May 28-Aug
May 30th -We were flying to Osh in Southern Kyrgyzstan. We got on the flight at 12:00 noon. It is a 1/2 hr flight, the turbulence was very bad on the way there. When we got to Osh, the plane kept going up and down, side ways and circling the city about 8 to 10 times. The the wind was blowing so hard that the pilot couldn't land. People were getting sick and asking for vomit bags. The stewardesses were keeping busy with people and messes, and trying to stay upright in the isles. People were scared we were going to crash! The pilot never announced anything to us, we just kept circling the city. We could see as we went down and then up again and as we circled around and around. We couldn't land, so the pilot headed back for Bishkek. On the way back about 10 minutes later the pilot came on and told us what happened.
When we got back in the airport, the people in charge didn't know if there would be another flight until 5:00pm back to Osh that day. Jyldyz, our interpreter, had them change our ticket for the next day and staying an extra day in Osh.
May 31st- We got up early the next morning for a 7:30am flight back to Osh. Our driver picked us up and took us to the hotel. We were just in time for breakfast. We then met up with Director Bazarbei. he was taking us on wheelchair follow ups. The forms had been updated and weren't so long and full of questions. We drove all over the city of Osh and met 7 different people that had received a wheelchair. It was great meeting with them and seeing their humble homes. Everyone was so thankful for our service and the wheelchairs. They were able to get around and be more mobile. We ate dinner at Brio. They serve really cheap and great food.
Friday June 1st - National Children's Day! We drove out to Artavan village, where LDS Charities had put in indoor plumbing with running water, a bathroom, and a kitchen. The facility has 50% handicapped children and 50% children with single parents that can't afford child care. When we go there the whole outside was decorated with balloons and banners. all the children were sitting outside with the teachers. We were the honored guests. They had a fantastic program planned for us. We toured the bathroom and kitchen. What a blessing for them! In the winter they took the handicapped children to an outhouse that had a squatter! That is real dedication to the children.
The Directors had us sit outside at a table in front of everyone. They presented us with flowers and certificates in frames for recognition in helping out. The children in each age level put on different acts for us. They were so cute! After all the acts, the Directors had Bill and I give a little speech. Then they presented Bill with a Kalpac(Kyrgyz hat), and me with a beautiful scarf! We took group pictures with the kids. They also served us lunch. It is Ramadan, so the school that is mostly Muslims, were fasting from Sunrise to Sunset for their religion that lasts a month. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there. It was a very memorable day!
We drove to an orphanage in Osh. We toured around the building. We ate dinner at Brio, a small place with cheap and fantastic food!
We went to the Osh Bazaar. We didn't buy anything. They have the same things at our bazaar but in Osh it is more expensive. We ate at Brio again. Yum!
Saturday June 2nd- We got up early and drove to another orphanage. The Director showed us around the classrooms. The children were out for the summer. She gave me a frame with a Felted flower picture that one of the students had made. This place needs a new sewer pipe that is cracked and leaks all the way to the basement. We are hoping there isn't any mold issues. If LDS Charities is able to help them out with a new pipe, it would last another 30 yrs.
We drove to a school where we needed to walk down a dirt road to get there. the Director didn't show up to talk to us. We started walking back up the dirt road when we got a call about an independent orphanage that was right there. We knocked on the gate for them to let us in. The lady owned this large home that is supposed to house 12 children she had almost 30! She wants to change one of the rooms into a kindergarten but needs help with the furniture. She served us a snack.
The lady director we were with took us to the river where we were served lunch at outside tables. It was a nice lunch. We went back to the hotel and had a rest before we flew back to Bishkek.
June 4th - Rick and Emily flew to Switzerland via Disneyland. Amy is watching the kids. Amy drove to Montana with the kids for Haley and Evan's reception.
July 4th - We flew to Kazakhstan. We met up with the Grays at the airport and shared a taxi with them to the Sherra Park Inn. We walked to the Taylor's apartment. We had a picnic planned but the weather wasn't cooperating. It was windy, cold and rainy. We ate a late lunch then went back to the Taylor's. Elder Gray made potato salad for a picnic tomorrow. We walked back to the hotel.
July 5th. We caught a taxi to the mouth of the mountains and a beautiful park area with a river running down stream. We found a table with a roof. We ate Kentucky Fried Chicken, Watermelon, Pumpkin cupcakes (Sister Gray made them), homemade bread (Sister Gray), Potato Salad(Elder Gray). We took pictures of all of us by the river. We walked back down a bit to a bus stop and caught a bus to the Mall by the Taylor's apt. We shopped at the grocery store. Bill found some sunflower seeds he really likes. We bought 20 bags.
July 6th - We had a Zone Conf.
Aug 7th- Rick flew in for a visit.
When we got back in the airport, the people in charge didn't know if there would be another flight until 5:00pm back to Osh that day. Jyldyz, our interpreter, had them change our ticket for the next day and staying an extra day in Osh.
May 31st- We got up early the next morning for a 7:30am flight back to Osh. Our driver picked us up and took us to the hotel. We were just in time for breakfast. We then met up with Director Bazarbei. he was taking us on wheelchair follow ups. The forms had been updated and weren't so long and full of questions. We drove all over the city of Osh and met 7 different people that had received a wheelchair. It was great meeting with them and seeing their humble homes. Everyone was so thankful for our service and the wheelchairs. They were able to get around and be more mobile. We ate dinner at Brio. They serve really cheap and great food.
Friday June 1st - National Children's Day! We drove out to Artavan village, where LDS Charities had put in indoor plumbing with running water, a bathroom, and a kitchen. The facility has 50% handicapped children and 50% children with single parents that can't afford child care. When we go there the whole outside was decorated with balloons and banners. all the children were sitting outside with the teachers. We were the honored guests. They had a fantastic program planned for us. We toured the bathroom and kitchen. What a blessing for them! In the winter they took the handicapped children to an outhouse that had a squatter! That is real dedication to the children.
The Directors had us sit outside at a table in front of everyone. They presented us with flowers and certificates in frames for recognition in helping out. The children in each age level put on different acts for us. They were so cute! After all the acts, the Directors had Bill and I give a little speech. Then they presented Bill with a Kalpac(Kyrgyz hat), and me with a beautiful scarf! We took group pictures with the kids. They also served us lunch. It is Ramadan, so the school that is mostly Muslims, were fasting from Sunrise to Sunset for their religion that lasts a month. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there. It was a very memorable day!
We drove to an orphanage in Osh. We toured around the building. We ate dinner at Brio, a small place with cheap and fantastic food!
We went to the Osh Bazaar. We didn't buy anything. They have the same things at our bazaar but in Osh it is more expensive. We ate at Brio again. Yum!
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| Girls clapping to music |
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| Robin taking bread. Custom for invited guests. |
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| Bill taking bread |
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| Girls waiting to perform. |
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| New kitchen provided by LDS Charities |
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| New toilets. They just had an outhouse for the little kids. Even in the winter. |
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| Robin with employees of Day Care |
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| Us with kids waiting to perform. |
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| Us with kids after their performance. |
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| Us with our translator Jyldyz and Sonat who is a Bishkek NGO. She provided rugs for Day Care |
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| US with the Governor of the region. |
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| Us receiving thank you placard with Governor and Mayor |
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| Bill receiving Cal Pac from school director |
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| Robin receiving a scarf from school director |
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| Ua with children after performances. |
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| With kids at conclusion of performances |
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| Employees and area Directors and of course another FEAST |
Saturday June 2nd- We got up early and drove to another orphanage. The Director showed us around the classrooms. The children were out for the summer. She gave me a frame with a Felted flower picture that one of the students had made. This place needs a new sewer pipe that is cracked and leaks all the way to the basement. We are hoping there isn't any mold issues. If LDS Charities is able to help them out with a new pipe, it would last another 30 yrs.
We drove to a school where we needed to walk down a dirt road to get there. the Director didn't show up to talk to us. We started walking back up the dirt road when we got a call about an independent orphanage that was right there. We knocked on the gate for them to let us in. The lady owned this large home that is supposed to house 12 children she had almost 30! She wants to change one of the rooms into a kindergarten but needs help with the furniture. She served us a snack.
The lady director we were with took us to the river where we were served lunch at outside tables. It was a nice lunch. We went back to the hotel and had a rest before we flew back to Bishkek.
June 4th - Rick and Emily flew to Switzerland via Disneyland. Amy is watching the kids. Amy drove to Montana with the kids for Haley and Evan's reception.
July 4th - We flew to Kazakhstan. We met up with the Grays at the airport and shared a taxi with them to the Sherra Park Inn. We walked to the Taylor's apartment. We had a picnic planned but the weather wasn't cooperating. It was windy, cold and rainy. We ate a late lunch then went back to the Taylor's. Elder Gray made potato salad for a picnic tomorrow. We walked back to the hotel.
July 5th. We caught a taxi to the mouth of the mountains and a beautiful park area with a river running down stream. We found a table with a roof. We ate Kentucky Fried Chicken, Watermelon, Pumpkin cupcakes (Sister Gray made them), homemade bread (Sister Gray), Potato Salad(Elder Gray). We took pictures of all of us by the river. We walked back down a bit to a bus stop and caught a bus to the Mall by the Taylor's apt. We shopped at the grocery store. Bill found some sunflower seeds he really likes. We bought 20 bags.
July 6th - We had a Zone Conf.
Aug 7th- Rick flew in for a visit.
Hi Bill, this is John and Hillary Webster of Gilbert, Arizona. Our son, Samuel, is traveling to Bishkek on Saturday for 4-weeks of language practice. Could we get your email address and put him in contact with you? We're at john.a.webster@icloud.com or websterhillary@gmail.com. Many thanks!
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