Humanitarian--Ukraine--Ronald McDonald House Charities TWO NEW ROOMS!

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities in funding to construct two new rooms in children's hospitals in two Ukrainian cities, one in Dnipro and one in Rivne. These rooms will target families traveling from distant locations for medical care​. Each room is estimated to serve 11,000 individuals per year​. 

RMHC has partnered with the furniture store JYSK, who will provided the furnishings for these rooms, and they have secured funding for ongoing operational costs​.

Ronald McDonald House Charities is an international NGO whose mission is to provide support to families of sick children who are receiving medical care away from home​. RMHC operates in 65 countries around the world and, since 1974, has served millions of people globally. RMHC currently operates in Ukraine but with 28 hospitals on their waiting list, there is a shortage of family housing in the country.

Humanitarian---Red Cross of Lithuania

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated medicine, including prescription medicine, to the Red Cross in Lithuania. The Red Cross loaded a truck and delivered 23 pallets of medicine to Ukraine. The medicine arrived at the Red Cross in 3 locations; Sumy, Liman, and Lviv. 

The goal of the Red Cross is to have a constant supply for medical supplies and medicines for Ukraine.

Missionaries in Vilnius, Lithuania

Castle: The complex consisted of three castles: the Upper, the Lower, and the Crooked. The Crooked Castle was burned down by the Teutonic Knights in 1390 and was never rebuilt. The Vilnius Castles were attacked several times by the Teutonic Order after 1390, but they did not succeed in taking the entire complex. Its complete capture occurred for the first time during the1655 Battle of Vilnius. Soon afterwards, the severely damaged castles lost their importance, and many buildings were abandoned. During the Tsarist annexation, several historic buildings were demolished; many more were damaged during the fortress construction in the 19th century.

Gate of Dawn: 

It was built between 1503 and 1522 as a part of defensive fortifications for the city of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. It has also been known as the Medininkai Gate, Of ten city gates, only the Gate of Dawn remains, while the others were destroyed by the order of the government at the end of the 18th century.

 

Humanitarian--Estonia, Red Cross Helping with Refugees

The Estonia Government is leasing the Isabelle Cruise line from the company Tallink. This Cruise line is docked in the Tallinn harbor. It is a home to 1,600 refugees from Ukraine and Russia. 

There is a nurse's station on the ship. Those who are sick and need medical attention visit the nurse. She/He will assess the situation and prescribe medicines for the patients. 

The patient then goes to the Red Cross Pharmacy on board the ship.

The nurse's office is open 5 days a week and serves about 20 patients per day.

The Estonian Red Cross then fills the prescriptions. These medicines are over the counter medication. They are given only what they need.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has provided medicines for this pharmacy. 

The pharmacy is open 1 day a week, but hopes to open for more days.

Challenges at the start of the Ukraine/Russian crisis:

For the first 2 months after February 24, 2022 the refugees had influenza and diarrhea. All the refugees either had COVID vaccinations or received them when they entered the ships. 

Some of the refugees sought shelter in local hotels, but as the summer tourist season started, they either moved on or they are residences on "the Isabelle." 

As of July, the ship is calm. The children were able to enroll in the Public School system for their education from February to June.

The rooms are small but adequate. The refugees store their luggage in the gated shops.

There is a place by the entrance for strollers and bikes. There are several locked up stores that are housing food storage. 

There is a cafeteria.

The children have lounges and cafeteria places to go to play games, socialize, and group activities.

There is an information desk with 2 assistances for those need help. 

There are many volunteers helping in different capacities to make this transition as smooth as possible.

The government is trying to find apartments so the ship can be used for the tourist season. Apartments are hard to come by in Estonia so it makes the refugees a little uneasy with what is going to happen to them in the future. 

The people living on the ship can come and go as they like with their own special card. Outsiders have to have special permission to enter the ship. There is a security check point. There are regular busses that stop at the harbor to take the people into the city. 

The harbor is within walking distance to Old Tallinn and malls.  

The nurses are now concerned about the coming of fall and the sicknesses that follow. 

The Estonian Red Cross would like to have a good supply of medicines and vaccines available.

PHOTO: Elder and Sister Blau, Head of Pharmacy on ship, 2 representatives from Estonia RED CROSS

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

1894–1900, when the country was part of the Russian Empire. The cathedral is Tallinn's largest orthodox church. It is dedicated to the grand prince of Kiev, and later Saint Alexander Nevsky who in 1242 won the Battle of the Ice on Lake Peipus, near the present-day border between Estonia and Russia.  The cathedral was built in the 19th century and was so disliked by the Estonians as a symbol of oppression that the Estonian authorities scheduled it to be demolished in 1924, but was never implemented because of lack of funds and because of the massive construction.