Canning project is completed!

A phone call to Kyrgyzstan gave me the information I was seeking:  the canning project has been completed.  Friday, October 15 was the final day.  Each week day, for more than two months, 20 – 30 Uzbek women, whose homes had burned, arrived each morning at a secluded location and were shown crates and bags of produce.  The task for the day:  convert raw produce into cans of salads, pickles and jams to be tucked away for winter weather. 

In all, over 1,300 women were able to come and altogether they preserved more than 40,000 liters of canned goods;  on average, more than 30 liters per woman.  It was our goal that not only would they take away food for the winter months, but also a dose of hope.   We are so grateful that the project proceeded undisturbed, that no local authorities interfered or were able to stop the work.  Though we were on location at the start of the program, we had to leave after a few short weeks and those who carried on, daily showing up, rolling up their sleeves and hanging out with the women, need to be commended.

The clothing distribution continued nearly to the end (but eventually, even 10 tons of clothes runs out!) and tushaks (long sleeping/sitting pads) were given to about half of the homes.  Additionally, funds were donated to give each woman a length of fabric to sew herself the traditional Uzbek garment. 

I know each time I open a can of food this winter, I will remember the brave women of Osh, Kyrgyzstan, who have faced tragedy and survived.  I hope you will, too.

Undiscovered Actress

Every country and ethnic group has its ‘characters,’ people who were born with extraordinary abilities and personalities.  For most, they are never ‘discovered’ by the right person or interest group so they never achieve much beyond what one might term a ‘normal life.’

One day in Osh, we approached a burned mahalla for the first time.  As though they were waiting, a group of women ran toward us, competing for our attention.  Elaine and Sue got pulled (literally!) into a hovli of an older Uzbek woman.  She clung to us and listed her grievances;  ‘Look, my house was burned, all my furniture stolen, my plates were broken and scattered.  See, here (pointing at a meager pile) is all that we found.’  All the time, she was weeping copiously, but then I noticed something curious;  while she thought we weren’t looking, she would squeeze her tear-stained eyes open and glance at us to see if we were noticing. In other words, were we going to be moved by her story and offer her assistance?  I (Sue) thought she was trying to manipulate us and reacted by starting to attempt an exit!  Her neighbor seemed to sense my discomfort and briskly took us to her hovli. 

However, later, because of our developing friendship with the second woman, we returned to that street a few times and during the course of our visits, came to realize that our ‘actress’ was just that, someone gifted with the extraordinary talent of an actress!  We realized she was always the life of the party…. making and bringing food, laughter, and joking into the midst of everything.   We grew to love and appreciate her deeply.  She was such a ray of sunshine in a dark situation. 

On the day that she and her neighbors came to the canning project, she was one impressive worker.  She is 72 years old.  She’s obviously suffered much in her life.  On that particular day, she was fasting. Yet, she put woman 50 years younger to shame with her energy, hard work and encouragement.  She smiled constantly, worked tirelessly and talked seamlessly.  As Elaine said to me, ‘Ayam, u juda ham sho’x.’   (Mom, she’s very mischievous and upbeat.)  And she meant it as a compliment.  Even now, many weeks later, I can’t think of her without a silly, happy grin plastered across my face.  Oh, what Hollywood missed by not discovering her….but then, in my opinion, she’s beyond Hollywood!  

Good News!

After many days of wondering, I (Sue) finally phoned our friends in Osh to learn if the canning project was successfully continuing. 

Good news – it is!  These days, they are inviting 30 ladies a day in order to maximize the few weeks remaining of harvest season.  Now that Ramazan (the month of fasting) is over, the women can work a bit more efficiently. 

The women continue to appreciate the chance to hang out in a beautiful place, do something productive and have something to smile about.  We love those gold-toothed smiles!  In addition to the second-hand clothing, funding has been found so that bolts of fabric can be purchased and each woman is given an appropriate length to sew herself a dress.  For a time, reading glasses were also being distributed and as soon as additional resources are located, that project will continue. 

Thanks to those of you who have supported this project with your finances.  The Uzbeks of Osh and the other affected areas thank you.