Catching a Glimpse of Hope

Posted by Sara Coggins, Kids Connection Manager

During my time in Lynchburg and Richmond, I had the opportunity to meet with sponsors.  I was able to share what Kids Connection has been able to do with the funds they have given and introduce them to the Kids Connection staff.  Overall, I met with over 60 sponsors.  I especially enjoyed the opportunity I had to answer specific questions that sponsors had about their children and deliver letters.  It was also fun to watch as sponsors caught a glimpse of how they are providing hope for these children!

I am looking forward to similar meetings that I will have with sponsors in Muncie, IN next week.  Although I miss being with my friends and children in Kazakhstan, I am thankful for the opportunity I have had to connect with many sponsors and friends here in the USA.

The Wonders of Technology

Posted by Sara Coggins, Kids Connection Manager

This blog will probably only be interesting to those that enjoy technology, but I thought it would be a fun thing to share.  Last year we moved our Kids Connection database into an online format.  This allows our coordinators in Kazakhstan and the USA to have updated information at all times.  It decreases the likeliness of children or sponsors getting lost as information gets transmitted across the the ocean. 

As of January, our database became accessible to our staff in Kazakhstan using the iPod Touch.  When we visit an orphanage, we are able to make immediate changes to our database (even though we are offline), which syncs with our online database as soon as we return to our office.  This has allowed us to increase our efficiency as we communicate with sponsors. 

This has also been extremely helpful during my time in the States.  As I meet with sponsors, I am able to quickly answer questions about their children, payments, etc.  I continue to be amazed at how much technology allows us to do as we work together to provide hope for the children of Kazakhstan. 

Trip to Savva Orphanage

Posted by Moldyr, Youth Impact Coordinator

We visited Savva orphanage on the last day of winter. The kids greeted us with a lot of hugs and much love as usual.  The goal of Youth Impact Department this time was to talk to the graduates about their plans after they leave Savva. Some of them are really worried about their future and our goal is to help them make good choices. Most of the girls plan to go to PTL (vocational school) to study cooking, hair-dressing or sewing. We offered them other options for consideration such us going to college and become teachers or medical workers. Some of them started thinking about that because before they thought that they have no choice. Of course, when giving this information we take into account their level of education and abilities. When I talked to one of the boys about his future career he told me that he is going to a vocational school in Chu but after that he plans to go to college to be a fire fighter as his father.  One of the girls said that her dream is to be a soccer coach but she is going to PTL in Taraz first. Another girl said that she really likes cooking and she is happy that this is what she will study in Taraz.  We believe that every graduate should find a profession that they like and we are helping them to realize that.    

Many Thanks

Recently we were contacted by a woman who is planning to adopt from Kazakhstan some time this year. In anticipation of her time here she decided to send orphan children a special gift and hand knitted 45 beautiful winter hats.

Last week we gave these hats to the children of the Saramoldaeva orphanage. They were thrilled to receive these hats in the midst of the cold season here. 

Although we do not have any role in the adoption process we do enjoy meeting Americans and other foreigners who come to adopt.

Thanks to all of you back home for caring and supporting the work that we do.

March Means Spring!

In America we mark spring on the calendar but here in Kazakhstan they put on Spring Concerts.

At the Savva orphanage, in Merke this weekend, we attended two concerts. The first concert featured children dancing in colorful spring outfits and flowers. Then we attended the older children's concert, held outside, where we bid farewell to winter and welcomed in the new spring season of 2009!

The young girls in picture at the bottom of this post are receiving their gifts for Women’s Day, celebrated every March 8th. (At Savva we celebrate early due to the long distance drive). These gifts were given by our sponsors back home. All of the girls received a gift pack and we also purchased juicy naval oranges for all the children.

Vistors to the State-Side Office

Posted by Bethany Planton, Coordinator of Kids Connection Sponsors

The weekend of February 6-8 we had some visitors to our office in the States. Vicki Charbonneau and the Adamson family were here for about two days. The schedule was pretty crazy full of gatherings and fellowship. It was a chance for Vicki and the Adamsons to see our office in the states and meet those who are involved with Interlink Resources here in Muncie, Indiana. There was a lunch with the Board members that live in Muncie and an open house on Saturday evening.

Bethany Planton with Vicki Charbonneau.

Vicki will be joining our team in May.



The Adamsons - Joel, Ann, Joel, and Rachel




Here are some pictures from their time here:
(Thanks to Vicki for taking these.)

Lunch with the Muncie board members



Getting food at the Open House hosted by the Knauss Family




Eating a wonderful meal with great fellowship



Group picture at the open house


Lunch on Sunday

Special thanks to all those who made this weekend a success.
We could not have done it without you!

Its a Bear!

At the Saramoldaeva Orphanage, in Taraz, they have a nice garden area with wooden characters and mini buildings for children to play in. Among the characters is this animal that some, in the Interlink's youth department, think is a bear while others thought it to be a pig.

It seems, even within the orphanage itself there was no clear consensus. Finally, we decided to have a contest, among our children and care-takers, to see what the majority opinion would be. Making an exercise in the democratic process, we took this photo and asked this simple question. Is this a pig or is this a bear. Children and care-takers alike checked the name of the animal they believed it was.

The final tally of votes were as follows: Bear 22 and Pig 15. So we decided “It’s a Bear”!

One of our gals later asked around and found the man who carved this animal. He told her that he first made a pig and then turned it into a bear. In any case all had a good time with the overall voting contest about the bear in their midst.