Featured Photo: Dr. Vitaly Volodymyrovych chief doctor of Kherson Regional Hospital, John, and Evgenia Mykolaivna
I continue visiting locations where our shipments have been sent and assessing the actions. Our involvement in the city of Kherson, Ukraine has been an on-going operation for about ten years. Our involvement in this Oblast resulted from a request I received from the DOS. I was told that there was a great need for help in this location but no one wanted to assist. I thought it was a complement when told, “Only Churches of Christ are willing to help those unknown and unassociated. All others want to help only their own groups.” That well illustrates our governing text, “Let us do good unto all men and especially those of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).
If we have only accomplished this notoriety then I think our efforts have been successful!
Eugenia has been an outstanding partner in our efforts in Kherson. She is diligent, knowledgeable and trustworthy in every assignment. Her willingness to assist goes beyond Kherson and she has a reputation of compassion. Eugenia is knowledgeable about places needing assistance. Through her directions we have assisted a number of elderly homes, orphanages, needy families, clinics and hospitals. Those who have been reading these reports for several years might remember a report I sent on an elderly home of 600+ in which Eugenia distributed shoes that we had shipped.
On this visit we toured five hospitals. Among these was the TB Hospital. This is the poorest hospital in the Region. This hospital has received commodities ever since our first container to Kherson. The hospital building needs great repairs. The Chief Doctor told me that they need “anything that we can send.”
For the advocates of socialized healthcare, the hospitals and clinics of the former USSR present a troubling reality. To be sure all have access to healthcare—everyone can come to the hospital and the State will pay the hospital for your food, medicines, and medical care. That sounds great, right? The problem is in the devilish details…yes, the State pays BUT it only pays 75 gr per day (about $2.88 USD). Yes, the “free” healthcare under socialized medical services pays a grand total of $2.88 per day per patient! But there is more…I asked what the average stay must be in order for a TB patient to get the proper treatment. The doctor said it could take as long as six months. BUT the State only permits the patient to stay maybe one-week. So yes, anyone can go to the hospital BUT they cannot stay as long as they need to stay!
This is the real face of socialized medical healthcare!
But not everyone is equally “covered.” If you have money, if you are a government Deputy, or if you are an “elite” in the nation, THEN you get healthcare that is vastly different! The RULERS of a socialized society do NOT live as the RULED live in a socialized society. This is a historical constant!
It is very rewarding to visit these facilities and see what our benevolence is doing, how it has helped thousands, and to hear the words of gratitude from those trying to serve the vulnerable in their communities
We have been invited to bring the church of Christ into Kherson. There are developed relationships and there are those eager to assist our efforts. I am reminded of the Lord’s observation. “The harvest is plentiful!” But then I look at the resources available and recall the Lord’s sorrowful conclusion, “But the laborers are few.” (Luke 10:2).
My time in Kyiv continues to be spent in various meetings. I will soon travel to Zaporozhe and then return to Kyiv for more meetings before departing for the USA. Caleb is finishing his efforts in Zelena today and will go to Ivano-Frankivsk tomorrow where he will take an evening plane to Borispol and return to the USA on an all-day flight Saturday. I hope to meet Gif and Nate as they arrive in Borispol tomorrow and walk with them from the international terminal to the domestic terminal where they travel to Ivano-Frankivsk and begin a week’s work there. There are a lot of moving pieces but all are framed in an amazing action!
UPDATE: I just received news that the Zaporozhe group is very excited because they managed to reserve me a place in the opera. So, an Italian opera will be performed in Ukrainian and this ole’ Alabama boy will be listening in vain for that 1988 “Song, song of the south” and…I probably will have a train ride involved somewhere in this!
Thank you for your prayers and financial support that makes this mission trip possible!
John L Kachelman Jr Kyiv, Ukraine
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