Kolomea Girls Orphanage and Boarding School

There is a town in western Ukraine called Kolomea. It is near the Romanian border and has a population of approximately 250,000. There are three different orphanages in this town but I visited the one that is home to 70-90 young girls that have varying degrees of special needs. The ages of the girls here are 4-years-old through 18-years-old. In recent years they have added a special “youth group” comprised of girls 18-25 because there is no other place for these girls to go and live. After they turn 26 they are taken to an adult facility. The residents of this home require 24-hour care.

There are some true orphans here (with both parents deceased) but most have parents but cannot live at home.

This is one of three special needs homes of children that Ivan has listed on the distribution plan for a container he is to receive as soon as approvals from Kyiv and Washington are received.

I was impressed with this facility. It was certainly one of the cleanest that I have visited. The children are clean and most were outside involved in various activities. The older children are involved in chores associated with the home—cleaning, sewing, gardening, etc. The older girls have a project and are trying to make bed linens for the home but they are hampered because there is no fabric and there is only one sewing machine available and it is not trustworthy. I met with the Director and First Assistant and was given a tour of the facility and an explanation of everything that was going on with the work.

When we first entered the Director’s office Ivan introduced us and explained our purpose. He said that we were interested in helping the children that lived there. Ivan explained that we had placed the home on our distribution list because those in the Oblast’s offices had asked that we give some items to the home. So Ivan asked the Director what they needed. The initial reaction from the Director was a frank skepticism. “You ask me what we need.

But we have people come visit, taken pictures, and ask what we need and then leave. They are seen only once and never again.” Obviously the Director was skeptical that we would be any different than all of the others. The Director told us that she had once received a container of help from Great Britain but there was so much paperwork and troubles that she said once was enough. I explained to her that if she received any items from us then the only paperwork she would need to give us was an accurate list of all the things she received.

After further talking the Director began to tell us what they needed. They did not need clothes or toys. They did need mattresses for the beds, bed linens, adult size diapers, soaps, dishes, furniture, and personal hygiene items for girls. The Director said the great priority was the hygiene items and this was most urgent.

We walked through the facility and were shown the bedrooms, toilets, cafeteria, medical rooms, and classrooms. In several of the bedrooms we saw the linens rolled up and the beds were not made. We were told that these were rooms where the children need diapers and every morning they have to take the mattresses outside to dry and air out.

After the tour we went back into the Director’s office and discussed what we had seen. I told her I was very impressed with the cleanliness of the facility and the smiles on the girls’ faces. Once again she commented on the fact that while they had adequate supplies of some items, the government’s funding is inadequate to provide all they need. Again she said that if we could send anything their greatest need would be the personal hygiene items for the girls and especially the adult sized diapers. I told her that our shipments are really controlled by the items being donated to us. Ivan pointed out that it could be possible to purchase the diapers in the area. I asked how much the diapers cost and the Director told me that last year a single diaper cost 3 grievna (about 75 cents).

Yesterday Ivan said his back was hurting and today it was painfully evident that it was causing him even more pain. He could not stand up straight and when he walked it was with a limp that caused him to lean to the left. He dropped us off for lunch and was to pick us up to go to Staryy Lisets at 3:00 p.m. but he called saying that he had gone home and laid down and could not get up. He was unable to be at the classes tonight. At class Sveta said that Ivan was going to get a shot in his back tomorrow.

During our class tonight we discussed a number of subjects. Basically the class became a question-and-answer period and the lesson I had prepared on “Blessed are the meek” was not even introduced (so I have my class prepared for tomorrow night!). Hannah continues to have questions about the direct operation of the Holy Spirit. She is growing in her knowledge and that growth is evident from when we first met. There were also questions about the various beliefs of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and how certain doctrines could be believed if the Bible was followed.

Anatoly, the mayor of Staryy Lisets, was to have met with me in Ivano-Frankivsk earlier this afternoon. Ivan had called him and told him that we could not come because of his back problems. Anatoly said he would drive in to meet with us. I waited until it was time for class and then left. After class I returned and waited. Finally after 8:30 Anatoly arrived bringing me a sack of newspapers that had Ron Swang’s picture and an article about the dental clinic. Anatoly said that there had been a constant presence in Lisets of TV and radio reporters coming to look at the developing dental clinic. Anatoly said these reports are posted on the Internet. I am trying to get the address so I can pass it on to you.

Tomorrow I am to go to the Regional Hospital in Ivano-Frankivsk for a meeting and will then go to Staryy Lisets. I will then return to Ivano-Frankivsk to teach the last class on this trip in the city.

Thank you for the encouraging words and communications! Continue keeping our efforts in your every prayer. The sincere fellowship of brethren far and near is such a wonderful blessing.