Astana in spring. The ice is gone, the trees are green.  Bliss!

Yesterday we visited a school in Kokshetau to close a project.  This school boards and teaches developmentally challenged students from the ages of three to eighteen.  The very successful vocational program for the older students includes sewing, woodworking, metalworking, beekeeping and gardening.  LDS Charities donated a greenhouse, thirteen new sewing machines, and lots of new shop equipment.  The new equipment is still being installed, so some of the old was yet in place.  The sewing machines pictured above were purchased twenty-five years ago, and they were old then!

Here are some of the new sewing machines.

Anatoly is the shop and beekeeping teacher.  He was pleased with all of the new equipment, but especially with the new shop vacs.  They have been choking on sawdust for twenty-five years!  After the tour of the vocational wing, we were entertained with singing and dancing prepared by the some of the students. Then we were presented with small gifts made by students, including jars of the honey produced on the school grounds.

The teacher pictured below is accomplished on the accordion.

 

  The young man standing next to Burke is Nurbek.  He has been our translator since last September, and has been a tremendous help in the humanitarian work here.

 We were invited to have lunch with the director and some of the staff.  We were enjoying the light fare of salads and breads when they brought out the horse meat and noodle feast.

Our first visit here was in November.  It has taken the full six months to apply for approval, provide documentation,  have contracts written and signed, negotiate with vendors, arrange for funding and delivery, then finally close the project.  The children will benefit for many years by having increased opportunity to learn skills and confidence that help them become self reliant.  It is a wonderful thing that church members worldwide contribute funds for humanitarian projects.

We have three more projects to finish and close in our remaining days here.  In less than two weeks we will be on our way home.  We are so excited!  It is said of senior missionaries that although we have terrific experiences and make many friends, no one misses their plane home!