New Website
You can find all Jono's news photos and more on his new website www.jonomiller.com
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Telling It Like It Is
Last Sunday I was able to have a telephone link with my church in Australia. One person wrote me an email after that and asked "what do you actually do each day Jono?"
Good question.
Easy to answer? Not always, it's often so different.
Let me describe a few hours from this week.
Monday was my day off so I went into Kiev to spend the afternoon with a friend. I missed the last bus home so had to stay in Kiev the night. I got up early, walked to the Metro station, caught two metros (underground railway) to the bus terminal and then caught the first van to Rahzishiv. That's about 1 1/2 hours and then I walked 15 mins to my place, picked up my computer and walked 5 more mins to Dan's place and just made it in time for team meeting (a once a week event). I missed prayer time and breakfast.
Team meeting went til about 11 am because we had a lot to discuss regarding upcoming summer events and some changes to our team night on Monday nights. After that I did a quick send and receive of emails (was able to be quite quick - about 15 mins). Then I walked home, took a shower and got ready for my language lesson. I had done my homework (good boy) so I just revised it and then walked about 25 mins to the school for my language lesson which lasted for a bit more than an hour. I then walked home via a few shops to buy some meat, cereal, tomato sauce, sour cream, a frying pan and few little things for youth group on Friday night.
I was home by about 4:30 and brought the washing in and then tried to adjust the furnace to get the heating to a desirable level in our house (seems to be too hot or too cold).
I cooked dinner just for Matt and myself. Had dinner and did the washing up and then I sat down at the computer to work on a sermon for Sunday. I worked on that til about 10 pm and then talked to Rhani for a while. I loaded the photos I had taken in Kiev on to my computer and then headed for bed and tried to read but was too tired and fell asleep.
7:00 am Wednesday I was up and having a shower and breakfast and quiet time. Did a bit of washing and just small household things. Then from 9 til 11 I sat down and attempted to concentrate on my Ukrainian homework. I had to write a paragraph in Ukrainian describing my bedroom. I am getting good at flicking through the dictionary but that doesn't help me to know what form of the word to use for the correct grammar.
And now it's a bit after 11am and I am typing this out to put off answering the 30 emails that need answering. (maybe I can just send this to everyone).
After lunch I'll be going to the school where I have Ukrainian lessons and taking an English class. I'll be talking about Australia and New Zealand and making it a fun light lesson. It is the last week of school before exams and then a long summer holiday.
Then tonight I'll work on youth group stuff. I have devotions to prepare, the program and check that I have the things I need and any translation done. I also want to make a movie to show them of themselves.
It's hard to describe life in words. Please ask anytime you want to find out more.
Good question.
Easy to answer? Not always, it's often so different.
Let me describe a few hours from this week.
Monday was my day off so I went into Kiev to spend the afternoon with a friend. I missed the last bus home so had to stay in Kiev the night. I got up early, walked to the Metro station, caught two metros (underground railway) to the bus terminal and then caught the first van to Rahzishiv. That's about 1 1/2 hours and then I walked 15 mins to my place, picked up my computer and walked 5 more mins to Dan's place and just made it in time for team meeting (a once a week event). I missed prayer time and breakfast.
Team meeting went til about 11 am because we had a lot to discuss regarding upcoming summer events and some changes to our team night on Monday nights. After that I did a quick send and receive of emails (was able to be quite quick - about 15 mins). Then I walked home, took a shower and got ready for my language lesson. I had done my homework (good boy) so I just revised it and then walked about 25 mins to the school for my language lesson which lasted for a bit more than an hour. I then walked home via a few shops to buy some meat, cereal, tomato sauce, sour cream, a frying pan and few little things for youth group on Friday night.
I was home by about 4:30 and brought the washing in and then tried to adjust the furnace to get the heating to a desirable level in our house (seems to be too hot or too cold).
I cooked dinner just for Matt and myself. Had dinner and did the washing up and then I sat down at the computer to work on a sermon for Sunday. I worked on that til about 10 pm and then talked to Rhani for a while. I loaded the photos I had taken in Kiev on to my computer and then headed for bed and tried to read but was too tired and fell asleep.
7:00 am Wednesday I was up and having a shower and breakfast and quiet time. Did a bit of washing and just small household things. Then from 9 til 11 I sat down and attempted to concentrate on my Ukrainian homework. I had to write a paragraph in Ukrainian describing my bedroom. I am getting good at flicking through the dictionary but that doesn't help me to know what form of the word to use for the correct grammar.
And now it's a bit after 11am and I am typing this out to put off answering the 30 emails that need answering. (maybe I can just send this to everyone).
After lunch I'll be going to the school where I have Ukrainian lessons and taking an English class. I'll be talking about Australia and New Zealand and making it a fun light lesson. It is the last week of school before exams and then a long summer holiday.
Then tonight I'll work on youth group stuff. I have devotions to prepare, the program and check that I have the things I need and any translation done. I also want to make a movie to show them of themselves.
It's hard to describe life in words. Please ask anytime you want to find out more.
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
RPD Archive
Over on the right you can find links to all my old RPD and Monthly newsletters. The missing ones were email only versions.
I have also linked my church, AMT, Calvary Chapel, Pacific Hills School and Beecroft Rugby n the left.
I have also linked my church, AMT, Calvary Chapel, Pacific Hills School and Beecroft Rugby n the left.
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Rugby - Ukraine vs Holland
It's a lovely sunny Sunday in Kiev at Spring time. Jono and Anya are heading out to the Sporta Stadium. Most people here are unaware of the sleeping giant in Ukraine. I speak of the Ukraine Rugby Union. Only 13 years old they have worked hard to reach this place and today they play in the European Cup against Holland.
The stadium is 3/4s full when we arrive but manage to find two seats almost on the half way line. The big screen is playing re-runs of IRB World Sevens matches. We even get to witness the historic win by Kenya over Australia in a Sevens match.
The Red Fox dancing girls come out, the President welcomes everyone and then the National Anthems are sung. The crowd is definitely not going to give any support to Holland today.
There are a few people in English, Australian and All Blacks gear. They don't actually understand my English so shouting out soon became futile.
The game gets off to a fast pace and its all Ukraine. Anya says to not bother trying to explain the game and we'll just enjoy it. After a couple missed attempts, Ukraine draws first blood with a penalty. Holland is struggling to get out of their half.
I am extremely impressed with the mauling ability of the Ukraine team and their pick and go also very good. Their backs were rather unimaginative and lacked finishing class, but all the same pulled off the tackles when needed. About half way through the first half, a line out (caught much in the manner of the great Jono Miller from Beecroft) is turned into a driving maul and Ukraine goes over for its first try and it's the forwards all the way. Well done piggies! Conversion from near the sideline, its 10 nil and looks like a long day for Holland. But they weren't to give up. Holland had some great passages of play but Ukrainian pride stood strong and they were not about to let their line be crossed.
Half time Jono heads on down to get some snacks for Anya and himself. Estimates the crowd at about 5000, not bad for a Soccer (football Ed.) mad nation.
The second half, (Anya is beginning to like rugby) Ukraine is on top and we both know how to cheer for our team. One more forward try, and then a clever run from the inside centre round the back of the ruck sees a the line open for a third try and the score heads up to 22 nil.
Holland realise the only hope they have left is to play dirty, so right in front of the crowd a big fight erupts and even a few sideline people get involved. The officials struggle to get everything under control and the President gets on the microphone and says something about the emotional side of rugby (bummer, this is not the way to get Anya to like rugby). The match ends 22 to nil and we sing "we are the champions" and head on down to the field.
This is where having a rugby ball and wearing All Black's gear makes you famous. Someone wanted to buy my ball off me and one mother got me to sign autographs for all her kids. Others came up and wanted their photo taken with me and I even got my photo taken with the President of the Ukrainian Rugby Union!
A good day? I think so!
The stadium is 3/4s full when we arrive but manage to find two seats almost on the half way line. The big screen is playing re-runs of IRB World Sevens matches. We even get to witness the historic win by Kenya over Australia in a Sevens match.
The Red Fox dancing girls come out, the President welcomes everyone and then the National Anthems are sung. The crowd is definitely not going to give any support to Holland today.
There are a few people in English, Australian and All Blacks gear. They don't actually understand my English so shouting out soon became futile.
The game gets off to a fast pace and its all Ukraine. Anya says to not bother trying to explain the game and we'll just enjoy it. After a couple missed attempts, Ukraine draws first blood with a penalty. Holland is struggling to get out of their half.
I am extremely impressed with the mauling ability of the Ukraine team and their pick and go also very good. Their backs were rather unimaginative and lacked finishing class, but all the same pulled off the tackles when needed. About half way through the first half, a line out (caught much in the manner of the great Jono Miller from Beecroft) is turned into a driving maul and Ukraine goes over for its first try and it's the forwards all the way. Well done piggies! Conversion from near the sideline, its 10 nil and looks like a long day for Holland. But they weren't to give up. Holland had some great passages of play but Ukrainian pride stood strong and they were not about to let their line be crossed.
Half time Jono heads on down to get some snacks for Anya and himself. Estimates the crowd at about 5000, not bad for a Soccer (football Ed.) mad nation.
The second half, (Anya is beginning to like rugby) Ukraine is on top and we both know how to cheer for our team. One more forward try, and then a clever run from the inside centre round the back of the ruck sees a the line open for a third try and the score heads up to 22 nil.
Holland realise the only hope they have left is to play dirty, so right in front of the crowd a big fight erupts and even a few sideline people get involved. The officials struggle to get everything under control and the President gets on the microphone and says something about the emotional side of rugby (bummer, this is not the way to get Anya to like rugby). The match ends 22 to nil and we sing "we are the champions" and head on down to the field.
This is where having a rugby ball and wearing All Black's gear makes you famous. Someone wanted to buy my ball off me and one mother got me to sign autographs for all her kids. Others came up and wanted their photo taken with me and I even got my photo taken with the President of the Ukrainian Rugby Union!
A good day? I think so!
Calvary Chapel Conference - Ukraine 12-15 May 2004
Four amazing days. God's Church is alive and well.
I've just returned from a conference with 700 believers from around Ukraine. And I feel extremely blessed, encouraged and challenged.
We were housed in two adjacent campsites. There were a number of 2 storied buildings with about 20 rooms sleeping 4 or 5 per room. There was one shower for every 50 people and 1 toilet for every 15. The heat was turned on so the rooms were comfortably warm. The mattresses on the beds were about 1 cm thick but I was so tired I slept like a log (and it was probably good for my back).
Each campsite had a cafeteria and our meals were brought to us (no lining up) and all the washing up done for us. A real break in that regard. The meals tasted OK too. Of course there are a few Ukrainian tastes I'm still adjusting to but I didn't go hungry.
There was a huge tent where we had the meetings and a couple of other conference centres for seminars and late night concerts. Yes Waltzing Matilda was given a rousing rendition by three not so talented but very enthusiastic Australians. Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi also became too well known!
Then there was the volleyball and basketball courts, table tennis etc. My World Cup Rugby ball also was well passed around. (What sort of ball is that?).
Wow, Calvary Chapel has a strong tradition in good music, being a movement started amongst the Hippies in the '60s. There were a number of songs I know in English translated into Ukrainian or Russian as well as a number of songs they have written themselves. The professionalism as well as the evidence of genuine love for God was a great thing to witness. I have often missed my church band from West Penno and this was a worthy replacement.
This was excellent. The conference went through Romans 1-8. (Most main sessions were in English and then translated so that was great for me)
We had the back drop painted for us explaining how sinful we really are in God's sight. This actually makes the Gospel shine even brighter.
I learned something new about justification. It is both legal and emotional. Legally God sees the substitutionary death of Jesus as 'satisfactory' to atone for our sins. This has to do with satisfying the requirements of the law. But sin also makes God angry. This is emotional. Yet God exhausted all of his anger and wrath on the Lord Jesus. Although when I sin it grieves the Holy Spirit and spoils my communion with God, it does not make Him angry. He has already placed all that anger upon Jesus. Yet we so often live defeated lives because we think that God is angry with us. We know that legally we are forgiven but we can't accept that emotionally God has also forgiven us.
Suffering is not a bad thing. As Christians we are called to suffer. God works things for His good. The Spirit helps us pray because really we don't actually know what to pray and the Holy Spirit prays for us.
Ultimately, nothing can separate us from the Love of God. Praise the Lord!
We walked down to the River Friday afternoon and pastors and leaders from the various churches baptised members from their churches who had requested it. There must have been at least 20 baptisms.
From our church in Rzhyshchiv, Kolya was baptised. We all prayed for him and it was a special time in his life. Just today at lunch I asked him what he learned most from conference. He said, "I now know that Jesus is the most important thing in my life and there is nothing that will ever stop me following Him my whole life".
Yes there are real joyous times in a missionary's life.
Praise the Lord!
I've just returned from a conference with 700 believers from around Ukraine. And I feel extremely blessed, encouraged and challenged.
The campsite
We were housed in two adjacent campsites. There were a number of 2 storied buildings with about 20 rooms sleeping 4 or 5 per room. There was one shower for every 50 people and 1 toilet for every 15. The heat was turned on so the rooms were comfortably warm. The mattresses on the beds were about 1 cm thick but I was so tired I slept like a log (and it was probably good for my back).
Each campsite had a cafeteria and our meals were brought to us (no lining up) and all the washing up done for us. A real break in that regard. The meals tasted OK too. Of course there are a few Ukrainian tastes I'm still adjusting to but I didn't go hungry.
There was a huge tent where we had the meetings and a couple of other conference centres for seminars and late night concerts. Yes Waltzing Matilda was given a rousing rendition by three not so talented but very enthusiastic Australians. Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi also became too well known!
Then there was the volleyball and basketball courts, table tennis etc. My World Cup Rugby ball also was well passed around. (What sort of ball is that?).
The Music
Wow, Calvary Chapel has a strong tradition in good music, being a movement started amongst the Hippies in the '60s. There were a number of songs I know in English translated into Ukrainian or Russian as well as a number of songs they have written themselves. The professionalism as well as the evidence of genuine love for God was a great thing to witness. I have often missed my church band from West Penno and this was a worthy replacement.
The Teaching
This was excellent. The conference went through Romans 1-8. (Most main sessions were in English and then translated so that was great for me)
We had the back drop painted for us explaining how sinful we really are in God's sight. This actually makes the Gospel shine even brighter.
I learned something new about justification. It is both legal and emotional. Legally God sees the substitutionary death of Jesus as 'satisfactory' to atone for our sins. This has to do with satisfying the requirements of the law. But sin also makes God angry. This is emotional. Yet God exhausted all of his anger and wrath on the Lord Jesus. Although when I sin it grieves the Holy Spirit and spoils my communion with God, it does not make Him angry. He has already placed all that anger upon Jesus. Yet we so often live defeated lives because we think that God is angry with us. We know that legally we are forgiven but we can't accept that emotionally God has also forgiven us.
Suffering is not a bad thing. As Christians we are called to suffer. God works things for His good. The Spirit helps us pray because really we don't actually know what to pray and the Holy Spirit prays for us.
Ultimately, nothing can separate us from the Love of God. Praise the Lord!
Baptism time
We walked down to the River Friday afternoon and pastors and leaders from the various churches baptised members from their churches who had requested it. There must have been at least 20 baptisms.
From our church in Rzhyshchiv, Kolya was baptised. We all prayed for him and it was a special time in his life. Just today at lunch I asked him what he learned most from conference. He said, "I now know that Jesus is the most important thing in my life and there is nothing that will ever stop me following Him my whole life".
Yes there are real joyous times in a missionary's life.
Praise the Lord!
Sunday, May 09, 2004
Jono plays Mum
I feel like I've turned into chief cook and bottle washer. Hosting and looking after people. I guess it is one of the best ways I can serve here while I'm still working on the language.
Saturday I cooked 'Jono Borscht'. This is my style of a soup that is an entire meal. The guys go back for seconds so it can't be too bad. That was cooking for just 5 hungry men. We also go thru bread at a rate of knots. After the washing up I had a 2-3 hours of work cleaning the mud off the mud off the steps down the side of the house before it was time to cook tea.
Sunday we had a guest and had my tried and trusted Spaghetti Bolognaise with a very nice salad made by chief salad maker Rhani Wade. Once again guess who did the washing up? In fact I've learned that you don't need to complain about washing up, it's not so bad if you do it with the attitude of "I'm serving the Lord by serving others". Thanks Gran for the lesson!
And now we have plenty of milk because I'm buying it from the neighbours but we have run out of breakfast cereal and I can't seem to find any here in town so will have to wait for my next trip to Kiev. Also the bread is out and they expect "Mum" to buy it for them. I guess that will be this afternoon's job.
Tomorrow we go to Conference for 4 days. Mum's time off, yep, I can now relate to the Mum's who look forward to staying somewhere where the meals are cooked and the washing up done for them.
Happy Mother's Day everyone
Saturday I cooked 'Jono Borscht'. This is my style of a soup that is an entire meal. The guys go back for seconds so it can't be too bad. That was cooking for just 5 hungry men. We also go thru bread at a rate of knots. After the washing up I had a 2-3 hours of work cleaning the mud off the mud off the steps down the side of the house before it was time to cook tea.
Sunday we had a guest and had my tried and trusted Spaghetti Bolognaise with a very nice salad made by chief salad maker Rhani Wade. Once again guess who did the washing up? In fact I've learned that you don't need to complain about washing up, it's not so bad if you do it with the attitude of "I'm serving the Lord by serving others". Thanks Gran for the lesson!
And now we have plenty of milk because I'm buying it from the neighbours but we have run out of breakfast cereal and I can't seem to find any here in town so will have to wait for my next trip to Kiev. Also the bread is out and they expect "Mum" to buy it for them. I guess that will be this afternoon's job.
Tomorrow we go to Conference for 4 days. Mum's time off, yep, I can now relate to the Mum's who look forward to staying somewhere where the meals are cooked and the washing up done for them.
Happy Mother's Day everyone
Saturday, May 08, 2004
The Unscheduled Life of the Missionary 'Church Planter'
What does a missionary do?
Some work in schools and hospitals. In some respect they have a little of the '9 - 5 normalcy' that we in the west are accustomed to.
My first few months in a church planting team have helped me understand that 'no normalcy is normal'.
Let me describe this week for you so far.
Monday
Officially my 'day off', I save it for a sleep-in and a day to write my weekly prayer letter (RPD) and catch up on correspondence. I may clean around the house and generally take it easy. From 5pm onwards it's team night and we have dinner together and relax as a team.
But this Monday I was required to attend a planning meeting for a camp I'm helping to organise. This was from 12-4pm in a neighbouring town. A 20 minute drive if you have a car.
For me, it was no sleep-in, heat up a bucket of water and have a quick shower, a quiet time and then write my prayer letter. Take my laptop up to the Ministry Centre where I can use the Internet and then walk to the centre of town to catch a lift for the meeting. Time to send some prayers heavenward as I realise that you can wait a long time for a bus or car and it's already 11:35. Praise the Lord, a car picks me up and drops me 2 minutes from where I need to be right on 12:00.
The meeting goes well - best one yet.
Getting home is a different story. I leave by 4:15 and then wait 45 minutes for a ride home, a slow ride. I only just manage to meet up with the team as we head out for a BBQ overlooking the river.
Tuesday
We have prayer meeting and breakfast together as a team followed by a weekly meeting to discuss the week past and the one coming.
Then it's in to Kiev to meet a friend for lunch and a chat for the afternoon. I take a book for the ride in and back. Also good thinking time for the studies I am leading at youth group.
Home by 8pm and cook dinner for two of the Ukrainian boys who are staying out the back (my house has a lot of sheds so there are extras staying at the moment). I buy and cook for three guys (myself, Rhani and Matthew).
Wednesday
Spent a big part of the morning doing language study (it's a one week school holiday so my teacher is also taking a break). I receive a phone call but can't understand the person. Someone else rings back and in English tells me they have a parcel for me to pick up. So it's off to pick up a parcel. The name on the parcel doesn't match my passport but eventually we convince them that the parcel is mine. And praise the Lord it is a brand new NEC data projector. An asset the Ministry Centre will be grateful for. This takes a good part of the afternoon along with sending emails. I unsuccessfully try to download ICQ as my MSN needs updating but the connection speed is too slow to download that update. No talking to my brother in Aus til I can fix that.
We decide to make it an impromptu video night seeing as we have a brand new data projector. Very impressive.
While I'm out the gas company comes to connect the gas. Praise God again! Two miracles in one day!! We get most of it working.
Thursday
We are nearly out of food. Oh well tomorrow I'll go to the bazaar, the boys can wait one day.
I have a nice neat schedule for the day. It starts again with language study. Things are progressing well until someone turns up and asks for me to bring my passport and some money and come and sign the final documents for the gas project. One and half hours later and about 15 signatures (on what I'm not sure) I return to cook the lunch I had for the 3 of us and somehow feed 7 people. Well we didn't starve. We try to sort out the last few gremlins in the heating system. Aaaaaahhhhh a nice warm house, once again thank you Lord.
I spend the remaining few hours preparing devotions and games for tomorrow's youth group.
It's raining so Matthew and I decide to cancel going to play basketball at the Technicum. We head on up about 6:30 for a youth meeting. I get home about 10:30 after walking through the dark forest in the mud (forgot to take my torch). Then I cook dinner for the boys. Spaghetti with kobvasar (salami). We are scraping the bottom now.
Friday (today)
Oohhhh bliss - a hot shower. We were 5 days less than 2 months in getting the gas connected. I'm told that was very quick and I should consider myself lucky (I say blessed). We take so much for granted in Australia.
Then it's down to the Bazaar in the drizzling rain. I go from place to place using my limited Ukrainian to buy vegetables, fruit, tomato sauce, bread, cheese etc. I can't convince anyone to sell me just a few potatoes, I have to take the whole bucket but I've already got more than I can carry so the potatoes will have to wait.
Off to the Post Office to buy some envelopes. I have a letter to write back home. What does one write to friends whose 3 month old baby has just died from S.I.D.S.? Being a missionary doesn't suddenly give you the ability to say things more spiritually than anyone else.
Then it's a late breakfast and into the language study again. The neighbourhood boys during holidays have been coming over most days wanting to play Monopoly. So they are here again. I've given them a plate of biscuits and told them when they go past go they can have $200 and a biscuit. They might last a bit longer that way.
And now its time to make lunch. Then the afternoon is a mad rush in making sure I have everything ready for tonight. All the equipment I need and anything that needs prior translation. I'll also finish off some emails and send them. Then I'll go through the study with Matthew who is my translator so we don't have any little surprises tonight. We are doing "Snapshots of God" and today's is 'God is a God Who changes lives' and we are looking at Zacchaeus from Luke 19.
Who knows what can happen between now and me sending this?
I don't know what can happen, but God does. And that is the best thing that an unscheduled missionary learns to do: let God be in control. Sure I have to allow the Spirit's work of self control in my life. But each day is an exciting adventure and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Some work in schools and hospitals. In some respect they have a little of the '9 - 5 normalcy' that we in the west are accustomed to.
My first few months in a church planting team have helped me understand that 'no normalcy is normal'.
Let me describe this week for you so far.
Monday
Officially my 'day off', I save it for a sleep-in and a day to write my weekly prayer letter (RPD) and catch up on correspondence. I may clean around the house and generally take it easy. From 5pm onwards it's team night and we have dinner together and relax as a team.
But this Monday I was required to attend a planning meeting for a camp I'm helping to organise. This was from 12-4pm in a neighbouring town. A 20 minute drive if you have a car.
For me, it was no sleep-in, heat up a bucket of water and have a quick shower, a quiet time and then write my prayer letter. Take my laptop up to the Ministry Centre where I can use the Internet and then walk to the centre of town to catch a lift for the meeting. Time to send some prayers heavenward as I realise that you can wait a long time for a bus or car and it's already 11:35. Praise the Lord, a car picks me up and drops me 2 minutes from where I need to be right on 12:00.
The meeting goes well - best one yet.
Getting home is a different story. I leave by 4:15 and then wait 45 minutes for a ride home, a slow ride. I only just manage to meet up with the team as we head out for a BBQ overlooking the river.
Tuesday
We have prayer meeting and breakfast together as a team followed by a weekly meeting to discuss the week past and the one coming.
Then it's in to Kiev to meet a friend for lunch and a chat for the afternoon. I take a book for the ride in and back. Also good thinking time for the studies I am leading at youth group.
Home by 8pm and cook dinner for two of the Ukrainian boys who are staying out the back (my house has a lot of sheds so there are extras staying at the moment). I buy and cook for three guys (myself, Rhani and Matthew).
Wednesday
Spent a big part of the morning doing language study (it's a one week school holiday so my teacher is also taking a break). I receive a phone call but can't understand the person. Someone else rings back and in English tells me they have a parcel for me to pick up. So it's off to pick up a parcel. The name on the parcel doesn't match my passport but eventually we convince them that the parcel is mine. And praise the Lord it is a brand new NEC data projector. An asset the Ministry Centre will be grateful for. This takes a good part of the afternoon along with sending emails. I unsuccessfully try to download ICQ as my MSN needs updating but the connection speed is too slow to download that update. No talking to my brother in Aus til I can fix that.
We decide to make it an impromptu video night seeing as we have a brand new data projector. Very impressive.
While I'm out the gas company comes to connect the gas. Praise God again! Two miracles in one day!! We get most of it working.
Thursday
We are nearly out of food. Oh well tomorrow I'll go to the bazaar, the boys can wait one day.
I have a nice neat schedule for the day. It starts again with language study. Things are progressing well until someone turns up and asks for me to bring my passport and some money and come and sign the final documents for the gas project. One and half hours later and about 15 signatures (on what I'm not sure) I return to cook the lunch I had for the 3 of us and somehow feed 7 people. Well we didn't starve. We try to sort out the last few gremlins in the heating system. Aaaaaahhhhh a nice warm house, once again thank you Lord.
I spend the remaining few hours preparing devotions and games for tomorrow's youth group.
It's raining so Matthew and I decide to cancel going to play basketball at the Technicum. We head on up about 6:30 for a youth meeting. I get home about 10:30 after walking through the dark forest in the mud (forgot to take my torch). Then I cook dinner for the boys. Spaghetti with kobvasar (salami). We are scraping the bottom now.
Friday (today)
Oohhhh bliss - a hot shower. We were 5 days less than 2 months in getting the gas connected. I'm told that was very quick and I should consider myself lucky (I say blessed). We take so much for granted in Australia.
Then it's down to the Bazaar in the drizzling rain. I go from place to place using my limited Ukrainian to buy vegetables, fruit, tomato sauce, bread, cheese etc. I can't convince anyone to sell me just a few potatoes, I have to take the whole bucket but I've already got more than I can carry so the potatoes will have to wait.
Off to the Post Office to buy some envelopes. I have a letter to write back home. What does one write to friends whose 3 month old baby has just died from S.I.D.S.? Being a missionary doesn't suddenly give you the ability to say things more spiritually than anyone else.
Then it's a late breakfast and into the language study again. The neighbourhood boys during holidays have been coming over most days wanting to play Monopoly. So they are here again. I've given them a plate of biscuits and told them when they go past go they can have $200 and a biscuit. They might last a bit longer that way.
And now its time to make lunch. Then the afternoon is a mad rush in making sure I have everything ready for tonight. All the equipment I need and anything that needs prior translation. I'll also finish off some emails and send them. Then I'll go through the study with Matthew who is my translator so we don't have any little surprises tonight. We are doing "Snapshots of God" and today's is 'God is a God Who changes lives' and we are looking at Zacchaeus from Luke 19.
Who knows what can happen between now and me sending this?
I don't know what can happen, but God does. And that is the best thing that an unscheduled missionary learns to do: let God be in control. Sure I have to allow the Spirit's work of self control in my life. But each day is an exciting adventure and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Jono's May Monthly News
Jono's Monthly News for May as a PDF file.
Left click to open in your browser. Right click and choose "Save As" to download to your computer.
Left click to open in your browser. Right click and choose "Save As" to download to your computer.
