Dan and Pris Gollan

SCORES ANOTHER RUN (AND A FREE ADD FOR FACEBOOK)

Last week I notched up another run on the score board of life. 37 to be exact. Thanks to facebook I had more birthday greetings than I could possibly imagine. You could argue that it doesn’t count because it’s too easy – but the truth is – it made me feel really special.

Some people asked me if I would take the day off work or if I had special plans. I replied that for me it’s just another day. But I underestimated the power of words and deeds of kindness and encouragement. Topping that off with dinner at Ruth and Jon’s – it was a great day.

Firstly, thanks for helping make it special, secondly – let us not underestimate the power of random acts of kindness – and keep on doing them.

UTSIM

Last week was a four day working week due to Women’s Day. The weeks seem to be flying along. There is a lot to get done before the end of the academic year.

This week I am heading to Chernihiv on Wednesday. Zhenya is covering my classes for me. I will be looking at some English clubs, offices for rent, and maybe speaking with Education heads for the area. Please pray that the day is profitable and we will have a clear idea whether or not UTSIM should expand in that direction next year. Pray that I have the wisdom in speaking to the right people and asking the right questions.

Please pray for our students. A number have been sick recently and the economic down turn has also affected a few students.

Thank God for two great weeks so far with kids in a fun English club we are running in Kaharlyk on Saturday mornings. Micah, Christy and Josie are doing a great job there.

BITS AND PIECES

Last night the women at church did a great job running an international cafe for 33 women who came and had a good time and heard about and experienced God’s love for them. The boys/men from church were the waiters – and apart from the fact my shirt wasn’t ironed – I think we looked good and did a good job.

I keep going on about it – but this winter is really dragging on. It is still below zero most days and there is more snow to come according to the forecast. Longest winter in ages!

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Cafe for women – pray for the women of Rzh

UTSIM trip to Chernihiv

Great Birthday

Kid’s club in Kaharlyk

THANKS TO

Every single person who gave me a birthday greeting in one way or another – it was a special day.

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

When I was a kid I used to enjoy reading books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The most well known being Little House on the Prairie. I remember one of the books being called The Long Winter. That is what this winter has seemed like. As mentioned above, totally unrelated, but I received the following quote from Laura Ingalls Wilder and wanted to share it with you.

“Things and persons appear to us according to the light we throw upon them from our own minds. How unconsciously we judge others by the light that is within ourselves, condemning or approving them by our own conception of right and wrong, honour and dishonour! We show by our judgement just what the light within us is.”

Too often I feel that we judge people who are different from us because we are trying to justify our own differences or points of view. I want to focus on love. If we look at the practical definitions of love in 1 Corinthians 13 we see that it takes the focus off us. I know I live a very self focused life – I challenge myself and you to be more outward looking. Remember the old adage, JOY = Jesus first, Yourself last and Others in-between.

HOUSE WIFE FOR RENT

A while ago I watched the movie Julie and Julia. I’ve discovered how therapeutic cooking can be. On the odd occasion that I don’t eat up the road at Ruth and Jon’s, I’ve enjoyed trying to cook with a bit of creativity. Last week I decided to make bread. It came out perfectly. Nice fresh homemade bread – it rose so high it nearly hit the top of the oven. So today I tried again. Igor and I ate a slice of the rocks I produced. What went wrong? I don’t know. I used the same recipe, same ingredients. I tried to copy exactly the same methods as last time – but this time it all went pear shaped.

Life happens this way sometimes too. Sometimes it seems that we are totally in control and sometimes it doesn’t matter what we do – everything seems to turn out wrong. Problems and obstacles are actually a blessing from God. If I could do everything myself – then my results and successes would only be as good as me. If I am totally out of my depth, then I must rely on God – and the results and successes are as He determines – and the sky is the limit.

I think tomorrow I’ll bake a cake.

UTSIM

It’s hard to believe that we are less than three months away from completing our second year. Praise God. We have 79 students at last count. That is 79 bridges of opportunity to share the love of Jesus through our lives.

Our new replacement teacher, Zhenya, has fitted in like a glove and I am thankful to the way that God works things out. Sveta has made it back to NZ for a second year of music study and Simbo and Asia have had a baby girl all safe and sound and praising God.

This weekend we started a new initiative in Kaharlyk with an English club for kids. Micah and Christy and Josie from Arizona are leading this. I went along this week and it was great. Pray for the town of Kaharlyk and the opportunities there.

As the end of the school year draws closer we realise that the need to find a permanent home for UTSIM in Rzhyshchiv is becoming more and more pressing. Please pray for us to trust God but keep our eyes and ears open and to search diligently.

Thanks for praying for our students. Please continue to do this. Although our medium is English – we teach who we are. Teachers touch lives forever. Sometimes we have discipline issues or kids that are hard to motivate. Please pray as we work hard to manage a variety of situations that come our way daily.

LIFE OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS

WHEELS WORKING AGAIN!

Last week we had a couple of days of sunshine and plus 5 degrees. This gave me enough clean road to get my van off my hill and I now have it parked down at school. I got stuck in the ruts on the steep part of the hill and slowly slid down the hill with my front wheels on full lock – 90 degrees against the way I was going. We have now dropped down to temperatures below zero again and yesterday it snowed nearly all day so we have a nice thick covering of snow everywhere again. I’m still walking to work and trying not to slip over.

RPDs or MONTHLYs

I write every week. Once a month it’s a couple of pages (Monthly Update) and all the other weeks are RPDs (Read Pray Delete). I’m sorry if you received two in a row this month. If you want to change what you receive from me or update your email address, please let me know. I will not be offended if you no longer wish to receive correspondence. To all who pray and are interested in what God is doing here – I give you my appreciation.

WOMEN’S DAY

The 8th of March is International Women’s Day. That might not be a big deal Down Under, but here in Ukraine it is a public holiday. So thanks girls. I’m going to enjoy a four day week. Here in Ukraine it is expected that guys should give flowers and/or chocolates to the girls they know. I think that we should have an attitude that treats girls with utmost respect all year round. Our church is holding a special outreach for women this coming Saturday. They will have an International Cafe – and all the boys are coming along as waiters. Please pray for the women and girls of Rzhyshchiv who have been invited.

MERCY, GRACE, PATIENCE

In April I’ll be preaching at church about the mercy, grace and patience of God. Wow – what an awesome topic and yet so much to consider in one short sermon. I’m looking forward to directing my thoughts towards these topics over the next few weeks. If you have a favourite verse or passage you wish to share with me – I would welcome that.

Please continue to pray for V who has continued to come along to church and seems to be considering following Jesus and yet wavering on the brink of commitment.

WHAT YA READIN’?

Thank you Mr Tolkien. I have finished the fellowship of the ring and our now separated companies are adventuring through Middle Earth in the tale of The Two Towers.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Growth of UTSIM

The van is on the road again

Praise God for girls/women J

Preaching at church

Pray for V – to follow Jesus

THANKS

To my brother Tim for giving me remote assistance on my computer. Amazing!!

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

WHAT CONSUMES YOUR TIME?

I ask this question to you and me – but not in a sense of what you do – but what you think.

Last night I was at a party and wrote down something someone said to me

“If you judge people, you don’t have time to love them.”

Not a new concept, but spoken in a fresh way.

TIME

Both judgement and love start as thoughts. What consumes my thoughts? For my spiritual family and for all my neighbours. Do I harbour thoughts of judgement, and how that person could be better if . . . . or do I store up thoughts of love – thoughts that will most likely spur me towards deeds of mercy?

Don’t let your time this week be filled with thoughts of judgment.

UTSIM

I face UTSIM one week at a time. Sometimes I feel so busy that I eagerly await the weekend to have a mental and physical rest. This week was no exception – yet I enjoyed it more than others. The circumstances were not much different. It was my outlook – my perspective. Knowing that God has me in this place at this time for His purposes. Seeing Him working in me and in the staff and students around me. Anticipating with fear and yet a sense of exciting adventure what the next turn in the road will be.

Thank you for praying for the boy I asked you to pray for. I’ll call him D. Please continue to pray for D. We saw a noticeable improvement this week. He craves attention. Who knows what God has in store for him? We must faithfully plant into his life what we can.

Kaharlyk has raced past 20 students and I have to think about hiring a second room and a second teacher. I would like to wait until September to do this – but the potential is there. If God is pressing upon you to come and teach – please let me know soon. The documentation to get you here for a year is a long process.

There is also a very real possibility of opening a new a branch in a new centre in September. We will start exploring that option really soon. God has given us the privilege of entering into the lives of many families in Ukraine. It is also a responsibility – pray that we are faithful.

BITS AND PIECES

I’m trying to keep these RPDs short – so you can read quickly and pray intelligently. We are studying the attributes of God in home group. We have each been given one topic to study and then share. I was given the power of God (His Omnipotence). If you have a verse to share with me – please pass it along.

I haven’t used my van in over 2 months – but I’m hoping this week the temps will stay up and melt the thick ice off my road so I can drive it up the hill.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Love surpasses judgement

Little boy D, at UTSIM

UTSIM future in Kaharlyk and beyond

Friends – I am truly blessed

THANKS TO

No one person in particular, but the many people who surround my life and make it richer and fuller – thanks!

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

WHEN I BECOME MAYOR OF RZHYSHCHIV . . . .

Last week I wanted to start a survey of the top 5 things you will do if you become Mayor of Rzhyshchiv. So maybe all Rzh readers (both of you) can give me your responses.

1. Round up stray dogs
2. Turn on the streetlights at night
3. Scrape the snow and ice off the road
4. Cable internet
5. Rubbish collection

So where does this come from? Occasionally something (usually small) annoys me enough that I have a spout off about it. Usually Ruth and Jon are the recipients of my bursts of indignation. I guess it happened again this week as I got splashed by a passing truck walking home on a dark unlit street, and I couldn’t get out of the way in time because of the metre high wall of snow and ice in the way.

Isn’t it amazing how things of no eternal value whatsoever take up my energies. I listened to a sermon today by Bill Newman. Bill is so fired up about evangelism it almost seems too much for most Christians to handle. But his passion reminded me again how I far too regularly focus my energies on lesser things and forget to be ignited by the things that are important – loving God and loving people.

UTSIM

Please pray for a little boy who is proving to be a handful. God knows why He has chosen this boy to study with us. May he be a good student of English, a nice boy to his friends and teachers and may he grow up to live as one made in the image of God.

Kaharlyk has quickly risen from 5 – 17 students and we expect more. Pray for Lyena whose work load has tripled.

Another prospective teacher is coming to check out UTSIM this week. There are so many decisions to make regarding employees, premises, work contracts, rates of pay, fees and schedules etc. Please pray that I will be a good manager and leader. I often feel this as a responsibility I am barely struggling to handle.

BITS AND PIECES

We are finally above zero again. Today I think we hit a high of about 5 degrees. It will take a while for all the snow and ice to melt, and now it can be very messy and dirty – but I am so glad to shed the thermal underwear and to start dreaming of spring again.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Thanks to God for choosing me

Little boy at UTSIM

Lyena in Kaharlyk

Wisdom in life

THANKS TO

Mum for sending me a really nice NZ calendar for 2010

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

7 AM

On Friday I thought about the story that Jesus tells in the Bible about a man who goes to visit his friend at midnight. And he keeps on banging on the door and eventually the friend lets him in, not because he is a friend but just so he’ll stop banging. Finding a friend whose house is open at 7 am in the morning is also difficult. I woke Sasha with a phone call but he said come over later. I rang the doorbell twice at Yura’s place. Eventually I ended up at Micah and Christy’s. I had arrived in Kaharlyk early but the building where my office is was closed. And when it’s raining ice and below zero you don’t really want to stay outside. Sorry to my friends to whom I was an inconvenience. I guess there is a culturally acceptable right time to call on people.

Isn’t it great to know that we can call on our God at ANY time. The God who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. He is on hand watching, leading, guiding, comforting, protecting. That is a great thought to take into any week.

UTSIM

Another huge week in the life of UTSIM and thanks again to God and God alone. How He trusts a person like me with this I don’t know. We have a new staff member, Zhenya, starting this week. She is highly qualified and has 2 ½ years teaching experience in Ukrainian schools so we are really blessed that she is joining us.

Kaharlyk looks to be taking off. We have had 6 new people sign up with another 5 already booked to come into the office on Monday. Natasha and Masha are working tirelessly. I went to Kaharlyk twice last week.

We also will start a kid’s English club on Saturday mornings in Kaharlyk. It is great to have Micah and Christy Claycamp and Josie Sprague from Arizona as volunteers.

BITS AND PIECES

Church in English

Last week I attended a church in Kyiv in English. I thoroughly enjoyed singing in English and the sermon was really challenging. Here’s a bit of what the preacher said; “Slothfulness is not only idleness or lack of passion, but misdirected passion. To focus my energies and passions on insignificant pursuits.” We were challenged to be blessed by hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Some tough searching questions to ask yourself are:

• What is significant in your life?
• What are you passionate about?
• What consumes your energies?

Skype Call

This Sunday it was really cool to have a live video conversation link with West Penno. I could see everyone at church, the fans going full bore and everyone in summer clothing. It was great to be able to chat and share what’s happening here and to share in communion in a surreal way via webcam. I would have liked to be able to chat to loads of people – maybe another time.

PRAY

Please pray for a young man in Rzhyshchiv who is considering changing his entire way of life by saying to God, “Not me anymore, but You Lord!” It is exciting but I know the enemy does not want this so please pray.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Skype call with Penno - thanks

Zhenya starting at UTSIM

Young man in Rzh

UTSIM in Kaharlyk

THANKS TO

Charles Otter of the Radisson Hotel who organised an internet room for me late on Saturday night.

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

A REAL WINTER

My flat mate (house mate) Igor commented that he was very happy to have a real winter. That means lots of snow and lots of cold temperatures. When I asked him why, he said it felt right to have a cold winter, not a mild one. Weak answer!

Highlights of this ‘real winter’ include:

• Frozen pipes – mine and many of my friends
• Buying more thermal underwear – I now own a pair of ‘stockings for men without socks’
• My van hasn’t gone anywhere in well over a month
• Taking about 15 minutes to get ready to go anywhere
• An electric blanket
• Falling over crossing the road – in front of lots of people
• Cold fingers, cold nose
• Walking on ice to an island in the river

Sometimes we like to imagine that something is better than it really is. We talk ourselves into believing that things ought to be a certain way without any real solid reasons. When Jesus walked this earth there was a religion well entrenched in their way of doing things, but they had convinced themselves they were right and missed what was real. Jesus made the amazing claim – that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Winter or summer, good or bad politics, northern or southern hemisphere, rugby or football, my music or your music – these things are not important. I want to have my life focused around the life and teachings and sacrifice and example of Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God.

UTSIM

There’s always something happening here. Before I tell you about it, I want to say thank you to God. I have realised more and more recently that He leads anything that is worth doing and He leads where and He knows best. Thank you also to those of you who regularly pray. I can say that although I am as busy as ever, I have a peace and joy knowing that God wants me here doing this right now.

We are able to stay in Gaven’s house until the end of May but then have a huge hurdle to cross of finding a suitable alternative for the next school year. Classes have continued well in Rzhyshchiv and even just last week a new student joined one of the classes.

We have had a greater consolidation as a staff and are working well and gelling well together. However we have more changes coming up. Sveta is looking to return to NZ and we have a possible replacement coming this week to check out UTSIM – again please pray.

We have also had to have a serious look at the branch in Kaharlyk as the anticipated growth has not occurred. Last week I met with the head of education there. He is young, friendly and was very interested in us and seems to want to work with us. The directors of two schools welcomed us with open arms to advertise to their students. A third school however had a very stand-offish approach and I would ask you to pray that he is not instrumental in spreading negative vibes. He is a former head of education and has a bit of weight to throw around.

I will return to Kaharlyk this coming week – it will be a flat out week. Please pray for strength and energy.

LIFE OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS

A SLIGHTLY BIGGER PICTURE

I thought I might take a few sentences for a very brief outline of why are there so many foreigners in the small town of Rzhyshchiv. About 7-8 years ago the Clarke and Gollan families moved to Rzhyshchiv with the aim of living here and bringing a spiritual and moral influence to a town that has a very high student population. The Clarke’s have since moved back to Australia but the Gollans are still here and also living here are: Cheryl Lyons from Canada, Gaven Ollington from Tasmania, Jon and Ruth Pirini from NZ, Tom and Lena from USA/Ukraine, Sergei and Tanya from Ukraine/Australia, The Crowe Family from USA, another two families are looking to come soon as well as a few who have come and gone for short periods.

Why??!! I won’t pretend to give a definitive answer here today, but we all believe that we are not here by accident. God has lead in various ways in our lives for us to be here. Pray that the presence of the Holy Spirit in this town will leave an effect that will change the world for good and bring glory to God.

MY MATE MAX

Max lived with me for a few months in 2008. He has come to visit Rzh a few times since and now has made it to Hungary to attend Bible College. He is really excited and sees it as a huge miracle from God that he is there. Pray that this would be a great time in his life.

TECHNOLOGY

I have my laptop back and Jon is helping me put together a desktop computer so that I can have something permanently at home which I am not lugging around all over the place. I have got a long way behind in answering some emails – so I apologise for that.

WHAT YA READIN’?

I can’t believe why I never read these books before, but I have eventually decided to get to know Mr JRR Tolkien. I’ve finished The Hobbit and am now winding my way along the Withywindle in The Fellowship of the Ring. Inspiring writing and thoroughly enjoyable. Not to mention that I imagine every scene to be somewhere in NZ! 5/5

PRAYER AND PRAISE

NZ visa for Sveta

UTSIM in Kaharlyk

New teacher for UTSIM

God’s people in Rzhyshchiv

Max at Bible College

THANKS

To Jon for giving me amazing tech support – as always

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

J-SERIES DOESN'T EXIST

In reaction to Apple's I technology (iPod, iPad, iPhone etc.), I developed what I call J-series idealogical technology. It is every users dream. It always works and every piece of technology is compatible with another piece. Unlike all the iCovet gear, it can be purchased for its functional value not its perceived status.

The only problem is that it is idealogical - i.e. it doesn't actually exist.

So right now I am enduring a computerless stage. The motherboard on my laptop died and it is currently getting repaired. I apologise for lack of communication. I have everything I need on that computer.

It's a good thing our relationship with God is not idealogical - but real.

More real than anything we can even see or touch, smell or hear. Even our senses can fool us. But God is real. Praise Him for that.

UTSIM

Thank God for Gaven's generosity. And Tanya who is looking after Gaven's house while he is away. We may stay there til the end of May. But please pray as we need to be searching and looking for a place to go. This is only a temporary situation.

Also please pray about our teaching staff. Sveta who came to replace Simeon and Asia has had an amazing offer of returning to NZ. This weekend she is applying for her visa and then she will be off. So UTSIM has another hurdle in replacing her.

Please pray for our staff. They are a good team. Pray that we will work hard together for the glory of God.

BITS AND PIECES

We walked to an island last Sunday. Walking on water is possible here - when it is minus 20 and the river is completely frozen. It has been cold here. Many people's water pipes have frozen - not a nice experience.

This is a short RPD - I will try to get some photos for next week's monthly update. Thanks for praying.

Prayer

Technology

Gaven's house for UTSIM

Teacher for UTSIM

Sveta's visa for NZ

Thanks

To Jon for all the computer assistance and help

ELECTIONS

Tomorrow is Election Day here in Ukraine. This is the first round of presidential elections. Ukraine shot to world fame five years ago with the Orange Revolution after an attempted poisoning and then vote rigging. There probably won’t be much fuss this time round but then many people are rather despondent. There doesn’t seem to be anyone to choose who wants to do anything to combat the rampant corruption in this country. Most candidates are considered as much a thief and a bandit as the next one.

What is the right response? It is easy to criticise governments. Back home in NZ and Aus we do that all the time – and we have some of the least corrupt governments in the world. For interest check out this survey. Just this week I read Titus 3:1-2 which says, “Remind the believers to yield to the authority of rulers and government leaders, to obey them, to be ready to do good, to speak no evil about anyone, to live in peace, and to be gentle and polite to all people.”

We should do all we can, we should not be apathetic or ignorant. And we should pray for the rulers of our nations.

UTSIM

What a week in the life of UTSIM! We started back at school on Monday and were told by the director of the school that there is a new law forbidding private companies to operate in government buildings and so we must leave. We asked if it would be ok to stay til the end of the week. The answer was negative – please leave ASAP.

Tuesday morning, I rallied a team of helpers and first of all attempted to get my van off the hill so we could move everything. After a while we gave up on that idea and tried Dan’s van. After Bruce came and towed Dan we got to school and moved everything out in less than an hour and dumped it all in Gaven’s house – just down the road. The UTSIM staff worked really well organising everything and we ran lessons on Tuesday afternoon. We are escorting the younger students to and from the school and most others seem happy at this stage to be in a different place. We will be there at least til the end of January but then need to make a decision as to where next.

The amazing thing is that in the middle of the turmoil we still have new students signing up although we have lost a few since 2009. Thanks to everyone who helped and especially all of you who prayed.

BITS AND PIECES

Prayer Advance. The church here is starting 2010 with a special focus on prayer. From Jan 17 – 31 we are having a focus on praying for our church family, our outreach endeavours, our town, our vision and our unity. Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays will have special prayer times as well as an encouragement for increased personal prayer. This will culminate in a prayer walk on Jan 31 as we pray for Rzhyshchiv. I ask you to pray with us. Pray that this will be something real in my life – in our lives; not just a good idea or a church program.

Routine. It’s good to have routine in your life. So often it seems that the unexpected is my routine. However, I’m glad to be teaching again. There are some busy times ahead and some big decisions to make. I enjoy Friday evenings. We started squash again this week. After breaking a racquet back in November we have been out of this routine. Squash is rather new in Ukraine so we bought a way over-priced racquet which broke before we had finished warming up. Thankfully they replaced it for us. I look forward to Friday evening squash with Jon (and remembering how to win again).

Internet. I waited til Saturday night to type this so I could tell you I now have high speed internet at home. But I don’t. Jon and I spent all day rigging up antennae and new fan-dangled devices (so I’m not that technical) which are supposed to bring us fast and constant internet. Mine doesn’t work. Oh well – we can only hope.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Ukrainian Presidential Elections

UTSIM – where we should be

Prayer Advance

Healthy routine in all areas of life

THANKS TO

Gaven for lending his house to UTSIM

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

THE THINGS THAT UNITE

Travelling around the world has allowed me to meet a large number of people from various countries and backgrounds. It is amazing the things which you can find in common with other people. I was on a train last night and quickly struck up conversations with two people who spoke English. Two days ago I met a guy who knew a lot about NZ and about the All Blacks and he has hardly left his small town in Ukraine. I get off the train early in the morning and am glad to see the familiar golden arches of Maccas (where I am writing this update). I meet another teacher and suddenly we are talking about educational matters and our students and funny moments in the classroom. I meet another Ukrainian businessman and we are quickly complaining about the laws governing (or should I say crippling) small businesses in Ukraine.

Common languages, countries, traditions, hobbies, vocations are all uniting factors in our lives. But there is another which overrides them all. All around the world I meet people who belong to the family of God. Although each connection is unique, there is an instant and common bond. An unwritten “hello to one of the family”. I must confess although sometimes it brings great joy, other times I am complacent and nonchalant about meeting a fellow child of God. These meetings should bring the greatest joy.

UTSIM

As I write, we are nearing the end of our two week New Year and Christmas break. Yes, New Year comes first in Ukraine and is a big celebration. Christmas is January 7th and the evening of the 6th is a special family celebration with a tradition of eating twelve different dishes.

UTSIM has been running for 1 ½ years now. This is only by the grace of God. As God blesses us and we grow, we recognise the need to continue trusting Him and to work hard in the responsibilities he has given us. So please pray about the following things for 2010:

• Simeon and Asia Ewing (part time volunteer teachers) are on leave for at least 4 months for the birth of their first child.
• Sveta Artiukh commences with us as their replacement.
• Most classes are well behind schedule to finish the courses we have started by the end of May.
• Spring includes a lot of public holidays.
• Natasha Kurilko is due to give birth in April or May to their second child. She is the backbone of UTSIM from a business point of view and without her guidance, I’m not sure where we would be. (plus accountant, tax office, payroll, personnel, and a host of other responsibilities)
• Summer time – although a long way off – we need to have wisdom about how much and what to do during this time.
• Staff. Pray for us. Teachers touch lives forever. Pray that our influence is more than just the learning of English.
• Students. They are why we exist. Please pray for our students. May our relationships with them become eternal ones.

LIFE OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS

2010

I told a friend last night that I need to write down my goals for 2010. The ones that will re-ignite my passion to love God and others with all my heart. I’m not sure exactly how I want to go about this. I don’t want empty words in my life or just pie in the sky dreams. I want to have real and attainable goals that will motivate and guide me as I grow. I don’t want to get to the end of the year and say it was ‘just another year’. What are your hopes and dreams and goals for 2010? Maybe sharing them with me (or another friend) may inspire them and encourage you.

BEEN TRAVELLING

I took a bit of time off during the break and travelled first to Lviv for New Year. Here it was great to catch up with Nat and Losha and Nikita and both of their respective families. I feel like I have been to a lot of celebrations with Nat’s family. New Year with Did Moroz (Father Frost or Santa) was another great celebration. And I was the designated driver for the night and got to drive Losha’s rather fancy car. The next day he borrowed his mum’s even fancier car (a brand new Mercedes 4 wheel drive) and we managed to get it stuck in the snow, ice and mud. Losha got it stuck so I let him get it out (it was freezing and I had no gloves). He stepped through some ice into a nice cold puddle. I managed to catch up with fellow Kiwi Dave and Tanya in Lviv also. Then I trekked by freezing cold bus to Kamyanets Podilsky where I visited Irina, George and George and Alla. I was able to give a copy of You Are Special to George Jnr. He is walking with help now (he is 4 years old). Pray for more miracles in his life as he takes steps. I had my first Ukrainian Christmas with Irina’s family and ate more than sufficient (it is hard to say no to her mum). Now it’s back to Rzhyshchiv and ready to start work again next week.

RZHYSHCHIV

Not too sure what has been happening in Rzhyshchiv the last couple of weeks, except a big snow storm which wiped out electricity for about 36 hours at my house. You can read about it here. Igor has been living with me for more than 7 months now. I’m glad to share a house with him (even if I yell at you for stupid things Igor). He has a habit of saying “thank you God for all” no matter what the question. Although it often becomes a bit of a joke, it can also be a good reminder that in all things in life we should be thankful to our great God who allows all things and sends the rain (and snow) on both the evil and the good.

WHAT YA READIN’?

The Young Spurgeon by Peter Jeffery was a short book about the beginnings of a man who was called one of the greatest preachers ever. His life is unlike any other person’s – his teenage concerns weightier than many adults ever consider. An interesting book but not easy to relate to. 3/5

My holiday reading was Catch 22 by Joseph Heller. Once you are orientated with the characters and the chronology of this novel, you don’t want to put it down and yet you don’t want it to end. It is full of funny, hilarious, sombre and startling moments from beginning to end. A conversation between the young American pilot Nately, and an old Italian man is pure genius. Go on, read the book! 5/5

PRAYER AND PRAISE

The life we share in Christ

UTSIM – God’s blessing in 2010 (see article for prayer points)

Losha, Nat, Nikita

Dave and Tanya

Irina, George, George

Igor – ‘thank you God for all’

THANKS

To Heather Wilkins who sent a large box of books and other bits and pieces for UTSIM (including blu tack)

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

Monday 28th December saw a huge amount of snow drop in Rzhyshchiv. Maybe 30 – 40 cm in the evening. Then about midnight the winds picked up and about 2 am we lost our electricity. More than 1000 towns across Ukraine lost electricity. All of our town was out for the night and my street had to wait 36 hours before we got power back, and because my furnace runs off electricity it means the house was cold too.

Everything got dark quickly and outside it was cold and windy. Igor and I were talking about how nearly everything we do in life requires electricity.

A couple of years ago I wrote a poem entitled Electricity.

What can you live your life with or without? 

BOXING DAY

It’s Boxing Day. I miss watching the start of the Sydney to Hobart and the Boxing Day test. I miss summer at Eureka and cricket out the front and beating Rog’s team. However, yesterday we had a great dinner and hang out at Ruth and Jon’s. The pudding was fantastic.

I know you are all on holidays, so I’ll make this a quick one. Please pray for you and me that holidays from normal life will not be holidays from time with God.

UTSIM

Holidays, holidays, holidays!! But there had to be a twist. We didn’t get to finish the last week off properly as the school called another four-day quarantine. But for now we are having a break from teaching and start back again on January 11.

BITS AND PIECES

Tomorrow we have another combined church service and Jeff is going to do the kids spot. Hopefully he will try and speak Ukrainian and talk about ‘new things’.

Next week I’m off for a few days in Lviv and Kamenets Podilsky visiting friends. Pray for good and Godly conversations with my friends.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Christmas holidays

THANKS TO

Ruth for organising a great Christmas Day celebration

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

Here is a quote from Marianne Williamson I recently heard on the movie “Akeelah and the Bee”. I found it both challenging and inspiring.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightening about shrinking so other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to manifest the Glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some; it’s in all, everyone. And as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

DESPERATELY

Water!! Living without water is not nice. On Wednesday night I arrived home to hear that the water had stopped working – there was ice in the system somewhere and Igor said he would fix it in the morning. I woke up at six to find the house freezing (about minus 18 outside). The furnace lost pressure over night and shut off. And we had no water to refill it. Igor, Tom and Zhenya worked all day on it while I was at work. They got the water going and heat to all rooms but two – there is some serious ice blocking the pipes somewhere. I am so desperate for water in the house, for a shower, for water in the kitchen, and so happy when it works.

We need water to live – it is true. But even more important should be my desperation for God. Yet too often I think I can live without Him. Then I become really desperate. I want it to be ‘normal’. To have a constant awareness of the presence of God – like a waterfall ever flowing, bringing me the life I need. I’m desperate for this.

UTSIM

One week to go before the winter break! Simbo and Asia leave us this week and Sveta comes to join us. We have had a lot of students away with the extreme cold we have been having here.

Today most of the staff came over for lunch. It was a crazy day as again the water was not working at home. Igor spent all morning on it, while I was preparing lunch and presents for the staff. Jon came and gave him a hand. I want to thank the staff of UTSIM and their families for the loving and willing way they serve God through this ministry.

I’ve been going through some of the business side of things lately and we need to increase our student numbers by about 40% to start to break even. Please pray for wisdom as we make decisions to either help increase revenue or decrease costs (or change the Ukrainian tax system).

BITS AND PIECES

There are so many good photo opportunities lately but I haven’t had my camera with me. I will have to change that soon. Tonight was a cafe night run by ladies for ladies as an outreach. So why does this interest me? Well I was invited along as the chief coffee maker. So I pulled the hair back, dressed like a penguin and ground and percolated and steamed and frothed and poured and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a cold snowy night but a number of ladies came and there was great live music and a clear talk about the greatest gift ever – Jesus. Oh and a cooking show too.

I met up with friends in Kyiv for an end of year get together. Continue to pray for Serge and Lida – they are expecting a baby in January. Pray also for Tanya and Zhenya whose wedding I attended in August. I will probably spend New Year with their wider family in Lviv.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Water and heating issues

Serge and Lida

Tanya and Zhenya

Simbo and Asia heading to Scotland for the birth of their child

Women’s outreach in Rzhyshchiv

THANKS TO

Igor – what a champion fixing my water (twice this week)

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

AN APPOINTMENT

Have you ever had an appointment you didn’t arrange? Didn’t know about? Some may say circumstantial, some may say divine. Yesterday I came out of an underground shop in Kyiv after trying to buy some specialty ingredients to make Christmas pudding. Looking like a lost person I bumped into Tanya. I’ve met Tanya and Dave (a fellow Kiwi) a handful of times watching rugby. We chatted for well over an hour (sorry if you got in trouble for a long lunch break Tanya). I can’t put it all into words, yet I am convinced that God organised that appointment. Tanya is a psychologist and has a dream to start a school. I hope to be able to catch up with them often.

I thank God for the way He ordains these appointments in my life – so often I don’t even recognise them. My friend Ted Boyce has a few favourite sayings. One of which is: “God has you in this place at this time for His purposes.”

UTSIM

There are just two weeks left before we have a two week break for New Year and Christmas. Yes New Year comes first then Christmas is on the 7th of January. December 25th is a working day here. There is a lot to get done in these two weeks. Simbo and Asia have just one week left and then we welcome Sveta Artiukh who will be teaching with us through til the end of May 2010. We have half yearly reports to get out to each student so the next two weeks will be full.

I am planning a celebration lunch for all of my staff and volunteers. I realise that sometimes I see the program and the work that needs to be done and not the individual – the person who needs to do this work. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who works with us for the purpose of bringing glory to God by teaching people around Ukraine.

It truly is great to be with people. I love the moments when kids come into the office just to say hi. I like the idea that our office is a ‘safe’ place for them. I’m teaching two of the youngest teachers at school. One is a speech therapist and the other a psychologist. They share a small office below mine which they have decorated really nicely – they also have a heart for kids and the children appreciate and respond to them.

BITS AND PIECES

As I type this my computer tells me that the outside temperature is minus 5. I don’t need to go out and check – I’ll believe them. However it is 23 in Sydney and that is at night time! I definitely prefer warm climates.

We have a ‘meeting’ tonight. Please pray for the church in Rzhyshchiv. We seem to be a very loose organisation and there has been a push for more cohesive direction. However I feel something awry in the fact that only foreigners have been invited. Please pray that the believers (especially the older believers) have a sense of unity and love.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

New Year and Christmas holidays!

Tanya and Dave

Divine Appointments

Staff and students of UTSIM

The Church in Rzhyshchiv

THANKS TO

Tanya for ‘bumping into me’ in Kyiv

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

EXPECTATIONS

As a child I enjoyed reading the Chronicles of Narnia. Being from the southern hemisphere I never fully understood the terrible feeling the children felt knowing that the White Witch of Narnia made it always winter but never Christmas. We grow up with the expectation that certain things should always go hand in hand. Here people expect snow with winter. But we are yet to see snow this winter which is very unusual. We all have expectations for Christmas holidays. We have expectations for New Year. We have our own expectations in friendships, work situations, service in shops and restaurants. And we feel grieved when our expectations are not met. This is natural. Sometimes it is helpful. I have expectations of my workers and if they constantly fall short it is my job to draw their attention to their responsibilities. But often our expectations are unrealistic, selfish or both. We focus on what we expect from life and those around us rather than what we can give to others.

May I grow to give more and expect less. Ouch – that can be a hard lesson.

UTSIM

I was very happy to see the end of November. Quarantine is now a thing of the past, and the deadline of having an educational licence or be shut down has come and gone with no word from the Head of Education. I wrote her a letter outlining our position – but have heard nothing in return. So for now we keep teaching students. Two new students signed up last week. It seems that people like learning English. My hope and prayer is that they learn a lot more than just English.

One of my teachers meets another adult for a one on one class one evening a week. They speak English for the duration of the lesson and then regularly sit around and chat for another hour in Ukrainian. It is good to be able to share life this way.

We had a good time as an entire staff together last week. We looked at where UTSIM has come from, where are we going and how are we going to get there. This included a financial report and looking at what we need to do to make UTSIM financially viable. It was exciting to see what God has done from humble beginnings – and to be reminded that He is the captain of this ship.

Thank you to the many people who pray for UTSIM. Daily I am reminded of my own human inadequacies – but through Him I can do all that He wants me to do – He is my strength.

AN UTSIM REQUEST

This is not something I want to make a habit of – but yep I’m looking for sponsors. We have started a program for underprivileged families where we offer 100% or 50% sponsorship for them to study English with us. We are currently sponsoring 4 students and would like to increase this. I’m looking for people who would like to commit to sponsoring a student for a year of English. Our year is 9 months from September to May. You can sponsor a student for Aus$30 a month for 9 months. We can provide some details of your student so you can also pray for them. For more details about this program and how to send us money – please email me on jono@jonomiller.com

LIFE OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS

OLD AGE – BAD BACK

On Thursday I did my back! Whatever that means – all I know is that Thursday night was extremely painful and the following morning also. It is still not right and I had to pull out of squash last night (it is serious for me not to play sport). I am thankful for a tube of extra strength dencorub that I have from Aus. Please pray for my health and for me to be wise in the care of my body. I thank God for the extremely good health I have had all my life thus far.

KIDS

I always enjoy hanging out with kids. Next week I’m taking the older children from the Gollan and Crowe families to Kyiv to watch a Christmas pantomime (this is a very British tradition). I enjoy the time I get to spend with kids. To chat and see the thoughts they are forming as they grow into young men and women. I nearly always feel invigorated and blessed to have spent time with them. I love the quote: “When I grow up, I want to be a kid.”

RZHYSHCHIV

We had an afternoon for handicapped children last Saturday. Only two children were able to make it and so we were very top heavy with leaders. But it was worth every minute to see these kids respond to someone giving them time and attention and love. Jeff came and had a chat with everyone about their favourite foods. Apparently Jeff likes everything with ketchup (tomato sauce). Ice-cream and chocolate included. Jeff even spoke Ukrainian and I was quite proud of his effort, (lol).

Here in Ukraine I don’t miss the great big commercial build up to Christmas we have in Australia and NZ. I don’t miss hearing Christmas carols until you are sick of them. December 25th is actually a work day for me – well the first half. After that I am having Christmas dinner at Ruth and Jon’s with seven other people. The biggest ‘thing’ I miss is Christmas pudding. I’m going to attempt to make one but I can’t buy suet here or currants or mixed peel. I realise this is very unimportant. Everyone heave a collective ‘sigh’ for Jono and get back to work (did I mention I really love Christmas pudding!!).

WHAT YA READIN’?

The Devil is another short story by Leo Tolstoy. This is about temptation. I haven’t quite finished the book, but am reminded of the importance of praying “Lead me not into temptation”.

I enjoyed Putting a Face on Grace by Richard Blackaby. This is an easy to read book full of practical reminders of how we can live a life of grace. I would encourage everyone saved by grace to read this book. 4/5

I haven’t had a lot of time for reading lately. I hope to read a couple of books when we get a couple of weeks off during Christmas and New Year.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

UTSIM vision and unity and teamwork

Sponsorship for students

My bad back and a cough I cannot shake

Kids – thank God for them

Christmas pudding (please)

THANKS

To Deb Crowe for the awesome soups she turns out at home group every week!

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

LOVES TRUCK!!

Last week I had one of my students write an interesting homework task. She had to write a list of the qualities she desired in a husband. Boys, no pressure here, but this is apparently everything we need to be:

• Courageous
• Sincere
• Decisive
• Kind
• Understanding
• Love struck (with her)
• Determined
• Have a sense of humour
• Intelligent
• Caring

As I was reading through her list I started laughing at love struck because she had written the words closely together and I read loves truck. Wow! I had no idea this student of mine was so into trucks!

Actually, I reckon she came up with a pretty good list. These are all attributes that I should be aiming to have or be in my life.

UTSIM

Today we will have an UTSIM all staff vision casting meeting. It has been long overdue – because as we grow it is absolutely vital that we all have the same vision and goal and are pulling together as a team in the same direction. I guess preparing for this has given me a clearer idea of what we are doing and what we need to do. Please pray that all those involved with UTSIM will be looking out not only for their own interests but also for the interests of others.

Quarantine was extended for two days into this week so we have only just started back with lessons. This time has been quite a financial blow to the company as well as a setback for students who have had a month with no English contact. It was a pleasure to see students keen to be back in English lessons. I love the smile on kids’ faces when they come for a lesson.

Praise God that we have found a replacement for Simbo and Asia while they are in Scotland for the birth of their baby. Sveta Artyuk spent eight months this year in NZ studying music. She has just returned to Ukraine and needs a job so this is good for us and for her. Please pray as she seeks direction from God for her future. Maybe she will be involved in UTSIM at a deeper level.

BITS AND PIECES

I have been shaking off a yucky cold and am left with a cough that makes me sound like I used to smoke a pack and a half a day.

The winter here seems to have stalled. Still no snow and temps well above zero every day. It may damage the dormant winter crops by tricking them into thinking spring has come early.

Tomorrow we are holding a special day for handicapped kids. This is our second one. Please pray that we love and respect these children for who they are. Jeff is going to make an appearance – he will need to polish up his Ukrainian skills.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

UTSIM vision casting

Sveta Artyuk

Quarantine is finished

Good health during winter

Day for handicapped kids

THANKS TO

Ruth for a pretty nice steak and veggies last night.

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up