Opening of the 1st Container in Astana, Kazakhstan - 25 January 2008

This has been a busy week here in Astana! As we mentioned last week, both of the containers cleared customs and we were grateful for that. At the beginning of the week, Kamka, the recipient of one of the containers, asked us to come over to the place where the contents were going to be distributed. Kamka has been collecting used clothes from the people here in Astana for the handicapped and needed shelves and racks to display the clothes on. We wrote a project to supply her with these items and they came just in time to display the clothing from the container also. These shelves, hangers and baskets won't even begin to hold all the clothing from the container; but it will help a lot because they will put out more items each day.Tuesday we were invited to Kamka and Ramazon's home to have Bishbarmak with some of the people that Kamka works with in helping the handicapped. They also wanted to thank us for all we have done for them in helping get the container here.

Raigul (who also received a container), Rosa, Kulnazira, Aigul, Kamka and grandson are in the picture.

Aigul, Rosa, Kamka, Raigul and Aiman, Mira, Roy and Anne posing for the picture. All of these ladies have been with Kamka since 1998 and they never gave up trying to find ways to help the poor and needy. Each of them talked about Kamka and her tireless effort in helping those that are less fortunate or who have handicaps. She herself has two handicapped children. (Kulnazira is taking the picture.) We love them all! They are wonderful people!

After dinner we were taken out back to see the container and what was in it. They had lots of boxes of quilts that were made by Relief Society sisters! It was so wonderful to see the quilts! Pictured are Rosa, Mira, Kamka, Aiman and Anne.

Here the men are unloading the container. Towards the back are bales and bales of clothing. In the boxes are new wool blankets. We couldn't believe how much was packed in the container!

The men loaded the boxes of blankets and bales of clothing into Kamka's van to take to the place where they will be distributed.

This is the first sack of boots and bundles of clothing brought into the room where the clothes will be distributed. This young man is deaf and the other lady works for Kamka.

As we were going through the clothes and sorting them to put on racks, Anne found this shirt with "LaBeau's", famous for their raspberry shakes from Bear Lake! That was fun! We also found a Utah Jazz shirt and a Box Elder Middle School Choir shirt!

Kamka had specifically asked for walkers and canes, if there was any extra room in the container and all of these items were sent. The people here do not use walkers in Kazakhstan but when the people saw them and how to use them they were pretty excited about them. Mira told us that the only place she has seen walkers used is in the United States.

Kamka is explaining to this woman how to use the walker. She has an 18 year old son who cannot stand without holding on to something and a walker could help him. She eventually took the one that also has a seat on it so that he can rest when he gets tired.

Roy, Kamka, Anne, Kulnazira and Zhakupov Kairat Assetovich, director of the Homeless Shelter here in Astana. He took canes and walkers and lots of boots and clothing. He wants us to come and visit him to see if we can do anything to help their facility.

All of these ladies that were helping to fold the clothes and put them on hangers were psychologists and social workers. There were many handicapped people who helped also.

A tired but happy crew of young ladies! They worked hard all week getting the place organized and ready for the people. They will spend the next couple of weeks getting the clothing and other items distributed to the poor and needy.

It has been so very cold this week and we ended up being out in it quite a bit. But it just makes you appreciate the nice warm apartment we have!

We also visited a school for the handicapped, helped out at the English Club and met a wonderful lady who spent some time in Salt Lake. We'll tell you about her next week.

We did find out yesterday that Kazakhstan is now in the Russia Moscow West Mission instead of the Russia Moscow Mission and that President Collins is our new mission president. We will probably go to Almaty the middle of February to meet him.

We are so grateful for the opportunity we have to serve here in Kazakhstan! We are so blessed to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives; to know who we are, why we are here and where we are going gives us the peace that Christ talks about. We are grateful to our family and friends and for their love and support. You are all wonderful and we feel your prayers for us each and every day! May the Lord bless you in all that you do!!

Love,

Elder and Sister Welling