One of the children who captured my heart..

In 2009 I moved to Kazakhstan to work with a non-profit whom I had traveled with on short-term trips beginning in 2000.  The organization went into the local orphanages doing monthly Birthday Parties, weekly activities and a week-long summer camp.

I met 5-year-old Saule for the first time on one of those visits. I noticed her spark and zeal for life right away.  At first, she watched with interested, evaluating the new people who entered her room.  Once she decided she wanted to be part of what was going on she boldly came forward giving direct eye contact and reaching out to grab my hand.

Saule’s was born with amniotic banding syndrome causing a cleft lip, lower eyelid deformities as well as a club foot but none of those seemed to slow her down.  From what the caregivers told me, her birth family did care about her but weren’t sure what to do about her birth defects.  They were afraid and upon advice from doctors placed her in the orphanage.

It may be hard for us from the West to understand this thinking in 2015.  Doctors haven’t encouraged parents to put children with disabilities in orphanages since the 50’s.  But it did used to be a common practice in the USA before parents started to advocate for their children.  I have a friend here in Kazakhstan whose brother went blind in one eye as a boy due to an eye infection.  My friend’s mother is a very loving caring mother as well as a strong independent thinking woman.  I can’t imagine anyone convince her of anything she didn’t agree with.  But the doctors did convince this mother that she should place her 10 or so year old son in the orphanage just because he was blind in one eye.  She visited him often and after a couple of years of hearing about the mistreatment he was enduring she finally took him back home against the doctor’s advice.  He is now grown and doing well but has deep hurt due to this period of his life.  It wasn’t done as uncaring thing but rather out of a lack of knowledge. Things are changing now and parents are advocating for their children. They are seeking expert advice on how to help their children be the best they can be despite their birth defects of disabilities. I have met over a dozen of these families and been so moved by the dedication, love and commitment to their families and children.

In 2009 Saule quickly captured my heart and a close bond was formed between the two of us.  Oh, how I wanted this one particular girl. I believed Saule deserved a mother and a father and I couldn’t offer her that, but I longed for this child to have a good future.

One morning while I was visiting Saule jumped up into my arms.  She is one of the few young children in the orphanage that enjoyed being picked up.  Since it isn’t common most children don’t enjoy it.  She took my face into her little hands looking directly into my eyes and asked; “When are you going to find me my mom and my dad and when are you going to get my foot and face fixed?”  Wow, those were big request.  Out of all the children I have worked with, no child has ever asked me specifically to find them their own mom and dad.  All of the children are desperate for families, need families and love.  But this child captured a great deal of my heart.  I had no idea how to accomplish these request in a county where I had no control over anything.

A couple of years later in 2011 dear friends in Virginia felt like they were to adopt Saule into their family and I was thrilled.  They jumped through all the hoops, paid all the money only to have Kazakhstan close adoptions to Americans right before they could adopt her.  Oh how my heart broke.  About the same time I resigned from the previous organization to pursue the vision to provide a safe place for the children that age out of the orphanages, single mothers, disabled children and marginalized to grow and heal.  I thought about all the children I loved and cared about.  Making this moved would keep me away from them for a while.  I was gone from Kazakhstan for about a year and a half.  I often thought of all the children, especially Saule.  I keep track of her as best I could.  She got moved to a boarding school for disabled children and in Feb 2012 I was able to visit her on a short visit back to Kazakhstan.  It was an emotional visit for us both.  She told the caregivers I was her mother.  This broke my heart.  A “good” mother wouldn’t leave her beloved daughter in an orphanage but I had to leave her.

 

Oct 2012 I finally returned to Kazakhstan for this next chapter of life.  It took time but finally I got to see Saule.  She had grown. A local family and friends who Beth Turnock and I have known for many years talked about their heart to foster children. They asked if we would help with Saule’s medical needs if they fostered her and my answer was a resounding “yes,” not knowing what doors would open exactly I knew I would knock on as many as I could. I could be her “Grandma” and be part of her life. I was thrilled!

The end of December 2013 Saule came home. In February I went to America for the birth of my first grandson. Tucked in my backpack were x-rays of Saule and Natasha (a young woman with severe scoliosis who needed surgery too). Once in America I knocked on every door I could think of in my city but wasn’t getting very far.  I had to admit to myself maybe it wasn’t possible for either of these girls I loved so much to get the surgeries that would greatly improve their lives. I turned to a friend of mine with a big heart.  He and his wife have 17 children – 6 biological and the rest from Kazakhstan and China. He said bring the x-rays to him and he would see what he could do. He is a radiologists in my home town. After dropping off the x-rays and pictures I went on with my visit with my new grandson and friends but never the thought of these two girls left my heart and mind.

Two weeks later I received a call from my friend saying it was a go. I was literally jumping up and down with joy in the parking lot where I was. What joy! It was such amazing news. All the doctors, medical supply companies, and hospital had agreed to donate their services for the surgeries. It was a miracle. Only God could orchestrate such a thing.

The official letter from HCH Chippenham Hospital came the end of May.  That began the process of raising the funds to get visas for Saule, her foster-father, Natasha and her six-year-old son. We weren’t sure if visas would be granted. There were many reasons the US may not grant visas even with the letter from the hospital and from me taking responsibility for them. But again a miracle happened and all 4 received visas.

Then the task of raising the funds to fly 5 of us to the US and finding host families for Saule and her foster-father and one for Natasha and Max began. Saule’s host family was a quick find. It took a bit longer to find one for Natasha and Maxim, but before we flew to the states July 12th, we had one.

When arrived in Richmond, Virginia we were warmly welcomed by a large group of friends and then the whirlwind of doctors appointments and testings began. Saule was scheduled to have surgery July 29th and the doctors performed three surgeries in one day.  Dr. Hubert, a top plastic surgeon in Richmond, Virginia repaired Saule’s cleft lip and did reconstructive surgery on her lower eyelid making it so it could close.  Dr. Kim amputated Saule’s severely deformed club foot making room for a new prosthetic which was donated by Hanger Prosthetic. The surgeries went very well and the next day Saule was able to leave the hospital. Her strong spirit shone bright through all of the surgeries and recovery.

 

There were so many people in the Richmond area and across the country who came together to care for Saule, her foster-father, Natasha and Maxim.  Gifts of clothing and toys came from all over as well as financial support for doing some fun things like a trip to the ocean, horseback riding, trips to museums, parks and more.  The doctors, nurses and staff cared for Saule with such great compassion and kindness.  Saule’s host family welcomed her and her foster-father as members of their family. The stories of their time in Virginia could fill a book of their adventure and new friends. Saule’s spunk and spirit shown through. Growing up in the orphanage has left it’s effect on her heart but she desires to rise above and build a good future for herself.

 

Natasha and Maxim are still in America as Natasha’s surgery was a bit more complicated and she still needs surgery to repair her cleft palate.  Maxim is in kindergarten in New Kent County and doing extremely well. Their story will be another blog post.

I was in the Virginia for Saule’s surgery then left to return to Kazakhstan Aug 7th with 2 professionals who met with 12 families with disabled children in August.  Oct 1st I returned to Virginia to be with Natasha for her surgery.

In December Saule, her foster-father and I  returned to Kazakhstan. It has been a bit of a transition, but Saule is settling in. She still needs physical therapy daily in order to build strength and learn to walk with a regular gate after 9.5 years of walking with a limp on a foot and lower leg that didn’t function normally. She has several of us around that help make sure this is done but at some point she is going to have to desire this herself. She also has much catching up in her studies so she can study in regular school and again at some point she will have to desire to reach beyond her current level. There are many challenges that lay ahead for sweet Saule but her strength and courage will help her obtain her goals.  She has been given the gift of family and friends to encourage and support her as she works towards her goals.

Saule is a sweet gift to me. I love this child beyond what words can describe. Loving a child for the time they are in your life without focusing on the uncertainty of the future can be a challenge at times. It is natural to think about how my heart will hurt if our paths go different direction. But I can’t imagine not having this opportunity to love this precious child no matter how long I have with her. She captured my heart in 2009 and will always have a piece of my heart.

My own children, Marc and Sarah, were influential in the person I am today. Because of them I desired to be a better person. Saule has influenced my life greatly too. The gift of her in my life has expanded my horizons, given me strength and courage beyond what I had. I will always be grateful for this sweet child’s influence on my life and heart. I dream of being part of her wedding and holding her children but no matter how many days I have with her is a gift. I love you sweet Saule forever and always no matter what.

Part 2 Limited Choices and a desire for home

There is a girl who had to leave Savva Orphanage several years ago because she had reached the maximum age allowed there.  She was 15 years old.   She was then moved to a local technical school to study a trade.  These schools are over crowded, understaffed and not safe places for the children.  The orphanages are trying to track down families to take children back.   Some families gave up their children as enfants because a doctor told them it was best for the child and them due to a malformation of the child.  I some cases these children didn’t die and later the families were told the child lived and then were given the child back.  This after the child was 8, 9 or 10 years old and spent those formative years in an institute.  Families, single parents, or relatives who had their children removed due to abuse and neglect are asked to take children back or sign off legally as their parents.  All in all a very difficult situation.

Shortly before “Anne” (not her real name) “aged” out of the orphanage her grandmother was found in Russia.   The grandmother came and visited “Anne” and even took her for a visit.  “Anne” is a very beautiful girl of Gypsy descent was scared and reported when she returned from the short visit that she did not want to go with this grandmother. The grandmother made no secret that she thought she could make money with “Anne” and planned to take her back to Russia with her.  By the time it finally came for her to leave she was 17 years old and living at the technical school.  I and 2 Kazakh women were spending time with her and talking through her options.  The technical school is paid by the government per child.  With a family willing to take this child they would receive no more funding for her which then made it impossible for her to stay.  There was no other place for her to go at that time.  Some national friends and I gave Anne a card with our numbers on it before she left and told her not to forget that we would be here if she needed help after age 18. (Until that age, legally we could do nothing.)  It was an awful feeling for all of us when we could offer so little to a young woman of 17 who didn’t want to go into an unknown future in Russia.

Good news is recently she showed up and asked for help from one of the women listed on the card.  “Anne” had been married off to an older man who was unkind.  This man and his family abused Anne, stole her documents so they could get a loan, and treated her in a demoralizing way.  Currently, she has a place to stay at the Youth House here in town and someone bought her some new clothing. We also learned that she may be pregnant, which means she will be choosing between aborting her child in order to stay where she is or she will have to leave.  Of course, we desire for her not to end her baby’s life  We are looking for a house to rent so we then could offer her a place to live.   Her spirits are low and she is struggling emotionally.  The Youth House has more than 80 children crowded into a very small space.

I am happy to know she is back, but my heart breaks for the trauma she endured these last couple of years on top of what she faced growing up in an orphanage.  Can you imagine how difficult it is for her to trust?  How difficult it is to believe there are people who truly care about what is best for her?  People who desire to help her to grow into the capable young woman she was created to be.

Another young woman – 18 years old – has been calling us since we saw her several weeks ago and gave her our telephone numbers.  She lives at the Youth House but has no job and doesn’t study at any school.  Her days are filled with nothing to do and no safe place to go.  She is scared and doesn’t know what to do.  We were able to sit and talk with her last Sunday.  Through tears she said, “I have good news. I am getting married Dec. 14th.”  I was confused and asked why this was good news, how she knew this man, and whether this was what she really wanted.   Since she was crying and seemed in great distress, it was obvious she wasn’t truly happy about this plan.  It wasn’t clear how she met the man but he lives and works in Almaty and is 30 years old.  “Mary” (not her real name) has mild cerebral palsy and limited education.  Because of her mild cerebral palsy, when she came to the orphanage at age 3 she was labeled mentally deficient. Recently, the director and vice director at the Youth House advised her she could either marry or be moved to the home for invalids.  She is terrified of going to the invalid home and with good reason. The choice to marry this man in Almaty is a way to escape that home.

My heart broke as tears streamed down her face while she tried to share the details and answer questions. I shared with her why Beth and I had come back to Kazakhstan and that we would let her come live with us once we found a place to rent.   I asked her to be patient and trust us.  On the phone several times before we could sit and talk she has asked to come live with us.  I explained we didn’t have a house yet but expected to have one soon. I asked when she needed to be out of the Youth House.  This all seemed too overwhelming for her.  She said she had already told the orphanage administrators that she would marry so she must do that.  I asked her to give me some time to find a place and to find out from some locals what could be done to help her out of this situation.

 

We were able to bring another friend into this conversation but I could see this young woman – a child really – was trying to figure out if she could trust any of us.  I could tell she wanted to trust us but her life experience had shown her no one was trustworthy.  There were two nationals there plus Beth and me, but she still didn’t know whether she could trust any of us or who she could trust in her life.

 

She knows she does not want to move into the invalid home but believing that there might be a good option and holding onto such a hope is a foreign concept when all you’ve experienced has taught you there is no hope. Hope is such a fragile commodity.  How does hope grown in a barren heart?  How do you give hope to someone who doesn’t know how to trust?  Someone who has never experienced stability or security or bonded with anyone who could be trusted to care for the simplest of human needs?

I’m thankful to be here as much as my heart aches for these precious children I know.  I’m thankful Beth is here with me and together we are meeting others who share our desire to care for these precious children.  That desire to give them a safe place where their hearts and souls can be nurtured and begin to heal.

 

I have heard so many times through the years from these orphans: “Do not forget me!” “Do not forget my name, my story, my face!”  The desire to be known and to have someone in our lives that is willing to go out of his or her way for you is in each of our hearts.  Babies long for their mothers to look into their eyes, to comfort them, to feed them and care for them, to be there with them.  When this doesn’t happen in a child’s life, the hole that is left grows deeper and wider with each passing year.  These children cannot become a successful part of society without people who are willing to invest in their lives. They each need people willing to take the time to build lasting relationships with them.  People who will teach and model family for them.  To love and care for them so they can begin to heal and overcome their past hurts and then begin building a positive future for themselves.

 

Thank you each for joining with us in this journey.  We are thankful to see how the community of those committed to care for these children is growing.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance

Victoria for J127 Ranch

Life in Kazakhstan is a road less traveled full of curves an obstacles!

Beth and I have been in Kazakhstan more than a month now and I still find myself wondering if I’m going to awake from a dream at any moment.

When we boarded the plane in Richmond on Oct. 2, 2012 it was with many emotions — excitement to be heading back to the land and people who have captured our hearts, and a bit of anxiety about launching such an enormous project.  But we were off.

Thankfully, we made all of our connections in the U.S and in Turkey and after a two-day journey, we concluded an uneventful trip even making it through customs in Almaty without even a second glance our way as we walked out the main gates with all six of our trunks.

Part of the decision-making on when to head back to Kazakhstan related to the wedding of a dear friend.  The wedding of Zarina and Damire on Oct 8th was beautiful.  It was a great joy and privilege to be able to share in their celebration last month and capture the special occasion digitally.

This time in Taraz we don’t have the benefits of a large, established organization.  That means no car, no support staff and no house with western conveniences.  But it has been great to see the support we do have and to learn to live daily life-like a typical Kazakh.  We are averaging 5 to 7 miles of walking each day as we go to and from our daily tasks. This is good exercise, but more importantly, it has helped us build relationships.  There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t run into someone we know during our walk.  It is touching to see the reactions of people as they realize we, as Americans, are walking and taking public transportation.  They also are getting some good laughs at our many misadventures as we try to learn our way around the city via bus.  Thankfully, complete strangers have shown us much kindness.  On a couple of occasions we have been totally surprised to find an English speaker in the most unusual places.

We thought we had found a house to rent but the family later changed its mind.  We aren’t worried about this and trust the exact house we are to use will become available at precisely the right time.  We have several Kazakhs helping us with this and are grateful for their help.

Arranging our visas has been its own adventure.  Our original visa was for 30 days.  One friend of ours who has an English language school was trying to invite us for another 60-day visa. As part of that, we would have volunteered at her school but a glitch in the law prevented that option.

Another friend that Beth and I have known since 2000 is very excited about J127 Ranch.  She was the director of Ulan Orphanage for many years before moving to the Youth House as its director. She has many great connections and a real heart for the children. She knows their histories and heartaches.  When she heard we were having trouble getting our next visa she offered to invite us on a 60-day personal visa.  This application was submitted.  Since there was going to be a two-week gap between the two visas, we decided to head to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to get a 30-day tourist visa and then we will switch it to the 60-day personal invitation visa when the tourist visa expires.

There is a bus that goes from Taraz to Bishkek.  A new law allows Americans to enter Kyrgyzstan without a visa but we weren’t sure the border crossing we would be using would accept us into Kyrgyzstan or would we need to fly into the country.  We took off on the afternoon bus for another of our many adventures on buses in Kazakhstan.  It was an older 15-passenger van (including the driver) with two seats on one side of the van, an isle and a single seat on the other side.  The passenger seat tilted forward for passengers to enter the back of the van.  The aisle had what looked like trim bundled and piled in it, making walking a bit difficult.  Beth and I were among the last people to get into the van and so we stumbled our way to the back of it.  The seats were each elevated a bit as you moved toward the back, kind of like theater seats.  This made for good viewing out the front window.  Driving here in Kazakhstan is unlike anything you would experience in the states.  Passing a vehicle in front of you can be done even if multiple vehicles are come towards you.  Add into the mix herds of sheep, cattle and horses, horse and donkey powered carts, pedestrians walking and it is like a video game gone bad or an action packed movie with one of those crazy car chase scenes except this is real.  Beth said “All I need is pop corn and a soda an it would be like sitting in a movie theater!”  There is nothing to be done but sit back and enjoy the ride trusting the drivers and God.  We knew the general plan but most of the details we weren’t sure of so off we went into the unknown.

John and Julie Wright who work in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan doing great work caring for orphans and widows had agreed to host us during our time in Kyrgyzstan for which we were grateful.

When we got to the border crossing, everyone exited the bus, taking their packages and personal belongings with them.  Upon entering the passport control Beth called John to let him know where we were.  (Our phone would not work once we crossed into Kyrgyzstan.)  Due to poor reception, Beth had to talk louder than normal, making everyone in the building aware that we were foreigners and Americans at that.  We could hear the guards say something about the tourists.  We hadn’t wanted to be in the back of all the other people on our bus but that is what ended up happening.  We weren’t sure if the bus would wait for us even though we had paid for the whole trip.  When it was my turn to present my passport I was pleasantly surprised by an English-speaking Kazakh.  He was very pleasant and within a few minutes we both had passed through Kazakhstan’s side of the border.  We exited a door and then went to a window on the Kyrgyzstan side.  Again, we were surprised to hear a Kyrgyz saying, “Good Evening,” in perfect English.  And as easy as that we were across the border with all of our required stamps.  Then, we were off to find our bus.

It was dark by then and there were lots of people, cars, buses, trucks, and taxi drivers offering a ride on the left side of the path and vendors selling various things lining the right side.  I needed a bathroom and something to drink since, by then, it was past   7 p.m. and we had left our house at 3 p.m to begin our travels.  Wondering if we had missed the bus, we wandered down the path a bit.  One of the other women on the van saw us looking lost and spoke to us, thankfully.  She then pointed down a side alley where we spied a sign for toilet.  Beth graciously let me go first and as I headed down this alley way a small boy on a bike greeted me, talking a mile a minute oblivious to the fact I had no clue what he was saying.  He rode his bike in circles around me as I walked.  In Kazakhstan it is common to pay a small price to use a toilet.  This includes a bit of toilet paper that you pick up when you pay.  I paid my money to use the toilet to a young girl and, at this young boy’s insistence, I followed him down a path past some parked cars, a very large dog on a very large chain, then down a narrow path around a faucet and trough of water that had spilled over making the path very muddy,  Through some trees then a turn to the right to what was obviously an area being renovated.  The young boy showed me which bathroom was for women and explained – in detail – not to step on the wet cement but to walk on the board.  Even though I didn’t understand a word of his language I knew what he was saying and from the small footprint already in the cement, it looked like my young friend had already learned from experience what happens when you step in wet cement.

While I was traveling to the “restroom” – in reality, a fancy outhouse – Beth chatted with one of the three other women on the bus.  When I got back, Beth took off about the time the two other women showed up.  They were also traveling to Tokmok so we decided we would get a taxi together for the journey between Bishkek and Tokmok – about an hour’s drive.  It turned out these two women were Dungan.  It was a great blessing to have them join us as we negotiated the city of Bishkek and secured a taxi.  The ride was uneventful but my heart sighed in relief as we pulled up to the “bus station” to see John Wright sitting on the back of his car with the hatch open (he had told us he would do this to help us find him in the dark).

Our time in Bishkek was above and beyond any expectation I could have had.  John and Julie and their two grown daughters welcomed us with open arms.  We were able to participate with two different delegations from Canada, see a small bit of the great work being done there and gleaned a bit of their wisdom in the process.  Be sure to check out their website to see the great work they are doing –http://actofkindness.blogspot.com.

Beth outside apartment being renovated for a single mom and her two children. These were children outside who were curious about all the activity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the daughter of the mom who was getting all the assistance. She was such a sweet shy girl trying to take in all the kindness being shown her family after many years of great hardships.
Children around the world like to play games. Hokie Pokie is one that is always popular as well as an old camp song with hand motions “I’m a little piece of tin” and good old fashion game of tag.
Isalu and her friend outside the apartment where the renovations were going on. These children were so curious about all the foreigners at their apartment complex.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out more pictures of our time in Kyrgyzstan on kazakhvictoria.smugmug.com!

Beth and Helen (from Canada) with the mom and her two children where the team was working to renovate her apartment.

 

 

Dinner with the Canadian team at John and Julie’s apartment in Tokmok

 

 

Red River Orphanage kids got treated to a movie “Wreck-it Ralph”. This is Beth, John & Julie along with Tilik and Emir. Emir has been trapped for 4 years as governments have delayed. His family has paid twice to complete his adoption and still he sits in an orphanage.

I could go on and on sharing about the many different happenings here in Central Asia.  The central theme is the children.  Life is hard for the average person and family.   Without the stable foundation of a family to help the children navigate life, the ones without stable families or any family at all have little hope.

The mountains before us on the great adventure that is J127 Ranch are high and the path before us is full of unknowns.  It is not for the faint of heart.  Perseverance, patience and persistence are what we need to continue forward.  My heart aches for the children.  When we were visiting Ulan Orphanage this past Friday, the staff had just found out the orphanage would close December 1.  Some of the children will transfer to Saramoldaeva Orphanage.  There are so many unknowns.  One worker at Ulan said 10 caregivers will keep their jobs and move to Saramoldaeva but another worker said only three were transferring.  A few workers we spoke with said they didn’t know what would happen or that they weren’t transferring.  It was obvious the director had been crying and we saw tears on several other staff members’ faces.  What a sad day for them. But then I looked at all of the children.  Their already unstable lives were being turned upside down once again.

Saule didn’t know I had come till she entered the room. When she saw me she ran and jumped into my arms squeezing for all she was worth.

There isn’t one comfort I’ve left or one discomfort I now live with that I wouldn’t endure to keep moving forward – to keep persevering and patiently hoping and believing a door will open so J127 Ranch can open doors for these precious children.

Thank you all who have joined the community of people who are committed to ENGAGE with one another and the children in ways that ENRICH each of our lives so we are all EMPOWERED to be who we were uniquely created to be.

Trying on a new sweater I brought for her.
I can’t believe how fast the days are passing!.  I’m also amazed some days at the amount of work needed to make the vision a J127 Ranch reality.   But I am pleased to announce that thanks to much hard work from Cindy Lajoy and Kim Floyde at Aspenglow Services  the J127 Ranch website – www.kamkorzhurek.org is now live. 

Beth and I are humbled and thankful for all of you who are stepping forward to be part of the vision to engage, enrich and empower orphan children in the Taraz area of Kazakhstan.

One amazing couple has stepped forward and offered a Matching Grant.  They are offering $5000.00 each for Beth and me toward the $14,000.00 we each need to apply for permanent residency.  We are amazed and overwhelmed by this donor’s support and generosity.

There are several reasons why permanent residency is so important.  One of the major obstacles of staying long term in Kazakhstan is the Visa.  With permanent residency we will not need to continually re-apply for a new Visa.

In addition to the benefit of not needing to frequently leave the country to apply for a new visa, permanent residency offers us the ability to purchase and own property. Without property our J127 project is on hold.  With this gracious matching gift, we have the possibility of applying for permanent residency and of soon owning property. 
So, for all of you who feel called to be part of this vision, here is a great opportunity to jump start the whole project. Come help us to double this $10,000.00 grant. With your help, the $10,000 will become $20,000 towards the $28,000.00 we need for permanent residency. Your donation, in whatever amount, will be matched up to $10,000.

Please make sure to add a note that your donation is for the J127 Ranch – Matching Grant for Permanent Residency


You may mail a check or money order directly or use your Bank Online Bill Pay system.  Checks should be payable to   J127 Ranch / A.C.T. Intl and should include your name and address in order to receive a receipt. 

Send To: A.C.T. Intl
PO Box 1966
Brentwood, TN  37024-1966

Donate Online using your credit card by going to www.J127Ranch.org/donate.  A.C.T. Intl provide this option for your convenience, but please be advised that there is a 5% processing fee charged the J127 Ranch to cover the cost charged by the credit card companies.  

We are excited to see how all the ranch hands and wranglers are being brought together.   

Blessings and Joys to you each..
Victoria for the J127 Ranch Team

Be part of J127 Ranch to
  Engage, Enrich, Empower

the orphan children in the Taraz area of Kazakhstan 
Hello Everyone,
It has been a long while since I last wrote and so much has happened.

I turned 50 last June.  I’m now mid-way through life.  Wow.. How did that happened.  It seems like it has only just begun and in many ways it has.

A heart for children was build into me when I was formed.  I dreamed when I was a small child of living on a large farm with lots of animals and kids running around.  Now, my vision back then did have this farm in the rolling foot hills of Virginia.  

In 2000 I first traveled to Kazakhstan with Interlink Resource on a short term trip.  That is when I first fell in love with the children of Kazakhstan.  That trip took me an entirely different turn then I could have ever imagined and it has been a wild adventure since.  In 2009 I moved to Kazakhstan to live and work full time as the Youth Department Manager with Interlink.  I loved my job, the wonderful people I had the privilege to work with and absolutely loved working with the children.  

It didn’t take long to realize how much more needed to be provided for the children to give them a chance to build productive lives.  It is all about relationship build over time.  People who are committed to the long term process of teaching/mentoring and coaching these children.  They have nothing but mountains of “baggage” filled with pain, hurt, distrust, and stories no child should have to live through. They need a safe place to be loved, encouraged, some tough love with people who are committed for the long haul.

That first year way back in 2000 I knew the call on my life was to care, love and be a voice for these precious children of Kazakhstan.  Most of the children are not legally free for adoption and would never even have a chance to be adopted.  I am called to care for these children.  I dream and pray for each of the children to find their forever family, but am now moving forward with a vision that will  provide these children a place they can call home.

In December after much internal struggle I resigned from Interlink to pursue making this a reality.   It is a huge project and I knew this could not be accomplished alone.  It will take a large number of people being committed to it.

Beth Turnock and I spent many hours while we lived and worked together in Kazakhstan talking and planning for the ranch.  Beth too dreamed of a ranch since she was a young girl.   Beth was the Director of Operations for a large residential facility in Indiana before moving to Kazakhstan.  The last part of her 7 and a half years she was the Director in Kazakhstan.  The end of January 2012 she decided that the calling on her life was to be part of this vision too.  I am so thankful for her friendship, partnership and for the wealth of experience and knowledge she brings to this project.

One chapter has closed and a new chapter has begun or it may be the next book in a series.  Which ever is the case it is a God size project and will only be accomplished in HIS strength.

In February Beth and I went to Kazakhstan to pack our belongings up in the Interlink house and put into storage as well as share about this vision.  It was encouraging to have it be so well received.

We took time to drive to Karatau to visit sweet Saule who use to be at Ulan Orphanage but was moved after I left to a Boarding School for disabled children about an hour and half north of Taraz in the village of Karatau.   It had been snowing and was extremely cold during our time in Taraz.  But that day it dawned bright and sunny and off we headed north with a friend.   The first hour of the trip was uneventful as we drove mile after mile through barren snowy landscape.  It all changed dramatically when we rounded a bend in the road into full white out conditions with wind blowing the snow side ways.    The wind was blowing so hard it blew the car sending it sliding out of control.  Thankfully when it got to the side of the road the snow bank stopped the car from plummeting down the hill.   We thought about turning around at this point.  Then though the village was only another 30 min drive and more importantly a 7 year old young child was waiting for us to come visit her.  So we inched forward.  What should have been a 30 min drive turned into a 2 hour Epic Adventure with scares and detours around each bend through the mountain pass.  

Me walking in front of the car making sure the snow isn’t too deep.  

Saule and me after we arrived

If you would like to read the long version of this trip please email and I’ll gladly send it to you.  But the short version is we finally made it.  And one sweet small girl with a club foot and face disfiguration knew that she was loved enough to come a long way in a snow storm to see her.  The staff didn’t understand why anyone would go to so much trouble for an orphan child that they could see no value in.

I think the experience is going to be a great example to us as we move forward with this vision.   It is a huge project that is going to take lot of people being committed to the children as well as resources.  At times we will not be able to see two steps in front and will have to slowly – inching forward.  The sky will clear at times giving us a glimpse of the long winding road ahead then just a quickly clouds will fall low blocking the view.  We will have to persevere with patience and determination. Never forgetting who is waiting for us.  Saule had sat on a sofa from early morning till 3:00 pm waiting for us to arrive.   The children who have no one else are waiting for a place to call home.

The Vision
The Ranch will give hope to children who are no longer able to live with their family of origin.  The ranch provides a safe place and loving community for the orphans in Taraz, Kazakhstan and surrounding areas to call “home”.  At the Ranch children are surrounded by people who are committed to pouring into their broken lives as they heal and learn how to build productive lives knowing they are valued and uniquely created for a special purpose. More than just meeting needs like food, clothing and shelter, the children’s spiritual, emotional, medical and educational needs will also be addressed.  The goal will be to give children the solid foundation along with the vocational and spiritual preparations needed to fulfill the call on their lives.  Incorporated into each “home” will be a core set of family values with an emphasis on the arts and how the process of creating; whether through dance, drawing, painting, writing, singing, or any other creative endeavor can give insight into living life to the fullest and finding joy and a positive future.  

Stay tuned for how this adventure unfolds.  If you would like more information please feel free to email me at kazakhvictoria@gmail.com