being able to adapt to public school. This was at a time when schools were just beginning to think of possibly integrating children with disabilities into the regular school system. Angelika rented two apartments and asked the Mennonite Centre to pay the rent costs for one of them, and the Mennonite Family Centre (a group connected to the Mennonite Benevolent Society in Winnipeg), to pay the rent for the other. Parents had to pay to enroll their children, and staff wages were well below the minimum wage. Six years later, Angelika has over 100 children in her program. The Ministry of Education has allowed her the use of a large school that is now otherwise unoccupied on the westbank of the Dnieper River. Many of these children with autism who are now school age attend a regular public school in Zaporozhye. Angelika has appeared before a parliamentary committee in Kiev, met with the President's wife, and various other government officials in effort to promote her program. What she has accomplished is amazing and could well be a model for all of Ukraine. She has received national recognition, and has connections throughout Europe. Children do come first with Angelika! FOMCU has been her largest financial supporter. Here, Angelika is pictured with the long-standing public school principal, Nikolai, who is one of her strongest supporters.<br />
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<u>Tamara, a tireless leader of several NGO's (Non-government organization</u>)</div>
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In 1990, Tamara was elected deputy in the Zaporozhye state government. She was very interested in developing NGOs in Ukraine and shortly after, traveled to the United States to meet some NGO groups. Later, she also had the opportunity to come to Vancouver to see how organizations such as the Vancouver Foundation and the Rotarians, function and contribute to civil society. After she came back from these trips, she formed four organizations in Ukraine that provided much-needed services. The first NGO she started was a crisis centre for women in Zaporozhye. Currently she is working to get a study done on why Ukrainian men have a much shorter life expectancy than women. Just recently she applied for UN funding to help women and families living in the war zone. She is also working on a program to encourage and increase the number of women running for office in local and state governments. She has been a long-time friend of the Mennonite Centre. Tamara gets most of her funding the hard way; by approaching and enlisting the support of business people, holding silent auctions, and meeting with members of government. She always has an open door for us.<br />
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Dear readers, it is through your contributions that these and other women have turned their aspirations into wide-spreading benefits for many Ukrainians. Many thanks to you as donors, and to these visionary leaders.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you wish to know more
about the work of the Mennonite Centre, you can check out our web site
at: </span><a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/"><span style="background: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> or follow our daily activities on
Facebook at: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/"><span style="background: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-316582744276311582018-09-30T03:46:00.001-07:002018-09-30T03:47:13.103-07:00Winging It<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What makes our work here a whole lot easier is that our two Directors, Oksana Bratchenko and Olga Rubel are both fluent in English and are willing translators. If left on our own we would be like passengers without a pilot, going down quickly. Or so we thought.<br />
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Well, this last week they were both gone for the week, as well as Ira our chief cook, who has a rudimentary knowledge of English. She was on holidays, and Maria the School Principal who speaks German fluently was also gone for the week.<br />
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And so we entered the Mennonite Centre on Monday morning and promptly used up our entire Russian vocabulary by the 5th step inside the door. But then we soon found that our staff, while hesitant to speak English, understood more than we expected. We retreated into our office and decided to learn Russian the easiest way possible. In 3 easy clicks we were into our Google Translate app. Google Translate is a lifesaver. In a short while we were having morning coffee break with staff, speaking into the microphone and having the words come out in Russian. For the most part everything seemed to make reasonable sense. Then our first test came when a lady came into the office to inquire about the status of her son's student aid application. We quickly got the spelling of his name using Google Translate on a document she had, and then Ben went to his computer and found his name in the student aid file. We were then able to tell this mom the amount that he was receiving. She was astounded and delighted, and so were we.<br />
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The next day one of our former student aid recipients came in to give us a gift in appreciation for the support she had received as she pursued and obtained a law degree. Her English is very good and so we could hold a conversation with her and she could translate for staff, and everything went well.<br />
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Since we arrived here in Molochansk, there have been 3 occasions where we have been shopping on our own and people have offered to help relay our wishes or questions to the shop owners. One of these helpers was a 13 year old girl who astounded her mother when she told us "I can help you" when we were trying to find glue at the store. She immediately pointed to some glue which was near the counter, and we made our purchase. Afterwards we had an encouraging chat with her. I don't think that either her mother, or the clerk, had ever heard her speak English with foreigners. She was very composed and her mother looked very proud. The other 2 occasions involved young women who had been involved in international trips and had well-perfected their English abroad.<br />
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On Friday, we had the usual seniors' lunch at the Mennonite Centre. Because this was the last Friday of the month they honoured the seniors who had birthdays in September. Honouring includes giving gifts like chocolate bars, and reading poems. Then the seniors started to sing various songs. It seemed to be a very joyful group; about 60 altogether. I asked our staff member how many of the seniors were over 80. In fact there were at least a half dozen including two that were into their 90's. The lady in the photo below and her husband fled Donetsk during the war with the separatists and ended up in Molochansk.<br />
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We have always enjoyed a good working relationship with other Mennonite organizations here in Ukraine. This week we met with Pastor Alexsiy (who is overseeing the seniors home in Kutusovka), staff of the Mennonite Family Centre in Zaporozhye, and board members from the Mennonite Benevolent Society from Winnipeg (who have for many years supported the Mennonite Family Centre in Zaporozhye). It was good to get together and compare notes and discuss future challenges. Here we are having lunch at the Mennonite Centre.<br />
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So we didn't crash with our language difficulties this week but we did bring smiles and some good laughter with Ukrainians with our efforts. Don't worry, Olga and Oksana, you are still very much needed!<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you wish to know more
about the work of the Mennonite Centre, you can check out our web site
at: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/"><span style="background: white; color: #33aaff;">http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> or follow our daily activities on
Facebook at: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/"><span style="background: white; color: #6699cc;">https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-77912864254447107772018-09-23T00:27:00.000-07:002018-09-23T00:27:59.980-07:00Request, say thank you, then celebrate. Week one in Ukraine, 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After landing on the hot tarmac in Dnepro and having to take the transport bus for about 50 metres to the Arrivals section, we had our first hint of a good start here in Ukraine. In his haste to get going, Ben got into the wrong passport lineup. Of course, he chose the line for Ukraine citizens only. A smile, an apology, and a sharp stamp on the passport confirmed we were accepted into the country.<br />
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At first we thought we might be in the wrong country. The newly paved road done by a Turkish contract company felt as though we were on the autobahn. We had barely arrived in Zaporozhye and we stopped to deal with our first request. Pamela, a deeply committed parish nurse originally from Pennsylvania, met with us to talk about a community parish nursing concept. She has been doing this work in Kiev for 17 years.<br />
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By our second day, we had already met two people who came to say thank you for our aid. In one case we contributed funds for a hip surgery, and the other we helped someone to get their cataract surgery. You don't need to understand Ukrainian to know and see they are grateful.<br />
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On our third day, we went to the Molochansk hospital (known by our grandparents as the Muntau hospital) to check out some requests. The Molochansk hospital is really only a day facility with people coming in for diagnostic work and some physical therapy. On the second floor there are 24 resident seniors. The challenge here is that we have a medical care facility and a seniors home in the same building. And like all well-meaning government bureaucracies, they don't necessarily work well together. Right now the common kitchen is the issue. A recent inspection report stated that the kitchen is not up to standard and needs to be upgraded. They are to replace the floor, install an additional sink, and get better food prep areas. The pictures below show the food prep area that needs replacement and the worn and uneven tile floor. We have reminded both departments that they need to agree on a common proposal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnagEPItjsH48PxrVv-KX34OfK4xC5PxSp3ukB9TYAzfdeoQIWnHxEDX5kClzsI094zuLV7U6FtjClRnNZ0WlgFbST3gJPW2KMQqszk2E7J0yRNFLynqh-Mf71jwVYxcZKL5o/s1600/71001EF2-5D14-41CA-91D7-9D1180BB3F36+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnagEPItjsH48PxrVv-KX34OfK4xC5PxSp3ukB9TYAzfdeoQIWnHxEDX5kClzsI094zuLV7U6FtjClRnNZ0WlgFbST3gJPW2KMQqszk2E7J0yRNFLynqh-Mf71jwVYxcZKL5o/s320/71001EF2-5D14-41CA-91D7-9D1180BB3F36+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="239" /></a></div>
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On Friday, we attended the Molochansk Liberation Day. It used to be that Liberation Day was a very solemn day featuring marching soldiers, long speeches, and bored children. Now it has turned to a much more celebratory event that, while it acknowledges the contribution of the veterans who defeated the Fascists (only a few of these veterans were present), it also celebrates the new Ukraine, as well as the veterans coming out of the current war between the separatists and Russia. But Ukraine is not mired in the past. It is also celebrating the contributions of so many who are part of developing a new future. For example, over 20 women from villages throughout the Zaporozhye oblast who are advocates for changes in their own communities, met at the Mennonite Centre to be informed about the story of Mennonite history in Ukraine and to hear about the work of the Mennonite Centre. Some of these women are already very involved in local government. We had coffee and some sweets with the group at the Mayor's office.</div>
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The celebrations continued that evening. On the plaza in front of the former Centralschule, the community of Molochansk held a grand street party with rides and slides for the kids, including a dreadfully derelict-looking attempt at a replica of the Pirates of the Caribbean ship, put on wheels; the tires of which looked like they could deflate at any given moment. The only water this "boat" ever met was the water in the potholes. There was singing and dancing, the singing done by people of all ages, and the dancing left mostly to the younger children. The music was well amplified by the equipment purchased previously by the Mennonite Centre. The kids really loved their activities, and the youth let out screams while trying out the apparatus similar to a flying trapeze while parents smiled at the kids' enjoyment. It was so good to see that Molochansk still has many small children and young families. Ben estimates there to have been around 2000 in attendance. We left there feeling very optimistic.</div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">If you wish to know more about the work of the Mennonite
Centre, you can check out our web site at: </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #33aaff;">http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/</span></span></a></span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> or follow our
daily activities on Facebook at: </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/Mennonite-Centre-Ukraine-735361069838076/</span></span></a></span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-57494529642595023912017-06-10T06:29:00.000-07:002017-06-11T04:46:30.311-07:00Myths from Ukraine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Like any other country, Ukraine has stories about its past or present that never seem to go away. The following is a Mennonite version of "Myth Busters".<br />
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<i>Young people who are very good in the trades or in university invariably leave Ukraine for countries in the west. </i>When we review the list of our graduating students to whom we gave financial assistance, we find that journalists, medical doctors, nurses, and teachers have chosen to remain in Ukraine. In fact one of our new doctors who is a recent graduate from our financial aid program, is coming to provide relief help at the Mennonite Centre clinic.<br />
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<i>Ukraine isn't serious about cleaning up the environment. </i>Ukraine has been forced to find ways of decreasing its dependence on expensive Russian gas, and its reliance on coal for the production of electricity. Just north of Tokmak, the city has a very large field of solar panels and the mayor informed us that they are going into a major recycling program. In addition, the current 65 windmills near the Sea of Asov will soon be expanded to 150.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMBG9RDk5jhDK5Vn8u2k9I8FCKdiJ7k2ZKZ9Hfe0Pe6ZlJq2WYKFVx8A8KxtaoH_H2RniV912Nur94XXzpm8W5hLVdGWsNWnPvAT81wNnNfUFwx4lcdDHZyZ0re9LIq7DhaM/s1600/IMG_4018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMBG9RDk5jhDK5Vn8u2k9I8FCKdiJ7k2ZKZ9Hfe0Pe6ZlJq2WYKFVx8A8KxtaoH_H2RniV912Nur94XXzpm8W5hLVdGWsNWnPvAT81wNnNfUFwx4lcdDHZyZ0re9LIq7DhaM/s320/IMG_4018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1E_wYP1dhcxQTh7X7CEzkae2eBo_wIE4Boq0WUfaN8wEVStZef3__o0JluUND65_CPiU8T86_xvljQqZ-QmnOCUjFRg7DT-cPfVd6L0Fm8aJxfRKCsaHH1PtGqq-g1uwnnfY/s1600/IMG_4073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1E_wYP1dhcxQTh7X7CEzkae2eBo_wIE4Boq0WUfaN8wEVStZef3__o0JluUND65_CPiU8T86_xvljQqZ-QmnOCUjFRg7DT-cPfVd6L0Fm8aJxfRKCsaHH1PtGqq-g1uwnnfY/s200/IMG_4073.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
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<i>Ukrainians don't volunteer for community service as much as other countries. </i>This is definitely not true. Teachers spend a lot of their summer helping to paint, plaster, and get their schools ready for the fall.<br />
In Molochansk, a local businessman organizes Saturday clean-up days where people collect garbage throughout the town. Both Tokmak and Molochansk are a lot cleaner than they used to be. Here are two pictures to show how clean the Willms estate now is.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6xE2sQnDsWQbgPiMCE66vf3siP1h23NXhvaeWwSkfRWj8byj1EBptYwTkZT6LewUz_Ng0Gtbp-J7WrC52Y4mJKpQmaQgZ40Azx2WpPTo0AO24qLyvcPOyp08sRhW7QkXo98/s1600/IMG_4071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6xE2sQnDsWQbgPiMCE66vf3siP1h23NXhvaeWwSkfRWj8byj1EBptYwTkZT6LewUz_Ng0Gtbp-J7WrC52Y4mJKpQmaQgZ40Azx2WpPTo0AO24qLyvcPOyp08sRhW7QkXo98/s200/IMG_4071.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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We recently had a man who received medications after hip surgery volunteer to take people to the sea for summer holidays. During the recent conflicts in the south eastern area, many people collected food, medicines, and clothing for the soldiers. Many people volunteer to help their infirm neighbors with home care, gardening, and shopping. In fact this is a country where everyone knows their neighbors and looks out for them. They practice neighborhood watch.<br />
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<i>Some Ukrainians believe that the roads are not really that bad. </i>We believe that this not true; the many car tire repairs, and Lil's back, can vouch for that. Recently we took a trip to Orekhov, a village that in the 1870's had very few but very influential Mennonites. This year they are celebrating the tenure of the first village mayor, a Mr. Johann H. Janzen, who was mayor there for 25 years. At one point the road was so bad that people had made a parallel road with their vehicles on the grass for well over a kilometer. Now you had a so-called four-lane highway. The new section was dusty but smooth. It was a new form of a passing lane.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjFp_Ex2y9uJ0iYFtvtVhHyBGx7K9xQC8RbCv91zn5AwZVzu8LuFRqzXw6wGqjYu-SQlQs2qwo-DebVQtb_syID369AmIQVR-_PK9k59pe6epPWZ609UD7tjmUH4hhR7tD-Y/s1600/IMG_3901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjFp_Ex2y9uJ0iYFtvtVhHyBGx7K9xQC8RbCv91zn5AwZVzu8LuFRqzXw6wGqjYu-SQlQs2qwo-DebVQtb_syID369AmIQVR-_PK9k59pe6epPWZ609UD7tjmUH4hhR7tD-Y/s320/IMG_3901.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>The myth that there is nothing modern about the current methods of agriculture.</i> That may have been the case shortly after independence, but from the vantage point of the Colonista Hills on the west side of the Molotchna River, the fields look spectacular with canola, winter wheat, sunflowers, and barley. In 2016, Ukraine had very productive crops, and so far this year looks the same. The Melitopol cherry harvest has been abundant, and our fridge here gives evidence of the good fruit and the generous nature of the people. John Deere dealerships appear in many towns.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6RWuJlsN9XH2lIAdOqgFwQEXsCinYcIFP6UBAlBknOZSeLV4brdTMuy_SwAyYjw3JwBvNpkrB2qaIXV6G4KTGzuyuF4MdRVNN0nOQDpsKAO1JVwCSLdFwsrqnDkZKIL10dw/s1600/IMG_3922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6RWuJlsN9XH2lIAdOqgFwQEXsCinYcIFP6UBAlBknOZSeLV4brdTMuy_SwAyYjw3JwBvNpkrB2qaIXV6G4KTGzuyuF4MdRVNN0nOQDpsKAO1JVwCSLdFwsrqnDkZKIL10dw/s320/IMG_3922.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit trees in Melitopol</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuRcwiR-TCc2Uf-PvMMvzZt7C-xdGaKbhcHxlVUXzVMAEuoGREsqo1C5vroewAfT1nUeklOiwG_o_1B2H8DLC3hV6WjvgJ5WVbjaZ4sEK6RKR-wRlCE3mHHiev2iIroTMRvo/s1600/IMG_4008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuRcwiR-TCc2Uf-PvMMvzZt7C-xdGaKbhcHxlVUXzVMAEuoGREsqo1C5vroewAfT1nUeklOiwG_o_1B2H8DLC3hV6WjvgJ5WVbjaZ4sEK6RKR-wRlCE3mHHiev2iIroTMRvo/s200/IMG_4008.JPG" width="200" /></a><i>Ukraine lost its tourist potential after it lost Crimea. </i>While the loss of Crimea is significant, towns along the Sea of Asov are doing a booming business in building seaside resorts. New motels, parks, playground areas for children and restaurants, are springing up to accommodate those who can't get into Crimea for their summer holidays. The water is already warm enough to swim in, the beaches are gentle, and the sand is clean. For a family of four, you could have a good dinner without drinks for around $15 Canadian.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKLe7akcUIzhL1SNWL1v2jJ7WB315ptDuwLlojIgGh_AVKlqRUw9KOFTxen9AJ8trcRwj2SBrCkuLtwYbBQz3aoVrmdwZOBwSTMC7bR5xREI9hK-0IO3koifRM3NgAK5FBO0/s1600/IMG_4004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKLe7akcUIzhL1SNWL1v2jJ7WB315ptDuwLlojIgGh_AVKlqRUw9KOFTxen9AJ8trcRwj2SBrCkuLtwYbBQz3aoVrmdwZOBwSTMC7bR5xREI9hK-0IO3koifRM3NgAK5FBO0/s400/IMG_4004.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
The more we get to know this wonderful country and its people, the more we question our preconceived notions.<br />
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On Tuesday, June 13, we will be off to Vienna and finally into BC. Then day will become night, night will become day, and the meaningful time spent here will be well worth the adjustment.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To contribute to the work of the Mennonite Centre in
Ukraine, you can make your donation to “Friends of the Mennonite Centre”. All cheques should be mailed to George Dyck,
Treasurer, 3675 North Service Road, Beamsville, ON, L0R 1B1.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you wish to donate online, go to the website </span><a href="http://www.canadahelps.org/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">www.canadahelps.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
key in “Mennonite Centre Ukraine”, and click on the Search button. Then click on “V” for “View”, and “P” for
“Profile”. Then “Donate now”.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Please browse our new website at </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/">www.mennonitecentre.ca</a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We thank you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ben and Lil Stobbe</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-10869058846262254712017-06-04T05:26:00.000-07:002017-06-04T05:45:40.507-07:00Dyakuyu, Spasiba Bol'shoy, saying Thank You<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ukrainians who receive funds from us always say "Spasiba bol'shoye", or "Dyakuyu" in Ukrainian. It means "Thanks", or "Big thanks". This week we seemed to receive a lot of thank yous. <br />
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One of our tasks as Canadian directors is to follow up on projects. We meet with the recipients of your donations, wanting to know and see how the money was spent. This week we went east, close to the conflict zone, and northwest to the village of Nicolaipol. We also met people in Zaporozhye. The trip to the east took us to two small towns where we met with the pastor of a church that is very engaged in social projects in their community. The church is providing clean filtered water from their well to small villages near the conflict zone. They are also involved in a halfway house for released offenders and we helped them purchase another house for people suffering from addictions. The pastor was very happy to show us all the projects that we helped them start.<br />
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Unfortunately at this time, Ben was in the midst of getting a cold, and the pastor treated him to a genuine Ukrainian sauna with the "full-meal deal", including healthy swats with greens from the garden that had been soaked in hot water. He still got the cold despite full immersions in a very cold pool. <br />
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But what did help was going to the neighboring town where we have supported an energetic young woman who has successfully started a bakery. Her warm, engaging smile matched the wonderful aroma of freshly baked breads and goodies. In getting the bakery started we provided a stove, refrigerator, and building renovations. The bakery is committed to providing a certain amount of free goods to the poor, particularly seniors, in their community. These are villages that are close to the conflict area where they have done a remarkable job of trying to keep a sense of normalcy.<br />
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Most people in this territory work in the coal mines. The four-hour trip to this area (three hours on the road with one hour in the holes), revealed vast tracts of lush green fields, giving these residents an anticipation of very good crops.<br />
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On our way back to Zaporozhye, we stopped and visited an IDP family from Crimea who, with support from a generous donor, were able to purchase a property and start a bee-keeping operation. They are also growing roses for commercial use. Nikolai's gentle bees are pollinating the flowering acacia trees and making honey. The roses are happy that the well produces sufficient water for the business. This is another couple that gladly says "Spasiba Bol'shoye".<br />
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We also went northwest of Zaporozhye to visit the former Mennonite village of Nicolaipol. Usually one can expect school principals to be a rather scarred and sober lot, but in saying thank you for a wall cabinet in a classroom, Nadejda gave us an exuberant thank you.<br />
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The board just approved providing some funds to help repair the ceilings in two classroom in Nadejda's school. One wonders how she will demonstrate her thanks when that project is finished.<br />
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Right beside the school is the former Mennonite church in Nicolaipol, which is now a school gym. This church has now had its own conversion. Slam-dunk doesn't mean baptism, a foul shot does not refer to improper behavior, and a 3-pointer does not refer to the Trinity. <br />
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The windows are thanks to the Ministry of Education and the local government. Your donations provided protective netting for these windows. <br />
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Another genuine "Spasiba Bol'shoy" came from Yuriy and his wife Natasha, a couple who have made a dramatic change from a life of addictions and despair. They now are leading the cause of helping the homeless in Zaporozhye. Natasha is taking a course in bookkeeping for their organization called "Love Without Boundaries". She desperately needed a computer and printer. We met with them to tell them the board had approved their requests. Upon hearing the good news, Yuriy broke into a huge smile, then a tear or two were visible. Then he got up from his chair and thanked us profusely. We are sure the people in the Intourist lobby seldom see such a sincere demonstration of thanks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olga, with Natasha and Yuriy</td></tr>
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As a Canadian director working in Ukraine and a board member of FOMCU, I want to say "Spasiba Bol'shoye" to you, our donors. <br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To contribute to the work of the Mennonite Centre in
Ukraine, you can make your donation to “Friends of the Mennonite Centre”. All cheques should be mailed to George Dyck,
Treasurer, 3675 North Service Road, Beamsville, ON, L0R 1B1.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you wish to donate online, go to the website </span><a href="http://www.canadahelps.org/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">www.canadahelps.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
key in “Mennonite Centre Ukraine”, and click on the Search button. Then click on “V” for “View”, and “P” for
“Profile”. Then “Donate now”.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Please browse our new website at </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/">www.mennonitecentre.ca</a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We thank you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ben and Lil Stobbe</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-64682139279152280722017-05-28T04:18:00.001-07:002017-05-28T04:55:24.378-07:00Schools of Hard Knocks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you statement</td></tr>
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This is the week that most Ukrainian school children look forward to; the last week of school. Many of our activities this past week involved visiting schools and attending Last Bell. Last Bell is a ceremony that acknowledges particularly the graduating class.<br />
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We visited the Sanitorium school which has served children with health problems for 70 years. Lydia, the director, has been there for 50 years and says that this year will be her last. She developed a close relationship with Menno Simons Christian School from Calgary, which has funded many projects ranging from supplying new toilets to ping pong tables. Menno Simons has definitely made work easier for Lydia. Lydia says the children keep her young. She certainly does not look her age, and she is a vibrant and highly respected director. But the school numbers are going down because the government wants to move away from specialized health-oriented schools. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Molotchna River</td></tr>
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On Friday the 26th, we attended 4 last bell ceremonies. Vinogradanoya school is a small kindergarten school combination in a town on the western side of the Molotchna River. <br />
The river provides a idyllic reminder of a time when our grandparents, as boys and girls, no doubt let their imaginations soar with ideas of travelling across lakes and oceans. The kindergarten class in the school is anticipating a new wave of youngsters this fall. So much so that they have asked us to help them with finishing an extra playroom and sleeping area. The teachers are pleased that the parents are doing their part in bringing in more children. Ironically, nearby the school is the most impressive stork's nest in the Molotchna area.<br />
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Nearby is the Preshib Orphanage. This school is also facing a declining enrollment. The social service authorities plan to amalgamate this school with the one in Tokmak. Regardless of the realities, the children and teachers still put on an impressive Last Bell ceremony. To see a husky graduate place a final-year kindergarten student on his shoulder and take her around the yard, ringing the bell that one hears above the applause, is a powerful moment. <br />
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While at the Preshib event, Ben met a impressive young man who was a graduate of an orphanage in Crimea. Zhenya is an entrepreneur who has a heart for children in orphanages. He is a salesman for a sports shoe company and comes to this area at least once a month. He always visits the orphanage here, and either gives them shoes or pays the costs for the children to attend sporting events. He is a great supporter and sponsor of this orphanage. <br />
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The other two Last Bell events we attended at the Russian and Ukrainian schools in Molochansk very much reflected the "new" Ukraine. Both events were dramatically more nationalistic. In the Russian school, the Ukrainian colors were prominently displayed. In the Ukrainian school, they remembered an alumni who died in the war. There was a military presence at the Ukrainian school, and students in the "Quest" program displayed their marching skills.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All in step</td></tr>
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The Ukrainian school highlighted their school sports activities including a demonstration of karate students breaking old possibly-Mennonite roofing tiles. No harm done; there are a lot more of these tiles around.<br />
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The Russian and Ukrainian schools in Molochansk have generally always had a friendly rivalry. This year, the grads of both schools got together for a final picture. It was great to see both groups come together.<br />
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Both Lil and I fondly remember finishing school and getting into summer. However, that was short-lived when we were called to the summer school of berry-picking, where our mothers were the teachers, and our sibling were our co-conspirators in avoidance tactics. On Saturday, Ben went out and picked strawberries. His mother always felt that the only thing better than picking strawberries was sitting on a swing on a warm summer evening. So Ben found a swing, took the strawberries, and remembered his mother in her childhood country.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMmdF9TtZBupF0y87l8JcswOp_lPtqLEKpL203Dk9xPSKgOnL5yBTTUyeZgwkJ3DMnljebzaSf0katw1DgiRJULdqrnqBcio2kxBYuJskHzmVOsK-EGtRH8gJBTGaq0my9Qo/s1600/IMG_3817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMmdF9TtZBupF0y87l8JcswOp_lPtqLEKpL203Dk9xPSKgOnL5yBTTUyeZgwkJ3DMnljebzaSf0katw1DgiRJULdqrnqBcio2kxBYuJskHzmVOsK-EGtRH8gJBTGaq0my9Qo/s200/IMG_3817.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy, even without ice cream</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To contribute to the work of the Mennonite Centre in
Ukraine, you can make your donation to “Friends of the Mennonite Centre”. All cheques should be mailed to George Dyck,
Treasurer, 3675 North Service Road, Beamsville, ON, L0R 1B1.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you wish to donate online, go to the website </span><a href="http://www.canadahelps.org/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">www.canadahelps.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
key in “Mennonite Centre Ukraine”, and click on the Search button. Then click on “V” for “View”, and “P” for
“Profile”. Then “Donate now”.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Please browse our new website at </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/">www.mennonitecentre.ca</a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We thank you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ben and Lil Stobbe</span></div>
Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-73381759460882518512017-05-21T02:52:00.000-07:002017-05-21T03:11:26.101-07:00Are we getting somewhere?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqSrgnWxpvLdIP4WSmtjbsR-cYC481-H_eKzjVmbQejbQwWdkGLlBsCWFkCsVUORNMURRMj_3sjuufz2qyARm2E9dpMTcF3vRmWh02WgSksaHVUu_4s7wK-G6KHS6hz68VAs/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqSrgnWxpvLdIP4WSmtjbsR-cYC481-H_eKzjVmbQejbQwWdkGLlBsCWFkCsVUORNMURRMj_3sjuufz2qyARm2E9dpMTcF3vRmWh02WgSksaHVUu_4s7wK-G6KHS6hz68VAs/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben presenting the new computer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We began this week in the villages and ended in the city of Zaporozhye. The villages we started in were in south Molotchna down by the Juschanlee River. We went to the Cornies Juschalee estate to give a computer to a very small girl who has a very big heart. 11-year-old Alona attends the school in Kirovo and needs a laptop computer to do her schoolwork. We have never been asked to help with anything for this school. One of the teachers heard about our work and approached us about helping Alona. The school principal, Natasha, was delighted that we could do this, and we think that "little Alona" may possibly have opened a big door for the school. Normally children with special needs do not go to school but stay at home and get a part-time tutor. Alona wanted none of that; she wanted to go to school, and her mother takes her every day.<br />
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After leaving an ecstatic Alona, we went off to see the Reimer estate in Juschanlee. Time is certainly taking its toll on the estate buildings. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tiPUpIsR_fReQf1nCCGDhrkUyqJ7ExeoZ8i1QZ3HUBhOjZ3hCDTkgeZ0rlF8qEZzYaiz0RHBtgQp3spUB0nc-cJBUBpGRmKonuxSdrIKb7CuVl_qYuEbWXTu7d3gB0lGpsw/s1600/IMG_3627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tiPUpIsR_fReQf1nCCGDhrkUyqJ7ExeoZ8i1QZ3HUBhOjZ3hCDTkgeZ0rlF8qEZzYaiz0RHBtgQp3spUB0nc-cJBUBpGRmKonuxSdrIKb7CuVl_qYuEbWXTu7d3gB0lGpsw/s320/IMG_3627.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gatepost at the Reimer estate</td></tr>
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The large former Reimer house is looking pretty rough, and currently serves as an ambulatory clinic. This is not the only former Mennonite building that is showing its years. Many of the villages in Molotchna are getting smaller and older. Schools such as the one in Udarnik (Neukirch) are closed. The roads between the villages aren't getting any better, and many villages don't have any store at all.<br />
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In Udarnik we were fortunate to find the former school principal and the history teacher while we were in the village. Nikolai, the former school principal, is now the maintenance man, keeping up the school yard and building. Anatoli, the history teacher, is retired. Here is a picture of Anatoli sitting in our<br />
VW van, avoiding the rain and showing his<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqBkpJyNxRMmtKPLiMK1n6NkhFn8HyXQLwFasOmHngSTU0-vih4qoHgn-V0szD79hgkbVouyxKlb263_jIUFd26Bd8-z7Wxz0plSqX7K60uWxl5XcPZe_NAdnb1qHBhFXTgo/s1600/IMG_3644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqBkpJyNxRMmtKPLiMK1n6NkhFn8HyXQLwFasOmHngSTU0-vih4qoHgn-V0szD79hgkbVouyxKlb263_jIUFd26Bd8-z7Wxz0plSqX7K60uWxl5XcPZe_NAdnb1qHBhFXTgo/s320/IMG_3644.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anatoli reviewing the history of the village of Udarnik</td></tr>
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memoirs of the village to Ruth Derksen-Siemens and Oksana Bratchenko. Anatoli has done a lot of work in keeping records of the Mennonite story in the Juschanlee south Molotchna villages. His familiarity with German helps him in reviewing documents.<br />
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Zaporozhye gives an entirely different feel than the villages in Molochansk. The city is bustling with restaurants, shops, and crowded streets. One of our big projects in Zaporozhye is helping integrate children with special needs into the regular school system. Just as Alona from Kirova wants to go to school, so do the autistic children in the Prometei program. We are working with education and government officials to increase state funding for special needs children in schools. After a letter and some phone calls, we were granted a meeting with the Governor of the Zaporozhye Oblast (state) to promote a conference we are having with state psychiatrists. The Governor gave us 45 minutes of his very busy schedule and said that they would be sending senior officials to the conference. We were delighted. This is not the first time Mennonite groups have worked with the state in this area to improve education opportunities for special needs children. The Maria school for the Deaf and Mute in Tiege was built in 1890 and was a model school for deaf and mute children throughout the Russian empire. The work at Prometei continues that noble tradition. On the way to Tiege in the Orlovo area, we passed the memorial monument to the 131 deaf and mute children who were killed by the Nazis in WWII. It is a tribute to Ukrainians in this area in that they<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhob6JZTC0yKTz743TOcPs9geX5PtvinTSlqPyVRJZOSFexFAtKJiIUKL7nYnqW9pPjgBktv3xBpgA4bNP6pEvauQwBsMWbGFjqpSEY6jJa8mgXG6ypHtke9GVFYyUBVy2TW-g/s1600/IMG_1546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhob6JZTC0yKTz743TOcPs9geX5PtvinTSlqPyVRJZOSFexFAtKJiIUKL7nYnqW9pPjgBktv3xBpgA4bNP6pEvauQwBsMWbGFjqpSEY6jJa8mgXG6ypHtke9GVFYyUBVy2TW-g/s320/IMG_1546.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In memory of the 131 children</td></tr>
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wanted a monument to remember the children. At the top of this monument is a bell that rings in the wind. Etched around and near top of the monument are children's faces. The chiming bell reminds us of the children. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDPqwv8EXmacfoxNxYf-22NjRA-X1VhfVou-pQiu83gSOkVVHoOziLrSFZmN69J1BQLpMq09vbi1JR0rEvRwWRjGEf_n_nS1Qv9Ma6ywjJ2wwP2cq2EBDL0o9b4MPqcETKks/s1600/IMG_2189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDPqwv8EXmacfoxNxYf-22NjRA-X1VhfVou-pQiu83gSOkVVHoOziLrSFZmN69J1BQLpMq09vbi1JR0rEvRwWRjGEf_n_nS1Qv9Ma6ywjJ2wwP2cq2EBDL0o9b4MPqcETKks/s320/IMG_2189.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben joining the children at Prometei</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
During this week we visited many schools and continued to focus on English classes. All schools are required to teach English in grade 1. By the fifth grade, the children can opt to learn German or French. We have noticed that English is understood more frequently in stores and restaurants. The challenges for teachers seems to be to move from learning the rules of English to becoming comfortable in speaking English. <br />
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We believe you as donors are making a significant impact in this area of Ukraine. Young people are excited about their future. The economy is starting to grow. We want to continue to intervene in critical areas where we can really make a difference in the lives of people and in their country. </div>
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Thanks for your support,</div>
<div>
Ben and Lil</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To contribute to the work of the Mennonite Centre in
Ukraine, you can make your donation to “Friends of the Mennonite Centre”. All cheques should be mailed to George Dyck,
Treasurer, 3675 North Service Road, Beamsville, ON, L0R 1B1.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you wish to donate online, go to the website </span><a href="http://www.canadahelps.org/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">www.canadahelps.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
key in “Mennonite Centre Ukraine”, and click on the Search button. Then click on “V” for “View”, and “P” for
“Profile”. Then “Donate now”.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Please browse our new website at </span><a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">www.mennonitecentre.ca</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We thank you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ben and Lil Stobbe</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-72866333968654157932017-05-14T05:26:00.000-07:002017-05-14T05:26:33.075-07:00A long awaited spring in Ukraine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dear friends,<br />
<br />
Our return trip to Ukraine was more adventurous than we anticipated when we found out that Austrian Airlines for some unknown reason, delayed our departure and arrival time by 12 hours. <br />
We expected to arrive at the Dnepro airport at 1:40 pm. This has been our landing time for many years. This is a change in schedule, not a one-time change. Fortunately, we were able to arrange for a taxi pickup and we took the 2-hour trip to the InTourist Hotel in Zaporozhye. We got to bed at 4:00 a.m. Zaporozhye time. Our brains and jet-bagged eyes didn't know whether we'd been enrolled in a sleep deprivation program or we were going for a Guinness record of no sleep. <br />
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On the next day's trip to Molochansk we stopped in at Vasilevka, the small town which hosts the impressive Popov estate with a museum of pre-Soviet artifacts. Popov was a wealthy nobleman who built all his buildings in the form of castles. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguOAqzmdi2GZ58k6jx7W990tYTW_nTxL5X8c8lA8EhB688JF0Mnh44bKVNUoL4f2jqoWF_GnW8dVU4VDoify3TGSJyDj5BmeNBApACmL867agME39Rl3riLK6INplGfBbIq4/s1600/Book+presentation+to+the+Director+of+the+Vasilievka+Popov+Museum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguOAqzmdi2GZ58k6jx7W990tYTW_nTxL5X8c8lA8EhB688JF0Mnh44bKVNUoL4f2jqoWF_GnW8dVU4VDoify3TGSJyDj5BmeNBApACmL867agME39Rl3riLK6INplGfBbIq4/s320/Book+presentation+to+the+Director+of+the+Vasilievka+Popov+Museum.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben presenting a 1902 children's book</td></tr>
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The museum gives a good image of how people lived in the 19th century in rural Russia. Ben presented an old Mennonite children's book. The director of the museum, pictured here, was overjoyed to receive it. We regularly keep in contact with this museum. <br />
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On our first full day in Molochansk we went to visit the medical clinic in Valadovka (Waldheim). The former hospital administrator Dr. Troyan is a larger than life presence with a booming voice accompanied by strong opinions. He is a wonderful person, but intimidating to some. We had supplied medical equipment and building improvements to this facility when it was a hospital. It is now an ambulatory clinic where the doctors and staff are expected to tend to the beautiful vegetable and flower gardens. Dr. Troyan also goes to the front line to give medical supplies for the care of wounded soldiers. In return, the soldiers have presented him with a Ukrainian flag with their thanks. <br />
The Valadovka clinic has really been downsized because of the increased use of regional hospitals. This clinic has become specialized as an ambulance centre and also serves the local community needs by providing IV treatment and lab tests. In the past year they have also used their extra space for internally displaced people (IDPs) who come from the war zones. The clinic, like other institutions, has many mementos reminding people of the war. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxmDsKnNIOL244QHYBg3qV6CgIKN72sM0LLuPMkPAYFLs4Iyf7i-6RLuFDeRq8r0EvqpaAQPhNNt4mwL0xdvnqDLG1nYGoFsxm5G2cL7dEYP7w47oO5BIAS5YZA4zzfs4AOE/s1600/Ruth+with+Melitopol+University+Dean.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxmDsKnNIOL244QHYBg3qV6CgIKN72sM0LLuPMkPAYFLs4Iyf7i-6RLuFDeRq8r0EvqpaAQPhNNt4mwL0xdvnqDLG1nYGoFsxm5G2cL7dEYP7w47oO5BIAS5YZA4zzfs4AOE/s320/Ruth+with+Melitopol+University+Dean.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruth with Tatiana</td></tr>
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One of our major activities this week was to connect with English-speaking people who are interested in improving their conversational English. In the past few years the schools have placed a great deal of emphasis on learning English or German as a second language. We were privileged to have Ruth Derksen-Siemens and her husband Vic join us for 2 weeks here in Ukraine. Ruth is a retired English professor from UBC and a current board member of the the Friends of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine (FOMCU). We visited English classes in schools and also met with Tatiana, the Dean of the Humanities at the Melitopol Technical Institute. We found tremendous enthusiasm and support for having a camp or another type of specialized program to assist people in improving their spoken English.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbK2w0xsncIOhmCB8t32TBet46H5vISoasiywJIAGFKCY9dbZiHiax2bA4YzsYW8dnD9Tc1KrnYjTDvzafKCME3hrprVTyXMmhR-kTPZwQODZqrxB0G3x9IPbbChpWdfAMyXY/s1600/Svitlana+discussing+Mennonite+music+history.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbK2w0xsncIOhmCB8t32TBet46H5vISoasiywJIAGFKCY9dbZiHiax2bA4YzsYW8dnD9Tc1KrnYjTDvzafKCME3hrprVTyXMmhR-kTPZwQODZqrxB0G3x9IPbbChpWdfAMyXY/s320/Svitlana+discussing+Mennonite+music+history.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oksana and Lil with Svitlana</td></tr>
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We also visited with Svitlana, who teaches music education at Melitopol Pedigogical University. Svitlana is very interested in doing research on the history of Mennonite music in the 19th century. We gave her some resource connections and also presented a music book from that period. She immediately started thumbing through the book and to her delight found a children's song in Russian which is still sung today. The university in Melitopol has always been interested in our history. There is clearly a new generation of musicians and historians who have a keen interest in our story. <br />
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Our week ended with an impressive band concert from the Molochansk music school. They put on an outdoor concert for the seniors who come to the Mennonite Centre for lunch. Most of the band instruments have been provided by you, our donors, and they are very well used and appreciated. Many of the band members played solo parts and were enthusiastically received by a clapping and toe-tapping group of smiling seniors. <br />
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It is good to be back!<br />
<br />
Ben and Lil Stobbe<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To contribute to the work of the Mennonite Centre in
Ukraine, you can make your donation to “Friends of the Mennonite Centre”. All cheques should be mailed to George Dyck, Treasurer,
3675 North Service Road, Beamsville, ON, L0R 1B1.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you wish to donate online, go to the website <a href="http://www.canadahelps.org/">www.canadahelps.org</a>, key in “Mennonite
Centre Ukraine”, and click on the Search button. Then click on “V” for “View”, and “P” for “Profile”. Then “Donate now”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Please browse our new website at <a href="http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/">www.mennonitecentre.ca</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We thank you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ben and Lil Stobbe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-58026544059040210932016-10-31T22:03:00.000-07:002016-10-31T22:03:18.551-07:00What has Ukraine got going for it?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2N-pGngrTmrZmPKRwhMVJdifiWa5o_xGVsSyny0IU5k70147ao-j10wZ1igzzFlpkKtghS5rGr4ZzuOCdXhh880xbih5NISM0dzAtmVyA3_ha8AeR4m-kKh4iGGqGP3skgg/s1600/IMG_3298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2N-pGngrTmrZmPKRwhMVJdifiWa5o_xGVsSyny0IU5k70147ao-j10wZ1igzzFlpkKtghS5rGr4ZzuOCdXhh880xbih5NISM0dzAtmVyA3_ha8AeR4m-kKh4iGGqGP3skgg/s200/IMG_3298.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVJ3word4afhr3hVdCArvKrS5VJc77j0QJ4GMSoPMlCu_3uPmOIsnm0TZZQhip3QuSA4Q1Hs7O1dE3vGpl5IXek8yCgSlMtXY5rlsFBprPbDrM9nHYoADApS4PHdJMmo7tnw/s1600/IMG_3207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVJ3word4afhr3hVdCArvKrS5VJc77j0QJ4GMSoPMlCu_3uPmOIsnm0TZZQhip3QuSA4Q1Hs7O1dE3vGpl5IXek8yCgSlMtXY5rlsFBprPbDrM9nHYoADApS4PHdJMmo7tnw/s200/IMG_3207.JPG" width="150" /></a>Here in Canada we all hear the endless litany of problems in Ukraine. Instability, corruption, unemployment etc are accompanied with sighs and headshaking. However, I have had the good fortune of getting into Ukraine annually for many years and always going back to the same villages and cities. This allows me the opportunity to see change, whether good or bad. And for 2016 I see slow but steady improvements. The pictures show a few examples such as clergy coming together at the Mennonite Centre to share their experiences. In times past villages could be identified as being Baptist, or Ukrainian Orthodox, or Mennonite, or Ukrainian Greek Catholic or Pentecostal etc. Now you can see more than one church and even signs of working and celebrating events together. <br />
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It's not only the clergy who come together; it is also the babushkas who share a morning together at the Mennonite Centre on a quilting project. They are an example of the increased level of volunteerism in this society. The increasing number of NGOs, Non Governmental Organizations, which are emerging in towns and cities often are started and staffed by volunteers. Organizations to prevent cruelty to animals, to help people in hospital care, who organize sports and cultural activities are critical in developing an emerging civil society.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVJ3word4afhr3hVdCArvKrS5VJc77j0QJ4GMSoPMlCu_3uPmOIsnm0TZZQhip3QuSA4Q1Hs7O1dE3vGpl5IXek8yCgSlMtXY5rlsFBprPbDrM9nHYoADApS4PHdJMmo7tnw/s1600/IMG_3207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></span></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBK99Cisjq-yL6GkVMrQgHoV4VR6hJ2Rv1KPNKUlSO5BRFhCVa_M7WmTAIe6_6esTclIRsgoMnEYAg5vGOkQptiES97Xl_rjG4wjnV0-Pi34GI6DDtXS_Yh8lq5voqOrpaLfA/s1600/IMG_3242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBK99Cisjq-yL6GkVMrQgHoV4VR6hJ2Rv1KPNKUlSO5BRFhCVa_M7WmTAIe6_6esTclIRsgoMnEYAg5vGOkQptiES97Xl_rjG4wjnV0-Pi34GI6DDtXS_Yh8lq5voqOrpaLfA/s320/IMG_3242.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsRr1KeIsoiq2K-CjR3cRrZJxwDw392G37J8PCM5zc8Z6Fo2G-YmCT0PTJJkbZJ4BXquyCfaueuCwHaBtbk0KUrVyPeNu-5iG7BBvBR88wXv65fY7ahKxPqu_DTZ9WQoLOj8/s1600/IMG_3244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsRr1KeIsoiq2K-CjR3cRrZJxwDw392G37J8PCM5zc8Z6Fo2G-YmCT0PTJJkbZJ4BXquyCfaueuCwHaBtbk0KUrVyPeNu-5iG7BBvBR88wXv65fY7ahKxPqu_DTZ9WQoLOj8/s200/IMG_3244.JPG" /></a>One such organization was started by Angelika who started working with children with developmental disabilities. She started a project Prometei, a group mostly made up of volunteers who would care primarily for autistic children in a very small apartment. Soon the increasing demand required two apartments and staff started to get some financial support from parents. Mennonite organizations such as the Mennonite Family Centre and the Mennonite Centre Ukraine came through with support money. Then a very generous priest who had been given significant property to be used for community benefit selected Prometei as the beneficiaries of his generosity. Soon the children were placed in a large comfortable space with kitchen and outdoor space. Then the local school received permission to incorporate older children into their school program. Here is the School principal working together with Angelika the Director of Prometei. Now over 60 children are either in the community or school program. Amazing care and progress is being made with these children. <br />
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What Ukraine has going for it are clergy who are letting go of turf and seeing the bigger picture, seniors who come together to help, and activists who want to help the vulnerable. This country has a great future. We are privileged to be part of it.<br />
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By the way, we plan to have a celebration of our 15th anniversary of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine. The event will be in Abbotsford on Thursday, November 24 at 7:00 PM. in the Mennonite Historical Musuem, 1818 Clearbrook Road. This will be a Music and Dessert fundraising evening.<br />
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To contribute to the work of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine, you can make your donation to "Friends of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine". All cheques should be mailed to George Dyck, Treasurer, 3675 North Service road, Beamsville, ON, L0R 1B1.<br />
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If you wish to donate online, go to the website www.canadahelps.org, key in "Mennonite Centre Ukraine", and click on the search button. Then click on "V" for View and "P" for Profile. Then "Donate Now".<br />
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We thank you,<br />
Ben and Lil Stobbe<br />
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-27950229684126219652016-10-22T10:21:00.000-07:002016-10-22T10:21:29.226-07:00#3 - Gifts that Keep on Giving<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of the factors we consider in deciding whether or not to support a proposal is the potential long term impact. After being here in Ukraine for 15 years, we can see more clearly which projects have had lasting impact.<br />
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This week, we came on a situation where we feel that supporting an IDP (internally displaced person) family from Crimea can also benefit the community where they plan to reside. We became aware of this family with 4 children last spring when we were told that the youngest suffered from severe allergies. The family had little funds for medical help and tried several unconventional methods to deal with the extreme rash on his face. We gave funds for a proper diagnosis and treatment. The following two pictures show the change. <br />
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This family had a prosperous bee keeping business in Crimea prior to the Russian takeover. They all got into their old Lada and fled into southern Ukraine. Currently they are renting and working for a greenhouse business. Their dream is to buy a small plot of land and start growing roses for the market. They have found nearby property in the village and for $5000 they can get an old house and a half hectare of land. They asked us for a loan. We cannot give out loans. Instead we suggested that if we could find specific donors we would be prepared to consider giving them funds to purchase the house on condition that they agree to benefit the community with their property. For example, they could consider a community garden or provide roses free of charge for community events. This is an example of giving a gift that will continue to benefits others. We have had similar arrangements for other farmers in the past. </div>
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Another version of this concept can be found here in Zaparozhe. Uri got involved in the drug scene and spent time in prison. After his release, he became a very committed Christian who has a passion to help the homeless. Each week he provides an outdoor soup kitchen for homeless people in a park. He cooks up a large stock pot of hot food together with salad, bread, and a hot drink. His wife sets up an outdoor barbershop where the homeless sit on the concrete slab. The hair is cut and dispatched by the wind. At today's prices Ben was tempted to get a freebie haircut. Another benefit of getting a haircut and a different item of clothing is that they find it easier to go into warm places like a railway station. Meanwhile Uri is putting on his surgical gloves and cleaning and applying salve to a cut and bruised face. We funded the costs for this meal, and the hair clippers. People also can choose items of used clothing. There were about 60 people that came out. </div>
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And how does our gift keep giving? After receiving this gift, the men and women clean up the park, gathering paper and other debris. In addition, five men have found jobs. It is amazing what a haircut and new clothes can do for their self esteem. <br />
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Another example of a gift that keeps on giving is the rototiller that we provided for the church group in Novapetrovka, formerly Eichenfeld. This is more than a rototiller for the church garden; it also serves as a rototiller for the larger community. Pastor Sergei takes the rototiller to seniors and helps them get their gardens ready for spring planting. <br />
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The best way to ensure a lasting positive benefit is not necessarily to physically be here forever, but to make sure that Ukrainians are equipped to continue our legacy. <br />
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To contribute to the work of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine, you can make your donation to "Friends of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine". All cheques should be mailed to George Dyck, Treasurer, 3675 North Service Road, Beamsville, ON L0R 1B1.<br />
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If you wish to donate online, go to the website www.canadahelps.org, key in "Mennonite Centre Ukraine", and click on the search button. Then click on "V" for View, then "P" for profile. Then "Donate Now". <br />
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We thank you,<br />
Ben and Lil Stobbe<br />
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-45923463987943086782016-10-15T07:31:00.000-07:002016-10-15T07:32:33.338-07:00Blog # 2 - A Day to be Thankful<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last weekend Canadians celebrated Thanksgiving Day and this Sunday, some churches in Ukraine will celebrate Harvest Day. And in the middle of this week, we had a day to remember the 15th anniversary of the opening of the Mennonite Centre here in Molochansk. It was our own version of Thanksgiving. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sudermans, Ira, and Ben Stobbe</td></tr>
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Alvin and Mary Suderman received a challenge from the Ambassador of Canada to the Ukraine to have an event celebrating the return of Mennonite organizations to Ukraine after independence. Our head cook Ira, and her staff made a delicious calories-beyond-counting lunch for the 90 plus guests. The guests included the Ambassador Roman Waschuk, his assistant Anne Mattson Gauss, Senate leader Peter Harder, who represented the government of Canada, and Senator Don Plett. Ukrainian officials included the mayor of Molochansk and church leaders from the various church groups of Molochansk. After lunch, several Mennonite organizations gave reports. All of us who were seated on the wooden benches prayed for brevity in light of the cold gusty winds. During a break, we went inside and had Ira's famous blini (crepes with cottage cheese filling, and a delicious sauce.). The Faith and Life choir from southern Manitoba sang several selections between the reports. They were very well received. This day gave a great opportunity for all Mennonite organizations to meet with the Ambassador and other dignitaries. <br />
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At 6:00 pm, we moved to the Centralschule for a Ukraine evening of celebration. Here we had a program that included a traditional Ukrainian welcome with bread and salt followed by dancing, a welcome from the mayor, adults singing, including Rhapsody, and the Faith and Life choir. The Ambassador addressed the crowd of over 500 in Ukrainian. Walter Unger closed the evening with acknowledgements of key Ukrainians who helped Mennonites in returning to Ukraine.<br />
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After all the talking and singing, children and adults alike were hungry for the cake portraying the Mennonite Centre. They quickly ate up the green grounds and were soon laying siege to the building. Attendees also received a gift package of goodies and a 2017 calendar with a picture of the Mennonite Centre, hand drawn by Gallina Pensarova, a Ukrainian artist who paints scenes depicting German colonists.<br />
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The finale of the evening was a fire show put on by two daring, non-insurable young people. They had fire dancing around them, over them, and under them. The audience was filled with oohs and ahs, and people went home happy. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mementos of a wonderful evening</td></tr>
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Last Monday, October 17, our Ukrainian friends gave us a big surprise. We had been deceived into believing that Ira was planning a small dinner for the Sudermans and us. When we arrived, we noticed several other friends that seemed to be anxiously awaiting our arrival for our entry into the centre. Only after stepping into the lobby did we realize that this was an after-wedding party for us. Ukrainians often look for any excuse to have a party, and our wedding in June was an event that they were happy to celebrate in October. And celebrate they did. Some kindergarten children, formally dressed in wedding attire, danced a type of classical waltz. Another more informal dance was provided by a local pair who had amazing energy. Fortunately we were not required to join them. After these introductory events, we had a great supper with about 30 close friends. The after dinner party included a poem, wishes for a good life, solos and other songs by the Rhapsody singers. Ben has come here for 15 years and this was Lil's first time here. However, for both of us it was an evening of heartfelt joy and love. This is a community that has given us far more than we have ever provided. <br />
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To contribute to the work of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine, you can make your donation to "Friends of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine". All cheques should be mailed to George Dyck, Treasurer, 3675 North Service Road, Beamsville, ON L0R 1B1.<br />
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If you wish to donate online, go to the website www.canadahelps.org, key in "Mennonite Centre Ukraine", and click on the search button. Then click on "View Profile" and then "Donate Now". <br />
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We thank you,<br />
Ben and Lil Stobbe</div>
Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-20135873242537108142016-10-09T11:26:00.000-07:002016-10-09T11:29:51.175-07:00Ben and Lil's first blog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody";"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;">We arrived in Dnepro on Thursday afternoon from Vienna. A taxi driver from Zaporozhye whom we have used often picked us up and took us to Zaporozhye in his 630,000 km well-driven car. First impressions are not always best impressions. There was a noticeable increase of military equipment at the airport and Lil found this rather surreal. Almost like stepping into a James Bond movie set. The roads continue to give poor initial impressions. Sergei our driver, weaved around big heaves in the road while at the same time passing lumbering lorries with little concern. This was less concern than Lil had.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">On Friday we attended a delightful concert performed by the men's Faith and Life choir who are from southern Manitoba. They sang at the music college in Zaporozhye. They are here in Ukraine to participate in a celebration event we are having at the Mennonite Centre on Wednesday October 12th. They were very well received by a large group of enthusiastic students. Two teachers from the college joined the choir and provided delightful accompaniment for one of the pieces.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "uictfonttextstyletallbody";"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">On Saturday we met with Alvin and Mary Suderman who are currently serving here as North American directors, and Oksana Bratchenko, our Mennonite Centre director. We discussed the challenge of how to best respond to cases where individuals have significant pain and medical concerns. Surgeries can be very expensive and even getting a proper diagnosis can be costly. We are getting an increasing number of requests and are trying to determine principals and policies to ensure consistency and fairness. Over the years we have been reducing the amount given to individual requests and focussing on medical support in areas where we can reach the greatest number of people with limited funds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: uictfonttextstyletallbody; font-size: 17px;">Other than trying to understand the door locking systems, reducing the heat in the apartment, and baking with no oven, things are going very well.</span><br />
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-5554348769271701762015-06-29T00:38:00.001-07:002015-06-29T00:38:29.314-07:00Lviv, history, health and charm
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<p> After a 24 hour train ride in a double bunk bed cell, Ukrainian managers Oksana, Olga and I arrived in Lviv, Ukraine. To get here we traveled in a north-western direction from Zaporozhye. We arrived in good spirits. Actually most people would after riding for such a long time.<span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;"> </span></p>
<p>Lviv is a beautiful old city with a population of nearly one million. Virtually no buildings were damaged during the last two wars. It has an incredible number of old churches and appears to be very Polish and western looking. It is 80 kilometres from the Polish border. Tourism is a booming industry here, primarily because Crimea is off limits to many Ukrainians. The downtown was packed with tourists, many coming for the Jazz festival.</p>
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<p>Friends of the Mennonite Center board member, cardiologist Dr. Art Friesen, joined us in Lviv. Our purpose was to visit the newly established rehabilitation centre for people having major spinal cord injuries. The Center has civilian and military patients. This Centre was established less than one year ago with virtually no government funding. They were given a run down abandoned building on the grounds of a hospital. They had no equipment ,no staff and a run down building full of holes. Dr. Rustyslav, a dedicated doctor who has training in this area, took on the challenge. He called for volunteers to renovate the building, international agencies to provide rehab equipment, and physiotherapists to come and volunteer at the Centre. Amazingly, he has a staff of 17 who put in long days and make a few dollars a day. They could make 10 times as much in wages at a private clinic. </p>
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<p>One of the volunteers is a physiotherapist who spent three years training at the University of Manitoba. Lesya is one of the few foreign students in her class who returned to her home country. Obviously her English is very good. She is also a specialist in dealing with children with special needs. When asked what she needed most in her work at the Centre, she simply said, "a holiday." </p>
<p>We became aware of this facility coming out of a tragic story. A young civilian man from Mariupol was returning to his mother's home near the fighting to pick up some of her personal possessions. While driving the car back to Mariupol he was shot and his spine was severed. We were asked if we could contribute some funds for his rehabilitation here. The goal is to get him to the point in his recovery where he can still find a quality of life even when paralyzed in his lower body. The challenge will will be to find a suitable place for him to live and function. His mother is with him at the rehab Center. </p>
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<p>I have met a senior official from the military, and also met with a young man moments after he passed his medical and now was preparing to say goodbye to his wife and two children. I have seen paralyzed young soldiers trying to build up upper body strength, and visited a warehouse of goods for refugees. At times the war seems to be everywhere; at other times it is hidden behind hospital walls and gated army bases.</p>
<p>When you stand with thousands of others in a big open area in Lviv centre and listen to musicians at the Jazz festival, enjoy cherry filled verenika like my mother made, or take in a liturgical service in Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, you appreciate that in the midst of hate there is also hope. And hope is what fuels this country. </p>
<p>To contribute to the work of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine you can make your donations to "Friends of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine." All cheques should be mailed to George Dyck, Treasurer, 3675 North Service Rd, Beamsville, Ontario, Canada - L0R 1B1.</p>
<p>If you wish to donate online go to the website www.canadahelps.org, key in "Mennonite Centre Ukraine" and click on the search button. Then click on "View Profile" and then "Donate Now". </p>
<p>Thank You!</p>
<p>Ben Stobbe</p>
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Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-30432336170224603962015-06-27T00:13:00.001-07:002015-06-27T00:13:16.517-07:00The Mood in Molochansk and Zaporozhye<p> Coming in and out of Ukraine for nearly 9 years has given me the opportunity to try and sense the mood in Molochansk and Zaporozhye. The information that I gather in numerous conversations, often with the same people, gives me a better sense how people are feeling compared to the previous year. </p><p> When I arrived last August, the Malaysian airliner had just been downed. Donetsk Airport was a fierce battleground. People were very anxious about the war and their immediate future. Now, a year later here are some observations.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--zk1U_t1PNE/VY5NBDCUVWI/AAAAAAAABpg/QR8LfjQ8JyY/s601/Photo%25252020150627001313424.jpg" target="_blank" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--zk1U_t1PNE/VY5NBDCUVWI/AAAAAAAABpg/QR8LfjQ8JyY/s250/Photo%25252020150627001313424.jpg" id="blogsy-1435389202928.2778" class="alignleft" width="250" height="130" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><ol> <li>The concerns about the fighting in Donestk and Ludhansk Oblasts are not as apparent now. People say they are learning to live with this reality. They do not seem to be paralyzed with fear. Often they say, "We need to get on with our daily lives." I see the shrug and hear the saying, Life goes on. However, Call-up for military service certainly is a fear for many young men.</li> <li>The biggest fear at present is the increase in the prices of necessities and no corresponding increase in wages and pensions. The cost of gas is a major concern. Schools and other institutions which moved to primary heating with electrical radiators felt that the changeover last fall was very successful. We financed some of the rewiring and radiator costs. After a dramatic devaluation in 2014, the Ukrainian currency, the grievna, appears to have stabilized at $1.00 U.S. to 23.00 UAH.</li> <li>The government is making a very determined effort to collect more revenue by requiring more people to pay taxes. As a registered charitable organization we are increasingly required to do more paperwork to document financial transactions.</li> <li>Corruption, particularly the payment of bribes, is often being exposed through social media. The call for transparency in dealings is frequently promoted by advocacy groups.</li> <li>Small villages are losing their institutions and their resident youth mostly due to job loses. Schools are being shut down with children required to go to larger neighbouring schools. Hospitals services are downsized to day only medical clinics. As one person said, " The only thing growing in our village is the cemetery." The plight of the smaller villages often means that cities are under stress with refugees from the war zone, (63,000 in Zaporozhye), and from displaced youth looking for work.</li> <li> The tremendous spirit of volunteerism coming out of the war has really flowered in this country. The Probation Officer caseload in Tokmak has dropped by 25% with over 100 young men volunteering in the military. The newly established Military Police Unit has lawyers volunteering to join, some going into Military Prosecutor positions. Women join together to make dried borscht packages for the soldiers; only hot water needs to be added. Students in local schools are very involved in sending notes of encouragement and support to soldiers. Volunteers work at the military rehab hospital in Lviv to help the wounded. This volunteerism is often accompanied by an increasing sense of nationalism. </li> <li>The major church denominations in Ukraine have set aside their differences and seem to be cooperating and working together. Differences over doctrinal issues hold less importance. </li> <li>The spring crops look good. Molochansk and Zaporozhye have some good rains and sunshine. Wheat, sunflower and corn crops look promising, as do the cherry and strawberry crops in Melitopol.</li></ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R_UtXxZUxcQ/VY5NCYR3CBI/AAAAAAAABpo/vdPl3o1sbMI/s640/Photo%25252020150627001313522.jpg" target="_blank" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R_UtXxZUxcQ/VY5NCYR3CBI/AAAAAAAABpo/vdPl3o1sbMI/s250/Photo%25252020150627001313522.jpg" id="blogsy-1435389202914.679" class="alignleft" width="250" height="188" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p>This provides a bit of an update and summary on what I have gathered and observed on my current visit to Ukraine. Now I am off to Livi in Western Ukraine. </p><p>Ben Stobbe </p><p> </p><p> </p>Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-9950202558868615712015-06-21T07:05:00.001-07:002015-06-21T07:05:11.476-07:00Revisiting the past<p> Newcomers visiting this part of the former Soviet Union are always surprised at the number of imposing statues of Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Bolshevik Revolution and first Chairman of the USSR. At the Lenin's Mausoleum in Moscow's Red Square, almost all of the original Lenin is still there. Apparently every year more of his original biological body has to be replaced with look alike parts such as plastic skin. But his statues showing him in a striding forward pose, as in Molochansk, or pointing his hand pose, as at the dam site in Zaporozhye, or ( my favourite) in a sitting, reflective pose, as in Svetnadolinsk, appear to be indestructible. He is as familiar to the landscape as those bland Soviet era apartments only coloured by people shirts and underwear hanging from concrete balconies. </p><p>But times are a changing. New laws have been passed in the Rada called decommunization laws. The aim of these laws is remove signs of the Soviet past in Ukraine. The laws, among other things, ban Nazi and Communist symbols and other signs of the Soviet past I have been told that directives have been sent out telling villages to rename streets if they have been named after communist officials. I suspect the Mennonite Centre will soon not be on Rosa Luksembourg Street. </p><p>It appears the country is fighting a war on two two fronts; a war in the east to preserve it's future and a war in the rest of the country to rewrite it's past. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NkPkJGQmWhE/VYbEji--bfI/AAAAAAAABpI/nRNte0BpStc/s1024/Photo%25252020150621070456063.jpg" target="_blank" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NkPkJGQmWhE/VYbEji--bfI/AAAAAAAABpI/nRNte0BpStc/s250/Photo%25252020150621070456063.jpg" id="blogsy-1434895504421.226" class="alignleft" width="250" height="312" alt=""></a></div><p>The statue of Lenin in Molchansk on the former Willms estate is shorter now, only two legs stand on top of the pedestal, the rest of him has been cut off. He is almost gone, but probably not forgotten. </p><p> </p><p>I am leaving Molochansk on Monday the 22nd. I will be going further north and west in the next week. I am impressed how well Oksana and staff keep the operation going in spite of all of the distractions. Tokmak has had an amazing facelift. There is no garbage lying around, the streets in town are clean and well maintained. There is a building and home materials enterprise could easily fit into Canada. I just don't how locals can afford to buy anything. </p><p>The call up for men to go to the front carries on. Every day I seem to hear of someone else I know or am connected with, being called for service. People here want peace. That is the prayer I heard in Church today. Let it be our prayer. </p><p>Ben Stobbe</p><p> </p>Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30568658.post-7289716698854121612015-06-19T13:24:00.001-07:002015-06-19T13:24:05.815-07:00Johann Cornies memorial <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"> </div><p> Several weeks ago I received word that a historical society in Melitopl Ukraine had put up a plaque at the Berdynask Forestry site. I understood the plaque made reference to Johann Cornies. When I arrived in Molochansk earlier this week, I was told that the society members and other city officials wanted to meet with me to outline some of their plans for future development in this area. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-03b5nYig6UM/VYR6V2JSPiI/AAAAAAAABog/duHpkGzQaFQ/s640/Photo%25252020150619132346744.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-03b5nYig6UM/VYR6V2JSPiI/AAAAAAAABog/duHpkGzQaFQ/s250/Photo%25252020150619132346744.jpg" id="blogsy-1434745444105.89" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="250" height="188"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"> </div><p>On Wednesday, Mennonite Centre Director Oksana Bratchenko and I bobbed and weaved the 40 kms south to the forestry site. There we were met by a party of 10, eagerly waiting to tell us all about their plans. Pictures were taken of the plaque which announces that a monument to Johann Cornies will be built here. Now this group would like to involve us in the design of a memorial for Cornies honouring his larger contribution to the economic development of the entire Molotschna area. I am sure this is not the first monument to Cornies. I listened with interest and thanked them for their interest in the Mennonite story. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9sHHO212KjM/VYR6XcnZWsI/AAAAAAAABoo/NvaUPoAknaU/s640/Photo%25252020150619132346822.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9sHHO212KjM/VYR6XcnZWsI/AAAAAAAABoo/NvaUPoAknaU/s250/Photo%25252020150619132346822.jpg" id="blogsy-1434745444071.635" class="aligncenter" width="250" height="188" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><br><p>I was introduced to the noted Mennonite historian Nikolai Krylov from Melitopol University. Other society members were also present. Theypresented me with a lapel pin and declared that I am now a member of this group. One of their other projects is to restore some of the barracks that were constructed to accommodate the young Mennonite men who chose alternative service as tree planters before and during WW1. One of the society members is living in one of the barracks and another of the barracks has been developed into a museum. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uV5d_q_NztU/VYR6Yjqyj7I/AAAAAAAABow/jsltIHYoIYk/s640/Photo%25252020150619132346912.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uV5d_q_NztU/VYR6Yjqyj7I/AAAAAAAABow/jsltIHYoIYk/s250/Photo%25252020150619132346912.jpg" id="blogsy-1434745444108.5205" class="aligncenter" width="250" height="333" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p>Every significant event needs to be celebrated with speeches and toasts fueled by local wines and honey vodka. I was told by an apparent local expert in medical matters that honey vodka clears the blood vessels in your brain thus causing you to think more clearly! I only hope that my friend's understanding of history is better than his understanding of anatomy! Fortunately I had my on camera interview before I cleared my brain's blood vessels. </p><p>What continually impresses me is the willingness of Ukrainians to celebrate their past and their acknowledgement of the contributions of others in their story. To be noted is the fact that the Berdyansk Forestry site is directly in the path where pro-Russian troops would be fighting to make a land connection between Crimea and Russia. There is no little irony that a forestry and much loved park site built by conscientious objectors 100 years ago could now become a battleground. </p><p>Ben Stobbe </p><p> </p><p> </p>Ben and Lil's Ukraine Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05516934094598104191noreply@blogger.com0