Jono Miller

Monthly Newsletter January 2010

Sat, 09/01/2010 - 15:20 |

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 7^th and the evening of the 6^th 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