Monday March 18

Back along the south side of Lake Issuk-kul today to visit village children.   We aren’t going as far as Friday, but to a pretty little village off the main road, tucked under the mountain range.   The snow is now disappearing fast from the lower slopes.   The thick fog of Friday has passed from the road and the lake, but is still shrouding the mountain range on the northern shore.  I would love a vivid blue sky above it for a postcard photo.

 

Today we meet in a nicely appointed school, in a room which has been set aside for the NGO in this village to use for rehab of disabled children.  This is the NGO that has received funding from Samaritan’s Purse.   We are again welcomed very enthusiastically and the entire time is taken up with seeing a multitude of children, brought by parents and/or grandparents.   We don’t stop for lunch till 3pm.

This is a village that benefits some families who are fit and able, by working in a local gold mine.  So there are many children being looked after by grandparents.  It was a mixture of joy to be able to give some advice, and frustration in not being able to follow through with ongoing care.   There were even two adults who sought advice.   They were sad cases from both a physical and social perspective.

Many of the school children spoke to us in broken English and my interpreter was the English teacher, a delightful lady, obviously doing her job well.   She is applying for a scholarship from the States to do six weeks training under an “Excellence in Teaching” programme.  

 

 I was fascinated by the school uniform being worn by some of the girls.   Apparently the lace pinafore is common in this area.  I imagine they are not so white by the end of the day, unless they’re teaching the girls to be neat little ladies.  But there were some playing basketball dressed like this.

 

 The lake was behaving a little better on the way home and I think you can just see the mountains if you squint.