N&S DOMa: May 2019

Friday, May 24, 2019

Deadline number ONE: May 10 - Get the first bathroom,

which is the main bath, completed. The deadline got set back a week as Maxim and his wife have been quite sick and needed time off. NOW...We just have a mirror to hang in the outer sink area, but otherwise, this bathroom is complete.

This area above the sinks will be where the mirror will hang,

it's a large and bulky design.

THE MAIN HALL CEILING

The finishing stain of the higher areas of the ceiling going on.

The idea of a contrast between the woods is just as pretty as hoped for.

The lower areas of the ceiling are remaining natural

with a clear lacquer coating only.

TIS THE SEASON

The roads out in Dari'vka right now are just lined with Iris'

of every color right now, it's just beautiful.

Friday, May 3, 2019

FIRST DEADLINE WE'RE TRYING TO MEET

MAY 10th

as so much is happening at Stephen's Home

In and attempt to complete one room and then the next and then the next...

we've put up a big wall calendar in our office with all of our goal dates

so we can visually see "what's next on the list."

And though that list seems never ending,

September 1st is going to be here before we know it, and hopeful everything on our list will be checked off and the house will be about completed, Lord willing.

Here's where were at from this weeks work adventure.

stain work will be next

the higher ceiling area will be dark with the lower ceiling a clear lacquer

OUT IN THE THERAPY GARDEN

amidst the mess

at the base of our fruit trees, the flowers survived

apple blossoms

pear blossoms

About

Loving on disable children in a small town, state run orphanage.

THEIR FUTURE

Most kids in Ukraine have to leave the orphanage at 18 years of age. A normal, healthy orphan has a rather bleak future if they don't have the encouragement of others. Most have few life skills and a poor education, and they are left to fend for themselves.

But for handicapped orphans, those labeled mentally disabled, their future is miserable. At 18 they are uprooted from the only home they have ever known, the orphanage, and sent to live in a psychological "internat" (government run institute) or an old-age home for the rest of their lives. They have no rights… no formal education and no understanding of life outside the orphanage. Desperate for freedom and longing to be loved, they are isolated from society.

Throughout their life in Ukraine, nothing for these disabled children comes easily. The world here is not handicap accessible. The stigma and cultural perspective remains in many people’s minds that these kids are not kids and need to be shut away. That is what has been done, having been placed in institutes they are not allowed to leave. The mentality of some who work in the homes is that the children don’t have feelings because they cannot respond or interact as a typical child. The children are not expected to live. That changes the whole outlook on care, feeding, nurturing, health, and every aspect of life.

But what about their hearts?

Necessities are covered by a small stipend from the local government for families who keep their disabled children in their homes. Many homes are single moms, and if she is at home with her disabled child, she cannot work to put food on the table or provide a roof over her family’s head. The government’s stipend does not begin to cover these needs. In many ways, out of a pure lack of resources, it is easier for the family to allow the government to provide, which means giving up their parental rights and letting someone else take care of their children.

The government will step in and remove a disabled child from the home if there is alcohol abuse, drug, and/or physical abuse. These addictions often result in the child having epilepsy. This is one of the biggest problems in the orphanage.

For all the children, no matter if their disability is physical, mental, or both, between 18 and 19 years of age, they will be moved to an asylum referred to as a psycho-neurological “internat” for adults or to a facility comparable in nature to an old folk’s homes.

This is the future for these young adults.

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Friday, May 24, 2019

Friday, May 3, 2019