Uygur Blind School

Sept. 24, 2012, Monday, was the closing date of the project at Uygur Blind School.  We visited the school to see how the computers, tables and chairs were working for the students attending the school.  We were greeted by Dr. Yusuf Sayadan, (who is also blind), the director of the school, and his daughter.  (Also pictured is our translator, Seda, and a man who wanted to have his picture taken.)  After a brief visit, we were taken on a tour of the classrooms where the computers, tables and chairs, provided by the church, were seen in use. 



The tables were custom-made for each room, to utilize the size and shape of the classroom area available.  The personnel called our attention to the quality of the chairs, and it was apparent how very pleased and grateful they were for them.

 

 

We also visited classrooms where the students were being instructed on four computers provided by the church.  These students were typing with special computer software for the blind where they would type a letter and a voice would make the sound of the letter they typed (and if they typed the wrong letter, it would let them know that also!)  It was remarkable how quickly some of the students were working.

 

Students attend this school for several purposes:

·         Preparing for university entrance exams

·         Sports participation

·         PC (Personal Computer) training

·         High School training for grades 9 to 12

·         English language instruction

This is a picture of a young man (and his very devoted and proud mother) who recently passed a university eterance exam.  He also plays 20 musical instruments and promised to invite us to his musical concert in the spring.

 

As mentioned, some students are enrolled to participate in sports.  This young lady (with impaired sight) has earned the title as world weight lifting champion.  She works in the administrative office.  I couldn’t resist having my picture taken with her.

 

 

Here we are being shown the trophies recently awarded when they were the victors in football tournament played at Adana, Turkey.  Notice three additional trophies in the background.  They will be participating again in the spring.

 

Elder Edwards is holding a Turkish football.   As the participants in the game are blind, this football has several bells in it to let players know where the ball is.  I was surprised how heavy or weighted the ball felt.  

 

Below are pictured three different kinds of balls.  They all have

bells in them and the red and white ball is the Turkish football,

not the blue one.

 

 

 

We were shown their championship game on one of the new PCs the church provided for them. 

 

 

All the trainers and other help are volunteers.  The government pays the students 20 TL per day, plus minimum medical insurance while they attend school.  The school has been given some new facilities so that the enrollment of the school can expand.  They are very excited about this.  There have many more students who would like to attend and they want to accommodate all who would like to enroll.  Their goal is not to turn anyone away from the school who applies for entrance.

The staff and students appreciated what the church had provided for their school.  This was our second visit to this school, and it has been a wonderful experience each time.  We hope we will see them again.

September 12 - 15, 2012, we were able to fly to Kyiv, Ukraine to attend a Humanitarian Missionary Couple Conference.  Couples serving in Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey were in attendance.  We received valuable instruction from our Priesthood Brethren and were reminded that these humanitarian projects are not our projects, but the Lord's.  The funds are not our funds, but sacred funds given at a sacrifice of church members and to be used with inspiriation and great care. 

Couples standing in front of the Kyiv, Ukraine Temple

The crowning point of the conference was the opportunity to go the Kyiv, Ukraine temple.  It was wonderful to be able to see a temple again, and more wonderful to go inside and attend a session.  Immediately following the temple session, we had a testimony meeting at the Stake Center on the grounds.  Here we were spiritually fed, and after we were physically fed with a delicious luncheon.  (First things first.)

Testimony meeting

After the luncheon we were taken by bus on a tour of the city.  Kyiv is a beautiful, and the weather was clear and warm, allowing us afterwards to walk up and down the streets and see the architecture of the buildings and the people. 

As each of the missionary couples are serving by themselves in their respective cities, it was a special opportunity to be together and share experiences and ideas with one another.  These couples are very dedicated to this work, and we felt it a wonderful opportunity to be able to be with them and glean from them their wisdom and experience.




Jean had the opportunity to be a part of a special
musical number at the Conference.

Art display along the street

 

Russian Orthodox Church

 

Downtown Kyiv, Ukraine. 
I loved the benches, trees and wide sidewalks.
At the end of this street, at the intersection, huge outdoor concerts are held. 
Elton John gave a concert there and
Madonna came to give a one but didn't show up!

At our hotel.  This is a waterfall, of sorts, behind us.


 

 



An old building in Beyparazi

We visited the town of Beyparazi September 5, 2012 to discuss a possible project with the mayor and his wife. (Beyparazi is part of the city of Ankara; a district.) Their plan is to help disabled women in their community to learn the skill of sewing and tole painting. A group of ten women will be trained for three months, and then a new group will follow. The municipality will help them find work upon completion of their training course; most likely they will be able to sell the products they make in a little shop in town.   Trainers will be both paid employees and volunteers.  These people are asking the church to supply two sewing machines, a serger and tables and chairs for the project.



This room is the future shop for training of disabled women. 
It had just been painted.

 The next step of the project, after having visited with them, is to receive a request letter from them, telling us  what they would like us to supply. Seda, our translator will translate the letter into English and from there it is our job to submit the project to Moscow for approval. If and when it is approved, we order the materials, have them delivered, visit this place once again to make sure everything is going well and have a closing ceremony, which is the best part.  We love to be with the recipients and share in their excitement and anticipation for the future.

We thought this would be the extent of our visit in Beypazari, but the mayor's wife, her secretary and the mayor's secretary took us on a tour of the town, to lunch, to two museums (one a living museum and the other a former Turkish bath house), shopping in quaint little shops and to the bazar where produce from their farms and other goods are sold, which lined the streets.  How did Wayne hold up tagging along with five women?  He did very well - not one complaint.  Oh, we also enjoyed a tea party (with juice). 

This is our tea party.  See the smile on Wayne's face. 
I think he was happy he wasn't footing the bill.
The mayor's wife is on the left; a very lovely lady,
so gracious and good to us all afternoon.
 

Our camera was clicking away the entire day.  I think we took 150 pictures, which I wish I could include them all.  I wish I were computer savvy enough to know how to wrap them all up in a file so you could see them.  As for now, I will include a few of my favorites.

My favorite thing we saw was a loom in one of the shops where the shop owner was making fabric.  He demonstrated running the loom for us and it reminded us of someone playing the organ with both hands and feet going all at the same time.  I've always wanted a loom and this was so fun watching him!!

The shop owner is showing us a piece of fabric he made. 
The loom is in the back, with all the strings running vertical.

He is demonstrating how the loom works. 
I had to restrain myself from sliding him over and trying it.

 

His feet are pumping the blocks of wood making the loom run.
 

This girl was our tour guide in one of the museums.  Isn't she cute?

Breads and pasta being sold at the bazar.

Rug on the stairway in the museum.

Turkish bath house (which is a museum now).

Seda shows a sewing machine in the museum.

 

Silver shoes!  How is that for comfort.

 

The scenery between Ankara and Beypazari reminded
us of Utah and made us a bit homesick.

The place we had lunch.  It was tucked up on the side of a hill.

Rooms in the museum.  On the left is the bride's chamber.