Monthly Newsletter December 2010

UTSIM

Last month we had an epistle from Natasha. This month I have little to say from UTSIM. I will endeavour to have a half yearly progress report for you in January.

I do know that UTSIM is struggling to make ends meet and I am in the process of nutting out a solid business vision and mission statement and rough plan for next year and into the future. I need to make wise and solid decisions, combining the gifts and opportunities I have with the needs of the people in and around the area of Ukraine.

LIFE OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS (or inside Australia)

Last week I was the LOTE teacher for grades 1-5. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching kids to write their names in Ukrainian and talk a little about Ukraine. Jeff also enjoyed interacting with a bunch of kids again. This week I am back at school again as a Kindy teacher. It is a full-on undertaking instructing a whole lot of young and easily distracted minds. I’m enjoying the challenge and am glad to be back working there. I enjoy the staff around me – a great bunch to work with.

Anna Watkins turned 21 this week. It’s been great staying with the Watkins and getting to know Anna better has been a blessing to me. It’s wonderful to be challenged by the life of a young person.

I thoroughly enjoyed table tennis on Friday night with the Russian Table Tennis Club. It was the life I’m used to – sitting in a group of people and not being able to understand everything.

I also got to watch The Chronicles of Narnia 3, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I thoroughly enjoyed the film and was again amazed at what CS Lewis can do with my heart. As in the first two films – the relationship between Aslan and Lucy is so wonderful. So simple and yet so real. So full of pure faith and trust. It brought a tear to my eye.

Come the end of this week, I’m flying to NZ for Magdala and Jamin’s wedding. Magdala was in Ukraine for about 6 years.

WHAT YA READIN’?

I’m still going with Tolstoy’s War and Peace. I have been extremely slow with reading lately – but a couple of plane trips coming up and a bit of summer holidays – I plan to finish it off and get stuck into an ever growing list of books I want to read.

THANKS

To David for your generosity with the provision of such a nice car to drive.

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up