Blog #3, March 23, 2012

The care for seniors in the former Molotschna colony took a step forward in 2011 when one floor of the Molochansk hospital was designated to provide care for up to 30 seniors. One room of this floor had earlier been renovated and furnished by the Mennonite Centre to serve as a respite centre for up to four patients.

A recent tour of this ward revealed clean facilities and patients who seemed content. Fourteen staff, including patient care, kitchen, maintenance and administrative staff, are funded by the government’s social services department, separate from the health department. Funding for basic maintenance of the building, upgrading of equipment, even basic supplies and medications is seriously lacking. The new, commercial quality stove purchased by the Mennonite Centre in fall, 2011 was found inside a cardboard box, still unused, because the kitchen in which it was to be installed did not pass inspection. Consequently all the meals are still prepared in a poorly equipped kitchen in a building next door. All the food is then carried by hand across the yard, to the patients on the wards. Several hot plates are used to prepare the food; old, scarred metal tables are used for food preparation and dishes are washed by hand in large metal tubs. Large windows in patient rooms facing west overlook the Molotshna valley, but have only partial sheer coverings. This will cause problems in the summertime in an un-air-conditioned building when outdoor temperatures can reach the high 30’s. Linoleum floor-coverings are cracked and broken so that the wheels on the wheelchairs get stuck in them. The seniors are expected to pay for food and medications from their own meager pensions.

In the nearby village of Kutuzovka, the Mennonite church has expanded its facilities for senior care from six to ten women. Being a two-storey facility with no elevator service is problematic for the seniors. Long-term plans, after the church has built a new sanctuary in Molochansk, call for more extensive renovations of the existing sanctuary to further increase their capacity for seniors. Lilli, supported by a German mission agency, gives positive and energetic leadership in this facility. Together with her staff, she has managed to develop a strong community atmosphere with the residents which includes spiritual care. Here also, the residents are expected to contribute much of their pensions to provide for their basic needs. One of the residents was so pleased to be here that she described her present conditions as paradise, compared to her former living conditions. Nevertheless, despite donations from Mennonite Centre and others, funding is a continual challenge for the staff.

Having observed our parents and other relatives through the aging process and eventual death, we sometimes feel that our western society has not yet discovered ideal care and support for our seniors. However, those of us in Canada in or nearing retirement can rest assured at the huge advantage we have over the present Ukrainian system.

At the other end of the age spectrum are the children in schools also lacking sufficient funding. A recent donation by the Mennonite Centre to pay for transportation allowed the 50-voice girls’ choir from the Russian school #2 in Molochansk to participate in a music festival in Melitopol. Their strong and sensitive musicality was rewarded with a third place finish. Their enthusiastic cheers signaled their delight despite the long and tiring day they had experienced!

Thursday was clean-up day at the apartments. Shortly after lunch a dozen individuals gathered to dispose of last summer’s tall weeds on the property in front of the apartment.
Sergei Zubov, also a resident and local businessman provided a front-end loader and truck to haul away garbage and branches that could not be burned on site. While the yard may not qualify as being manicured, a marked improvement is evident. Perhaps of even greater value was the spirit of cooperation in a joint project among the participants. Discussions even arose regarding the possible further development of this property into a playground by constructing a fence along the street and adding appropriate structures. That, however, will require more than “elbow grease”.

Blog #2, March 18, 2012

“Typical” or “routine” are not the best words to describe life at the Mennonite Centre. On Monday our day began with an extended breakfast visit with Jakob & Natasha Tiessen, the German pastor couple of the Kutuzovka Mennonite Church. While our German language skills are often put to the test as we discuss various issues facing the church and life in Ukraine, we enjoy the opportunity to communicate without an interpreter. They are planning a transition back to Germany after giving leadership to the church for 9 years. This represents a major transition for the church that so far has had only non-Ukranians in leadership. The church is also in the process of building a new place of worship in Molochansk with plans to convert the former sanctuary into a personal care home. These are challenging transitions for any congregation, and they are amplified in a community with limited financial and other resources. At the same time we celebrate an increase in participation among the youth and young families in the congregation. Six individuals were baptized last summer.

Tuesday morning finds us en route to our neighboring city of Tokmak. Bobbing and weaving our way, carefully choosing which of the pot holes we can drive through and which need to be avoided to prevent damage to our Lanos, the 10 kilometer drive often takes us more than half an hour. A recent rain complicates the process because we cannot determine the depth of the pot holes. The purpose of our trip is to do some banking for the Centre. This time, the forty-five minute process is successful.

We maximize the benefit of the trip to Tokmak by including other errands: picking up glasses for some senior’s as prescribed by the optometrist that has regular eye-examinations at the Centre (we can provide prescription glasses for 25 to 40 grievna, or about 3 to 5 U.S. dollars), and doing some grocery shopping. Fresh fruits and vegetables we pick up at the open-air market while other goods are available in a small, crowded supermarket. Deciphering the Russian labels on the various products is always an interesting process, occasionally resulting in surprises after we open them at home.

Wednesday we enjoy a visit from one of our co-workers from Zaporizhia. She speaks English fluently and has become a trusted friend, so the conversation flows easily and comfortably. However, in the afternoon a phone call to the Centre announcing yet another building inspection causes more frustration. Allegedly for the purpose of ensuring a safe workplace for us, the technical documentation required by these inspections tends to be onerous.

Thursday morning we are greeted by the director of a local school requesting some financial assistance in repairing some of their sewer pipes and several toilets. The need for such repairs is seldom in question, and since this is a school with whom we have worked previously we expect the project to be approved by our board. We write up the proposal and email it to Canada.

After her regular day at the clinic or hospital, a local doctor sees patients at the Centre after 4:00 p.m. Prescriptions are ordered by the Centre at reduced cost for the patients.

Friday is the day some 50-60 seniors come to the Centre for tea and a sandwich. But before they are done, we receive unexpected guests from Germany. Their Mennonite background tweaks their curiosity about the purpose of the Mennonite Centre in Ukraine and we enjoy a pleasant lunch together, once again exercising our German by describing to them the various projects of the Mennonite Centre.

Saturday, between laundry and other household chores, we attend a recital at the local music school. The musicality and skills of these young musicians are impressive. They have a capable instructor who seems to take a personal interest in each one of his students. To hear this recital is encouraging for us, because there are many less-positive alternatives for them to occupy their time; these are choosing a better way than many.

Sunday morning sees us at the 2-hour Russian worship service. We are welcomed warmly, but communication with many of these friends remains a challenge.

Thus, we look forward to another week, with the full awareness that next week will likely not be at all like the week just described.

Hoping to leave winter behind us as we traveled snow-covered roads to the Winnipeg airport, we did indeed find more spring-like conditions upon our arrival in Molochansk. However, this was to be short-lived as snow flurries and below-freezing temperatures keep us indoors more than outside. International Women’s Day, celebrated as a national holiday on March 8, with its many cards, pictures and gifts of flowers, is a welcome reminder that the Ukrainian fields and gardens will soon bloom again. We are invited to a celebration of this event in the Russian School Number 2 in Molochansk where the boys have prepared an hour-long presentation of songs, skits, poetry and tributes for the women staff of the school. The celebration ends with each of the performers inviting a female staff member to dance with them.

We have learned by now that it is women who are giving leadership to many of the community institutions, and so the day is a fitting tribute to the women who work hard at improving life in often difficult circumstances. Among them is Marina, long-time friend of the Mennonite Centre, former director of the Dolina School and current director of the larger of the two schools (grades 2-11) in Molochansk.—about 340 students. Among her recent accomplishments is her success in convincing local governments to install a natural gas heating system in the school. Only in her second year in this capacity, she is already dreaming of establishing a small museum room in the school to commemorate the history of the town, formerly Halbstadt.

On Friday, the usual day for some 50 seniors to enjoy tea and a sandwich at the Centre, the staff present each of the “babushkas” with a hand-crafted card (quilling?) and a small gift. Marina and Dema team up for entertaining duets. We can only imagine the stories these women could tell of their seventy or eighty years in Ukraine! We have heard a few of them from people like Olga who has served the Mennonite Centre as receptionist for many years but is now retired.

On Sunday a group of five university students from Zaporizhia visited the Centre. Their assignment was to learn about German influence in Ukraine, specifically in the area of architecture. They were fascinated with the story of the Mennonites in Ukraine over the years. Rudy Friesen’s book on Mennonite architecture will be an invaluable resource for them as they prepare their presentation. We donated two books for them to take along to their faculty library and instructor, and in addition four of them purchased their own copies as well. Since they are part of the German department at the University, their presentation will be in German as well. They promised to invite us.

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.