In reply to Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) :
Still no word from Ira, but I haven't checked in on her in a while either. I might need to do that come the new year.
any problem 
i'll text and ask her if she needs anything delivered from Ukraine 
For Baby Clothes, etc. We do have one box on the way
Adopt a medic. We got our snow suits in
Stuffie delivery: We got our box and it's been added to our collection of toys (see below)
All of this is GREAT!!! and i like this picture 
In reply to VikkiDp :
I added a bit more to the pile today. It's still small, but it's getting bigger 
Also, I got some work done on the truck today. I got the rear axle back in, new shoes put in the drum, got everything adjusted/bled, and even drove it in to work!
The video I shot as part of my effort to up my social media game. There are 94 people following the facebook page now, and 142 following the instagram page. I'm hoping this larger audience translates into a fuller truck when it comes time for our runs. Fingers crossed and all that
Cheers guys!
Guess what arrived at the office this week? A wonderful note from Bill thanking everyone for their support here: "People are sleeping easier in the night... families safely took refuge because of your forum members." It came complete with some posters from Mayor Kozma as a token of his appreciation, as well as a nice little stack of extra cool stickers featuring Bill's Budapest-to-Bamako 4Runner.
I am happy to share the bounty with you guys here. I have 2 extra posters (want to keep one to frame), and 20 stickers after I distribute them to people here. PM me with your address and I'll put your choice of a poster and/or sticker in the mail, at least until they run out.
Thanks, Bill, for being awesome.
Margie
In reply to Marjorie Suddard :
Bill is indeed awesome. So is Vikki. I'm glad to know them.
Oh man, I hereby nominate Hungary for the "Slowest Post Ever!"
I'm so glad those made it to you, I was long beyond beginning to get worried. I hope they all find good homes!
And Margie, we couldn't have done it without all of the amazing people you've attracted under this wonderful environment you've fostered. Thank you.
Vikki,
After a long look at your picture. Kept thinking why do you look so familiar. Then I grabbed a mirror we have the same eyes and nose.
That is all, carry on and Thank you!
Hi everyone!!!
I got them!!! i got them - the prizes for the December Xmas run's raffle 
So what we have?
The first one (ha, of course!!!) - set of a sheet of stamps, an envelope and a postcard "Weapon of Victory. The World with Ukraine"
The second one - these patches!!!
Each of these ones will be send directly from Ukraine, directly from Dnipro and (ha, of course!!!) directly from Vikki
Thank you all for your support!!!
akylekoz said:Vikki,
After a long look at your picture. Kept thinking why do you look so familiar. Then I grabbed a mirror we have the same eyes and nose.
That is all, carry on and Thank you!
Hello, my brother
Thanks!!!
In reply to VikkiDp :
I love that patch!!!
Ok guys, just a few updates from the week. First is, I got that rear axle put back together just in time! This is how our weather has been:
Second up, is there's been a small bump in our treasure trove:
Mrs. Hungary and I are very much "passively shopping" at this point. We have the lists with us, but are grabbing things as we see them. Tomorrow starts our first dedicated shopping trip, and we have high hopes!
Next up: WE GOT THE SHOES!!!!!!!
Yo, these shoes are sharp in a way I can't even describe! Like, they are WAY nicer than anything I'd buy to put on my own feet! I really wanted to take them out of the box and give them a look, but more than that I wanted them to be as untouched as possible when Danil opens them. This kids eyes are going to pop right out of his skull!!!!!
I really wish I could be there when he opens these.
And speaking of treasure troves, we're getting a nice bump in donations as I'm typing this. We were at $750 on monday and almost overnight we're up to $1600!!!!!
https://gofund.me/b4b80913
Merry Christmas everyone!
Hi everyone!!!
It’s getting cold outside and it’s snowing a little bit, but it feels so good and warm somewhere deep into my heart – all the kids’ wishes have sent to our brave Santa and the pile of Xmas gifts for the kids is getting bigger and bigger… These feelings take me back to our last trip.
Let’s continue about the August run
Never give up!!!
Time goes by very fast – I’d say crazy fast.
It was already August 17th what means the meeting day is TOMORROW!!! By that time the desk lamps, the cookies and the sweets had ordered, paid for and waiting for us at the Nova post office #64 in Dnipro (mmm… well, almost all this stuff…).
The problem was with the UV lamps for the prenatal center… I contacted the vendor a few days before to make sure the number and the type of the UV lamps we needed were in stock (they were!!!) and I asked him to set them aside for us.
Bill and Sarah were already on their way to Dnipro… and I haven’t gotten the money transfer to pay for these damn UV lamps yet.
Ohhh, what can I do? How can I solve this problem? Mmmm… well, I could have done nothing and the UV lamps would have been delivered a little later right to the prenatal center, buuttt… then they would have been delivered without us!!! But I really wanted us (Bill, Sarah and me) to bring all this stuff to the prenatal center together – I thought it’s important for us and all who help with these things. So I’ve decided to solve this problem no matter what!!!
I text the vendors: could I pay for the lamps upon receipt? And is it possible to send them today to have them in Dnipro tomorrow?
He replied: such payment is possible, although we don’t usually do it this way, but they’ll be shipped just tomorrow. The courier has already picked up everything for delivery.
Oooo, noooo!!! Is that the end? No chance? I’m completely upset…
No, no and nooo!!! Let’s try again!!! I’m asking the vendor to help me – is there anything we can do? Please!!! Please!!! Pleasseee!!!(I’m practically begging him) – ok, he answered, if you find a truck from Nova post (in Kyiv, aha!!!) to come and pick up those lamp – no problem, but the warehouse and workers work until 17.00 and it should be resolved by then.
Mmmm… okay… the next round… I can do it!!!
With really shaky hands I call the Nova post support – explaining the situation as it is urgent and much needed and asking for help. After a long conversation, everything seems to be succeeding – I’m making a delivery request!!! Mentally crossing my fingers and toes at the same time for success and hanging up the phone. Ooofff, now all I can do is wait.
I didn’t even have time to put down the hand I was holding the phone in – it rang again!!!
Hmmm, who is it? Looking at the screen – it’s Bill!!! Wowww!!! Ooofff!!! Switching to English!!!
O, man, I’m glad to hear you!!!
He and Sarah are already at the border and they have some problems.
Oooo, what a crazy day??? Please stop, it’s enough!!!
It seems like everything to be getting better and someone helped Bill and Sarah to get through customs (thank you, wonderful man!!!). A little later Bill called again – we’re in Ukraine!!! And I’m so happy to hear that!!!
I had gotten pics from the vendors a few minutes before – the UV lamps loaded into the Nova post truck!!! Ooo, Yesss!!! Succsess!!! (spoiler – mmm… well, almost, ha-ha-ha!!!) but I’ll know it just tomorrow – this is not the end of the adventures with these damn lamps.
But right now everything is good – Bill and Sarah are on their way to Dnipro, the UV lamps are too, I took a day off work for tomorrow.
I breathed a sigh of relief and look forward to meeting to Bill and Sarah tomorrow.
The main conclusion of this day is - Never give up!!! Everything is possible!!! Especially when you're around wonderful people!!!
mmm... well, and you're not a bad person yourself
In reply to VikkiDp :
Wow!!!! Thinking back, it's insane how many pieces are in play when we do all this (and how fast and coordinated they all need to move or nothing works). I was really wondering how you pulled that one off. I know Novaposht is magic and all, but they still need to follow the laws of physics!
Well done!
Happy Monday, everyone!
So a bit of a comparison between last year and this year. Here's a photo from last year at this time:
And here's a photo from yesterday:
We're about 3/4 done with our shopping and of course I am in FULL panic as only 75% of the stuff I wanted to get done to the truck actually got done and I'm going to need ALL the time to get gifts in time, but here we go!
Wish us luck!
Okay, monday update:
Alrighty everyone! We got some good funds coming in to Vikki's Mothers and Babies fund! This will be transferred on January 1 and will be a GREAT way to kick the new year off!
GoFundMe is closed and as you saw, we are buying gifts! We had an amazing rally there at the end and raised $2000 for the children of Dnipro. I'm very happy to report that things are going MUCH smoother this year, and we're MUCH better at getting the kids ALL the gifts they wrote on their wishlist. Anything left over is going to be sent to an orphanage in the area, so hopefully they can treat their kids to a nice christmas holiday
Ira's Art and School Supplies: Ira contacted me this morning and is hoping the stars will align. She still needs those books and said that she was going to try to get them to me in Ukraine for transport back to Budapest. Fingers crossed!
Adopt A Medic: IMPORTANT! The guys on the Blue Website 100% missed the Christmas donation drive as the fundraiser didn't get pinned by the admins until after the donations were closed. They asked if it was too late, and I suggested Dr. Julia's fund in January. They LOVED the idea. So in January I will be re-opening a fundraiser for our very own adopted medic and hopefully we can get her some much needed medical supplies (or cold weather gear, or ANYTHING she needs). Keep your eyes open and mark your calendars
And Last: Stuffie delivery. We do have a box, and I do have it with the toys. We also have the box of clothes coming in, and I'm hoping that will arrive tomorrow. Mail at that location only arrives on Tuesdays, so it's our last chance before I drive in. HOWEVER! I wouldn't dream of keeping a mother waiting in the cold with her child. If it doesn't make it in time, there is a Novaposht office in Budapest that has just opened and I am DYING to see how fast they can get packages into country. If I can't drive it in, then I know Novaposht can (of course, I'll pay and we'll STILL save a TON on shipping).
Good times, guys.
Currently Open:
Vikki's "Mothers and Children" (Monthly Sustainment): paypal@gmail address (Hungarian Forint)
Julia, our "adopted" medic: Early donations for our January drive can be sent to our Yahoo paypal address
P.O. Box address available for any parties interested in shipping items directly to me in Hungary (PM for address)
Currently being worked on:
I've removed the links to the Hospitallers Amazon wishlists due to ongoing issues on their end. They can not seem to deliver what we need to neither my current address nor my PO box.
If the Amazon.com situation changes, I'll repost the lists here.
Rebeka M. Collection is ongoing. When I set up the PO box locally, it was to give her a private address for her supporters to send small items to. I could then collect those items into a larger delivery and send them to her all at once. I have her post details in Ukraine and still plan to keep this open. She has my address and knows that it is open for her to use. In the event that I do receive something for her, I will still make good on the promise to deliver but am otherwise considering her to have moved on to other things.
Currently Closed:
Hospitallers Battalion/Rebekah M: Contact lost, and I was unable to reestablish. Effort moved to Julia
Kisgorbo Refugee Shelter: Warm wishes to all who took refuge. May you all find peace and prosperity wherever you are.
Social media accounts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/510575651154518
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dniproexpress/
Thank you everyone!
And in the world of Geopolitics (mostly for historical reference if anyone reads this in the future), Hungary has now joined Slovakia and Poland in their trucker strike. Semi-trucks are blocking the main border crossings into Ukraine.
As the news comes in I hear varying reports of what's being allowed through. Hungary is a complete blockade, Slovakia is allowing food, live animals, military aid, and humanitarian aid in, and Poland is just plain fuzzy, but I think Humanitarian aid is allowed.
I won't risk a mountain run through Hungary or Slovakia to get to Dnipro, so we're taking a hard look at Poland. Luckily for us, we actually have a fair deal of experience under our belts this time and have multiple crossings in mind where truckers are not reported to be in attendance. None of them are ideal, but we're at least sure of our ability to drive around the issue (have 4wd, will travel!)
Unfortunately, that doesn't do much to help the people who are waiting on literal thousands of trucks to get into country 
Matthewmcl:
We got your box today!!
I haven't opened it yet, but it's here and will make the run!
Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) said:Matthewmcl:
We got your box today!!
I haven't opened it yet, but it's here and will make the run!
Awww, guys, that's AWESOME!!! thank you all!!!
Matthew, you're amazing!!! thank you so much!!!
In reply to Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) :
Wooot!
Hi everyone!!!
Some news from the other side of the border the work is continuing in the all directions
Moms and kids fund
I bought meds for Sergei - he still needs to take pills and it's just a small part of them he takes every day
The second one - we have a birthday boy again - one of our babies turned a year old last week!!!
I think it's a good tradition to congratulate the babies on their first anniversary
The gift already delivered. So i'm waiting for pictures of the happy baby boy - i hope he likes it 
What boys can resist cars? mmm...
Medic fund
We bought 14ea more tourniquets and dr.Julia already got them Pics will be coming soon
Thank you everyone who support and help us!!!
Sorry guys, but there's a little sad news 
I don't often write about the war and what's going on, but sometimes something happens.... oofff, it's really too hard
I found out yesterday that the dad of one of the kid on our help list is seriously injured - of those the people around him, he was the only one who survived. He is serving in the UA army since this summer. His oldest son(and older brother our kid) has been serving since the war beginning - he's a med student (he served as a medic), he was wounded too, and he's in rehab now.
It's impossible to get used to the insanity that is going on and when it happens to people you know... it's completely insane.
I saw and talked to this mom today and offered our help and support if she needs anything. 
In reply to VikkiDp :
We bought 14ea more tourniquets and dr.Julia already got them
Dr.Julia asked me to tell you all HUGE thanks!!!
Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) said:Matthewmcl:
We got your box today!!
I haven't opened it yet, but it's here and will make the run!
Check it out, guys! I don't know what sort of tape Matthewmcl used but I can promise you it was put to the test with this one. The box was literally bursting at the seams!!!
Here's what was inside:
This is going to do one little child so much good this winter. I really can not wait to deliver it with her christmas gift.
Thank you, Matthewmcl!!!!
Did anyone see the latest issue of GRM?
One quick correction: I do believe you guys HAVE to be in the tens of thousands of dollars by now. Most probably in cash, and if not then definitely in effort and goods delivered. Thank you all for keeping this going as long as you have. The amount of good it's doing on the other end can not be overstated.
I really do hope your holiday season this year is 100% just as wonderful as you've made it for the people on the receiving end of these gifts.
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