Project Closing Presentations in Astana, Kazakhstan - 10 August 2008

Last week we finished up two projects and had the closing presentations for both of them. The first one was for the Asian Union for the Handicapped People's Rights. This is Kulnazira Usenova who is the director of this organization. She has become a wonderful friend and we dearly love her! She requested some computers to use for training the handicapped adults in her organization and their families. She has three handicapped lawyers who donate their time to help with the legal rights for the people in her group. This is one of the lawyers using one of the three computers on the desks donated by the Church. He is physically handicapped and struggles to walk.

Here is the lawyer counseling a woman who is seeking help for her son who has lost his job because of a hearing impairment.

While we were there taking pictures, this couple came in with their daughter seeking help for her legal rights. Kamka Zhassanova is another champion that helps fight for the rights of handicapped children. She is also a wonderful friend. This little girl's wheelchair was donated by our Church.

After the presentation, they fed us and everyone else that was there. There was a lady who sang two Kazakh songs for us during dinner. We also met a young women who is deaf but is a professional painter who has many of her paintings displayed in Almaty. She was delightful! Everyone was so thankful for the desks and the chairs and the computers that were given to this organization by the Church. The whole afternoon was very enjoyable!!

The next project we closed on was some training computers for the League of Large Families. This organization serves families with more than four children between the ages of 4 and 18 who live below the poverty level of the country. They currently have over 1500 families with a membership of over 7800 people.

These two ladies work for the organization and were grateful for the computers and the help they will be to the members.

The lady in the middle of this picture is Raigul Duikenova and she is the Director of this organization. She has 12 children of her own and works tirelessly with her associates in helping families.

After the presentation, we were invited over to Raigul's home to meet her family. She and her daughters had prepared a wonderful meal for us!! We had "baursak" (this wonderful fried bread which we have fallen in love with!), "georgian monties" (dough with ground beef mixture inside with lots of onion, and which she has promised to give me the recipe for!) and wonderful salads and vegetables. The meal was as wonderful as the company! Kamka and her husband, Ramazon were there along with Kulnazira and other friends and family. Kulnazira said that Ramazon and Anne look like they are brother and sister! (Probably because our hair is the same color!)

These are three of Raigul's seven daughters. They helped prepare and graciously served the food to us. They were wonderful!! Her children range in age from 27 to 4 years old.

These are two of Raigul's youngest children standing in the back by Roy. The little girl in front is her granddaughter.

Raigul was given these medals recently by the government for her work with large families. She works tirelessly in this capacity. She is a wonderful person and we are so glad that we have gotten to know her.

We are well and keeping busy. We have lots to do before winter sets in and we hope we can get it all done. We have suffered the other extreme in weather but we know it only last a few weeks and the cold lasts for months!! Thanks again for all of the prayers in our behalf. We appreciate your love and support.

Love to all,

Elder and Sister Welling