The Sun Shines in Odessa

Good afternoon from sunny Odessa, the rain has moved on and we woke this morning to brilliant sunshine. We've been having some problems with internet access, in fact we are at Transition House at the moment and Andy has had to get the internet up and running so that we can send this blog. The time is now 5pm here (3pm in Worcester) so only about an hour or so left to work today. We hope to go out this evening with the lads fromTranstion House and some of the people from the church who have been looking after us.

We have just had a 'chai' (tea) break which consisted of a selection of different types of tea, soft drinks, fresh strawberries, cherries, apricots and biscuits. when you work hard you need the energy!

We have been working hard again today, plastering, continuing with the metal ceiling supports and plasterboarding the ceilings.

We have had some help today from some of the lads from Transition House as well as Pastor Igor's two sons.

Plasterboarding the ceiling with the boy's help.

The 'Rev' Hughes wearing his new prescription spectacles!!

The ceiling in the room we started Monday is now almost complete, time to move on to the next.

The guys are are still persevering with the metalwork, they are now at the difficult stage around the windows.

We've split off into another team now to start on the room that has just had the metal supports put up. No pressure on the metalwork team at the windows then!

Andreas putting the first finish coat of plaster on and levelling out John's plastering!!!

There is fair bit of Ukraine v UK banter going on. Check out tomorrows blog for an explanation of this photo.

Go Go Goski

Hi all from a damp Odessa, apologies for the blog delay, everything we typed turned up in Russian, which we guessed was of limited use for those who speak "West Midlands".
Our day started at 7, (5am Uk time) with Breakfast, Bible study and prayer. (We are looking at men of God in the bible and the secrets they share with us of how to be fruitful in life). Today we learned about a guy called Shamiah (heard of him?).
We leave in our minibuses for the building site at 8:15, and were greeted by Pieter who is the granddad of the orphanage, his smile will light up any room. We were really encouraged to see how transition house has developed with many internal walls shower rooms and dormitories taking shape in a way we could've only envisaged in September. We seperated into 3 teams, for putting up ceilings, suspended metal work and plasterboard) and John learned the art of Ukrainian plastering (he was very good, covered in white plaster).
You will see from this photo that the sight is very very very dusty, the flash is showing the dust (not that we are working underwater.)

These guys are putting up a false ceiling in one of the sleeping areas...
(careful Andy with that tape measure, Sascha is more fussy than you think!!!)

these chaps are on plasterboard, they have the eye of a finely skilled surgeon (unfortunately the hand of someone with boxing gloves on)

We were encouraged by a very patriotic sound system brought in for this year (it plays the whole backcatologue of Phatfish, Lou Fellingham, Stuart Townend, Deep purple, switchfoot and Beach Boys.

After Lunch cooked by the only Lady in the Ukraine (Lydia) who cooks proper "Borsche"...

we really cracked on and saw some real progress in the day, returning home at 7:00

Sascha the foreman is pleased, but maybe he didn't smile as much as we hoped :)

Supper has arrived, speak tomorrow,

P

Sunday 27^th May

An awesome day in Odessa.

Today we have been entertained by our wonderful friends at grace Baptist church.

On a beautiful sunny morning it is quite a sight to see over 500 people arrive at a vibrant church all in their best outfits. We are sleeping in the orphanage itself, where it is impossible to go anywhere without being hi-fived or someone shouting “ghellow” (good morning in Ukrainian English). Here are some of the orphans marching off to church...

There are 130 children in the church, they all love singing, (even the boys) and seem very happy to be there. During the morning service there are usually 2 sermons, today some weird Worcester chap was spouting. 

The translator is Pastor Igor Bandura, senior pastor at Grace. He is a very influential man in the Ukrainian Evangelical church network, spending much of his time travelling back and forth to Kiev (where he returns tomorrow). He helps many churches and has been very strategic in starting many new churches. The church is full of flowers and you will see that behind the preacher there is room for a full choir, who sing to an exceptionally high standard.

The church had invited some English language students to spend some time with us over lunch. 

We found out that Ukrainians are quite keen on keeping their distinctive culture and language for future generations, and rather offended by their Russian speaking president who pretends to speak Ukrainian (with humiliating consequences).

During the afternoon as we visited Old Odessa we were struck by 3 things

1. There is such a community feel to the parks, boulevards and public spaces. The older men gather on Sundays to play dominoes chess and cards, with a passion that resembles a Samoan prop forward .
2. The architecture is stunning. Although many of the government buildings strike an imposing shadow on the walkway, the most stunning building (the opera house) is surrounded by flowers in a bright open space.
3. The market stalls sell everything... from Ukrainian dolls (with David Cameron, Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher on) and tea-cloths to tooth pick holders, statues of Lenin and guns.

We feel very privileged to be here with great people, we are in a great city, loved by a great GOD. We’ll catch up tomorrow but now we need bed so до свидания

Paul

Woodgreen Team arrives in Odessa

The team from Woodgreen arrived safely in Odessa this evening. 

They are looking forward to attending Grace Baptist Church tomorrow and visiting Transition House to see how the work is progressing before starting work on Monday.

Saturday 26th May

At London Heathrow Terminal 1 waiting for our 1110 Lufthansa flight to Munich, where we have to change for our onward flight to Odessa. Due to arrive in Odessa at 1810 (6.10pm).

What you do when you need the cash 8-)

We had a great team meeting last night, the final one before we go, and the guys wanted me to say a massive thanks again to all of you who have helped us find cash down the sofa and raise money to purchase materials. These guys did a 10 mile sponsored bike ride, (I don't think they've sat down since!)

These guys, washed over 40 cars...

Some were bigger than others...

 These guys cooked 40 hearty breakfasts...

Some ate more than others

Many people have done some great things to help buy materials, why not send us a comment or photo (see comments box) about what you did to help. We'd love to hear from you.
Paul

Only 13 days to go & counting!

It seems ages ago that we set the date to go back to Odessa and started thinking about raising money to help pay for materials.

Since then lots of people have been very generous, both with time, arranging the Barn Dance, helping with the car wash and breakfast and coming on the sponsored bike ride, and with money, giving generously at all the events.

Thank you all for your gifts and encouragement.

When we booked our tickets it still seemed a long time to wait till 26^th May, but time has just flown by and it is now only 13 days till we go.

We meet again as a team tomorrow evening for a social time together and to sort out any last minute questions. We hope to get together with some of the men from North Wales who are going out the week before us.

Our plan is to keep this blog updated as often as we can when we are out in Odessa to keep everyone informed about what we are doing and how the work is progressing.

So keep checking.

John

Ever get the feeling you're not on your own?

It doesn't seem so long ago that many people (certainly in Worcester) seemed to know very little about what was going on in Odessa.  It felt like the need for help for needy children in that situation was so big, yet only a few dodgy looking blokes (who owned a couple of power tools, balanced pencils on their ears, and drunk copious mugs of tea) where thinking about what to do next about this seemingly helpless situation. I hope they don't mind me saying that if I was setting up a big international operation I probably wouldn't have chosen these guys, or even myself. However this feeling of helplessness is nothing compared to that of children who awake every day to the knowledge that they have no one there to fend for them, and no-one to help them get out of the squalor and hopelessness they call "home".

In 3 weeks, we'll be making our second trip out there to work with grace church on building the transition house. The feeling of anticipation is greater than when I was a kid on Christmas eve (awaiting the Beano annual). The excitement comes from knowing that this project is utterly unique, and fueled by a conviction, that even the child / person in most difficult circumstances is not on their own.  

The truth is that this Christian project has grown from the most humble of beginnings because it has trusted that God knows, he's there and will help his people do something about it. There's a bit in the bible that says this...

So do not fear, for I am with you;
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

(Isaiah 41:10)

Yesterday a group of 10 blokes, inspired by the project gave me a cheque for £800, from churches in Worcester who want to help. In the last few days, people have anonymously paid into the account gifts that will all go to buy materials for transition house in 3 weeks time. As I walked into church last week, a lady I've never met me before put a warm £10 into my hand "for that home". It seems like people I don't know, want to give  (even when they themselves don't seem to have a lot). You'd almost think someone is watching over this project in a very special way.

12 of us will jump on a plane in a few days time, but we're not alone. We're humbled first that people have done all they can to be with us in supporting this financially; the sponsored washing of cars, making cakes, flying kites, riding bikes and being silent (which for schoolchildren is no easy thing) and many, many other things, people have raised money, all of which  goes on buying building materials. The 12 men themselves have purchased their own tickets and in some cases taken unpaid leave from busy lives and family responsibilities. I want to say thank you to you all, it's very, very humbling.

But I have to be honest and say the most humbling part of all, is the sense of privilege in being involved in such a great project, and the knowledge that in a very real sense we are constantly reminded that God is with us and helping us. We are all very, very, ordinary blokes, but God seems to make a special thing of ordinary people who call out to him for help. There's a modern carol that reminds us that actually this was the whole point of Jesus coming, to be "with us" (Immanuel). The fact that he came to a messed up forgotten place, just outside the Bethlehem ring road, makes the point pretty clearly - he knows about the forgotten messed up place and person.

From the squalor of a borrowed stable,

By the spirit and a virgin's faith;

To the anguish and the shame of scandal

Came the Saviour of the human race!

But the skies were filled, with the praise of heav'n,

Shepherds listen as the angels tell

Of the Gift of God, come down to man

At the dawning of Immanuel

King of heaven now the Friend of sinners,

Humble servant in the Father's hands,

Filled with power and the Holy Spirit,

Filled with mercy for the broken man

Yes he walked my road, and He felt my pain,

Joys and sorrows that I know so well;

Yet His righteous steps, give me hope again -

I will follow my Immanuel!

THANK YOU GUYS who are coming over to Odessa with me, for being such a great team, I'm so proud that I'm on your team. Being there in person is priceless.

Thank you lovely, lovely people for doing what you have at school, home and church to show love to children in a far more difficult place. But I have to save my biggest thank you to God, thank you that you are with us, we don't deserve it, but we are grateful and want to show it.

Paul