DENTAL MISSION TO UKRAINE

by Suzan Johns and Nancy Stephens

September 16, 1997

Date: Mon, 15 Sep 97 17:58:05 +0400
From: "Mission Nazareth Hust" Pavlij@khust.gluk.apc.org
Organization: Nazareth
To: vic@kubik.org

Dear Vic and Bev,

Monday, September 15

After we left the elderly couple's house where we bought the crochet items. Victor told us they now have enough for the eye operation. The husband has gone completely blind in one eye and 50% in the other. The operation is to preserve his eyesight. The lady was so excited she could hardly contain herself. She was trying crocheted collars on us and gave us each one.

After that we went to Victor's for lunch. Anna is a very good cook and it was delicious. Then Victor took us back to Turbaza so we could rest. We went to Rokosova in the evening. That was an interesting experience. We got there as the cows were going home. There are no fences, they go to the pasture by themselves in the morning and find their way home at night, just like the scripture says. There were people, sheep, cows, chickens, dogs, people, cars, bikes, horse-drawn carts all on the dirt road. We got to Ivan Pavliy's house and were greeted very warmly. We showed them our pictures, and they showed us theirs. We showed them on the map where we lived and where you lived.

Then we had dinner there. The only problem was Victor didn't tell us that and we had already eaten at Trubaza!! So we felt like stuffed pigs when we were done. It was very good though. They played music for us. Nelia played the piano, Anna the mandolin, Nelia also played accordian, while they all sang. They sing very beautiful together and we asked them if we could have a recording of it. He asked if we had seen the video tape you had made. We haven't, but we would like a copy!?!? They showed us the picture album you sent over.

We are having the best time with Victor. We joke with him all the time. He loves Nancy's reactions from the back seat while he is driving. Reaction normal, he says. They told me at Ivan's I laugh like Lydia and think I should be a member of the Kubik family. They also told us about when Oleh arrived at the train station that they knew right away he was a Kubik. He fell off the last step of the train with the suitcase on top of him. They said the train station shook so hard they were going to have to make repairs. We were dying laughing. We took pictures of the family. including poloroids to leave with them. They loved watching them develop. Anna showed us some of her crafts. We are going back later in the week when she gets several of the women and their crafts together.

Today is going to be a hectic day. Apparently we are to meet the mayor, maybe be interviewed on TV, Maria is to come with the technician, we were to meet with the children at Turbaza, but that will have to wait. We got a picture of the children at breakfast this morning.

We saw the rooms where the dental equipment is going to go. They do need a lot of work but not as much as I thought it would. Maria just arrived so we will write more later.

Sue & Nancy