Rasita My Family, My Animals, My Food

The following update is from Bruce Crowe in Ukraine and he is coordinating means by which we can help.

“Apologies on the delayed update, it's been difficult to get a clear picture of the current and short term outlook for Vlad.
Vlad is now in the Kyiv prison, transferred from the holding cell during his appeal. It is an upgrade in terms of people per room, beds, and ability to move around. His family was able to visit with him last week (after standing in the sub-zero temps for 5hrs). He sends his love and thanks for the prayer support and is having good and bad days.
Tom has been talking with his parents and wife regularly as every week there seems to be a new piece of information. The lack of a trustworthy process combined with minimal information has really caused a lot of stress. The family is requesting help promoting this case with the media, as the next and final appeal to the upper court is something that could take months, or even years. Simeon has been contacting Amnesty International in an effort to find someone who will help with some pull. Please be in prayer that the efforts would produce some results.
We want to thank again the church in Chernihiv for the care packages they took Vlad for several months. Now that Vlad is in the Kyiv region, his parents are going 2x per month, and we're hoping that some of us can eventually get in to see Vlad as well and take him care packages.
Several people have been waiting to hear how you can help. We have put together TWO options that would be a huge blessing to Vlad, his family, and the church here.
Please prayerfully consider:
1- A small monthly contribution towards the regular CARE PACKAGES being assembled. We are budgeting $150/mo which will be enough to bless Vlad but also those in his cell with basic humanitarian items. These items act as currency for Vlad as well inside the prison.
and/or
2- Contribute a one time gift to bless and help his wife Vika and young son. As a church we are trying to bless them with diapers, and other basic help over the course of Vlad's imprisonment. Fortunately Vika has family that is taking care of their immediate needs, however she is considering going back to work soon as they will need money. We are not trying to raise a certain amount, but we do want to love them in this practical way as the body of Christ. This is a great evangelistic opportunity to share the love of God with this entire family.
To donate online, you can use my Secure Paypal Link (you can use your credit card or bank check card). All funds received will go 100% to the family.
http://www.liftupyoureyes.com/?page_id=877
On behalf of everyone praying for justice for Vlad – Bruce”

Simeon also writes with a request that anyone who has connections to Amnesty International may be able to help. Also included is a very moving poem.

“Sorry it has been a while since we updated you on Vlad’s situation. We were out of the country getting visas for a while, and even when we’re home, the full picture is difficult to piece together, and we are given a small chunk of ‘latest developments’, which a few days later turns out to have not been accurate in some way…

Anyway, here’s the most concrete bits:

The appeal, on 11th January, was unsuccessful. This means as things stand Vlad is in prison for 7 years. He has only one chance left – an appeal to the High Court. The pile of papers that is his application, are in, and in theory that appeal could be heard next month. But what we are told is much more likely to happen, is that someone will pick up the pile of papers, then push it to the side and say “I’ll look at this later.” And around 6 months later, they will pick it up again. And say “I’ll look at this later.” I’m told that, for now, Vlad has the attitude that he is working on getting out within 2-3 years, based on the appeal taking that long to be heard, and being successful.

From a human perspective, the only obvious hope of things moving faster, is if it’s possible to get the media involved. The family are currently exploring that option. Something else we are interested in, is whether or not Amnesty International would be willing to get involved. They have been contacted in Kyiv, and told us we should send them a letter, which they will pass on to London, and London will decide.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY CONTACTS AT ALL AT AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL (IN BRITAIN / LONDON) WHO COULD BE CONTACTED MORE DIRECTLY AND HENCE QUICKLY, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP IN SOME WAY.

Vlad has seen very little of his family over the last couple of months. Last week, his wife Vika, and his dad, went to Kyiv, stood outside waiting in very cold weather for 5 hours, and finally got to spend a couple of hours with him. I don’t know when was the last time Vlad saw his 18 month old son, Matvei.

A friend in Scotland has been moved by this story, and inspired to write a poem, which I will share here. I find it very powerful and moving. I don’t know if this poem can ‘achieve’ anything (we are going to get it translated into Russian and maybe someone with influence will hear it some day, who knows), but at the very least, I believe it might inspire you to pray more earnestly as it highlights some of the reality that Vlad and his family are so unfairly facing at this time. And we DO know that there is much power in prayer / in the God who hears our prayers. Here is the poem:

When It Shall Be Well With Thee.

No more the smell

Of a newly bathed baby.

No longer his tomato-soft knees,

Or broken nights’ sleep

In caring for the child I love

And the mother I willingly serve.

Gone, the thrilling prospect

Of faltering first steps,

Fresh formed language

And sharing the mixed emotions

Of first-day-school.

Missing, the homework,

School friends in the back field,

Bicycles dumped in the yard

From dirt-tracking in the forest,

Mud-caked shoes scattered at the back door.

What will be remembered

By the one I love,

The two I adore?

What will remain of the knowing

And being known?

For I languish in confinement.

Flickering hope,  trembling faith,

The cries of Joseph

Reverberating in my head.

“Think on me when it shall

Be well with thee.

And shew kindness, I pray,

Unto me.

Make mention of me

For nothing have I done

That they should put me into this

Dungeon.”

Many thanks for your continuing prayers. We will try to keep you well informed, and just HOPE that there will be ‘developments’ (very good ones) to inform you of.

With love,

The Ewings and the church in Rzhyshchiv.”

One of the quotes on my website says: “When I grow up I want to be a little boy.” It is by Joseph Heller an American author. One of his well-known books is Catch-22 which I read a while back (review in this blog). If you read a lot of what Heller has to say about life and about God – he is very cynical. He almost sounds like Solomon in Ecclesiastes. The quote almost seems to say – don’t grow up because then everything just gets too complicated.

Maybe you feel like that – sometimes I do. But I want us to think about children. Can you think back to your childhood? I’m sure there are a mixture of good and bad memories and feelings. But the chances are that one overshadows the other and you look back on childhood with a pleasant feeling or it is very painful for you.

But children are precious. I thoroughly enjoyed being involved in Bribie Beach Mission and Lonsdale Kid’s Camp (see Newspaper article) and again in Kid’s Club at church this year. Jesus still welcomes all of us as children. That means the first steps of faith are easy enough for anyone to take. We need to come without the answers to the ‘The Answer’. As we grow we can understand that the deeper our theology, the higher our praise.

I would also love to challenge you to take the time and the effort to love children. Spend time with them. Sacrifice for them. Listen to them. Validate them. Most of all, share the greatest truth of the world with them – that Jesus loves them.

“Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” Matthew 19:14

Yesterday I made borsch. I bought some Polish rye bread to go with it. I think I was having a Ukrainian nostalgic feeling. I am really looking forward to being back in Ukraine for 3 months later this year. I have had a few chats with friends in Ukraine recently. It is bitterly cold there right now and a number of people have died across Ukraine because of the cold. I have heard that my house is warm but the water pipes to the house have frozen so there is no running water inside. I have realised that being away for so long (now over 16 months) changes many things. Please pray that as I go back I will have a joyous time reconnecting with friends and discovering God’s will for me in Ukraine in the future. And on top of that, pray for decisions to be made regarding UTSIM. The business is continuing to have a really positive influence in Rzhyshchiv. It is just very difficult to maintain it financially without being willing to illegally cut some corners. I would appreciate prayer for decisions that I will make regarding many things in Ukraine.

On top of all this while life goes on for everyone, Vlad continues to languish in jail. There is room for another appeal, but first it must be granted and a date set. The information I have is that it could take 6-12 months for a date to be set. Please don’t forget to pray for our brother Vlad in jail and his wife Vika and son Mattvie.

I’m now back in Sydney. I have yet to be called in for a day’s casual teaching, but hope that won’t be too far away. There is plenty to keep my busy meanwhile. I will be away a lot this year and coordinating all the details can be quite time consuming. On March 14, I leave for Tajikistan, followed by a few days in Mumbai, India and then about a week visiting Dan and Xan in Thailand. Please pray for the required documentation I have applied for and am now awaiting for this trip.

In Tajikistan I will be visiting friends Pete and Soph and their family along with some others. If you would like to know more please email me personally.

In NZ I went with my youngest sister Priscilla and her family to where my parents were holidaying at Kinohaku on the Kawhai Harbour. I had never even heard of this place. It was out of the way – we had to drive 45 minutes to buy milk. But it was a very pretty spot. We visited some beautiful falls, a natural arch, black iron sand beaches, and we went boating and bush walking. The week before I went with Ruth and Jon to the top of NZ and saw the meeting of the oceans. Jon and I paddled farther out into the deep deep blue of the Pacific (and thankfully made it back again). As I marvelled at the beauty of NZ I thought about our unspoiled it is. It is such a long way from anywhere, relatively young as far as human footprints go, and reasonably low in population. These things combine to give NZ some of its unique appeal. But it made me think more about our influence on this planet. God created all we see. God loves all that He created. Yet the pinnacle of His creation was made in His own image. His greatest love is reserved for humankind – and yet it is humankind who has wrought such destruction upon the very world that God made and loves. The whole earth waits for the redemption God will bring.

The next few weeks I will be involved in Kid’s Club at church, playing touch footy, helping out with Beecroft Rugby, Russian table tennis club, a night or two at Live Wire youth group and hopefully some teaching work. If I have some spare time I might be fitting in coffee with a few friends I neglected to catch up with last year – get in touch if you have the time and the inkling.

I have now been staying with the Bryants for 12 months and am thankful to God and to them for a good place to stay and for good company.

I Resurrection by L. Tolstoy is one of the best books I have read by him. It is not as long as Anna or War and Peace yet it paints such an amazing picture of the protagonists, their backgrounds, feelings, longings and inner turmoils. I thoroughly recommend this book. 5/5

I have now started a 600 pg biography of Bonhoeffer. I know little about him and am eager to learn.

I am also reading a book during my morning devotions entitled Paul for Everyone – Romans by Tom Wright. It is unfolding the book of Romans in bite sized pieces in a very scholarly and yet easy to read and relevant style. Sometimes the odd quote makes it to my Facebook wall.

· For children

· My house in Ukraine

· UTSIM

· Vlad still in jail

· Trip to Tajikistan, India and Thailand

· Casual work

THANKS....

David and Jacky Bryant for giving this stray a place to live.

Sometimes being involved in “doing God’s work” so beautifully brings us to a place of relying totally on Him; that when it’s all over, and we come back home, we discover a big let-down. At camp we try to keep the big goal in mind. We love and support, we encourage and lift up, we self-sacrifice and work hard, we have a cheerful attitude, we pray, we enjoy mutual spiritual encouragement.

Why is the exact opposite so often true immediately following a time like this? We are lazy, self-centred, prone to arguments, etc. It shouldn’t be this way. However, we have good company. Elijah also experienced this. Read about it in 1 Kings 18-19.

I received an encouraging update from Sveta on her work with UTSIM. I’d like to share some of that with you.

“We all are doing okay! Finished the first half of the semester with some success I guess :) No, actually I am really proud of those kids not just with their study achievements but also it's nice to see how they grow in different things. Of course there have been different moments... But in general I am blessed having this opportunity to be with them. And not just with the kids, there are also some students (college age) and adults - one girl, and a married couple. They are funny; it's nice to spend some time with them also.

Sometimes it's hard to prepare for the lesson, because there are some things I don't know, but books are helpful and the internet on my phone is very helpful too :-)”

Sveta has really grown into her role as a teacher. She is very dedicated both to her students and towards her job. Praise God for her and pray that she will have strength through the winter months. She works for less than $200 a month. Think of how much you earn in just one day!

Last week was a fantastic week with 42 kids at Lonsdale Children’s Camp. We had a Treasure Island theme and I shared the good news of Jesus coming to rescue us from sin. I wrote an allegory heavily influenced by Pilgrims Progress and Aslan from CS Lewis’ Narnia series. The main character was Luos, a boat belonging to Great One, who is lured away to the Easy Isles by E.Luci. The word TREASURE created an acronym which told the story in four parts. The first part was Totally Rejected. You’ll have to write and ask if you would like more (or wait for me to write a book).

I have a few days with Ruth and Jon and then with Pris and Sjoerd’s family and Mum and Dad. I’ll be back in Australia in February.

· Sveta and UTSIM

· Kid’s Camp

· Time with family

· Spiritual vitality

Ruth and Jon for your generosity to me and to many others.

Ruth asked all the kids to go and get their Bibles and come back ready for devotions.

One of the boys asked, "What's a Bible?"

Ruth replied that if they don't have one she'd give one to them.

This little boy wanted to know if perhaps he did have what was needed.

"What's it like, is it some kind of torch?"

Another child tried to help out. "It's the book that Christians read."

To which the boy replied, "What's a Christian?"

Two things stand out to me from that conversation.

We live in a post Christian society. We cannot assume that people know about God and His ways.

Psalm 119:105 says that God's Word is like a torch to light our way.

Our society will continue to flounder in darkness if we are not luminated by God's truth.

UKRAINE CONNECTIONS

The tough news from last week is that the judge upheld the original conviction of Vlad. He remains in prison and is rather downheartened.

Prison conditions are not pleasant. Pray for Vlad to keep his faith strong in God. There is a higher court he can appeal to and as more details come to light I will let you know. Please keep praying for Vlad and don't lose hope.

I'm in NZ on camp with Ruth and Jon. I have written an allegory inspired by Pilgrim's Progress and CS Lewis. The theme of the camp is Treasure Island. Maybe I'll give a run down after camp.

Beach Mission finished really well. Stacks of kids heard the good news about Jesus and the team of 25+ helpers worked really well together.

I enjoyed the wedding of Jenny and Phil at the farm in Eureka.

Congrats guys and the Murphy's place looked spectacular.

· Beach Mission

· Phil and Jenny

· Kid's Camp

· Vlad

Thanks to 'Aussie Dad' for an early trip to the airport.

What will 2012 hold for me? For you? What does God want for me? How should I live in this world? Where should I live in this world? What is the greatest need? What should a Christian look like to those on the outside? What about poverty? What about corruption? What about war? What about greed? What is my responsibility to the earth’s ecology? What does God think about climate change? Why do people work so hard to get so much money to spend it on a place to live? How should I earn my money?

These are just a few of the thoughts swirling around in my head. Maybe 2012 will help unravel one or two. I hope I get the chance to sit down over a coffee with a few of you this year (those who read this) and maybe discuss one of two of the above questions.

Please pray for Vlad and for the lawyers and judge involved in his case on January 11. Pray for God’s name to be honoured and exalted. Pray for peace for Vlad. Pray for justice and truth. Please also pray for Vlad’s wife Vika and son Matthew.

I spent a few days with Tim and Judith and girls and had a great time hanging out with girls and a good bike ride with Tim. We found a tawny frog mouth separated from its mother. Then a couple days with Josh and Bec and kids was also just a good hang out time, as well as a few home improvement jobs. I did leave Josh to finish the last one on his own though! Now I’m with Gollans and helping out at Bribie Island Beach Mission for the week. Please pray for the kids this week. Pray that it will not be by our might or power, but by His Spirit. This coming Saturday is Jenny Murphy’s wedding back at the farm and then I fly across to NZ for camp with Ruth and Jon. Pray as I prepare the talks for camp. PRAYER AND PRAISE

· Vlad’s appeal

· Beach Mission on Bribie Island

· Jenny and Phil’s wedding

· Kid’s Camp in NZ

Everyone who has had me stay a night or more this past month

‎Thankfulness and Anticipation

I want to look back on 2011 with thankfulness. Try it. Try listing all the things you can be thankful for last year.

I thank God for a place to live, a car, a job, a wonderful school of staff and students, a church family, my family in various parts of the world, visiting and visits from friends, rugby, Gollans, Weldons, Turners, Kids Club, coffee, Skype, NZ, Ukraine, Australia, mountains, Millers, Pirinis, van Ballegooys, Walkers, Kirkegards, Bryants, Watkins, Facebook, cricket, health, table-tennis, good food, and there is so much more I could add. I notice how richly God has blessed me with good people in my life. Thank you to everyone reading this who has been a part of my life this year. That’s looking back.

Looking forward, I have anticipation. Sure I have some plans (see below), but my greatest anticipations are revolved around little bits of unknown. Because I choose to place my faith in God and His good plans for my life – I eagerly await the outpouring of His grace in my life in the ways He chooses. I anticipate good relationships with friends, renewed friendships, growing to be more filled with His Spirit so that selfish desires become less and my desire for godliness increases.

“The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.”(D.L. Moody)

In anticipation I ask the same from God.

Praise God for UTSIM. Thank you to the generous donors who helped boost the work that Sveta and Natasha are doing this year. Later this year I hope to have some face to face time with Natasha in Ukraine to ascertain the future direction of UTSIM and how God would like to utilise what has been started in Ukraine in the area of education. I am open and ready for God to move in any direction – even to expand or to condense.

Please also continue to pray for Vlad. His appeal date is coming up very soon – January 11. Please pray for the lawyers preparing his appeal and the judges who will decide. Pray for Vlad as he will be moved to a different prison on the 6th in readiness for the appeal. Also, you can join the Facebook group Justice for Vlad Schaslyvyi if you would like to stay more updated.

HOLIDAY TIME

I’m writing this from sunny QLD, beautiful one day, perfect the next. I’m staying with my brother Tim and Judith and family. My nieces are really growing up so quickly. It is great to be able to hang out with them. I spent the Christmas to New Year period down in my favourite part of the world, Eureka. It was another great Xmas at the farm, with the Murphy Maulers once again defeating the Wellings Warriors in a thrilling cricket match that came down to the final wicket being taken on the second to last ball and a win by 2 runs!

I have enjoyed down time, reading, sleeping, scrabble, coffee, tennis, 500, etc. It is good to refresh and recharge – but I feel ready to get going with a few things again. Being made in the image of God, we are made to create, to work, to also rest, to enjoy and to celebrate.

I even found a definition of me in the flat where I was staying. Except they spelled my name with two letters different!

2012 PLANS (D.V.)

So what does this year hold? I have a number of tentative plans which, although they may change, I’ll lay out here. I ask you to pray about these plans, that I will be sensitive to God’s leading, that He would teach me and use me to bring glory to His Kingdom.

January:

·Bribie Island Beach Mission, QLD

·Lonsdale Kids Camp, NZ

·Visit family, NZ

February:

·Casual teaching, NSW

March:

·Casual teaching, NSW

·Short term mission trip to Tajikistan

April:

·Possible trip to Thailand

·Casual teaching, NSW

May:

·Casual teaching, NSW

·Possible Aussie Outback trip with Dad

June-August:

·Ukraine

September:

·Possible trip to Nepal to see the Himalayas (long-time dream of mine)

Oct – Dec:

·Casual teaching, NSW

It sounds like a lot of planning, but I want to hold these plans loosely and be ready for what God has for me. I have prayed and ask you to pray about these plans also.

If I missed seeing you in 2011, I would love to catch up with you in 2012. Please help me make that a reality. The people God places along my path are important to me.

I read Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. It was not as good as The Poisonwood Bible but an interesting read exploring human relationships as well as challenging our stewardship of planet earth.

I have now started Resurrection by L. Tolstoy. I am enjoying the range of feelings created and the deep insight of human dilemmas that Tolstoy uncovers.

· Thankfulness for 2011

· Anticipation for 2012

· UTSIM

· VLAD (and wife and son )

· Holidays

· Bribie Beach Mission

· Lonsdale Children’s Camp

THANKS....

To Bella Braga for dancing with me on New Year’s Eve!!

What do you want for Christmas?

Today Jeff talked to the kids at our annual carols in the park (in the church) event. The number one thing most kids were looking forward to about Christmas is presents.

I have never ever believed in Santa Claus. In our family we didn’t hang out a stocking because it was not right to ask or expect a present. Now as an adult I downplay presents. You probably know that. You probably don’t get anything from me.

However, the kids in my class must have worked out that I like Tim Tams. I received 5 regular packets, one double packet and a metre long Tim Tam!! Although I don’t like asking for presents, I wish I had asked for a goat, or a piglet, a soccer ball or a bag of seeds. I don’t expect anyone to give me a present for Christmas. But if you want to get me something, then buy me a bag of seeds from Love Mercy or something from Tear, Compassion, or World Vision.

I’ve had a few Skype conversations with Rzhyshchiv friends recently. I realise how much I miss Ukraine even if I don’t miss the winter weather right now. It was encouraging to chat with Kolya today. He has such an enthusiasm for God since becoming a believer about a year and half ago. Please continue to pray for the town of Rzhyshchiv and for what God can do in and around and through the people of that town if they will humble themselves and turn from their sin and follow wholeheartedly after God.

Carols in the Park (in the church) went really well tonight. Jeff shared a kids’ spot which ended up with me reminding everyone that “unto us is born a Saviour who is Christ the Lord”. There is no better present than this.

It was great to celebrate with Brendon and Sarah the first birthday of their daughter Kyah. How quickly time flies. And how great it has been to have time to hang out with Brendon and Sarah this year in Sydney.

I am officially unemployed and to celebrate on my first day I slept in til nearly midday! This week I will head up to Eureka. I will be gone from Sydney until February. I’ll spend time in Eureka, Brisbane and NZ.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

· Kyah Walker!

· Carols in the Park (in the church)

· Unemployment!

· Rzhyshchiv

Ben Dixon for a really cool T-shirt

“It was granted to me to carry away from my prison years on my bent back, which nearly broke beneath its load, this essential experience: how a human being becomes evil and how good.

In the intoxication of youthful successes I had felt myself to be infallible, and I was therefore cruel.

In the surfeit of power I was a murderer and an oppressor.

In my most evil moments I was convinced that I was doing good, and I was well supplied with systematic arguments.

It was only when I lay there on rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good.

Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either—but right through every human heart—and through all human hearts. . . .

That is why I turn back to the years of my imprisonment and say, sometimes to the astonishment of those about me:

“Bless you, prison!”

I . . . have served enough time there.

I nourished my soul there, and I say without hesitation: “Bless you, prison, for having been in my life!”

—Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago: 1918-1956, Volume 2, pp. 615-617.

It’s not very often that I get mail. The other day I was surprised to get a letter from the NSW government. I had been driving 81 kms/hr in a 70 zone and consequently was being requested the pleasure of contributing $93 to the State’s coffers. I regularly go to pains to obey the speed limit. I often set my cruise control to make sure I don’t speed. Other cars regularly pass me even though I am doing the speed limit. But this time I had gone too fast, been photographed, and must now pay. I want to say, what about the other people who drive faster than me? What about all the times I get it right?

When I stand before God, I can’t say what about all the people who were worse than me. God’s standard is perfection – His perfection. If I break the law just once, then I have broken the law. And God’s infringement notice is not $93. It is death! Eternal separation from God in a place of torment and damnation.

Praise God that my fine was paid by Jesus on the cross of Calvary!

Some good news about Vlad sent from Tom in Rzhyshchiv!!

“A court date has been given to Vlad, January 11th 2012. Please pray Vlad will be released and the charges will be dropped. Also pray for the lawyer and wisdom in decisions for the family.

Vlad has met two believers in prison and has given his Bible away as well as Conner (a friend) passing some Bibles in. We were denied to pass Christian books to him so far. Vlad has requested that we ask permission to hold a service in the prison. Please pray that we will be granted permission to preach the gospel and encourage other believers.”

The Kids Club celebration went really well. We had a puppet play outlining the main things we had learned in devotions this year. We had a really nice dinner and lots of parents were there and enjoyed good company together. The children sang a couple of songs, recited a verse and each received a book as a gift. Pray for Kids Club for next year – I think we may need a few more leaders.

I went to the God Squad Sydney Chapter’s annual Christmas BBQ. It has been good getting to know Fred and Bec and family this year at the Bible Study they run. I ran into a couple of ex Kiwis and we did spend a fair deal of the night discussing rugby amongst other things. It is good to see men finding a common interest and utilising this as a means of encouraging each other and spreading the good news about Jesus.

Next week is our Carols in the Park night and I have been doing my best to sing up a storm in the choir. Jeff will also be appearing and I know he has been sitting in his case and been very lazy – so he really needs to practise this coming week.

School finishes off this week and I am pleased to say we have finished well. Thanks for your prayers. It has been a great three terms at TCS and I will miss it next year.

· Our fines have all been paid!

· Vlad

· Kid’s Club

· Sydney God Squad

· SCarols in the Park

Everyone who helped deliver calendars and carols invitations tonight.

‎How did 2011 start for you? How long ago was it? Maybe it seems like an eternity, or maybe just yesterday. The so called “silly season” is upon us. I wrote my thoughts on Christmas last year, so this year I will give Christmas a miss in my ramblings. But this time of year is the end of many things. School, clubs, Uni, church programs, sports schedules, regular monthly activities – so many things end for the year. How well do you end? At school I am encouraging the students to ‘finish well’. I too am finishing my contract at school. How will I finish?

God calls us to finish well, to run the race, to keep the faith. Actually the finish is of utmost importance. As in any sporting game, the team that wins is not the one that is ahead for most of the game, but the one that is ahead at the end. Where are you in life? Are you soaring with the eagles? Are you viewing the world from the top of your mountain? Are you struggling along through the dense woods? Or have you fallen over in the mud and can’t see past your smudged up spectacles? God is interested in helping you wherever you are – to finish well. Our journey with God is a marathon not a sprint, and the grace of God to help us is Jesus, Immanuel, God with us. He came to bring peace and joy to our lives, no matter what our circumstances. Finish the year well. Finish everything well.

Last week I had a Skype call with Natasha and Losha and I got to see Lilya and Denis. I had a little chat with Lilya – she has grown up so much. I realised how much I miss my Ukrainian family. I am looking forward to the possibility of a trip to Ukraine next year. I have been away too long and realise how much I miss those I have come to love there over the past few years.

Please continue to pray for UTSIM. Natasha has done a good job with documentation and passed some rigorous audits. However, they are insisting that she raises her own monthly salary (which she is not receiving in reality now anyhow). This will increase the taxes that UTSIM will need to pay and they are struggling to make ends meet. Please pray for a good solution. Continue also to pray for Sveta has she teaches 25 students every week – what a wonderful opportunity she has to be a living, walking testimony for Jesus in homes around Rzhyshchiv.

I have not really learned any Russian – but have enjoyed playing table tennis on Friday nights and interacting with my Russian and Ukrainian friends. I have invited some to our Carols in the Park on December 18. Please pray that they can come along.

Please also continue to pray for Vlad. Join the Facebook group Justice for Vlad Schaslyvyi if you would like to stay more updated.

Last night I went to the Toongabbie Baptist Church carols outreach. It was great to see some of my students there and to see Joel leading up front. He has a wonderful genuineness about the way he speaks. It was good to hang out with students outside of school.

Before that, I again had shashlik at my friend Dima’s house. Sometimes I am able to forget I am in Sydney. Especially seeing as earlier that morning I went to an art exhibition for a Ukrainian painter. I didn’t buy anything as the cheapest painting was $300, but I enjoyed reminiscing and speaking a little Ukrainian with the artist.

I am practising with the church choir for our carols night on December 18th to which I would love to invite anyone who lives in Sydney. I am also going to be doing the kids spot and would appreciate prayer as I prepare for that.

I am enjoying touch footy on Monday nights and even managed to score a try last week. Usually I am just too slow.

This week we have our Kid’s Club Presentation night – it was postponed by one week. The kids will be presenting a puppet play that Alicia, Alvin and I have put together to show the things we have learned this last year.

And of course school deters me from sloth and is ending with a bang. I am endeavouring to leave eternal footprints on the hearts of the students. Please pray that we all finish well!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Don’t Let the Goats Eat the Loquat Trees by Thomas Hale.

I have just started Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. I read her novel The Poisonwood Bible a few years back and it is one of my favourite books.

· Finish the year well

· TCS

· UTSIM

· VLAD (and wife)

· Carols in the Park

· Kids Club presentation

· Friends in Rzhyschiv

THANKS....

To Lilya Kurilko for brightening up my week with her infectious smile.

How do you know if God is speaking to you? Does he speak to you? Does he prompt you with little things? Are they are sometimes a little radical or illogical? I don’t mean stupid – I just mean not what your human conservative common sense tells you to do (or not to do).

The other day I had a weird inclination which I decided to follow. It felt weird to me, and I was pretty sure looked weird to those around me at the time. It was only a couple weeks later that I found out this act was the answer from God to someone who was testing out their faith in God in a certain matter. You have no idea how much that gave me a special reaction of praise to God.

Following Christ and being a part of the Kingdom of Heaven is sometimes so illogical to the world’s common sense. But God is your rewarder – not man.

Here is an update on Vlad from Bruce.

“Update- Vlad has caught a cold; he is in a room with 10-12 other guys, many whom smoke in the actual cell. The family is having difficulty with their lawyer, contacting him and gaining access to important documents. There is a growing concern that even their own lawyer may be part of the problems getting an appeal date set and his case out in the open. Pray together for truth to be revealed clearly, for the family to make informed, wise decisions. Connor (friend who lives near the prison) has taken several care packages, our church family is praying several times per week together, we've submitted written/stamped character references as requested, and are now preparing to take the issue to the press if necessary.”

My fear is that nothing will happen quickly and it will become easy for us to forget about Vlad. I want to keep praying and when people ask me about him that prompts me to pray for him. So thanks to all who have shown an interest and concern.

I chatted with Natasha last night. She told me Sveta is doing a great job teaching with UTSIM. Financially they are keeping most of their commitments. Natasha has paid salaries, taxes, rent and utilities. There is no money left for her salary. She asked for my advice and I did not know what to say and had no advice for her. Please thank God for Natasha and pray for the students with whom Sveta interacts. Sveta is currently teaching 25 kids and adults each week.

I have the beginnings of a summer cold with a runny nose – but I am determined to fight it off.

On Saturday I went up the Blue Mountains to check out a spot for a school excursion. It is truly beautiful up there. I also found a café/second hand bookshop. A combination of good coffee and second hand books is definitely a weakness of mine. I bought another Tolstoy which I will save for the summer holidays. I also found a copy of The Poisonwood Bible. I have a copy in Ukraine but quickly bought this one and would be happy to loan it out. It is a brilliant novel.

Saturday night was Alicia Morsillo’s 21st. It has been great watching her grow and serve Christ. She has a great love of kids and a passionate desire to serve others. The night was a testimony to the work of God in her life and it is so encouraging to be in the company of people such as her friends and family.

· Vlad

· Alicia Morsillo

· UTSIM students

· Sveta and Natasha working for UTSIM

The Winds for a really nice dinner and company over lunch this Sunday.

We all live in a house – of some sort. This past Saturday a bunch of people turned up at church to make houses. Just little ones made of gingerbread. I took a break from report writing and with the help of Ben Breedon, who made an excellent PowerPoint presentation, I talked about houses.

•What is does your house look like?

•What is your house made of?

•Do you have any ginger?

We talked about our gingerbread houses, the house in which we live in Sydney, and our personal house – us!

The gingerbread houses probably won’t last past Christmas. The houses we live in will last a lot longer – but not forever. However, we have eternity written on our hearts.

A gingerbread house without ginger would just be a bread house. The real you, to spend eternity in glorious life with God, you need the ginger of Jesus. He is not a decoration for your house, but the core ingredient that must permeate every part of your life.

Infuse the flavour of Jesus into your life today.

UKRAINE CONNECTIONS

I have been enjoying my Friday nights playing table tennis, even if Ruslan is beating me consistently now – at least it might help me improve. I enjoy the camaraderie and the conversations afterwards. Pray as I invite people to our Carols night coming up soon.

I have no more current news on Vlad since last week. If you have a FaceBook account then look up “Justice for Vlad Schaslyvyi” and ask to join so you can be up to date as you pray.

I handed in my reports today – one weight off my mind. Now we are getting ready for Kid’s Club Presentation night at church and lots of end of year activities at school.

Touch football was fun tonight.

Church is really good every Sunday. It is so important to walk your walk with God with others. Mutual encouragement is worth more than you can imagine.

· Vlad

· Table Tennis Club

· Kid’s Club Presentation Night

· GingerBread House Devotion – for those who heard

Ben Breedon for your hard work in helping with all the technical stuff and David Bryant for building my mock gingerbread house.

I am too busy to write this RPD!

I am too busy to write your report – so I found one on the internet:

• Since my last report, your child has reached rock bottom and has started to dig.

• This student has delusions of adequacy.

• This student is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.

• This student sets low standards and then consistently fails to achieve them.

• The student has a "full six-pack" but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together.

• Student has been working with glue too much.

• The wheel is turning but the hamster is dead.

Humour aside – what does your report card look like? What does my report card look like?

Thankfully my report card has Romans chapter 8 verse 1 stamped across the front of it. “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”

UKRAINE CONNECTIONS

Today I would just like to ask you again to pray for Vlad. Pray for God’s will in a difficult situation. I have added more to what I originally wrote under Time To Pray and will update it as more information comes to hand. You can also find a link on my FB wall to follow a group praying for Vlad.

Report writing – what more to say? Except please pray because amidst report writing I am doing the devotion at Kid’s Club this week and a devotion for an outreach at church on Saturday. Please pray for my preparation time.

Thanks for your prayers for school. Please pray that we continue to finish the year really well.

· Vlad

· Report Writing

· Kid’s Club Devotion

· GingerBread House Devotion

Miranda who turns out these wonderful looking RPDs week after week!

 ‎”Goodness is not an abstract concept, it is an element of the character of God.”

I always like to believe the best about people. I always try to find the good in any situation. I expect people to be upright, honest and generally good. Maybe I am naïve. Maybe I am trying to encourage people to be the best they can be. But I want people to be good. I want to believe they are good. I want to be good and I want to believe that I am good.

But the only way I can achieve those dreams is to reduce goodness to something that I can grasp, understand and possibly attain.

Today I wrote on Facebook: I don't go to church because I'm good and I'm not good because I go to church. I go to church because God is good and oh how good it is for brothers and sisters to be together in unity!

In English we overuse the word ‘good’ almost as much as we overuse the word ‘love’. We give it the very highest and yet most common of meanings. We attach to it the pinnacle of intense worth or casually expel it in a flippant phrase.

But God is good! And all good things come from our Father!

And He has made me good – not through anything I have done or deserved. And He has good plans for me. And parts of those good plans are unity and encouragement with my brothers and sisters. And part of those good plans is to allow God to produce fruit in my life.

Now that sounds good.

This has been a dramatic week for me as far as Ukraine goes.

Firstly, I received a package from Ukraine. It was a beautifully illustrated book of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen. It was a present from my good friends Irina, George and George Jnr. Please continue to pray for George Jnr who at 6 years old is only just taking a few faltering steps.

Secondly, I was able to have a Skype call with Natasha. They now have a good internet connection in their own home so I will be able to talk more often. We chatted about a few things. UTSIM needs some prayer. The only teacher, Sveta, has been in hospital the past three weeks. She is suffering from Bell’s Palsy. A number of people around town have stepped up to help out with UTSIM. Most of all please pray for a recovery for Sveta.

But the big and rather shocking news this week from Ukraine has been the corrupt conviction and impending imprisonment of Vlad. He is a young guy living in Rzh and attending our church there. He has a real servant heart and a beautiful faith in God. Read more of his story here – and please pray for Vlad. I will try and keep you posted as more details come to light and if there is anything you or I can do to help. On Transperancy International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, Ukraine comes in at number 134. Australia is number 8 while NZ is first equal with Denmark and Singapore. So it gives you an idea of the sort of injustice Vlad is up against.

And in other Ukraine news, Dan Gollan turned 40 on Saturday. Although I missed the festivities, according to the photos on Facebook it seems like Dan is a bit of a pirate at heart – who would have thought . . . !

The busy season is almost upon us. I have joined the choir for Carols in the Park again this year. It is a great event put on by our church and the choir is open to all community members. Every Saturday we rehearse and this is a good time to ‘rub shoulders’ with other members of the community. It was good to meet up with a guy I stood next to singing bass last year. He has suffered a stroke since last year and now has to have someone bring him as he can’t drive. Please pray for the impact that the choir can have on our community. If you live in Sydney and want to join, please let me know.

Kid’s Club has only a few weeks left before we wrap it up for the year. Some of the kids have faithfully come every single week and they soak up the stories from the Bible and I know these seeds planted in their hearts – God can bring fruit from in the years to come. Please pray that we finish well and pray for leaders for next year.

School is fast running towards its end for the year. Very soon I will have the pressure of report writing. I am also continuing to struggle finding the correct balance of motivating learning and corrective discipline. Please pray for me as a classroom teacher with a big responsibility which I don’t want to take lightly.

Between playing touch footy on Mondays and squash when I can with Masha and Losha, I’m trying to keep fit and active.

I’m reading Don’t Let the Goats Eat the Loquat Trees by Thomas Hale. It is a missionary story from the 1970s and 80s in Nepal. Although I haven’t read too far I am enjoying it especially as I compare the many changes that have happened in the developing world in the past few decades. Some of the practical challenges have changed dramatically – but the everyday emotional and spiritual challenges of people all around the world remain basically the same.

I think I will have to ramp up my reading once the summer holidays come.

· God is Good – Praise Him today

· Irina, George and George Jnr

· Sveta (and UTSIM)

· VLAD (and wife and son)

· Dan Gollan

· Carols in the Park

· Kids Club and School

THANKS....

To the Weldons for wonderful dinners and just good times together every Tuesday.

I would like you to pray for my friend Vlad, his wife Vika and their son Matviy (Matthew). The following information is ‘borrowed’ from my friend Bruce’s website.

This week our dear Ukrainian friend Vlad was unjustly convicted.  He now sits in a Ukrainian holding cell awaiting transfer to prison.  He has a wife and infant son.

Some time ago, Vlad was innocently involved in an auto accident.  There was a fatality involved in another car.  As police came on the scene, Vlad was present, and deemed innocent by the police.  During the ensuing court appearances Vlad was also found innocent, but this is Ukraine.

The victims family decided to press charges, and together their lawyer continued to push for payback.  Vlad was charged for leaving the crime scene, something that he did not do.  The original reports were changed to give the bribed judge ‘something’ to find Vlad guilty.  After dozens of court appearances, and Vlad taking the ‘high road’ and not playing the Ukrainian game of corruption, the final verdict was handed down this week – Guilty, with a 6yr prison sentence.

Vlad chose to not get any of the expats involved, though regularly asked for prayer.  This process has taken a toll on Vlad, the continual battle for justice within the context of blatant corruption.  We are standing with Vika, Vlad’s wife and together as a church community lifting Vlad before the throne of grace for mercy in their family’s time of need.  We ask that you do the same.

I know very little about the actual conditions of this jail, but we know that the Ukrainian prison system is terribly inhumane.  The amount of food is fit for an 8yr old, they are cold, think war camps, over-crowded.  They are not the typical retreat centres we see in America.  Vlad has entered a very dark place, spiritually and morally.  He has a strong faith, this I’m sure of and know he’s already having a positive impact on those around him.

What can we do?  We are gathering facts right now.  In two months there will be an appeal process that Vlad can hopefully go through.  This is Ukraine, nothing is guaranteed, certainly not justice.  We will do everything we can do help this get turned around, including continual prayer, financial help for lawyers, and the right people to listen to the situation.  We can only do so much though, our brother is in chains, we grieve and trust God to shine light on this terrible situation.

We will let you know if there is a specific fund setup for “Vlad’s Release”, once there is  plan, I believe we can together see that justice is done.

This kind of thing happens every day across Ukraine.  Corruption is at every level, you sort of get used to it.  This however has hit home, and a reminder of the depravity of men, their need for a Saviour.  In the end, God will shine His light of justice on every dark place, and in the end every knee will bow.  Until then, we seek for God’s will and heart to be done in this family, His timing, and for the church to unite both here locally and abroad.

Pray for:

- this verdict to be overturned.

- the corruption to be exposed in a way that brings accountability.

- Vlad’s family to be comforted and encouraged.

- Vlad to please God through this entire process by trusting and resting in Christ.

- Wisdom on our part, those that want to help beyond prayers.

I’LL ADD A BIT MORE INFORMATION FROM SIMEON – SOME OF IT RETELLS THE SITUATION BUT ALSO BRINGS US UP TO DATE (10/11/2011)

A dear brother from our church, Vlad, was sentenced about a week ago to 6 years in prison, completely unjustly. Around 5 years ago, he was innocently involved in a car crash in which a lady died. Over these past 5 years, he has been involved in an on-going court case, during which time those at fault in the incident have exploited a corrupt system by having original evidence changed, previous rulings in Vlad's favour overturned, and the judge paid-off to give the outcome Vlad and his family are now faced with.

Considering the shock, pain and anger we who know Vlad are currently experiencing, we cannot even imagine what the family themselves are going though at this time.

The church is, first of all, in much prayer for them at this time, and hopefully doing what we can to support Vlad's wife, Vika. In addition, many more in America, Australia and Scotland are also in prayer.

Vlad is appealing the verdict, although I heard today that the deadline for submission of the appeal is the 12th of this month, after which there is normally nothing at all that can be done. Their lawyer was appealing to have Vlad released before submitting the appeal, but I heard today that that appeal was rejected. What we hope, is that the appeal against the verdict itself will now be submitted tomorrow... But what we also now fear, is the possibility that their own lawyer has also already been paid off, and is ultimately stalling and will fail to submit the appeal in time.

Missionary leaders within the church have offered to bring in an additional lawyer, but are not wanting to push anything too hard as Vlad and Vika trust their own man.

There is a real time pressure right now, in that something significant needs to happen in the next 4 days.

We urge you to pray for Vlad and his family.

Pray for justice to be done.

Pray for wisdom as to if, when, how the church should 'step in' in a bigger way.

Pray for God to be glorified in and through everything that is going on.

On that last note, Vlad has already been reading the scriptures to fellow inmates, and the church in the town where the prison is has been able to deliver packages of food and tea, basic things that many around Vlad simply don't have enough of. Vlad's wife, Vika, is not yet a believer.

AND TWO DAYS LATER

Thank you so much for your prayers, and the notes you sent assuring us of them.

We have good news through today - the submission of the appeal is almost complete. It has a stamp on it, all that is needed now is for Vlad himself to sign a few papers. This means the case will go back to court. Unfortunately, Vlad will remain in prison, and there is still a very long way to go, with no certainty about what the outcome will be. So please, continue praying, and we will do our best to keep you informed.

This weekend TCS celebrated 30 years of existence as a Christian School. As past students spoke I was reminded afresh of the absolute privilege and responsibility that I have as a Christian Teacher in a Christian School. Please pray with me and for me in this undertaking. Some days it is with trepidation that I walk this journey. To think that something I say or do could have such a profound impact on these precious lives! Thank God for the vision of men and women who started Christian schooling in this country and for the good it has done. Pray for the continued hand of God as our Christian Schools help shape the young leaders of tomorrow.

UKRAINE CONNECTIONS

Please pray for Ukraine. Please pray for the former Soviet Union. It is interesting that God has led me to have such an interest and captivation for this part of the world. I always thought it would be Africa that captured me – but no, it was Ukraine. My church, WPHCC, has had involvement in 9 different countries across Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the past 15 years. This has been a mixture of short, medium and long term missions to various places and peoples. God is continuing to work in myself and others to bring glory to Himself in that area of the world through our listening and obedience to Him.

Our combined Kid’s Club and Youth Group night was really successful. The older kids had a great heart towards including the younger ones and the young kids got a real taste of something to look forward to. It was also a great team effort in terms of set up and making the night happen. There is something really ‘spesh’ about a big team effort for almost any endeavour.

It was good to hang out with Joel watching his son John play cricket. I’m pretty sure no-balls were the top scorer with about 58! But so many young kids playing cricket – I’m sure Australia will at least be able to be best in the world at their summer sport.

I’m looking forward to touch footy and trying to keep fit. I think it is important to stay healthy. Remember that your body is not your own – you were bought at a price.

· 30 years of TCS

· The privilege and responsibility of teaching

· Ukraine and surrounds

· Kid’s Club and Youth Group

Joel and Rosa for letting me invade your house so regularly. It is a home away from home for me.

I love rugby!! That’s not new to most people who know me. I have enjoyed many things about the World Cup these last couple of months. I have a few gripes – but will save them for someone who really wants to hear about it. But now NZ are World Champions! Woohoo! Thanks to Losha and Masha from Russia who watched the final with me while we ate plov.

But what is a champion? When are we allowed to use this word? And what are the merits of being called a champion? I put a poem on my website (by Michael Murray) a few years ago entitled Champion. To be a champion or team of champions is something we strongly desire. Our nature seeks to elevate self. This poem starts off “I’m beginning to realise that it’s not about me”. Maybe the true champion is not the one that elevates self but takes the lowest place (sounds like Jesus talking). We also talk of those who ‘champion the cause of the oppressed’. Let’s turn the word ‘champion’ into a verb. We do not have to be our own champions – the best we have to offer is nothing in God’s sight. But we can be every day champions in our everyday world to those around us who are in need.

This week I would love you to take 5 – 10 minutes of your time with a short video or two. Kaharlyk is a small town about 20 minutes drive from Rzhyshchiv. I have many friends there and for two years UTSIM had a small branch operating there. Wayne and Olya Zschech have been there for many years and are involved in a wonderful work through community development and pastoral work to a small thriving church. Watch this video for an overview of their work and if in any way you like cricket then watch this one.

School is firing along – I have lots of work to do and I know that assessments, marking and reports are just around the corner.

Kid’s Club is going to combine with Youth Group this week – something special for the younger ones and to whet the appetite for when they are older. Please continue to pray for the kids in our neighbourhood as we love them and share God’s Word with them.

Today I had a game of touch footy. Maybe it will work out for me to play touch as a summer sport. I need do something that is for sure. I took a dive and landed in bindies. I still have a few in my hand.

· World Cup (nah don’t need to pray about that one)

· School

· Zschechs in Kaharlyk

· Kid’s Club and Youth Group

Ruth and Jon for a Skype convo this week. Miss popping over for dinner and hanging out.