Featured Image: The Church in Zelena (Village Chernyk) at the home of Bogdan & Galena. From L to R; Tanya, Galena, Bogdan, Peter, Tanya. In the back: Ivan and John.
Thursday was spent in the Carpathian Mountains. We visited a number of schools that had received help from our shipments. The decentralization has impacted this district as well. Four villages have been consolidated into one governing unit. The villages are all now known as Zelena. Our first stop with at the Administration of this new district. We were ushered into the Administrator’s office and introduced. As soon as Ivan told him who we were the Administrator (Named Vassily) said, “Yes I have heard all you have done in Zelena.” Ivan discussed our desires to help the communities that have recently merged.
We were taken to several schools and a medical clinic. Ivan says that he has some items available now to offer to these communities.
As we were talking about the reforms being made in Ukraine, Vassily made a comment that I cannot forget. He said under the old Soviet communism workers received pay for not doing anything. Every worker was to receive the same pay. But, he said, now reform is changing and if people want to be paid they must “earn” that money—“We will not just give money for no work. No one deserves such action.” An amazing insight that I wish could be exported across the Atlantic Ocean!
Snow was everywhere but the roads were clear. It was a sunny day and snowmelt runoff was causing muddy streams in the remaining snow and ice. Soon the mountain stream beds will be full to overflowing as winter is washed away and spring arrives!
We eventually made it to Bogdan and Gayla’s house where we were to eat lunch. Joining us was their son Peter and his wife Tanya. Peter and Tanya had been immersed last summer and then Bogdan and last week Galena (short name is Gayla) joined them in the Lord. The Church is now present in Zelena. The homeplace of Bogdan and Gayla was where the Dalraida group enjoyed the wonderful mountain hospitality in 2019. Bogdan is anxious for the group to return and this time he says they can not only drink fresh, warm milk but they can actually milk the cow! So, Dalraida group get ready for a mountaintop experience in the Carpathians!
The lunch was delicious. There was cabbage soup but this type of soup is to be eaten with boiled potatoes and not bread. This was followed by fried potato pancakes with sour cream. Then the main course was “lazy dumplings” with the dough made from potatoes and cheese in the middle. It was a delicious meal and I was stuffed. The greatest concern of the hostess here is that the table remains full (and the guest’s plate remains full—an empty plate is an insult to the hostess!). This concern is so controlling that I recall one hostess setting her table to overflowing and after the guests had eaten she cleared it completely and set another full table. This happened FOUR times! And after the meal, it was time for dessert! The hospitality ethic is compelling throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This is a learned reminder to eat sparingly, eat slowly, and do not clean your plate! (I’m reminded of Nick Berryman’s pitiful look and whispered comment to me, “They are killing me with food!”).
We returned to Ivano-Frankivsk with fifteen minutes to spare until the Bible Classes started. We had 14 in-person for the first class and 15 present for the second class. Joining us on their telephones were Bogdan’s family and many others.
Below are some scenes from the day in the Carpathian Mountains!
Thank you for your interest, concerns and prayers!
John L. Kachelman, Jr.
(Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine)
The Church in Zelena at the home of Bogdan & Galena 
Zelena 
Welcome to Zelena from Peter and Paul (July 12 is Peter & Paul holiday in Ukraine) 
Meeting with Vassily, the new Administrator of Zelena 
Vassily, John, Ivan at School #2 
John, Vassily, Ivan in front of Admin Building 
Icon in School #1’s main hallway 
School #1 building constructed in 1840 by Austria-Hungry is still in use 
Refurbished desks sent to school from Christians in Ivano-Frankivsk 
Vassily, Tanya, and John visiting a Refurbished classroom 
Cabbage soup & potatoes 
Potato pancakes 
Ivan enjoys lazy dumplings. made from potatoes, stuffed with cheese and boiled! 
The streets in Zelena 
Snow is melting in the village 
Mountains with snow 
Looking across at a homeplace and where timber has been clear-cut from the near hill 
House with its own well is typical, although some must share a well with others. On a nice day those villages that share a well are the gathering place as people come to draw their water and learn the news and gossip of the village! 
A home in Zelna 
Fire wood is stacked to give extra insulation in winter 
Farming continues even in winter
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