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Report 2 | April 29, 2010

Today’s meetings helped assure me that our efforts are not in vain. Last year we had a horrible year with various elements within the Donetsk Oblast—Humanitarian Aid Commission, Customs, and Taxation were the greatest headaches. My trip last October had as an objective meeting with these different groups and arranging their understanding of how things must go contrary to the way they had been going. I had the various meetings and then wrote a series of complaint letters to the National Prosecutor’s office listing specific complaints and as many names as possible. Since that time I have received a number of letters from Ukraine’s Prosecutor’s office giving me follow-up reports on how my complaints were being resolved. Today’s meeting helped me look at the resolution of these matters in a clear way.

First, the Taxation Department of Donetsk was giving Vlad and the Lord’s Church in Kramatorsk as much grief as possible in efforts to intimidate and extort money. At one point the Taxation Department was stating that Vlad and the Church owed in the THOUSANDS of dollars. This was unconstitutional, but the Taxation Department proceeded to levy the fine and sent the documents to the national office in Kyiv. When I met with the Deputy-Mayor last fall, she had also invited the Taxation Department Chief from Donetsk. I showed them the fine notification and then pointed out that this was unconstitutional and thus criminal. I told them that I would like to know exactly WHO was responsible for breaking the Constitution. The Taxation guy looked at the document and was shocked. Fast forward to today’s meeting…Vlad told me that once the fine was authorized and sent to Kyiv it could not be revoked—so someone had to pay it. Guess who paid it? It was paid by the Taxation Department in Donetsk! Vlad says that now he is told by the local taxation authorities that they think everything can be worked out on the local level without anything going to Kyiv.

Second, the Customs actions against five of our containers shipped to Kramatorsk last year was inexcusable. I have detailed the situation in several emails last year. The bottom line was that the Customs officials wanted bribes and were going to hold our shipments until they got those bribes. Among the Consignees worse treated was Alexander who was held by Customs attempting to extort half of a container from him. Alexander persevered and provided me the names and dates of his ordeals with Customs. Once again the national Prosecutor was notified and initiated an investigation. Alexander was all smiles today saying that he now has been told that everyone wants to work with him so there will be no problems. Even the Prosecutor wants to work with him and they all remember the letters that were sent.

The day began with the usual adventures of riding a bus. After the hours of travel, we arrived at the Kramatorsk bus station and Vlad was there to greet us. The church building is undergoing repairs that will allow visitors to stay overnight in two dorm-style bedrooms with each sleeping twelve. The repairs are looking great and this will really help when visitors come to Kramatorsk.

Following the visit with Vlad, we went to visit with Valerie Ivanovich. He has been a tremendous help to us in shipping in benevolent items. He has a large corporation that is involved in a number of ventures. Any items that are shipped and broken are repaired by his workmen. He is able to convert the electrical items to the voltage in Ukraine. Vlad described Valerie Ivanovich as a God-send because of the great help given. We discussed the containers that Valerie’s NGO (non-government organization) has received and distributed. Valerie’s NGO has been suspended from receiving containers for six-months because of political intrigue that has worked against him.

Valerie Ivanovich stated that his NGO is getting everything in order and could be released from the suspension if it is necessary. As we talked about the items needed to be shipped, Valerie Ivanovich mentioned that they had received a large box of burn bandages on one of our containers. After that box had been unloaded, there was a terrible bus accident resulting in many with serious burns. It was the burn bandages that were shipped in our container that were available to help ease the pain of those suffering from the fire. These burn bandages were made available to us from the WestArk Church of Christ’s C.U.R.E. ministry in Ft. Smith, AR. C.U.R.E. is a fantastic organization, and without its partnership we would be drastically limited in what we could ship.

The remainder of our visit was spent going to places and meeting with Alexander and enjoying a good lunch at the Institute for Economic Means in Kramatorsk.

Tomorrow promises to be another day of meetings. Among those scheduled is a meeting with the Donetsk Regional Humanitarian Aid Commission. Attending this meeting with me will be Sasha, the preacher in Krasnoarmeisk, UA and the Director of the NGO that we are using as the Consignee in Krasnoarmeisk. Sasha has long wanted to ship in containers to help with the hospitals and orphanages in the Krasnoarmeisk area but he lacked a Consignee. During last fall’s visit I met with Sasha, the Mayor of Krasnoarmeisk, and the Consignee. Since then we have been trying to get approvals to ship in a container. Once again we are hobbled by the Donetsk Region officials. So we are going toe-to-toe with those who seem to be the greatest obstacles. This group was present in my meeting with the Vice-Mayor last fall. Today we were awaiting definite confirmation of this meeting but each time Sasha called the ones in charge said they had to wait to see what time would be possible. Tanya looked at me and remarked, “It is no surprise they cannot find a time—they know you are going to be at the meeting and they do not want to be there with you.”

Here are a few sidebars of the trip thus far…

  • - No dress socks arrived! I know I packed them. I had them laid out. There were at least 3 pairs. But they are not to be found. I have looked and then looked several more times. But I do have lots of white crew length sport socks that should make an impact when worn with a dark dress suit.
  • - First shower since early Monday morning was Thursday morning! I did not get to brush my teeth until 3 days after leaving Searcy and I thought that was bad enough, but due to travel schedules and NO water pressure it was not until early this morning I got to wash off the travel aromas. Using a communal shower is always an experience—I often wonder what the fungi of Ukraine think when they meet the fungi of a newly arrived American?
  • - “Insides of liver” sandwiches—passed up! When we arrived in Borispol, Ukraine we were there for a number of hours before our flight to Donetsk scheduled at 10:30 p.m. So we decided to go to the airport café and eat supper. It is a cafeteria style set up where you select what you want and then it is slapped on a plate and handed to you. I thought there were meat pancakes and was about to get them but first decided to ask Tanya to find out if they were meat or potato or cottage cheese. Tanya asked and turned to me with a puzzled look that prophesied “not going to be a good answer.” I asked what was the problem. “Well, yes, these are basically meat pancakes but they are made out of a different kind of meat than what you usually have in pancakes.” OK, with that kind of comment being made you cannot just keep silent, so I bit and asked, “What kind of meat is it?” “I’m not sure exactly how to translate it but it is something like the insides of the liver.” I passed on to the next food item.
  • - Crossing legs—when will I EVER learn? Ever since the beginning I have been told do not cross your legs when you sit in a chair. That is one of the no-nos. However, I have learned that as long as you cross your legs and do not show the soles of your shoes you can get by. So I thought until a meeting late today. Tanya and I had gone into an office. Tanya was talking with the lady in charge who had motioned for me to sit, so I sat. It looked as if the conversation was going to be long, so I started to get comfortable and took off my jacket (folding it so the insides are on the outside and the outsides are inside), I put down my backpack (making sure it was NOT on any human sitting surface ad placed strategically to the left of the inside leg of the chair upon which I was sitting). All was going very well. The Lady in charge had duly noted how I treated my jacket and from the corner of her eye she watched how I deliberately placed the backpack). And then…I sat back and crossed my legs. This instantly brought a full-facial look from the Lady in charge. I did not show my shoe sole. I did not do anything outside of what I understand as proper decorum—but I got not only the look, I got THE look. Tanya never turned and looked at me but the Lady in charge gave me THE LOOK. We finished our business and as soon as we were let out of the door Tanya said, “Did you cross your legs?” “Did you see me cross my legs?” “No it would not have been polite for me to turn away from that Lady to look at you.” I thought the issue was answered but then again the question, “So did you cross your legs?” “Ok! I did cross my legs BUT I did it very carefully. I did not make a big scene. I did not show the bottom of my shoes. But yes I did cross my legs.” The rebuttal was just one sentence, “Well I would not do that if it was first time I went into her office.” (The rebuttal was unspoken but definitely contemplated—wonder what the Lady in Charge’s reaction will be when I cross my legs in a dark dress suit with white sports socks???)

Encouraging words from a military mom…some time ago I sent out an email update on how various groups of soldiers in Iraq were assembling and walking by faith. It was really encouraging news to me and I wanted to share it with all on the news list. Somehow that email found its way into the mountains of east Texas where I met Yvonne Barclay. She has a ranch there and has offered it to returning troops and their families as a place to recoup after the traumas and stresses of battle. In today’s email I received this encouraging note from her asking me to send the picture that was in that published email. I want to copy her words because I think you will also be encouraged by the heart of this good woman.

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From: Yvonne Barclay
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 6:32 AM
Subject: Here is hoping

I am writing you as I guess age is showing and I forget which one sent me an email I sure hope you still have!!! I need to tell you why first. We have area wide singing here. Where different Congregations get together for singing and after we have finger foods and fellowship. They are wonderfull!! Well the last one was in Campwood which is about 21+ miles from us over the mountain. They ask the different song leaders from the congregations to each lead 2 songs. Towards the end a man got up to lead and ask for us to sing a different song with him and remember the ones that secured the freedom we enjoy~~He lead America The Beautiful!!! After the singing I went to him and thanked him form the bottom of my heart. I explained I have twins one is Air Force and one is Army. We got to talking and I told him about a special email with pictures of a Church of Christ service in Iraq that shows the guns leaning against the Lord’s Supper Table. He said he would love to see that and also to be involved in the efforts over there. Well then I looked and looked thru mail and cannot find it. I know I did not intentionally delete it but have had problems with the internet here and it is not there. PLEASE do you still have it? I have a folder titled Scriptural and thought it was in here but it is not. So I decided to write and ask if you still have it and if so could you send it to me? I really appreciate your time in this and any help. God bless and keep you and yours and your efforts in HIS service.

In HIM, Yvonne Barclay
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John L. Kachelman, Jr.
Donetsk, Ukraine

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