Stay Tuned and Please Positively Praise-fully (Lindaword?) Persevere in Preparation Prayer!  In our January Kyiv Calling we'll give more positively thrilling nuts and bolts details on what God is doing in clearly establishing Ukraine Family Institute to train leaders to help their people. These Ukrainian and Russian speaking leaders are not only from and for Ukraine. We have been praying for each student and in so doing learned more of where they've come from geographically, historically, spiritually, and we feel the freshness and passion of their faith in Jesus Christ. For those few students who have known Christ for many years, we sense a depth and dedication that brings warmth as deep as a cold winter's night fireside celebration of the birth of our Savour. Quality Fun Stuff in Our Kyiv December: Some of you have been asking sooooo here I go. Ron and I have had our own UFI office staff, and/or other friends, mini parties here in our mini size, maxi warm, flat! All in attendance thoroughly enjoyed them. We are getting more confident that they don't mind eating off their laps nor expect gourmet meals. That we are able to get home with yellow (not chocolate) butter, milk that does not sour overnight, find real white toilet paper, extra plastic cups, and safe water are accomplishments enjoyed with warm laughter. The Montreal Chicken Seasoning on their Kurittsa (chicken) covers a multitude of sins, errr language problems. Actually the people we've invited are UFI and MMK connected so language is never an issue once we're all together. Those who don't know it well are helped out by those who do. It happens easily and wonderfully though check back with me in a year on that and see if they all still have the same patience with us! The unusually effective heating system is also conducive to some lingering long. It is not easy for them to go back to colder apartments or even the UFI office which is typically draughty. We have also attended other parties and concerts this month, each one uniquely moving for Ron and me. (We're talking Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, Handel's Messiah, Superb Ukrainian singing, playing, carolling, and on and on it goes as to talent in this fine country) One party held by the Kyiv Christian Women's Club but with husbands invited included a wonderful variety of laughter, readings, singing, candlelight “Silent Night” reverence, and lingering warmth of fellowship with other English speaking missionaries. Each has their own calling and purpose yet together we are “family” loving and serving one Holy Father. The ballets and operas are inexpensive to attend and a wonderful way for missionaries to unwind and fellowship or couples to get a break from their work while supporting local talent. Two have been attended by Adam as part of his schoolwork and he loved them. The orchestra and choir concerts conducted by Roger McMurrin and the youth ones conducted by his son Matt are also superb musical gifts, many having to be free concerts though the halls are packed and audiences are thrilled. These concerts are wonderful as deliberately vocalized (in all the introductions and music choices) testimonies to Christ, and they also help so many artists survive and develop their talents to God's glory. Adam sang in the Vivaldi 4 Seasons and Gloria conducted by Matt and is to sing in a concert January 7th , which is the Ukrainian Christmas Day. Just tonight I was invited to the Nutcracker. Do we ever work? Well, when we're not sleeping, studying Russian, praying, exercising, or getting recharged at these concerts, we are working. Ron could write 6 pages on overflowing office hours.  What about eating? We could do better on that. Pray for us. Soul Connections: It was fun watching and hearing the youth play Tchaikovsky, seeing the Waltz of The Flowers harp part done again. (Yes I've played that part before but did not bring my harps with me to Kiev.)  Then there was this explosion of emotion as Ron and I were being carried along in the old metro sea / river of people again. Explosion of emotion? Well we were with a Ukrainian couple who were light heartedly struggling to force us to engage in conversation in Russian (a joke at this point for us though we tried). Then the guy, a musician, exploded with joy and passion when he understood that we understood his word for “soul” and his love for the music of Tchaikovsky, and learned of Ron's “soul care”. It was such a heart connection that people were turning around to look! Another soul connection came in a more subtle way. Our guest seemed to be picking through his food slowly. Unlike the boisterous others he said little. He knew the least English but I sensed that was not the problem. By the time the evening was done he had the hardest time leaving. This man who seems to many to be somewhat hard and difficult to get along with, was in fact quite sensitive. He was picking through his food because (and he told me this directly) he wanted the wonderful taste of the food, the physical and emotional warmth of our apartment, the music, the closeness of new friends in Christian fellowship, … he wanted these things … to never end. Typical Tragedy in Our Kyiv December: As I emerged from the underground metro it was immediately apparent that the wind had picked up and now was beginning to cut right through my lined leather coat. Though I felt some warmth as part of the river of people that flows to and from the metro for most of very 24 hours, 7 days a week, I still hastened my pace a bit to keep off the chill and thought soon winter really will be here and I'll have to get out my heavier coat that has a hood. Rounding a corner and thus entering the narrow walkway between 2 rows of our neighbourhood outdoor kiosks, I just about tripped over a pair of feet that were definitely not where they should have been. The shoes were old and dirty but what caught my attention were the thick layers of multicoloured socks around the ankles such as I had just seen several times on babushka's begging on the other side of the Dnepro River. All the socks were worn and dirty. In an instant I realized more of the pain these feet represented. They extended from under a brand new carefully laid set of garbage bags. Not a word was spoken as the people, including me, made our way around the body and continued on, each one knowing that one more Kievite had succumbed presuming to hunger and cold. He or she was perhaps a victim, a casualty, or too much vodka first but none the less a tragedy. Suddenly I didn't feel so cold after all. Nor did I race the rest of my 5 minute walk home, but rather mourned the loss of a human being, created by God, once a baby knit together in a mother's womb. It wasn't that long ago that there were millions of Ukrainians and others lost in war and famines, and similar evil continues elsewhere in the world today. So sad, yet each such glimpse quickens my heart with the warmth of deeper gratitude for the totally undeserved and immeasurable riches found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Each such glimpse quickens my heart with desire to daily bring life to others though sometimes those gestures seem so small and insignificant. Each matters to God. May we all simply live great gratitude for the gift first given in a lowly stable so many centuries ago. Extra MERRY TEAM “Thank You”s and Sheepish Apologies: There is an explanation though not excuse to the few of you who joined our donor team later and have not heard from us directly though World Team has contacted you of course. They wisely held back our reports until mail and internet connections could be verified as safe, which took a couple of months since we were on the move. Then we were so intent on hanging on to this “rocket” of responsibility and opportunity getting Ukraine Family Institute established in time for next month's launch, we did not open all the snail (now sail? bird?) mail that did eventually make it to us safely. (The positive side of that is that we were trusting God and you, our donors, regarding finances and prayer!) Consequently we only just recently discovered newcomers to our “team”. Team? Team is what we are folks. Enjoy it. We can work day in and day out here in Kyiv and God can bless with opening door after door and bringing more and more students to us, yet without your support through finances and prayer we are nothing and helpless. With your financial support we move ahead and through your prayer we move in strength and wisdom, seeing not only opportunities to which we respond but also your prayer helps us recognize and deflect or overcome the spiritual opposition that every missionary faces. I write these things never to pressure anyone but simply to reinforce your value and encourage you to truly rejoice with us at all that God is doing through you. Frail Mail & Dumpster Dining: We have discovered that mail to our Ukraine Family Institute Office seems to arrive in a timely, orderly fashion yet could never expect the same of our home address. Mailing out is interesting. So far we've experienced no bubble wrap or any such packaging at our closest post office. It  offers only the old brown paper and brown string (no tape or glue) type of packaging. We never use the home address. Those mailboxes are battered and busted. Valuables would only tempt scroungers who have already taken all the wood from the benches nearby and regularly pick through the garbage bins out back. We've never been ones to waste any food yet here the challenge is magnified such that we, like other westerners in Kyiv, are developing a mentality of carefully discarding, sometimes even wrapping scraps of food that is burned or questionable, thereby minimizing risk to some poor soul who's going to eat those remnants regardless of condition. Why don't we just feed them? There are too many. We DO contribute to the programs or special opportunities through our church, which feeds over 400 widows and some orphans and others too. Somehow sometimes (whisper) quite decent scraps mysteriously end up in our garbage. But Old Mail Method Wins In the End? After 3.5 months we have all given up making Adam's new computer, my new one or my old one, or the Ukrainian Internet Provider options compatible with the Ontario Government's ILC (Independent Learning Curriculum) Program. Adam IS presently finding a round about way through a friend's computer in Waterloo, but basically snail mail is the method we expect will save the day. Otherwise, Adam's hopes for graduating and getting to Redeemer College next year will be severely challenged. (This has been my greatest aggravation in Kiev so far.) 17 Year Old Christmas Gift: Noel Adam was our special Christmas gift 17 years ago in Timmins Ontario. (Why do I never forget the snow blocked roads and that minus 20 degree trip to the hospital?) He's been tough and tender stuff ever since. The youth here are having a surprise party for him December 25th, though in the evening since that day is a regular work day for Ukrainians. Care From And For Family: Our girls are still full time employed and now are enjoying jobs more suited to their gifts and interests. Dawna works in a coffee shop part time and an art gallery full time. Sadly, the medical research company Angela had worked for could not sustain enough funding so not only let her go a while back, then eventually went under. In the meantime Angela had one medical job then two at once, and this last one she absolutely loves!!! Praise The Lord! They are growing strong spiritually in their house of Christian girls! Of course both girls are equal joys in their own unique ways. Tree and turkey trimmings and lots of family fun at my parents' in London (Ontario) are their delight and my comfort this year. Ron's parents have jumped into? up to? out to? Cyberspace! So those grandparents are doing very well keeping in touch with all the kids and grandkids. New knowledge in a tried and true old place: the library! No doubt they will connect in person sometime over the holiday season. My parents choose snail mail, sending good old handwritten love. They struggle with aging but seem to be coping well and I'm sure the family will have a fun time together. (Sorry I have your “Catch Phrase” game folks. Sure is a riot doing it here with multilingual participants! They love it! And do very well in English.) Online version could scroll forever, but snail mail paper (from which this came) dictates THE END! So ... Merry Christmas once again! And Blessing for the New Year in Him! Photo link below. Countless thanks  to you, from all of us. From Kyiv: Ron, Linda, Noel Adam From Ottawa: Angela Marie & Dawna Laurie Dr. Ron Harris: Founder of Wellspring of Life Biblical Counselling Service: wellspringoflife.com  rharris@iGlide.net ~ Academic Dean Ukraine Family Institute:ufi_kiev@yahoo.com , rlharris@iptelecom.net.ua    World Team Canada : 2476 Argentia Rd., Suite 203, Mississauga, ON   L5N 6M1, (905) 821-6300; (800) 610-9788, www.world-team.org ~  International Faith Initiatives Inc. (USA) www.internationalfaith.org ~ Rev. Linville: mike@internationalfaith.org