sometimes a great notion

Dear Friends,

Sometimes a thing happens and you know when you are doing it and when it is over, you have done such a thing that has made you in your own mind, a hero. Over the years, stories can get bent and stretched and pulled to be grander, the characters more resolute and indomitable, danger heightened. One day I will write about in detail, But the simple facts are:

-Early in December three children, Andre, Olya and Anya ran away from The Way Home.

-There were phone calls and rumors, but no one really knew for certain where they went.

-On Jan 9th, Andre returned.

-At 11pm that night, Alla, a psychologist who works with me, the boy, Andrea and I, took an all night train to a city called Venitsya. Arriving before daybreak, we traveled by a bus to a remote village outside the city at six in the morning in the dark with tiny snow flakes falling, we knocked on the door of an old cottage about the size of your living room. Along with several cats, a man and a woman, an ancient stove and metal sink, we found the two girls, Olya and Anya. I know it was their choice to run away and they wouldn't say it, but they were glad to see us. We took the train and brought them home.

Total cost of trains and food at café's and grocery stores and taxis $128

Total time taken: 19 hours and 30 minutes

Feeling of satisfaction: priceless



I need good used digital cameras and laptop computers (mac or pc). These are the kinds of things I don't need to buy new, if you have any to donate, please write to me.
Madeleine Barab from DC and also Eckerd College just finished about three weeks volunteering with us... and flew home. Here's a candlelight photo and one with Ann who is from Odessa and works with me.
Many of you have asked about my time with NBC… they have been to Ukraine twice now to film. I have an appointment with Ann Curry for Monday, Feb 9th but she's a busy lady. I'm thrilled to be working with these folks, they are busy professionals but with heartfelt interest. While Im in New York , I will be attending Leslie Hawke's fundraising event and visiting the church my mother grew up in, Madison Ave Presbyterian Church. I didn't learn till a few months ago that I was named Robert, by my parents, after Mr Robert Lewis who was the church administrator at Madison Ave many years ago.







Yesterday I arrived back in the states and plan to be in:

Asheville NC till Wednesday jan 27

Florida first two weeks of Feb

New York feb 7-9

Back to Florida

Atlanta for day

Portland Oregon feb 14-19

Memphis area maybe feb 20-22

Then Atlanta and North Carolina, feb 23-26

Virginia and Maryland, Feb 27-early march

Back to North Carolina till march 16 when I fly back to Ukraine.

Grace and peace,

Robert Gamble

--
--
We do not Believe in
Ourselves until someone
Reveals that deep inside us
Something is valuable,
Worth listening to, worthy
Of our touch, sacred to our touch.
Once we believe in ourselves we can
Risk curiosity, wonder, Spontaneous
Delight, or any experience that reveals
The human spirit.

e.e. cummings

Dr. Robert Gamble, D.Min. Th.M.
www.thischildhere.org
cell in states 828 301 7104
in Ukraine +380636117928

If you are interested in donating, visit: www.thischildhere.org

You can scroll down the page and click on donate. If you don't have or want a PayPal account click on "continue" for "Dont have a PayPal account?" It will take you to a page to enter credit card info.

or you can mail a check to This Child Here, 245 Seaview Ave. Daytona Beach, Fl 32118.

Either way, I would like to thank you, so send an email to me. robertgam@gmail.com

My address in Ukraine:
This Child Here,
C/O Doroga K Domy (The Way Home)
Str. Sofievskaya 10
Odessa, 65082,
Ukraine