The Blog

Upon our arrival in Khabarovsk we met with our host. She had a list ready for us of suggested projects needing to be done at the Samuel House, a shelter for children. One of the needs listed was repair of the zavalinki.  We asked what is a zavalinki? Well it was determined there was no translation for it. So we decided a visit to the house was in order to learn more about the zavalinki.   It is a flashing device connected to the foundation. It is supposed to divert rain and add insulation at the base of the house. It looks much like a small roofed storage area 2 feet tall by 1 foot deep.  When it was new it probably worked quite well. But when the roofing (which covered it) eventually failed the contraption became a perimeter sponge holding water that would freeze in winter. So much for insulation!  This particular unit was in such bad disrepair the only logical solution was its complete removal.     After the initial removal of all old materials the cement needed to be repaired or replaced and a water drainage system put in place. An addition had to be reinforced also so it would not fall. The cement wall was crumbling at its base and water had seeped in for a long time. The problem here was not insulation but water infiltrating into areas that needed to stay dry. Some Insulation was needed to be put in place at the wooden

Dreams do become realities. Last year their dream was to have a kitchen with a table large enough for the family of seven to all eat at one time. This year Zhenya’s dream was to have cabinets, stove and refrigerator in that kitchen. The Lord has blessed us to help with both of these dreams. Each day as another cabinet goes into place or a door is hung there is such joy on every face. One by one the children check out the work. Each joking about how they might use the cabinet. Papa thinks it would make a nice storage for his hunting supplies but Mama says ‘NO”.  This is her kitchen dream. Each day she sits and watches the work, helping when necessary, and mentally stocks the cabinets. They have had the refrigerator in the living room, the stove in another small room and the sink in a hallway. Now they will all be in the same room. Imagine the joy of having such luxury. The children enjoy climbing the ladder of fetching supplies from time to time. The little ones call “Janice” as they peek around a corner just to let me know they are still there. They are quick to offer a helping hand to sweep the floors, especially since Dale gifted a few rubles to his helpers. Working together in their home has taken our relationship to a new level. Pastor’s use of English has increased since last year as well as our limited Russian.

  Ok thanks to prayer and a very very loving wife.  I am feeling 100% better tonight so I thought a little update would be in order. Although the sickness sidelined me a few days Yuri and I still were able to collect some of the needed things for the projects at hand. Like sheet metal and metal tubing for a new fence at Samuel House and the sheet and angle to go with it. It is now in our possession as I write this but my poor brain was tested this last week and…..lets just say it was not the best it could have been. Yuri came early one morning with plans to pick-up the aforementioned sheet metal which had already been paid for. He also really liked the Chili soup I was able to put together before I got too sick and asked for the recipe. I was able to change the English measures to Metric and printed the page folding the paper and putting it in my pocket. Jan gave me the proof of purchase papers to go pick up the beautiful pre-finished metal for the fence and we were off on a mission. We quickly arrived at the factory where our metal was waiting. I reached into my pocket and handed Yuri the receipt for without that you cannot get your order completed here. Yuri said “I will be back soon”. Well I think that’s what he said (it was in Russian). Five minutes later he