November 15

It is Monday morning, our last day at the Centre. Not surprisingly, the last few weeks have been busy as we try to do as much as possible before we leave. We can't help but reflect on the many contacts and relationships that have been established here for which we are grateful. They enrich our lives. Yesterday Dima prepared a delicious "plov" meal, a traditional, rich Uzbekistan rice dish. Centre staff and members of the Kutuzovka Church were invited to join us. The weather was beautiful so we were able to enjoy the day outdoors.

On October 31 we witnessed the election of municipal councils and mayors resulting in numerous changes for the villages in which the Centre is involved. It is good for the Centre to be in contact with the local authorities even though in most cases we do not work directly with them. While the newspapers report numerous irregularities in the election process in Ukraine, we try to work with the councils on behalf of the poor in their communities. (Pictured are the re-elected mayor of Nikolai-pole (Nikolaifeld, north of Zaparozhia) and the newly elected mayor of Svetlodolinsk.) (Lichtenau). In both villages Mennonite Centre pays for Medical Emergency Funds for individuals who cannot afford to pay for medications.

In Nikolai-pole we also visited with Garry Verhoog, a Manitoba dairy farmer who has started a dairy farm operation with about 30 cows. His intent is to share his faith and expertise with the local people and encourage more efficient farming methods in Ukraine. They are part of the Evangelical Free Church of Canada.

On Friday we celebrated Olga's nine years of service to the Centre as receptionist. At age 77 she considers herself ready for retirement! Her ability to speak English has been a huge benefit to the North American directors over the years. She will continue to serve on the local advisory board, but her presence in the Centre will be missed.

We are thankful for safety and good health in a place where neither are to be taken for granted. And now we pray for safe flights as we look forward to returning home. For the rest of our stories you will need to visit with us in Manitoba!

October 27

Blog, October 27, 2010

Thursday, October 14 saw the last of 5 “Youth for Life” presentations, organized by Dema, our manager. These are 90 minute presentations with two live bands, a dance team, gymnasts and weight-lifters performing between presentations on the health effects of smoking, the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse as well as AIDS. Complete with sound and lighting equipment, the intent of the program was to emphasize the dangers of these negative life-styles and encourage healthier outlets such as music or athletics. The City of Tokmak Palace of Culture (concert hall) was filled for both performances with high school students from Tokmak schools, 500-600 for each performance. The presentations were well-received by students, teachers and school officials.

The book launch, as well as the Youth for Life presentations, have given the Mennonite Centre some significant contacts in the local educational institutions. Recently a grade 8 class from Tokmak came to the Centre to get more information about the history of this area and the Mennonite background of these villages. Although the schools do not allow religious instruction as such, these contacts provide some unique opportunities to talk about what motivates us in running the Mennonite Centre.

Meanwhile, Hildie has been sorting clothing, school and medical supplies brought here by Mennonite Heritage Cruise passengers. These are being distributed to local doctors, several schools, numerous families who are poor or have handicapped children, and seniors whose names have been given to us by the local social services. Thank you to everyone who brought goods. Poverty, especially in rural areas, is rampant. A recent Kiev newspaper article reported the average annual income for Ukrainians to be about $2700 compared to Poland’s $28,600. At the same time, some of Europe’s wealthiest citizens are Ukrainian and live in Ukraine. The disparity is alarming.


A few days ago we received a telephone call from a retired university German instructor in Melitopol who wants to visit us at the Centre. We have had previous contact with him in person and via email. Over lunch, at his initiative, we talk (in German) about the importance of our faith. Although our backgrounds, lives and religious traditions are very different (he is part of the orthodox tradition), we find common ground in the stories of the life of Christ in the Gospels. He knows the stories well and keeps emphasizing the centrality of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The previous atheistic communist regime has not been unkind to him, but now he is finding new meaning in his religious expressions. The sandwiches we share after he has asked me to pray, take on a kind of communion experience for us.

After more than a week of rainy, cool weather, sunshine has returned to Ukraine. The needed moisture has spurred winter wheat germination resulting in green fields flanked by colorful trees and hedges – God’s thanksgiving display for us!

During the past few weeks our attention has been focused on the Mennonite Heritage Cruise and the busloads of tourists visiting the Mennonite Centre, hearing about our projects and touring through some of the former Mennonite villages. A stop at Lichtenau allows a visit with a local farmer who shows us his machinery and talks about his operation.

This is followed by a visit to the train station where we recall the many farewells that were spoken here during the emigrations of the 1920’s and then the deportations of the 1930’s. We take time to sing together “So Nimm denn Meine Haende”. The Dolina (Shoenau) school students treat us with several German songs and we see some of the projects with which the Centre has helped the school.

Following a short visit to the Sanatorium School and gymnastic demonstrations at the sports school, we enjoy a half hour concert by the chamber choir “Rhapsody” in the Kutuzovka (Petershagen) Mennonite church.

Saturday evening to Monday morning we were privileged to join the Cruise passengers on the ship, Dnieper Princess. A book launch took place on Sunday evening. Rudy Friesen’s book, Building on the Past, (2004) has been translated into Ukrainian and will be made available to schools, universities, libraries and museums in Ukraine. This was followed by an insightful presentation by historian Dr. Turchenko from Zaparozhia National University on the current political climate of the country.

On Monday evening another book launch took place at the Mennonite Centre. Some 30 representatives from local high schools as well as two school superintendents were in attendance. Dema, our manager presented a powerpoint of Mennonite history; Hildie and I spoke about the work of the Mennonite Centre and our personal family connections to this area. Rudy Friesen then shared some thoughts about the initial publication of his English book, and the translation of this book into Ukrainian. The book was well received with comments indicating that this book filled some gaps in the story of many former Mennonite villages. Each school in this area will receive a copy of the book.

September, 2010

September, 2010. We are awakened to the sound of a neighboring rooster accompanied by a chorus of stray dogs announcing the morning. A blanket of fog covers the soccer field behind our apartment after an overnight shower but daytime temperatures climb to the mid-twenties again. The soccer field, overgrown with weeds after a hot summer, becomes grazing area for a few goats, a cow and a flock of geese. The grapes on the driveway arbors along our street hang full and ripe. The samples given to us by the staff at the Centre are sweet and juicy as are the plums. Earlier fruits such as apricots and pears have been abundant. Watermelons available at highway kiosks and local markets are available for two hrievna (twenty-five cents). A carpet of yellow leaves begins to cover the lawn in front of the Centre. These will soon find their way to the new compost bin constructed by Uri, the Centre’s caretaker. Except for a few sunflower fields the harvesting is complete and the farmers wait for fall rains to ensure germination of the winter wheat.

A large group of seniors, probably around 60-70 in two shifts, have just enjoyed a lunch of potato, beet and onion salad with a version of “pigs-in-blankets”, tea and chocolates. This is the last seniors’ tea of the month, accounting for the departure from the usual open-faced sandwiches and tea. The visiting around the tables is enthusiastic and friendly, though, regrettably, we cannot converse with them in their native Russian language. Many of the seniors are living in poor conditions with meager pensions remembering conditions, even during the communist era, when state-sponsored care was more secure for the elderly. There are no government-funded seniors’ homes in this area. The small apartment at the back of the Kutuzovka Mennonite Church, intended for three women, now is occupied by five and struggling to make ends meet with the occupants’ pension contributions and donations from missions, including the Mennonite Centre. A local doctor makes regular visits to the home, but when medications are required, funds run out quickly and the Mennonite Centre is asked for help.

Schools are in session for another year. We review 4 new scholarship applications to determine if they can be added to the list of 26 scholarship applications that have already been approved for post-secondary studies. A total of 110,000 hrievna has been designated for scholarships this year. The brightest students receive government scholarships, some covering full tuition and living expenses. Many, however, are limited to their own resources to fund their way through studies that will hopefully land them a job in a country with high unemployment rates. The criteria we use in assessing the applications includes the students’ marks, family income and the students’ own contributions to their environment through volunteer work, effort applied to their previous studies and attitude. In addition to offering assistance for them, we also want them to begin thinking about how they can contribute to improving their communities.

We are thankful for a staff at the Centre that welcomes us back and carries on the vision and purpose of the Mennonite Centre. We have fun trying to learn each others language through an ongoing game of charades and hand gestures while being frustrated with the difficulty of the Russian language. And we are thankful for a large community in Canada that financially supports the work of the Mennonite Centre and remembers us with emails and prayers.