TRIP TO BISHKEK 

Our trip to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan was a tremendous success. The Christmas concert was amazing. Our singers stunned the audience with their beautiful voices. Roger and I had gone a week before the performance. The 18 singers including Matthew and Sergey Golubnichy, managers and conductors, arrived the day before the concert. There was an 11th hour conflict with the governmental officials from the Language Commission who observed our rehearsal.  Not only was the concert too religious, they said, but singing several songs in the Ukrainian language would not be allowed. By giving in on the language issue, and canceling one musical number, we were able to give the rest of the entire program, singing in Latin, English, and Russian.

                                                

 It was the first time to hear such songs as “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “O Holy Night,” “The First Nowell,” “Away in A Manger,” and others. The programs had all the texts printed in Russian. People pored over them at intermission. We have been invited back for next year. I will have the full story in the next Gazetta.

 

On December 14th, while Roger was preparing the orchestra in Bishkek, Matthew was conducting his first concert in Kiev. Many of the traditional carols and seasonal songs were enjoyed by the audience. A new twist for this concert was having the audience join in singing, “O Come All Ye Faithful.” They did quite well, and the sense of participation was very popular.

 

Roger and I opened our home to the widows for a Christmas party three times this month. Arriving by bus, the widows formed a long line to enter the house, presenting the usual bread and salt, a Ukrainian tradition. Meeting the dog, Sharick, was a highlight for them, as I have made the blonde and white dog an object lesson in some of my bible teachings, mostly about obedience. The last Christmas party was moved to the office apartment due to heavy snow and icy roads. Two other parties this month were held there as well.

                                                                 

 

Tricia McMurrin and Natasha Shevchenko organized a wonderful party for orphans ages 14-15 at the office apartment. These 15 boys and 5 girls are from Orphanage #22, a local orphanage whom we are helping. Our church children’s choir gave a musical concert and a little drama for the kids at the orphanage. We have also purchased a new piano for their performance hall, and a sewing machine for the crafts room. At Tricia’s party, the young people created Christmas cards to give to someone special.

                                             

 

The mission served then a hearty lunch, and then each child received a wrapped gift from under the Christmas tree. A few of the kids said that they had such a good time, they didn’t want to leave. Since these children can leave the orphanage by themselves, and will graduate in May, we hope to attract them back to Bible study and social activities.

Ninety percent of our Christmas Shoeboxes for widows have arrived, and many have already been  distributed. Thanks to all of you who created and sent these wonderful gifts for our widows.

 

Matthew had to travel to Poland this week to get a special kind of visa for the Conservatory. With bargain fare of $25 to Krakow, Matthew made the trip and took Roger along for company. Who could have guessed that a 24-hour trip would turn into a nightmare? A snow storm hit Ukraine and closed the Borispol airport for two days. Roger and Matthew were stuck at the Polish airport for almost 48 hours. Meanwhile, Tricia came down with the flu, and a high temperature. We all tried to help her with the children, but it was tough going for a while. Her fever broke about 12 hours before Matt returned home. I was marooned in Gorenichi for two days with knee-deep snow clogging our road. But after what seemed to be a hopeless situation, everyone is home and life is back to normal.