Spring is here and so the work begins once again. 

That means supplies will be arriving and we don't want things walking off. 

Since the brickwork for the fences was finished up this past November

the finishing touch, the decorative metal was all that was left to close up the perimeter walls. A gate at the front of the house has been ordered, 
but the property of Stephen's home butts up next to the churches, 
so it is secure now as the two fence of their properties connect.

It just got placed today - looks really nice

We had a day of clean up on the property this past Thursday, 

that helped immensely with actually being able to see the fencing.

Very grateful for the hard workers that came and helped.

Completed basement floor

---------------------------------

Tile is the best way to finish things in Ukraine

so our cold cellar is about as finished as it will get

before we begin using it as a cold cellar.

Maybe there will be a harvest this fall.

A few doors in the right places are the last details that need to go

in before shelving is placed.

In the far corner on the right, we're going to place the big 

1000 liter water tank that's been sitting outside throughout this last summer. 

So, when the occasional turn comes and water is switched off, 

we'll have enough to provide for the family a few days.

We have a dry basement, 

I've seen it now with my own eyes

YEAH!

This is greatly due in part to the fact that we now have 

stairs down to the basement. Very excited about this.

yes, the ceiling looks just a little bizarre

- not quite certain what the first company did to form it 

and have it come out this way

our first storage shelving unit in the cold-celler

this is in a small closet area under the stairs

looking from the bottom up, 

the structural formation of the staircase

We had a work day out in Darivka this past Saturday.

It was time to clean up! 

So members from my church in Kherson along with some extra helpers joined in to

MOVE TILES INTO STEPHEN'S HOUSE

Nick helping to separate out the boxes of tiles as it 

rained, then froze. Made the work a bit more challenging to accomplish.

STACKED WOOD

PREPARED THE GARDEN FOR WINTER

Valodya cutting back the grape vines for the winter.

AND SHARED IN FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER

Sashinka fixing lunch, 

joined by the two interim pastors of the church in Darivka.

Nick and Sveltlana, with other friends from church sharing lunch together, to warm up.

Vovo, a new believer in Christ, joining in as his work on Stephen's house

has required long hours of him, so he lives there temporarily.

Rejoicing in a good days work done!

Staircase to the cold cellar

Furnace chimney going in

it's quite a process 😊

LEGALITIES

the requirements for opening Stephen's home

• State paperwork completed
• Meeting standard requirements for our specific type of service
• Vehicle for the home
• Staff members need medical paper that say they are allowed to work with children
• Programing that provides development/progression for the young men. Annual plan and schedule of events.
• Finished building - needs to meet sanitary norms with enough light, accessible, space, etc.
• Food provision
• Assistants - need to have one or two people that have qualifications/diplomas stating that they are qualified to oversee and care for these kids/adults (one or two social service workers that will be hired to help us and Kamitra)
• No debts
• Medical staff that are qualified/having a diploma
• Tools and equipment to provide our social service

We would appreciate your prayers ~

This may seem like a short list, but comes with a l

ong list of underlying details that require a whole lot.