April 2007 Monthly Update

Escalators
The Kyiv Metro system has some very long escalators. I like waving to all the people going the other way and calling out “hello” or “smile”! Most people try to stare straight ahead, but some will smile or wave back, and the other day someone called out “Jono!” Kyiv is a small place!!

Why do we do the things we do? What things are important in life? I have been thinking along these lines lately.

Knowing God – this is what we are created for
Grace and Mercy – these gifts from God are how we can Know Him
Good Deeds – Knowing God and Grace and Mercy will cause us to do these

Your home work is to read the book of Titus (in the Bible) and think about these three things. I welcome an email giving me your thoughts – or a short comment on the website for all to read.

Rural Ukraine Foreign Language Services
Vision:
To bring glory to God using the avenue of language teaching, focusing on small towns and rural Ukraine.

Last month I told you about this new focus that God has given me and the last 4 weeks have been focused on pursuing this. I have met with countless people, searched many pages on the internet, and so far have nothing concrete to show for it. Sorry, I do have one thing – I now have a tax file number here in Ukraine. Also I have found out a lot of information, much of it contradictory or confusing. I have found a number of people who are interested in the idea and some who say they want to help after I first get registered.

I am thinking of teaching a few people from home on an informal basis, to get a start and to raise more interest. Please pray that the goal of bringing glory to God will always be foremost in my mind.

Olya (my translator) worked for me for the best part of 4 weeks. She has now finished up and gone back to Poltava. She oscillates from saying she wants to live with God and that is the best – to saying that it’s too hard, and she just wants to live her way. She needs a real wake up call from the Lord. Please continue to pray for her

Summer Time = Camp
Our summer time island camp, although a few months away, is something that I am getting started on now. I’m not sure of Ben Clarke’s availability for this year, and we have worked really well as a team in the past two years. I have had interest from people indicating that it could be over 100 people coming. The goal of this camp is:
“To provide an affordable holiday for Christians from all over Ukraine. Emphasis will be on fun, fellowship, encouragement, challenge from God's word and wholesome relaxation.”

Please pray for the people who will come, the messages that will be given, and the organisation and work to be done beforehand. I’ll be talking more about it closer to summer. But if someone wants to come and help me out in the first week of July – please let me know.

Rzhyshchiv People and Happenings
On Thursday nights Dan and Pris are running a Growing Kids God’s Way course. Please pray for the families attending. Dan and Pris have 4 beautiful kids. I remember Dan sharing with me “It didn’t just happen this way. Anything good takes hard work and a lot of investment.” The challenge for people the world over is to invest in that which is eternally important – not just trying to get rich or important here in this world.

Please pray for Tanya and her three kids Yulia, Sasha and Luba. She is attending this course and church on Sundays. She has yet to invite Jesus to be the Lord and Saviour of her life.

I am trying each week to meet with various friends and talk with them on a deeper level and pray with them and encourage them. Last week I met up with a good friend Inga. Please continue to pray for her and her faith in God. She is from Rzhyshchiv but lives in Kyiv so we don’t often see her to encourage her.

Easter
Here in Ukraine – the majority of people are Orthodox Christian – in name only. This means that most of them will attend a few special days and festivals each year and have a priest present at births, deaths and marriages. Easter is an especially important time in the religious calendar and most people will attend a service at some time. Everyone greets each other with the words “Christ is Risen” and reply “Indeed He is Risen”.

In Australia, Easter is commercialised, in Ukraine it is ritualised.
Christ is indeed risen and the power of this truth we can know in our lives every day through the year. Please pray for genuine seekers of God this Easter; that they will see Him for who He is and put their faith in Jesus.

What Ya Readin'?
I read a helpful little book called “Foreign to Familiar” by Sarah Lanier. I highly recommend this book for anyone travelling to another culture or even for Sydneysiders living in a multi-cultural society. An easy reading and very insightful book on cultural differences. 4/5

I also read a copy of the Darwin Awards which I picked up in a second hand bookstore. A pointless little book with a few laughs. Mankind can be so stupid – there are people our there even sillier than me!! 2/5

Prayer and Praise

• Summer Camp in July
• Rural Ukraine Foreign Language Services
• Olya
• Easter would be a time when seekers meet Jesus face to face
• Tanya and her kids

Thanks
Dan and Xan for the TimTams for my birthday.

Love Jono
Keep Looking Up

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