March 1-7
Thursday March 1
Friday was another shopping day as we needed to get some items for the apartment. So we went to a outside market to shop for articles and food. After that we went to an IKEA. It was the size of our living room but it had what we needed.
Non-eventful day. Volunteer Paul came down from Almaty, Kazakhstan for a visa run. We stayed with him most of the day in the apartment. We went and had lunch at a Burrito place(wasn't bad) then sent Paul back to airport. Then came home and met Dr Bingham and his wife, who are our area AME, for dinner at Arzu restaurant.
Friday March 2
Friday was another shopping day as we needed to get some items for the apartment. So we went to a outside market to shop for articles and food. After that we went to an IKEA. It was the size of our living room but it had what we needed.
Saturday March 3
We met with Rick and Cyndi Johnson(Dammeron Valley) and Mark and Annette Myers(South Jordan). The Johnson's are in charge of the Wheel Chairs for LDS Charities in 7 countries. Rick is a retired PT. He specialized in pediatric PT and Annette is an active PT. Mark is a Mechanical Engineer and he was here to learn how to assemble the chairs and teach 4 techs(only 2 showed up) how to assemble and adjust chairs.
That afternoon we went to a place in the lower mountains called Supara. It is a Restaurant venue that serves food in a Yurt (pics to follow). They showed us some history and how they are made. It takes 32 sheep's wool to make a Yurt. It is like adobe mud. It hardens and provides a great structure. We then were served a huge 3 course meal.
The pics are the Yurt we ate in.
The largest Yurt in Southern Asia. This chandelier is 1.5 tons and the
chairs at the end is where the guest of honor sits or the bride and groom. It is used as a wedding venue.
Metals of the King
Different artifacts.
They also built rock houses.
Sunday March 4
We attended our local meeting with a talk from Elder Scott. Then we had dinner at our home with the Carter's, Johnson's and Myers.
Monday March 5 and Tuesday March 6
The wheel chair service starts. We started the event at the Rehabilitation Center where they make prosthesis and house the wheel chairs for those in need. We gathered 14 clinicians who work for the Social Ministry throughout the Bishkek area some large towns and other small villages as well as 2 techs that work for the Rehab Center. Mark Myers taught me and the 2 techs how to assemble and adjust the chairs while Rick and Annette taught the clinicians how to assess the needs of the patients for the first 2 days. Mark, Sergi, Ulan and I made about 32 chairs all different sizes and types. The standard which most people own provides for normal riding. They had 2 others for different experiences. One was for All Terrain and the other Active. The All Terrain was for rough surfaces etc. and the Active was for sports and fast rides. They trained the Clinicians how to fit each person by size, leg length and body angle.
We then had dinner at a nice restaurant called Prego's. Again great food.
Wednesday March 7 The "DAY"
We rehearsed for the first hour then the patients arrived. It was SHOWTIME!!! We had 4 assessments going at a time. The Clinicians would make measurements then the Techs would adjust chairs accordingly. We had 14 patients in all. Everything from double amputees to a CP patient. It was a great success. It was very heartwarming to see the smiling faces after they received a new chair. Some didn't have one and others that were so dilapidated that the tires were almost worn to the rims.
Pics top row: Clinicians practicing. Robin w/double amputee
Second Row: Young man finally getting a wheel Chair. Bill teaching Sergi our No. 1 student
Third Row: The man we called little guy, finally getting a W/C. Mark Myers the lead technician from Utah teaching Sergi and Ulan.
Fourth Row: All the participants in the training in Bishkek. A young lady that lives in the facility receiving a new chair.
What a great and spiritual experience it was to work on our first assignment. Thanks to Rick & Cyndi Johnson, Mark and Annette Myers, Jeff and Karin Carter as representatives of LDS Charities for all their hard work. It was so gratifying to see the glow in their eyes as they received this new gift.
On to Osh, Kyrgyzstan for part 2 of this project.
That afternoon we went to a place in the lower mountains called Supara. It is a Restaurant venue that serves food in a Yurt (pics to follow). They showed us some history and how they are made. It takes 32 sheep's wool to make a Yurt. It is like adobe mud. It hardens and provides a great structure. We then were served a huge 3 course meal.
The pics are the Yurt we ate in.
The largest Yurt in Southern Asia. This chandelier is 1.5 tons and the
chairs at the end is where the guest of honor sits or the bride and groom. It is used as a wedding venue.
Mens side above. It has hunting gear etc
Women's side it has dishes and service ware.
This is the Kings Yurt. The chairs are made out of Ibex horns.
Sunday March 4
We attended our local meeting with a talk from Elder Scott. Then we had dinner at our home with the Carter's, Johnson's and Myers.
Monday March 5 and Tuesday March 6
The wheel chair service starts. We started the event at the Rehabilitation Center where they make prosthesis and house the wheel chairs for those in need. We gathered 14 clinicians who work for the Social Ministry throughout the Bishkek area some large towns and other small villages as well as 2 techs that work for the Rehab Center. Mark Myers taught me and the 2 techs how to assemble and adjust the chairs while Rick and Annette taught the clinicians how to assess the needs of the patients for the first 2 days. Mark, Sergi, Ulan and I made about 32 chairs all different sizes and types. The standard which most people own provides for normal riding. They had 2 others for different experiences. One was for All Terrain and the other Active. The All Terrain was for rough surfaces etc. and the Active was for sports and fast rides. They trained the Clinicians how to fit each person by size, leg length and body angle.
We then had dinner at a nice restaurant called Prego's. Again great food.
Wednesday March 7 The "DAY"
We rehearsed for the first hour then the patients arrived. It was SHOWTIME!!! We had 4 assessments going at a time. The Clinicians would make measurements then the Techs would adjust chairs accordingly. We had 14 patients in all. Everything from double amputees to a CP patient. It was a great success. It was very heartwarming to see the smiling faces after they received a new chair. Some didn't have one and others that were so dilapidated that the tires were almost worn to the rims.
Pics top row: Clinicians practicing. Robin w/double amputee
Second Row: Young man finally getting a wheel Chair. Bill teaching Sergi our No. 1 student
Third Row: The man we called little guy, finally getting a W/C. Mark Myers the lead technician from Utah teaching Sergi and Ulan.
Fourth Row: All the participants in the training in Bishkek. A young lady that lives in the facility receiving a new chair.
What a great and spiritual experience it was to work on our first assignment. Thanks to Rick & Cyndi Johnson, Mark and Annette Myers, Jeff and Karin Carter as representatives of LDS Charities for all their hard work. It was so gratifying to see the glow in their eyes as they received this new gift.
On to Osh, Kyrgyzstan for part 2 of this project.
Wonderful work! It must be very rewarding. Glad you made it and things are going well. Things are very spring like on the Mountain.
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