Former Ukrainian homeless kids (children from the center of rehabilitation in Mariupol) started to the mountaintop of American volcano Reiner through the canyons of Arizona.
(The diary of the the trip of Pastor – pilgrim Gennadiy Mokhnenko)
Days 1-2
Mattresslike blanket and ice-cream picked up from the floor. Greeting to Gagarin and engineering flows of the constructors of Boeing.
It is known that theatre starts with a hanger and the trip according to my firm belief starts with the question; “What I have forgotten to take along this time?”
- Daddy, I didn’t take toothpaste… - “Sergey made me “glad” in the train Donetsk – Kiev.
- You are not alone in it, - I confessed – on searching unsuccessfully my wallet with toilet stuff and having realized that I have the same problem.
- I have it… - waking up Slavik tried to comfort us. Naturally he added that he is not a bungler like us.
However our “not absentminded” also flowed since from his blanket cover that he used instead of the blanket the piece of mattress emerged.
- And what is that, “not absent minded”? – we enquired pointing on the mattress.
- It is warmer than under the blanket… - Slavik declared pretending that it wasn’t mistake to warm himself in the air-conditioned compartment but logically grounded decision.
Mine and Sergey’s forgetfulness was immediately explained by the fuss before leaving, the press- conference an hour before the start and by the anomaly hot summer and by the growing and impending over us danger of political tension in the Near East.
Thus the first flows are revealed… the trip can be considered officially started. We have begun our rush to the very West. Former street kids Sergiy from 4 years Old and Slavik from 5 started with me, their foster father, to the American volcano Reiner which is situated not far from Seattle and to Arizonato the well known reservoir Lake Powell with its amazing canyons.
Our goal is to raise the flags of Ukraine, Mariupol and sure enough of the center of children’s rehabilitation “Republic Pilgrim” on the top of Reiner.
It seems “Let’s go”“Reiner, be ready” The Pilgrims are going.
Having arrived in Kiev we rapidly reached the airport and without problems passed though the customs control. Despite the fact that our professional backpacks provoked some tension from the side of customs officers – it all went well.
"Not absent minded" Slavik on being examined dropped off my longsuffering laptop (you see, I live with the former street kids). And in 5 minutes twice his ice-cream managed to be found on the floor. Slavik did his best to prove that the second time it fell by itself contrary to the laws of physics so it wasn’t his fault. But is doesn’t change the whole picture of events which characterizes very well my adopted son. Slavik is something! He used to be a vagabond since 5, and drank alcohol since an early age, at ten he found himself in a kind of children’s prison for the pan of soup (as he recalled afterwards without any meat).
This soup he ate in the house where he and his former pals invaded. A pan of soup was the only havoc Slavik wrecked to the house but he had nobody to protect him (his father was in prison and his mother drank) so he was sentenced to the term in a children’s analogy of prison where he spent 3 years. After that he came to “Pilgrim”. His life since then has been going under the motto “Not a single day without an accident!” I hope for today their limit is over… The laptop is ok and the ice-cream was eaten without any insecurities. SO we are in the plane. Fantastic clouds can be seen through the illuminator. The pilgrims are directing to Paris! We are on business… And sure enough, it is urgent!!!
In the plane Slavik goes on to surprise me with this logics…
- Poor those people… which are there under us and on whose heads it all falls down. – my son compassionately stated on coming back from WC of the Boeing 747.
- What falls down? – I inquired in bewilderment.
- All this! – Slavik replied without any details, evidently showing tact after so much food we were served. – From that hole it all is falling down with the crazy whistle…I guess in the air it is being dissolved somehow but still I feel sorry for those who are under us now!
Seeing such sincere care for people living on earth we decided to leave hius observations with “No comment”!
On a question of principle I don’t react on the phrase of the flight attendant addressed to my sons “What do you want to drink?” I turn my head to the opposite side pretending I am sleeping… Let them answer themselves and feel that they are almost at the West!
In 13 hours of flight with a short break between flights in Paris we are landing in the right down corner of the US in Atlanta. Our next flight to California is in the morning, it is left down corner now, we go through the customs control and here we are – in the USA! To get to the city we use an electric train to get refreshed. The trip makes us a little sad. We get to the center of Atlanta at about 11pm, it seems the city is sleeping and only night clubs work but we still could find the place to grab some food – to be precise – chicken wings. Some food finishes with gluttony… that was just too much! Only 2 wings of thirty were left uneaten! It happens to us rather seldom. Thus we draw a conclusion that we’re not in a good shape. By 1.00 am we got back to the airport and took out our sleeping bags to get some sleep in so called style of pilgrims.
Sergey and I turned off and Slavik was awake and he was reading a Christian novel “ Jump” at the same time carrying out the function of the watch looking after our stuff.
The first day which was spread unto two because of the transatlantic flight is announced solemnly closed. Weare15000 kmclosertoourgoal. In the morning we are to go on our trip.
Day 3-4
We wake up surrounded by black brothers who are alike the pilgrims either because of their beliefs or because of the lack of money for hotel.We admit with pleasure that we are prepared to sleeping at the airport better than others. Our neighbors covered themselves with what they find around while we have our sleeping bags! Slavikdidn’tsleepatall, afterthebookhestartedplayingacomputergame.
After the check in we get on another plane where Slavik declare that he doesn’t want to sleep at all and practically without a pause he started snoring up to California!
In Ontario (not far from LA) we were met by Chad, - it’s his initiative and his donation which made our trip possible. The businessman, who has been giving his vacation to travel to Ukraine and to the volunteer work in Republic of former street kids, takes us in his car to his manufacture. We met his family and their property –factory that produces many different items – from medical beds to the seats in small private planes.
After that we bought pizza and headed for Chad’s house where we were waited by the whole company of old friends of “Pilgrim” from the well known American church Saddleback, Pastor Rick Warren. These guys were on missionary trip to Ukraine just a month ago and now we are on a responding visit. We take our first within 3 days shower and eat pizza. Finishing the pepperoni pizza I solemnly declare that I will call to duel those who will call “pizza” those Ukrainian rolls of the third degree of freshness with the piece of susceptible sausage in the middle!
On grabbing some food we hop in to 2 trucks (our Slavic brothers call so small but very strong trucks- pathfinders) and we are heading for the LakePowell and the whole trip takes us about 5 hours. One truck is for us and Chad, another one is for the Christian family go on which will go on the boat trip with us!
Around us a real Californian desert stretches and in 3 hours it turns into completely burnt by the sun Arizonian hills. Chad threatens us with the stories about dangerous snakes and scorpions which are abundant here. The stories impress, especially taking into consideration the fact that couple years ago our familiar guy from Ukraine was barely delivered by helicopter to the hospital and saved after the bite of the most dangerous in the US south – west odder. We get in traffic because of a lorry that was set on fire, its remnants the firemen expose right at the sidewalk.
By the evening we got to the house where Chad’s friends live in a small town of Arizona where my sons get a special pleasure swimming in the swimming pool. I am pretty sure this pool has never seen such wild swimmers. They gave away all the energy left after the long trip there in the pool. My own energy runs over pretty soon – I fall asleep…
The morning of the first full day in Arizona starts at 5 am when the hosts who heard a lot about “Pilgrim” from Chad and from other Christians prepared for the guys something special. Having hooked on the trails 2 luxurious boats we head for the nearest lakes where something extraordinary waits for us!
When the boats have been put on the water it started something that made me (speaking directly) cry! Former Ukrainian vagabonds meet Arizonian sunrise, trying to practice water skiing! I am putting on dark glasses not to embarrass others with riveting emotions!
Slavik stands up from the water from the very second attempt to the great surprise of Chad and all the company! Sergiy had to have some more attempts to stand over the fantastic water glass of the lake and to go on the board on a crazy speed piercing the waves. I wish I could say he took after me!!! However, my tries to stand on the board gave no results if not to take into account the hysterical laughter of my adopted sons! But surely I can refer to the fact that for me, “ski pro” the youth board is nothing!
Having water skid up to trembling in knees my eagles solemnly get the right to use a steering wheel of the yacht on a crazy speed that winds on my emotions and when we get the edge I hide my eyes again behind the thick glasses. The curly- haired Sergey at the steering wheel softly speaking looks perfect! He’s a street kid since 4, who used to live in basements his entire childhood and who ran away 40 times from his boarding school to street slums, lookslike a son of new Russian oligarch on the vacation between the semesters in Cambridge.
The guests take us to restaurant. I put on my glasses again to hide tears when I look at my sons in American restaurant. They say that positive stress is also a stress and is also dangerous for health. If it is true it’s just too much for one morning. The guys eat huge stakes and drink Coke being stunned by the blessed refilling!!!
After breakfast we are getting ready to our further 5-hour-trip tour first goal – to canyons and water spaces of LakePowell!!! Before start we got to have a ride on a very cute luxurious bike of our new friend Mike! Take some fantastic pictures with 7m cactuses!!! We say good bye to our hospitable hosts, who had really lavished us this morning and we move on to our goal. To the wild delight of the guys Chad fixes the boat and 2 water scooters to the trail!!!
-It’s just the beginning!!! – he overwhelms the boys telling where we go and hinting on the pleasures that we have ahead in the nearest days!
By the evening we overcome the part of the trip that left up to the reservoir where our journey will actually start.
Recently, in the "Republic Pilgrim" took place the election of a new government. The race was quite tense. A few new guys have declared themselves as strong candidates and presidential elections were difficult.
Adoptive father of 32 children, pastor -pilgrim Gennady Mokhnenko and his family live today in a fairly cramped conditions. The house they live in consists of two rooms for 13 people. Recently, the adoptive family, with a charitable donation, was able to purchase another small house. Both houses need a lot of repairs, however, both parents and children are happy - they are now having more space where they can live.
At the end of 2011 in Italy, in Sassuolo, a second charity exhibition and sale of "ARTE solidale" took place. It was organized for the financial support of children center "Republic Pilgrim", in Mariupol, and for the African Mission in Burkina Faso, where for 40 years working missionaries Lisa and Umberto Ladder.
I was holding my little young son, rocking him and singing a tune. In this sweet, wonderful time inside me clearly and distinctly sounded a verse from the Gospel, which you probably know...
In the center of children's rehabilitation "Republic Pilgrim" in Mariupol, were guests of the British Liverpool. Jennifer and Marc are already familiar with pilgrim children. They were together at last summer camp in the Crimea: played football, went on hike at the Grand Canyon, and now they came to visit “Pilgrim” again.
In a large-scale project "Crystal Heart" workers of "Pilgrim", the adoptive parents Eugene and Svetlana Isaev, that have adoptive children with HIV-positive, have won first place the "Big Heart".
Pastor- pilgrim Gennady Mokhnenko going into another trip to Africa, Kenya, scheduled for mid-January of 2012. Pastor has a desire to see the same desperately dedicated travelers, who will spend 10 days of the mission in one of the poorest regions in the world.
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