Hello Delaware Kiwanis!

Just today we have finished our christmas programs. Today our volunteers visited children hospital for children who has a cancer. In Ukraine we have only 2 hospital which has equipment for treatment of such children. Every year such children becomes more. Our meeting occured for the first time. We have made the program and all children received the presents.
For this Christmas we have supported about 800 children and poor families. On January, 19th we have last Christmas holiday calls Iordan - Epiphany. Iordan day commemorates the baptism of Christ in the river Jordan. In observance of this holiday, churches offer blessed water In this day all people goes to the rivers and also to orthodox churches to take sacred water. For this ceremony on the river the has cuts a ice-hole in the form of cross. Orthodox priests consecrates the water. Everyone who wants should to dip into that ice-hole three times.

It makes even if a frost of more than 20 degrees. In this year on all rivers there were many people, even children has bathed.
After the ceremony people come back home and has special meal. This meal cannot be fat. Only vegetables and pies. We also have always in the family this holiday but we do not bathe in water. This day - Birthday of my mum we gather all family.
And only after January, 20th all people start to clean the Christmas ornament. Also we just now have removed the Christmas tree. Different and it is very interesting traditions of each countrye. I thank the God that we have a dialogue with you. I very much want to learn more about people in your club, about your city. I have some offers Some people in my club will be glad to communicate with people of your club. If it is good idea I can send photos and age of these people. I wrote you that I have members in my club of 25 up to 55 yaer old. I think important to know to whom you write. It can strengthen our international communications.

Also I have some requests. One from members of club has opened small church. For him it is very important to have dialogue with pastors of other countries. If your club has partner relations with churches, can you tell about new church in Ukraine which only is created. If any pastor will have desire to write, it will be a miracle. The second we have need in clothes for programs. These are any suits which we can use in our performances for children. It`s suits of animals, clowns, princesses and also different materials to make suits. Suits can be not new.

Now in Ukraine difficult conditions of life. As a result of actions of the russian government we have bad position in our economy. Russia wishes to break Ukraine completely and make Ukraine a part of Russia. And last events, Russia try to destroy authority of our country making troubles with natural gas delivering. Prices has raisen here on a food and gasoline. Many people did not get wages two months. Some our friends has lost job. We also now buy some simple meal on our meetings to feed teenagers who come to us. They assist to make work for children, but their families have no opportunity to feed them. We also have begun service for support of mums which has suffered from the husbands.

President Lora Pavlenko
kiwanis_ua@yahoo.com