Report 5 | May 4, 2010
Today began very early at 5:00 a.m. and being at the bus station for a two-hour bus ride to Mariupol. We were to meet with our Consignee who has received two containers and then a two-hour bus ride back to meet with a member of the Donetsk Oblast Administration. The bus ride going was not too bad—the driver had put in some type of video player and I got to watch Burt Reynolds, Sally Fields, Jackie Gleason, and Jerry Reed in “Smokey and the Bandit”—but it was with the Russian sound over the English! The bus ride back was in the late afternoon and by then the temperatures had warmed considerably and the bus was full and the air was stuffy and stale. Of course, no windows were permitted to be open lest a “draft” hit someone. The seats have no cushioning and the driver drives in such a way that he drifted and wove all over the road.
The meetings in Mariupol went very well. The two containers have arrived and Peter is completing the Customs paperwork and should send it all to Kyiv this week. Peter took us to show the property that is being given for the disabled clinic and we once again went by the building that the city says will be given as well. We visited with Vadim, the evangelist at the Mariupol congregation, and met with his family briefly as they were leaving to go out on errands. Vadim remained with us the rest of the time and went with us back to Donetsk for our final meeting of the day there. Just before we left on the bus, we had our last meeting with a lady (Ludmila) who has a group called “Women of the Motherland.” This is a women’s self-help association with over 400 women involved. They had invited me to speak, but there was no time on this trip. Hopefully I can address this group in the fall.
After returning to Donetsk, we crawled out of the bus and went to our next meeting. This meeting was with an official in the current Donetsk Oblast Administration named Sergey. Sergey had been called by the Kyiv Cabinet of Ministers and told of the Department of State conference on May 17 that discusses humanitarian aid in Ukraine. The caller told Sergey that I would be there. Sergey wanted to meet with me prior to the conference because he is scheduled to be abroad. Sergey discussed how there is a group that is interested in all of Ukraine being able to receive the benevolent help that it needs. He discussed how only the Orthodox and Greek-Catholic churches are actually recognized by the government, but there are hundreds of other churches that are doing good things in the country. So there is a desire to assist those that are really making an impact. I was pleased that he had been told good things about our efforts and that these came from Kyiv. We sat and talked a long time and discussed what needed to be done and some of the problems that we continue to face. Sergey’s conclusion is that some need to be removed from their current positions because they are biased—and I agreed. Sergey assured me that he could help us with any problems and he was willing to do so because he had evidence on record of how we acted and what all had been accomplished. He said that he cannot think of another group that has been reported to him as well as we have. Once again I was very pleased to hear this as it is a reflection upon all that are associated with our efforts. Especially is this the case with Ivan Skoleba who has been diligently working in Ivano-Frankivsk! During this meeting Sergey and I discussed plans as to how to begin implementing our association. The end result is that Sergey will take care of the paperwork and follow-up reports and we will join with him in striving to equip a number of hospitals and clinics throughout all Ukraine. I was concerned that this service would come with a price tag and so asked just how much it would cost. In reply Sergey said there was no cost because there were people willing to do these things because they wanted to help Ukraine and felt that such a benevolent service would be pleasing to God.
As the meeting with Sergey was concluding, he asked me if I would like to meet with the First Vice-Prime Minister of Ukraine as he was interested in meeting with me. This is the man that wields control over all humanitarian aid efforts in Ukraine (a position similar to those Secretaries in the USA President’s Cabinet). I told him that I would be most pleased to meet with the Vice-Prime Minister but would like to bring with me those working with the Department of State. So we tentatively set the appointment for May 19 and will have to see if the Vice-Prime Minister’s schedule will permit the meeting.
Tomorrow is my last day in Donetsk! I am scheduled to go meet with the Vice-Mayor of Donetsk and discuss the problems that still confront me in getting the benevolent shipments into Donetsk. Of all the Oblasts in Ukraine it is only Donetsk that gives me any problems. I plan to discuss the glaring inconsistencies and contradictions of how Donetsk does its business. Hopefully the meeting will not take long!
On Thursday I depart Donetsk on the early plane and go to Kyiv where I will go for a meeting with the Supreme Soviet Deputy who has been such a great help to me over the years. Then I will arrive in Ivano-Frankivsk around 11:00 p.m.
I continue to be thankful to all that are interested and encouraging. I want to give a special “thank you” to those who have financially supported this trip and my mission work in general. I continue to be amazed at the developments that seem to pop up out of nowhere!
Added report on India…
Today’s email brought this report to me and David Lawyer (College Church in Searcy, AR) from our brother Immadi as he continues to distribute the container shipped to India. He sent a number of pictures. As soon as I have time, I will assimilate a report and send it to you. But I want you to have the encouraging news of Immadi’s work for the Lord. Read it and be awed at the incredible amount of work that is being done!
From: is deenadayal
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 5:55 PM
To: jkachelman@msn.com
Subject: free dustribution camp
My dear loving brothers David and John,
Greetings in the merciful name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hope this letter finds you and your families in good health. I once again convey my thanks for your great help, container. Through container, you sent many useful things to poor and needy people. we sincerely thank you for sending eye glasses, crutches, walkers, walking sticks and many other hospital equipment. Thanks a lot.
We arranged a medical camp on 27th of April at Dharoor of Gadwal division. This place is around 130 miles away from Jadcherla. This area was worst hit by floods. We gave wide publicity about the distribution programme. On 25th and 26th, we gave an advertiseement in the news papers informing and inviting people to utilise this opportunity. We advertised that eye glasses, cructches, walkers and walking sticks etc will be distributed freely. We sent some people to the close by villages of Dharoor to inform in the villages personally. We informed personally in 26 villages. Small scale industries minister Mrs. D. Aruna was invited to take part in the distribution programme. For arranging this medical camp, we need to take the permission of the district health officer, who is in Mahabubnagar. We applied for the permission and got the permission on 26th. On 27th morning they sent doctors and some other staff to conduct this camp. On 27th the camp started at 10 AM and continued up to 6 pm hundreds of people came and were benifited. People came from 10 am to 6 pm according to their convinience. Doctors tested them, some were advised to undergo catract operations and some were provided freely glasses and medicines. I purchased some medicines and eye drops etc for this medical camp. Crutches, walkers, walking sticks etc were distributed in the evening.
There was good response. Poor people are quite happy. We hired big tents, chairs tables, carpets etc for this programme. We hired a drinking water tanker and provided water.
In a four wheeler, I took the hospital cots, beds, mattresses, towels, afforns, cructches, walkers and all hospital items to Dharoor on 26th. We provided food to all the medical staff including doctors. 23 persons were advised to undergo catract operation. These 23 were taken to Mahabubnagar for operation in the evening of 27th. These 23 poor people had requested to provide lunch for them also. So we provided lunch for them also. On 28th, this eye camp programme and free distribution programme news were published in the news papers. I send the cuttings of the news papers and the permission letter issued by the Districit Health Officer in couple of days. This programme was conducted in the hospital premises of Dharood. It was very useful to the poor. Free distribution was done through political leaders and hospital authorities. The leaders and government officials appreciated very much and are conveying their thanks to you. I am enclosing some pictures of this camp and free distribution.
We once again thank you and request you to kindly convey our thanks to the brethren and sisters there for helping the poor and needy in many ways. Thanks a lot.
You are in our prayers. Kindly pray for us and for the work here.
Closing with love,
Yours in His service,
Immadi
John L. Kachelman, Jr.
Donetsk, Ukraine
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