September 2007 Monthly Update

Plans

Plans can be dangerous. Plans can be good too. God declares that He knows the plans he has for us – to give us a future and a hope. I have a lot of things already planned out for the next few months. But recently I have been challenged to wake up every day and say, “Jesus, like a shepherd, lead me.” But if I am locked into my plans made in my humanity, then I may miss out on the better plans God has for me – made in divinity. I am wanting to learn more and more each day to live the divine life instead of the human life. It means that life is about God and not about me. It means that my mind will and emotions must come under God’s guidance. It means that I do not live out of my own strength.

The plans I have made for the next few months look like this:
September: Teaching English and Sunday School in Rzhyshchiv and getting ready to leave Ukraine – plus a short visit to Kyrgyzstan at the end of the month.
October: Teaching in London
November: Visiting my cousin in Zambia and helping out on the farm they manage there
December: I arrive in Australia a little before Christmas
But these are my plans – please pray that the plans I make are Spirit led. And pray that I am in such close communion with God that I will listen to Him and be ready to change my human plans for His divine ones. That is a very scary statement – I prefer to know what’s going on and have an element of control.

Boys Boys Boys

Last week 7 lads packed into the van and we headed north of Kyiv and camped by the huge expanse of water that is the Dnipr River. We had an absolutely beautiful place to camp, and we enjoyed bonding together cooking, eating, swimming, fishing, praying, reading, singing, playing Frisbee and King of the Mountain. Jesse, the youngest, being the self declared winner of King of the Mountain.

God is moving in my heart to work with boys and young men, to love them and understand them and be along side them. This month Sergei and I are teaching Sunday School. The first week we had a couple of brothers, Nazar and Bogdan. They both need a lot of love and discipline. Please pray that I will love them with the love of God in me. Pray that their spirits will respond to the Holy Spirit speaking through God’s Word as we share it.

Ukrainian Centre for Foreign Languages

Praise God! I finally have the registration complete. I have the official stamp of the Ukrainian Centre for Foreign Languages. It’s funny timing, as I will leave the country in one month. But it will be all ready to go when I return next year. It feels great to have this finally finished – I started in March. Big thanks to Alya and Sveta who did all the work for me.

I am starting lessons again this week for my current students. Pray that these will be effective times and that the direction for the future will be made clear.

Ruth and Jon

It has been really great spending time with my sister and bro in law. We have come to understand and love each other at a deeper level. They are now living in Kyiv and have started the year teaching at the British International School. They are hoping to come to Rzhyshchiv most weekends. They will be looking after my van while I am away. Pray for safety for them driving in the winter time.

People

Kolya and Jeanne will be looking after my house while I am away. Pray that it will be a blessing to them as they start out a new life of marriage.

Snowy (Victor Barwick) from QLD is here for a couple weeks and has been a great help levelling my new carpark area with the 20 tonnes of landfill I got last week. He is spending time overseas visiting missionaries and family and friends. He has a love for God that shows in his conversation and I am enjoying having him stay.

Igor came and stayed on Friday night. He is working with youth in a small village about an hours drive from here. It was good to see him again. He and Sergei Chaban will both be required to commence their military service soon. Pray for them both in this.

What Ya Readin'?

I’ve started a book by John Piper, Let The Nations Be Glad. It is a great book about God’s heart for missions. However it’s not easy bedtime reading so it may take a while to get through.

So in-between times I read The Great Houdini by Beryl Williams and Samuel Epstein. It was a great book to read. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about this amazing man and even felt sad when I came to his death in the book. 4/5

Prayer and Praise

• God’s plans – far above our plans
• Boys camping trip
• Nazar and Bogdan
• Sunday School
• English Lessons
• Snowy

Thanks

• Natalie Lovett (former grade 3 student) for a really encouraging email!

Love Jono

Keep Looking Up

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