Dan and Pris Gollan

NEVER TOO BUSY . . .

Sometimes you are too busy. You don’t have time. You don’t have energy. You are emotionally drained. You are mentally exhausted. You have too much on your plate. You are pulled in too many directions. You can’t think straight.

That’s life sometimes – sometimes it happens. But you should never be so busy that you don’t pray. This week I was going to say that I’m all of the above so I’m not writing an RPD. But I’m writing a quick one – to ask you to pray, but mostly to remind myself that I must never get to the place where I forget to pray.

UTSIM

Praise God Shane and Jemimah have come. Rufus will not be coming this year. Pray that at the first bell ceremony on Wednesday as we attend various schools we will be able to attract and fill up the necessary student numbers we need. Pray for our staff to gel together as a team with a common goal as we start the new school year afresh.

BITS AND PIECES

TREV

Trevor Young, an elder from West Penno and a friend is here visiting and God has perfect timing as Trev is helping me work through some really important life issues.

Ruth and Jon leave on Friday. I’m going to go through a grieving (and starving) process I think.

PRAYER AND PRAISE (same as last week)

Next phase of life for Ruth and Jon

Lots of students for UTSIM

Quality time with Trev

Nastya, Mikhyey and me

THANKS TO

Max for bringing me an Australian souvenir from Moldova!!

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

THE PRESIDENT DOES AS THE PRESIDENT CHOOSES

The 24th of August is Ukrainian Independence Day. A public holiday and a nationwide celebration. This year it falls on a Tuesday. About one or two weeks ago the president announced that Saturday 21st would be an official part of the working week and Monday 23rd a public holiday. Sorry everyone, you have to go to work on Saturday. Sorry bosses, you have to change your working schedule. But he’s the President, he can do as he chooses. If the people don’t like him they can vote him out at the next election.

A public holiday is a small thing really. There are other things in our lives that are much more significant and yet totally out of our control. I know that God is never out of control. Sometimes we want to question the acts or methods of God. Maybe sometimes we even want to out-vote Him. But can the clay tell the potter what and how he wants to be shaped? No! God is God and His ways are right and His decisions are just. Let me live in the confidence that I can trust Him even if I don’t understand why.

UTSIM

Praise God that Shane and Jemimah have their visas and will arrive this week. Pray that they settle in quickly. We have been busy rearranging things at Gaven’s house in preparation for the school year. Part of this has been putting in a stair rail to use the second set of stairs that had previously been blocked off. This week is a short week as far as work goes. Next week will be a big push in driving up the student numbers we need, to reach our goal and become more financially viable. Pray for the students who will come.

BITS AND PIECES

THE HANGI

One of the biggest events in Rzhyshchiv this week was a hangi. Ruth and Jon are leaving soon to go back to NZ and as a way of farewell they had a hangi at their place. We did a haka and a couple of Maori songs. A lot of out-of-towners came for the weekend and a few stayed over at my place. Always good to have a bunch of people through the house (even if we keep running out of water). I’m going to miss Ruth and Jon being just down the road.

Trevor Young, an elder from my church in Australia, arrives at the end of this week. I’m looking forward to spending time chatting with him about the many various aspects of life here. It’s great for me to feel that folk ‘back home’ have a more accurate idea of what life is like here.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Next phase of life for Ruth and Jon

Lots of students for UTSIM

Quality time with Trev

Nastya, Mikhyey and me

THANKS TO

The All Blacks for two last minute tries to deny the Boks and keep our winning record in order

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

HOME SWEET HOME

Top 10 reasons why it’s good to be back in Ukraine:

1. Nastya
2. I’m not the only one who claps when a plane lands
3. I can smile when I see foreigners not know how to fill out the confusing immigration card
4. Free calls between mobile phones
5. Nastya
6. It’s not strange to NOT hear English being spoken
7. All my luggage arrived at the same time as me
8. Smetana!
9. Epicentre (makes Bunnings look like a corner shop)"
10. Nastya

UTSIM

I start back at work tomorrow (if I wake up). Tomorrow will be planning for the next couple weeks getting ready for school. Pray that the entire staff have a team attitude towards making UTSIM work financially, educationally and missionally (my word).

Please also continue to pray for visas for Shane, Jemimah and Rufus – more on that next week.

BITS AND PIECES

THE LONG WAY ROUND

Going to Aus and back for one week via New York is crazy – don’t do it! I managed to stop in New York and saw a few sights – biking across Brooklyn Bridge would have to be the best. I think I am now officially over doing cities by myself – was missing someone while I was there.

Last week after the wedding I was able to spend a little time at the farm, then with the Gollan family and then with Tim and his family. I’m very grateful for this short but meaningful time with my families.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Great time in Australia

Time management starting back at work

Getting back to work in really hot temperatures here.

Visas for UTSIM workers

THANKS TO

Tim for being a good brother, for letting me beat him at squash, for listening, for helping.

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

THE KEYS OF SUCCESS

Last Saturday saw me on the beach at Byron Bay – a long way from Ukraine. Here friends and family met to celebrate the joining of Shane Paxa to Jemimah Gollan. It was a simple yet beautiful day. Jemimah’s Dad performed the ceremony and shared with them the keys of success. He had a bunch of keys which he gave them and explained each one. There was a security key to remind them that in good times and in bad, God is their security. There was a PO Box key to remind them they have mail. God’s Word to them is the light for their path. There is not room enough here to share all of the keys of success – email me if you want to know more.

UTSIM

I will soon be back at work and we have a big year ahead of us. Shane and Jemimah are coming to Ukraine as Shane will be working for UTSIM. They have yet to receive their visas. Please pray that this happens smoothly. Please also pray for Rufus, a man from Nigeria who is coming to join us. He also needs to receive his visa and safe entry into Ukraine.

BITS AND PIECES

So the latest week has mainly been travel – the long way round to Australia. I got half of the trip for free with frequent flyers but it meant the real long way with a more than 50 hour trip. I’m still not really feeling right. Come the end of the week I do the same again in reverse. The time together, albeit short, I am really thankful for. And I think the MC at the wedding looked really great!

The beginning of the week was the end of our time with Frank and Jo and family. I thoroughly enjoyed having my nieces and nephew come to sleep at my house. I am so thankful that this once in a life time trip was made possible.

I’ve left Nastya and Mikhyey for a week. They have been visiting her mum in Lviv. Please pray for them both and me as we make the steps forward to becoming a family. We both desire to follow what God wants for our new family.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

A beautiful wedding for Shane and Jemimah

Safe travel later this week

Visas for UTSIM staff

Frank and Jo travelling back to Paraguay

THANKS TO

Murphy and Gollan family for all you have done and continue to do for me!

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

I SAID “WATCH THIS SPACE”

“This road is old” “I believe I can fly” “Can I tell you something Uncle Jono?” “I’ve got a plan” “I don’t wanna sleep here, it’s boring” – quotes from Benji.

Today I read The Hungry Caterpillar to a little boy I’d just met and he wanted me to read it again.

I remember taking a bike ride in the western part of Brisbane about 17 years ago. Although I wasn’t exactly sure of where I was going – I had a policy of don’t turn around. There is a way ahead. Don’t put your hand to this plough and look back. Did I get lost? Well I’m here now so I guess I didn’t. It’s a matter of perspective. Sometimes along the path things make as much sense as the ramblings of a child. But when I listen to a child – I can listen to the words, or I can listen to the heart. Dostoyevsky said “The soul is healed by being with children”.

A new child is entering my life. I am engaged to Anastasia Ivanova and she has a son named Mikhyey who is 2 ½. I am on a fast learning curve for fatherhood. It is a good road. There are so many things to learn from children. Nastya and I had planned to get married this month but for a plethora of reasons we have decided to not be so hurried and have changed to a later yet-to-be-announced date. Sometimes I’m like a child myself – crawling, running, walking, dancing, laughing, stumbling, falling, getting up again.

I am ecstatically happy. Even the struggles – real and imagined, conventional or self-inflicted – serve to make deep peace and happiness even greater. We both desire to learn to live and love each other more and more each day and to have as the centre of our family, a strong trust in God who leads and guides through each and every circumstance of life. Thanks for all your well wishes received and for your prayers now and on-going.

UTSIM

I’m still on holidays from UTSIM – however please pray for visas for Shane, Jemimah and Rufus. Especially for Shane and Jemimah as their letters of invitation did not arrive in time to get visas in Canberra so they have to look at other embassies.

LIFE OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS

QUICK TRIP

I traded in some frequent flyer points and decided to make a quick trip to Australia for Shane and Jemimah’s wedding. They are then heading over here to work with me at UTSIM. I’m really thankful to God for this opportunity, plus I get to be MC again. Pray for them as married life will be starting with a big adventure.

CRICKET

I’ve been playing cricket a little in Kyiv. It’s amazing how passionate some people can be about cricket. We had a very close chase of 175 and fell short by 5 runs. Wayne has done a great job interacting with the existing cricketing community as well as introducing Ukrainians to the game. It’s not really about the cricket. It’s about being with boys. It’s about relationships. Doing one small aspect of life together so we can ‘do’ more important aspects of life together. I think you get the point. If you love God, people and cricket, then there is the real opportunity of a short term cricket coaching mission trip to Ukraine. Contact me if you would like to know more.

FAMILY

Joanna, Frank, Nikki, Melanie and Benji are here with us in Ukraine as I type. We are having a good time meeting friends and looking around where we live. More than that we are having a great time connecting with family.

WHAT YA READIN’?

I’m part way through Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger. An interesting discourse about weird people and their thought processes and what is and isn’t important. Almost seems like I fit in there (except everyone is always dragging on a cigarette).

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Preparation for marriage and fatherhood

Shane and Jemimah

Cricket in Ukraine

Joanna and Frank and family

THANKS

To Ruth and Jon for a great practice hangi last week.

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

SHORT AND SWEET

I was re-reading last week’s RPD and realised how poor my quality of writing has been of late. Next week’s monthly will be fleshed out. This week is really just a couple of things to pray about.

UTSIM

Please pray for visas for Shane, Rufus and Jemimah. Their letters of invitation have been sent for business visas. They were only granted 6 months though we asked for longer, so we hope to extend them during the year.

BITS AND PIECES

CRICKET

I don’t like cricket, I love it! This Saturday I took a hatrick! Yep 4 for 29 off 3 overs – so there was some atrocious bowling in the first two overs. I took one outfield catch and made 19 off 19 balls. In my books – that is good cricket. But we didn’t win the game. It doesn’t matter. We are spending valuable time together with the boys – both our team and the opposition.

Please continue to pray for me and Nastya and Mikhyey – more next week – but you can see a few photos. God is very good and continues to confirm this to me.  =)

Pray for a good 10 days with my sister and her family from Paraguay. It will be a real privilege to have them here with us.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Cricket – time with people is what life is about

Nastya, Mikhyey and I as we start life together as a family

Fleitas family visit to Ukraine

Visas for UTSIM workers

THANKS TO

Ruth for yet another awesome meal and fellowship time at your house – you are the bomb!

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

AND THE POWER FAILED AGAIN . . .

Sunday afternoon before camp and the power goes off (read my poem about electricity). No RPD, no shower, no world cup final. We managed to watch the final at Bruce’s place once he got his generator going. All the same I have been a whole week with no internet – actually it’s really good (except for catching up later). AND WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT NZ WOULD BE THE ONLY UNBEATEN TEAM FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD CUP!?

But anyhow no RPD means that those with Facebook managed to get information those without Facebook missed out on. I am engaged to Anastasia (Nastya). We plan to get married at the end of August. We are both extremely excited, a little bit nervous and very thankful to God for bringing us to each other.

UTSIM

This week I pick up letters of invitation and will post them to The Gambia and Australia. Please pray that Rufus, Shane and Jemimah will receive their visas in time to travel here for the school year.

BITS AND PIECES

CAMP 120

Firstly, a huge thanks to those who helped get our boat motor. I didn’t need to take the cover off the motor once this year. It was such a blessing to come and go without a hassle. Daniel was even doubly impressed as he was able to get up behind the boat on a wakeboard.

We had 75 people in our regular camping place and we are getting better at setting it up every year. There was a great feel to the community at camp this year. Our theme was Serve and Grow.

Micah started by giving us Jesus’ example from John 13. Jesus knew who He was, where He was going, and even in the face of really difficult circumstances he chose the path of servant hood.

We had great weather and good friendships were made. Camp has become an important annual event in the lives of a number of people. I did basically no advertising – just let people know camp was on. Thanks to all who help make it happen. Especially to Ruth and Jon for the set up and leadership and to Priscilla who feeds the Rzh crew.

In a week’s time my sister and her family from Paraguay will be coming to visit. I am thoroughly looking forward to their coming. Pray that I have a real chance to connect with my nieces and nephew and for them to bond with Nastya and Mikhyey also.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Camp 120 was the bomb!!

Nastya, Mikhyey and I as we start life together as a family

Fleitas family visit to Ukraine

Visas for UTSIM workers

THANKS TO

Nastya for coming into my life and totally changing everything in such a wonderful way.

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

WATCH THIS SPACE

This month has turned crazy. I feel too busy and too tired to write something inspirational, challenging, motivating or even funny. I can’t tell you all that is on my mind. I’m not sure I can even understand myself – but next month . . . .

UTSIM

There’s not a lot to talk about for UTSIM in the month of July. Basically the main activity is the documentation process required for some teachers who we are inviting to come and work with us in the coming school year. Please pray about this. Please also pray for some documentation issues I have regarding my University degree. It has been lost in transit while I was sending it away to get an Apostil required for authentication here in Ukraine. I will need an authenticated replacement before September or October.

LIFE OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS

CAMP 120

Everything is go go go for camp now. Praise God we have bought a motor (almost). Tomorrow will be the test run. A mechanic friend in Rzhyshchiv has helped us to get a Yamaha 25hp for a good price. Pray that a practical thing like a boat motor will be the means to bless many people.

Pray also for the following aspects of camp:

· Clean water

· Firewood

· Transporting everyone to camp

· Friendly relations with others on the island

· A spirit of unity

· Teachable attitudes

· Lots of fun and meaningful friendships

· Studies based around SERVE and GROW

We expect around 80 young people to come to camp. Remember that working for the ultimate glory of God is what has real meaning and value. Thanks to all who pray and take an interest in camp every year.

TARAS AND TASHA

Last year at camp we had the amazing event of a marriage proposal during the end of camp concert. This coming Saturday – two days before camp – they are getting married in Lviv. So once again I am heading to the beautiful city of Lviv for a wedding just before camp. I’m excited for Taras and Tasha – please pray for them in this new journey they are heading on together.

FAMILY

My parents’ two and a bit weeks has nearly come to an end. They head off this Tuesday. They have enjoyed meeting our friends and seeing things in Ukraine - some the same and some different from their visit 6 years ago. We fitted in a trip to Chernihiv, visiting good friends and enjoying the pristine nature of the Blue Lakes near the Russian border. Not to mention the 4 kilograms of wild blue berries an old lady sold to us.

At the end of July my sister Joanna and Frank and family from Paraguay will come for just 10 days.

WHAT YA READIN’?

I’m still reading Say You’re One Of Them by Uwem Akpan. The book is quite gripping though hard to read some of the “African” English the author includes. I’m also aware of how little reading I have been able to do in the last month – so much for being on holidays from work.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Camp 120 – Serve and Grow

Taras and Tasha

Parents’ visit to Ukraine and onward travel to UK

Joanna and Frank and family

THANKS

To my big brother Tim – I reckon everyone needs a brother like him!!

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

CONSTITUTION DAY

On June 28th 1996 Ukraine adopted its Constitution (read a copy in English). 3 500 years ago God gave Moses the 10 commandments. Rules and guidelines without heart are simply words. 2000 years ago Jesus came and showed us what it meant to live. He summed up life by saying it all really hangs on two things. Love God with everything – and love each other as you love yourself.

UTSIM

Summer time activities include making resources, signing up new students and the wonderful documentation process of trying to bring three foreigners into the country. Please pray with us through this arduous process.

BITS AND PIECES

Cricket! I don’t like cricket – I love it! A bunch of Aussies, Kiwis and Ukrainians entered a team in an all Ukraine cricket competition. We played the reigning champions and competed well. We had them at 3 for 16 after 4 overs but they went on to make 175 off 20 overs. We started well but came up short with 144. It was the first time Ukrainians had played in the tournament and Yura hit a huge 6. It’s more than just sport. It is community development. My mate Wayne every week is spending time with young people in the nets, bowling, batting, just being with them. He is looking to take a version of Kanga Cricket into Ukrainian schools. There will be a real mission opportunity in cricket clinics – maybe a short term mission venture you could consider.

My parents have had a week here in Ukraine. We’ve done a lot of little things here and there. This coming week we hope to go for a bit of a trip to Chernihiv and beyond.

The kids’ camp in Rzh went well and a number of kids came along to church today. There are some really lovely kids in this town – please pray that the love of God will be seed sown in their hearts that will in its season bring forth beautiful fruit.

Finally camp 120. PLEASE KEEP PRAYING FOR CAMP. I have my old boat motor being looked at (as a backup) and I am looking into the right price for the right motor. There is a mechanic friend in town here who is keen to help and I think I almost have enough money for a 15 horse power motor which would be adequate for our needs for camp. God is in control.

I just had one speaker for camp inform me he is not able to make it so please pray about that also. Thanks.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

The kids of Rzhyshchiv

Dad and Mum to have a profitable time here

Camp 120 – a boat motor!!

Camp 120 – speakers for the topic SERVE AND GROW

THANKS TO

Wayne for organising and being passionate about cricket.

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

OLD LESSON LEARNED AGAIN

For many many years the verses from Proverbs 3:5-6 have been my life’s motto. Just this week I was again reminded to learn an important lesson from them. I must not rely on my own understanding. This is so hard. I want to understand. I want to know what is going on around me. I want to know what God is doing. But if I understood everything it would lessen the need for trust.

UTSIM

I will be moving the office to my house for the remainder of the summer. We will continue looking for students for next year especially in Kaharlyk. Please pray that we would know what solution we should look for, as our office computer has stopped working. On a limited budget, do we try to get it fixed or look for another – it was an old cheap one to start with.

BITS AND PIECES

Ruth and I flew to Poland on Monday and met our parents there. We met friends of theirs and enjoyed reliving Krakow. We took them to Auschwitz and Ruth and I visited the larger site of Birkenhau where we hadn’t been before. We also had a day in the beautiful mountains on the Polish and Slovakia border.

Along the way we watched NZ score a goal against Slovakia and today one against Italy. Never underestimate a kiwi.

This weekend has been a crazy one at my house (and still is). It has been great to have heaps of people here. On Saturday we had a special ceremony for the baptism of Nikita and I challenged his mum and dad and God parents with the words sacrifice, purity, instruction, encouragement and prayer. I challenged everyone to pray for Nikita (including myself) and I gave him a Bible.

This coming week there is a 4 day kids’ camp in Rzhyshchiv. I am not able to be there for all of it but will hope to drop down and do something with the kids on a couple of the days. It is good to have a positive reputation in Rzh.

I will really need to get going on camp things this coming week. Please continue to pray – the next hurdle is to find a boat motor.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Time away in Poland with family

Nikita (and his parents and God parents)

Camp 120 – a boat motor!!

Kids’ camp in Rzh

THANKS TO

Serge for fixing my computer (technology seems to be a recurring problem)

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

ONLY ONE MONTH

Time is very quickly slipping away and Camp 120 is only 4 weeks away. I still have basically everything left to do and getting my boat in the water and working is going to be a major part of it. I would love you to pray for all the practical things that need to be done. For all the people who will help in a team effort – but mostly for the theme we will study: Serve and Grow.

I want to grow and I want the church and my friends around me to grow also.

UTSIM

This week I am on holiday from UTSIM. The staff back in Rzhyshchiv will continue finalising things from last year and preparing for next year. Visa applications are in the making for a couple new teachers and we are looking to sign new students with an early bird discount. Last week we signed 21 students. We need about 150 students so as not to make a loss on the next year. That is double what we had this past year and so we will be looking for creative ways to make things work.

BITS AND PIECES

Last weekend I played my first game of cricket for the summer. My friend Wayne has been coaching young Ukrainian guys and they also got to play and one of the young guys batted well and got not out. It is great to have a bunch of guys to spend time with in the sporting arena. Next week there is a major tournament I was picked to play in but unfortunately can’t make it.

The reason I can’t make the tournament is a good one though. My friends Nat and Alosha from Lviv are coming and I am performing a special baptism ceremony for their son Nikita. Please pray for my good friends and for what God is doing in their family.

Tomorrow I’m heading to Poland with my sister Ruth and we will meet up with my Mum and Dad. We’ll have a few days in and around Krakow and then they are coming back with us to Ukraine until early July.

This is a short RPD. Today is Gaven’s birthday and he is already round here cooking up some sausages and a few people are coming over and we will watch Australia take on Germany.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Time away in Poland with family

Alosha, Nat and Nikita

Camp 120 – Serve and Grow

Lots of students for UTSIM next year

THANKS TO

Tim for emergency repairs to my email system last week

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

HOW CAN WE LIVE WITHOUT LIFE!!

One of the mobile phone companies in Ukraine is called “Life”. It is the company I use and most of my friends also use it as it has free calls between users. But last week Life was broken in Rzh for about 4-5 days. It was almost a minor catastrophe. We wondered how people ever managed to live and accomplish their daily lives before mobile phones. I couldn’t call my workers when I needed to. Social gatherings were hard to organise. It was eye-opening to see how much of our lives we have made dependent upon a piece of technology. It was also wonderful to realise that meaningful time spent with people, uninterrupted by telephones, is a lost art worth rediscovering.

Here’s an idea. Turn your phone off for an entire day (an entire week) and observe two things. Firstly, there is always a creative solution to every problem. Secondly, there are people close by with whom we can (and often should) interact with more. Do you rule your phone or does your phone rule you!?!

UTSIM

Holidays! – well not quite. Rzhyshchiv is on holidays from classes while Kaharlyk continues til the end of this month. I’ve had preliminary interviews with my staff and have some new-look contracts for next year. I have spent a few hours with a tent in the centre of town advertising our business. We hope in the next 12 months to grow the business to a size which makes it profitable. This coming week we have advertised three days for early-bird sign up for next year. Pray that the right people will come to study with us next year.

Great news also is that we will be renting the same house in Rzh again next year. A huge thanks to Gaven who has had to think through lots of issues to make this work for both him and us.

We had a good day out at the water park as a staff – just relaxing and enjoying time together. Sometimes it is easy to get too bogged down with the agenda and forget the journey and the relationships along the way.

LIFE OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS

AWESOME WEEKEND

It’s Sunday night as I type this and I’ve just had a great weekend. I picked up Max, Andrei, Ivanka, Luba, Olya and Halya in Kyiv on Friday night and they all came and stayed at my house for the weekend. It was fun cooking together, going to the beach at night and during the day, visiting sights around Rzh, having a fire and singsong outside with other Rzh friends and a prayer time together. Church was quite full this morning too and it was great to have Max and Luba join in with the music group. Luba is a really talented musician and also a professional clown (my dream). You can see some of the talent Ukraine has watching Luba here.

Thanks for a great weekend guys. Come again!

CAMP IS COMING – STILL NEED A MOTOR

The next time I write a monthly will be just before camp 120. Wow! There is a lot to do between now and then. A huge thanks to those who have promised money for a boat motor. We are up to US$700. That is almost enough to buy a 2 horsepower motor (check out this site and use Google translator to help you - Yamaha boat motors in Ukraine) .

I would also love prayer for the organisation of camp – both pragmatically and spiritually. To make the camp physically happen is a big team effort and a lot of work in the couple weeks preceding - and hoping the right people come through at the right time with boats and tents etc. But most of all pray for the spiritual aspects of camp. We will consider the theme of Serve and Grow. Growth in becoming a disciple of Jesus comes through service.

TENT IN TOWN

This past week there has been a big tent in town with a group of people running children, family and youth outreaches every day. They also had an art display in the centre street and were able to share the gospel with many people. I had a busy week but I was round and about for a little bit and went along on a couple of evenings. Pray that the seeds planted will be faithfully watered by those of us who live here all the time.

WHAT YA READIN’?

I finished The Return of the King by Tolkien and thoroughly enjoyed every bit of my adventures through Middle Earth.

Since then I have read a short book God of my Father by Dr Larry Crabb and his father. It was a great read to consider the impact one generation has on the next, to consider the weight of responsibility one has growing up in a God honouring Christian family and some insightful thoughts I enjoyed along the way.

I have just started Say You’re One Of Them by Uwem Akpan. It is interesting so far and some of it is set in places in Africa where I have been.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Camp 120 – Serve and Grow

Sign up days for UTSIM

Great friends who come to visit

Technology – I can communicate with you all so easily

THANKS

To the guys from Kyiv, Carpathia, Priluky, Nizhyn and Poltava who came for the weekend. Thanks!

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

ON BEING SELFISH

A couple of my friends used to enjoy debating whether or not the root of all sin was pride or selfishness. Today I was standing in church and I thought about not wanting to sin. I thought about how I don’t want sin in my life and realised that it was a very selfish thought. I don’t want sin in my life primarily because it makes me feel bad. The real reason should be because God hates sin not because it makes me feel bad. And then standing there in church I could notice all the kids that were making noise, running round, crying and I was getting distracted and thinking their parents should do a better job – and then thought maybe I’m being selfish again. Maybe everyone else here is able to worship God and enjoy the kids and I’m only thinking about me. And there are lots of things I want God to do in my life. Lots of good things. Yet I realise how me-centred all of this is.

Jesus said, “If anyone wants to follow me he should deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” I don’t think you are being selfish when you take up your cross. I need some fresh perspective. I am glad that God is God and He is working. I am glad that the Holy Spirit is here to continually nudge me back in the right direction.

UTSIM

Thank you so much to everyone who prayed this last week. And to those who encouraged me in word and to those who helped out. I think our end of year celebration on Thursday night went well. I was only disappointed that a few students (including some receiving top awards) were not present. But we had about 70 people there and the kids that came all did a great job and were very enthusiastic.

This coming week I have staff interviews and we need to look seriously at how things are going to run next year. I also have staff working through til the end of June which I need to supervise work for. We are continuing classes in Kaharlyk til the end of this month and I hope to spend a bit of time there feeling out the potential for next year.

Please pray about one more qualified English teacher (a Ukrainian or Russian speaker) for our youngest classes for next year.

Tomorrow we will have our end of year staff party. I am taking them to the Aqua Park near Kyiv. I want to say thanks for the way they have worked together this year.

BITS AND PIECES

The day at the zoo with the special needs kids from Rzhyshchiv was a fun day for them. We spent about three hours at the zoo and then went to McDonalds for lunch. There were 16 of us all up. I have enjoyed the way that a few young people have diligently committed themselves to giving time to those who are so often neglected. Personally I was very saddened by the Kyiv Zoo. The animals do not have enough space and to take them out of their natural habitat to be gawked at does not rest easy with me.

This week there will be a tent in Rzhyshchiv running daily outreaches for kids and families and teenagers. Pray that the many people being invited will come along and be touched by the power of the Good News about Jesus.

Next weekend I’m having about 10 friends from Kyiv come and stay so it’s going to be a full house but a weekend I know I’m going to thoroughly enjoy.

I have been thoroughly enjoying a book called “God of My Father” by Larry Crabb. I want to paraphrase a bit to make it a challenge to myself and maybe for you also.

“My testimony does not include daily miracles and unremitting joy and constant excitement over meaningful ministry. But perhaps I can be mature enough to enter into mystery, cling to what is clear, and continue yielding to the unquenchable passion within me to know God regardless of whatever other passions, good or bad, remain within me.”

PRAYER AND PRAISE

UTSIM celebration night

UTSIM staffing for next year

Learning to be less selfish

Outreach tent in Rzhyshchiv this week

THANKS TO

Peter and Beth Kirkegard. You guys are legends and I appreciate you muchly J

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

ON BEING FAITHFUL

Today Simbo preached about the faithfulness of God. People break promises. Sometimes we make promises we could never even keep. But God always keeps all of His promises. Today we also heard from a young man, Yura. He gave his life story of being touched by God in Sunday School, but as a teenager walking further and further away from God. But God had a tug on his heart, and he eventually let go and said OK God I’ll trust You. I started thinking of those who faithfully teach Sunday School, or in some other way introduce children to the Good News and the person of Jesus. We should be faithful in planting and spreading seeds of faith. Only God knows how and when the fruit will come.

May all who come behind me, find me faithful.

UTSIM

The final week of teaching is upon us. Please pray for me. I feel the pressure of being the leader. I am aware of so many of my weaknesses. I criticize, I am unforgiving, I fail to delegate or I try to control, I am scared of failing because I am too proud of my own efforts. I am also distinctly aware of how much I have to accomplish before Thursday night and wonder if it can all be done. So please pray. Pray less for the details and more for the attitudes in me and those around me – that we seek to love God and those around us in all things.

I have written my end of year reports. Students are practicing skits and songs for our Thursday night end of year celebration. Please pray that we will be a real light in the community.

I have some big questions in my mind regarding the next academic year at UTSIM. There are a number of changes which need to be made. I feel there are three distinct parts of UTSIM

• Business – it has to be honest, viable and credible as well as stay afloat.
• Missional – we want to make an impact in the community where we live for the sake of Jesus.
• Educational – the program, teachers, lessons, reporting and feedback etc. should all be of a high educational standard.

I feel pulled from one of these to another and can’t manage them all. Please pray that I will know exactly how to prioritise. God give me grace!

BITS AND PIECES

Matt and Anya’s wedding was a lovely day. It starts early if you have a van! But I was glad I could help out. We had to transport stuff to the park where the ceremony was held. Four of us boys had to bounce and shift a car that was blocking the entrance. It was great to catch up with Sam and Melissa who came from the States for the wedding. Sam spent a year in Australia back in 1995 or 96. He even came to camp Toukley with me. I was at their wedding in Latvia back in 2004. I’ve been to a number of weddings. It is great to witness when a couple declare before God their desire to live as one for Him.

This coming Saturday we are having another day with special needs kids from Rzhyshchiv. We are taking them to Kyiv to the Zoo and to McDonalds. Pray that the time spent with them and their families will be meaningful.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Thank God for all of His promises

Final week for UTSIM and end of year celebration

Me to be a better ‘boss’

Matt and Anya as they prepare to live in the US

Day at the Zoo with special needs kids

THANKS TO

Anyone who reads this and gives me some encouragement this week – I’m feeling a little overwhelmed right now.

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up