lifenets

Loveness and some of her new equipment

Customer!

Last October 2008 when the shop was going up

Shop nearing completion

Loveness, James and little Harrison

LIPASI Mini Shop with proprietor Wordsworth Rashid on left

LifeNets Provides Water Chlorinator for Chizeni Clinic in Balaka

Posted September 2, 2009 ShareThis

In 2002 we learned about New Life International in Underwood, Indiana  (http://waterfortheworld.com). It is an organization that has provided an ingenious simple chlorination system that requires only their device, salt and a car battery to produce chlorine gas and provide chlorination capacity for large volumes of water in remote poor areas.

The Chlorinator is finally installed at the Chizeni Clinic in Balaka, Malawi on June 8, 2006

LifeNets needed something like this at the new clinic we were building in Balaka, Malawi. On April 14, 2002 my wife Beverly, my good friend Bill Jahns and I went down to Underwood to look at the device.  Bill was about to move to South Africa and I asked him if he would install it  when he got to Malawi.  He has an engineering background and is good with this kind of thing. 

We were shipping a 20 ton container to Malawi in June 2002 and this chlorinator went on it.  But, it would be four years until it was actually installed as a cistern and building for storage area had to be built.. 

In the images below you Bill Jahns and us in Underwood, Indiana and you can finally see him at the Chizeni Clinic in June 2006 installing the device.

During the rainy season rain water from the sheet metal roof goes into the 10 foot by 10 foot by 10 foot cube cistern.  From there it is pumped up into a tank.  After the tank it flows into a drum inside the clinic.  The water purification system is between the tank and drum. The last time we visited this site was on October 8, 2008.  I blogged our journey on TravelPod at http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/victorkubik/7/1223480220/tpod.html

www.lifenets.org

     History of the Project:

April 14, 2002 visit to New Life Life International in Underwood, Indiana.  Bill Jahns and Victor Kubik Duvon McGuire and Bill Jahns

Duvon McGuire (left) showing Bill Jahns and Beverly Kubik how the chlorinator works On location in Malawi

20 ton 40 foot container that carried the purifier and lots of other items to Malawi for us.  June 21, 2002
 Ambassador Bible Center students helped us load the container all day long

Blue barrel for collecting the purified water ready for drinking The water is stored in cistern which is an underground cube 10 feet by 10 feet by 10 feet

Dr. Chilopora in October 2006 by the chlorinator when Victor and Beverly Kubik visited During the rainy season rain water is collected from sheet metal roof on clinic Building where the chlorinator is housed.

The information below is from New Life International's Web site that explains how the process works. 

YouTube video from New Life International

Where we are in Malawi

 
During the rainy season rain water from the sheet metal roof goes into the 10 foot by 10 foot by 10 foot cube cistern.  From there it is pumped up into a tank.  After the tank it flows into a drum inside the clinic.  The water purification system is between the tank and drum. 

Posted July 30, 2009  ShareThis

In September 2008 we had a visit from our friends in Malawi.  She is well-known Rotarian and he is a member of Parliament and a noted business leader.

Their daughter attends De Pauw University in Greencastle, Indiana.  We have been their house guests at different times on our journeys to Malawi.

They were shipping a Hummer back to Malawi via container and told us that we could fill it full of humanitarian goods.  There would be no cost to us to ship them.  We shipped many many items that we have been collecting in our basement that have come from you:  eyeglasses, toys and blankets.  This was a wonderful opportunity to have these get to to people in need.   

I'll let Lewis Salawila, one of our LifeNets Malawi board members tell the story about their arrival and distribution:

Malawians Blessed with different items donated by Americans

by Lewis Salawila

On Tuesday, May 12, 2009 we n in Malawi were blessed upon receiving various types of items, eye glasses, blankets, and toys from America. Thank you.  

This came as a surprise, and yet a timely thing considering that it was cold season, the problem of eyes among them, especially elderly people and that most parents can not afford to buy toys for their  children. 

Most people in Malawi live day to day life with the problem of eyes hiding somewhere unnoticed, and yet thousands are suffering. 

A lot of people with eyes problems cannot afford to buy glasses from the private and even government hospitals simply because they are very expensive. One eye glass can cost MK15,000.00 (USD 107.00). 

A total of about 20 people in Blantyre received eye glasses and 40 were sent to Lilongwe. Dr. Chilopora, who also is running a LifeNets funded Clinic in Balaka district advised recipients to know the status of their eyes before putting them into use by going for testing.  Other eyeglasses are being kept for future use in case of damage. 

When the time came for the children to receive their items, smiles were everywhere. They received white shirts, white blouses and also toys. In Malawi where most people live by less than a dollar a day it is difficult to buy clothes and for a toy it’s a thing that they can not afford. 

Remember "to give is the greatest of all". And this is a perfect example.

Wonder where eyeglasses you donate to LifeNets go?

Blankets received for families

Here's what the chair was reduced to four years before LifeNets repaired it

 

Final tweaking

Look at her GO!

Here's how Merekina got by for four years before the chair was repaired.

CHANGE FOR CHANGE 

For Lifenets Vinogradov, Ukraine Street Children Program 

Posted June 25, 2009

•    The Story about our Vinogradov Project since 2001

•    Back to Pugent Sound Chapter page

•    LifeNets Home

In January the Seattle congregation of the United Church of God started a program to encourage its children to support LifeNets’ Street Children program in Vinogradov, Ukraine.  For $25, the soup kitchen provides clothing, food and personal items each month for a child.  Many of these children come from abusive and alcoholic situations.  The Street Children program cares for about 30 children.  In addition to physical needs, the children are given love, care and training. 

LifeNets Puget Sound member Larry Hardison decorated a large jar, which is set out every week for congregation members and their children to donate their spare change.  The goal was to raise at least $25 a month.  Every time $25 is reached, another marker goes up.  So far, donations have been collected to help a total of seven children – beyond the goal of collecting enough to help at least one child a month.  Members are able to teach their children about giving and showing compassion for other children who may not have the opportunities or care they have.

-- Catherine Brumbaugh

Hunter Williams with sister Gloria helping collect change for children in Vinogradov

 

 

ShareThis
Seattle’s ABC Affiliate KOMO News 4’s (www.komonews.com) Problem Solver’s program helped a Tacoma man obtain another wheelchair – see story.  In response to the story, several people volunteered a wheelchair, including LifeNets.  A deluxe model was chosen and given to Andrew Hagan Monday, the day after KOMO aired the story which was May 11, 2009.. 

Unfortunately, it turned out that new chair too heavy and not easily collapsed so it could be put into his Mother ‘s car when she picked him up from his classes. 

A couple of days later, KOMO’s Jennifer Austin called Catherine Brumbaugh, LifeNets Puget Sound member, who had called after seeing the program but could not obtain a chair that Monday. 

Working with Alix Kubik, LifeNets wheelchair program coordinator, a chair was located in the Seattle area, picked up in north Seattle and taken south to an arranged meeting with Ms. Hagan and her son Andrew.  Ms. Hagan was very happy to have a lighter weight model that was easy to fold and store in her car’s trunk. 

KOMO added information about LifeNets to its website story about the Hagans.

-- Catherine Brumbaugh, LifeNets Puget Sound Chapter

From KOMO-TV -- Stranger's kindness refuels man's mobility

May 11, 2009

TACOMA, Wash. -- A local man has gained a new sense of freedom thanks to the generosity of another.

Andrew Hagan lost his wheelchair last week when his mother's car was stolen from the parking garage at the Emerald Queen Casino in Fife. The wheelchair was in the trunk.

Hagan suffers from cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and a heart condition. And without a wheelchair to use to get around, his mom has had to help him walk everywhere.

"It was a lot harder than usual," said mother, Cheri Hagan.

But now, Andrew says he feels "real good," thanks to a stranger who made a heart-warming donation after seeing a KOMO News report on Sunday night. Patrick O'Keefe of Everett gave Andrew a nearly-new $8,000 wheelchair.

"Yes, it's something the young man can use," O'Keefe said. "It makes me feel great."

Both Andrew and Cheri Hagan were thrilled to be given a new wheelchair, which happens to also recline.

Meantime, the Puyallup Tribal Police are investigating this case.

If you have a wheelchair to donate or are in need of a wheelchair, contact LifeNets International, a nonprofit group.

Some time back a large family in Illinois underwent extreme hardship. Their living conditions were unfit.  Serious fixing up was necessary. 

A donor stepped up at a most opportune time to help provide financing for lumber, paint and other building materials. With Church work parties and everyone's involvement an extreme makeover was made as you can see in the photos below. 

The family has moved into the house, and are pretty well along in fixing it up. There is still some trim work to be completed and cabinets to be installed, but it really is a nice, cozy home.  This summer they plan to add on another bedroom.  

The whole family really appreciates the assistance from LifeNets, the Church, both financially and (especially) for everyone's help to pitch in and work on the roof, interior, windows, etc. It has made quite a difference in the family.  The kids really have a sense of ownership and wanting to take care of their home.

What the home is like NOW!

What the home was like before:

Update on Ivan Sobolev of Chernihev, Ukraine

Graduation Day

• See earlier story and background  ShareThis

• See Chernobyl section

Posted December 26, 2008, written August 18, 2008

Greetings, honored, Victor Kubik 

As to a good angel of our family, we would like to tell you about our success and achievements. Excuse us for our long silence.  I was at the sanitarium and there was no Internet there.  

This year at the sanitarium I defended my bachelor’s diploma. The examination committee came to see me.  Even though I was studying through distance learning, the defense of my degree had to be in person. We were in a very encouraged state of mind, since I defended my thesis “Business Project - Computer Club".  My work was evaluated as “excellent” and was also noted as a good analysis with a viable proposal. 

This has been a great morale booster in our lives. I am now considering my possibilities to furthering my education in a distance learning format.  

From the physical side, there is encouraging new. My hands are more confident and I have a greater scope of movement. This is amazing since these are movements that have developed naturally.  I have been able to sit easily in bed, move to the side, rise on my elbows and lean over.  And then understand that this is a very new development. I wasn’t able to do this. The statement “Movement is LIFE.”  And the RIGHT movements make for a healthy life!  

We are convinced that that only God’s Will and lots of rehabilitation work will yield good results.  

In the sanitarium we have met many people. Everyone has his life and his trial that has strapped them to their bed. And, yet we see God’s mercy in that He has sent people like you.  We are beyond words to express this in proper words for the constant concern that we feel. 

Let God give you health and strength, patience and endurance in your work.  

With great respect,  

Sobolev Family and Ivan

Ivan would be very happy to hear from you.

His email is jansan@ukr.net

     Ivan Sobolev
     Koroleva street 14а, apart. 19
     Chernigov
     Ukraine 14034

Below are photos of the Graduation Ceremony When Ivan Received his Degree