Never Nothing Happening ~ There's just never nothing happening in our lives and yours. The war has been won (death and resurrection of Christ) but the battle in the heavens continues! (Ephesians 6:12 truth) Once again, in retrospect I see God's particular blessing following inner battles, and that's without even another module happening since I last wrote you!

Hitting The Wall ~ I have just been informed that the personal stuff summarized in “September Sludge & Celebration” (Battles Within, Battles Won, and several “He Could Have…”) accompanying the email version of this Kyiv Calling, is sometimes referred to by veteran missionaries, as “hitting the wall”. Apparently it happens to most if not all missionaries. How and when it happens varies. Whether it's physical living conditions, health, language barrier (kind of like living in a bubble) a lot of little things or whatever, often a wall is met at about 6 months. We've been here 13. Not much has bothered me at all and still doesn't, but the “bubble” is maddening at times, even with wonderful American hospitality here and bilingual/multilingual Ukrainians helping all along the way. That's the bad news. The good news is that we are on the right track dismantling (or otherwise getting past) that wall, and energy and jollies have returned. (By the way, a “normal” Word Team route would have helped minimize some of these challenges, but all the other blessings in our work here continue to verify that a fast track to Kiev was the right choice. Besides, if we knew the language we may never have met amazing Tatjana) Praise God and please keep those prayer fires burning! We do for you, particularly as I receive personal emails and political newsletters from Canada and USA.

HAPPENINGS NOW and NEXT

Artyom Arrives in America!

Please PRAY for Artyom's four weeks in the US (Sept 9-Oct 9) promoting UFI with President Mike Linville from Indiana. Artyom almost "was" UFI in Kyiv in the initial stages. He is a strategic and gifted operations manager for UFI. This is Artyom's first trans-Atlantic flight, and we are asking God to provide direction concerning our present financial stability and future expansion possibilities through the fruitfulness of this promo-tour. Artyom: Fine ministry power from

typically dilapidated but comfortable office, in Kiev

Christian Medical Association of Ukraine ~ in Kirovagrad (6 hours by bus) October 2-4, with a couple of days of other work afterwards. Why is this in a Kyiv Calling? Medical knowledge and cooperation is an extremely important part of Biblical Counselling. Of course Ron and UFI Teaching Associates Sergei and Valya will be attending. Our American friend Dr. Peipon, is ordained with the PCA as is Ron. He and his wife will be attending and request that I tag along too. Upsetting my blood sugar diet/exercise routine is always a challenge but I may try. Dr Peipon will be delivering one of six presentations, and will introduce Ron and UFI. Pray for the important aspect of networking and building mutually supporting working relationships for future ministry in Ukraine. (Dr. Peipon is with Music Mission Kiev, where Medical is one of many MMK ministries.)

60 children! Big Module 4 Family! ~ (God's children that is) It's that time again but different scenario! Yes module 4 (of UFI's 12) will be held October 13-18, but this time ALL of our students will come TOGETHER for the FIRST TIME! WE ARE EXCITEDLY NERVOUS!!! We are planning some special fellowship times, evening discussions to maximize the "family" part of Ukraine Family Institute. There will be unique challenges in the teaching with a large group.(See August Kyiv Calling for dynamics of the 2 groups. wellspringoflife.com KC archives) Pray for a wonderful presence of God's Spirit, and for a unique unity among the students as all of us study, have fun and worship together.

Would you want to greet the students in Module 4? Send an email saying that you are praying for them, sharing a thought, whatever... We will translate them in class during this special Module 4.

How could these clowns

do such amazing work?

UFI staff minus president Mike:

Artyom, Valya, Ron, Olya, Sergei…

…always with string of UFI students.

(Team prays together daily then works with faxed, emailed, snail mailed, or hand delivered student reports daily, as well as curriculum / syllabi development) Praise God for health, opportunity, diligence, hungry hearts, and team unity!

Ukrainian Forest Treat

UFI Ukrainians, and other missionaries (American) and their families zipped off to the woods one day after work. 25 minutes by car from UFI office.

Cooking Ukrainian Shish kabobs

Evangelical Reformed Seminary of Ukraine

This Seminary began in Odessa (on the Black Sea) and is the first Seminary to be accredited by the Ukrainian government, receiving degree granting privileges. This is the Kiev extension. Ron and Ukraine Family Institute Teaching Associate Sergei spoke to the students, (about 20 in number) and there were interested seminarians who lingered to ask questions of Sergei. Four of the seminarians are part of our home church - Church of the Holy Trinity. The UFI program is specifically designed to help pastors and church leaders to train their people. We thank God for the welcome given to us by the seminary staff - president Clay Quarterman (PCA), academic dean Jos Colijn (Liberated Reformed, Netherlands), dean of students Eric Huber (PCA). Pray for God's direction of both ministries to develop a wise working relationship that will further the training of men and women who think biblically in their ministries.

What a gorgeous setting in which to meet the students and present Ukraine Family Institute. It's about 40 minutes from our flat by foot, metro, marshrutka (sort of minivan), and foot again, walking 7 or 8 minutes through what looked exactly like the woods in which Ron and I built our house years ago by Lake Huron Ontario. Pines, oaks, virginia creepers turned blazing red already, fresh air, soft sand, beautiful river, fresh water spring, and peace! No traffic! As exciting as this was to a nature lover like me, it's more wonderful to see students bending their brains around good solid teaching. We pray blessings on them and the churches, families, and communities who learn from them.

Psychology, The Bible,

Real Life Christian Canucks for Ukrainian Dissection (Harris Hotseat again)

September 19th Ron and I particularly had fun with the young people. Ron taught serious truths in (as usual) sometimes far from serious ways. That was on Psychology and The Bible, a "hot topic" among many here in Kiev. Good questions from sharp thinkers. (It is also the topic covered in this next Ukraine Family Institute Module IV.)

I, Linda, very much enjoy our church's “Young Adults” (University Age) group. I've joined an American about my age and two young Ukrainian ladies as part of the leadership team. Some have surprised me with ear to ear smiles and expressions a mutual appreciation for my presence and spontaneous contributions. (Same with Marriage Group Tuesday nights) It's more fun when Ron and I are together at these meetings and more beneficial to the Ukrainians too. I think they like the “real” part; “hotseat” part. By opening ourselves up to their questions they get to see and hear that real Christians are real sinners, who really do grow through serious solid spiritual Truth, really rejoice in God's love and faithfulness, and really know how to laugh! Praise God for His Spirit working in these hearts and that we have interpreters plus many young people that know English well enough to put it all together such that we are confident what we are saying is being accurately communicated. (Professional translators are kept extremely busy through all the ministries so others step in when needed and generally it all seems to work out fine.)

(Photo: The shirt says: “Life is simple. Eat. Sleep. Play Hockey.)

Bits `n' Bites on University Age Meetings

The speakers and projects vary from week to week for the Friday meetings mentioned above. We've had one well attended pizza party (That's the “Bite”) Yes they have pizza here in Kiev though I've heard some interesting stories on how some was obtained, failed to be ordered, delivery refused. In September we also had one small discussion meeting on “openness”, led by a young Ukrainian girl. An excellent time was had by all and to me some very interesting Ukrainian family dynamics became apparent. The last meeting (Psych & Bible led by Ron) was a larger teaching/discussion time though we are still only 14-few in number. You can pray for that but in the meantime we will press on as the fearless 14 or something like that. Fliers or no fliers, bulletins or not, word of mouth

still seems to be the main way that churches, food packets, widows, orphans, EE., or other ministry meetings are found, whatever needs to be done is done, and groups grow. (There is no phone book)

Marriages ~ We're still keeping the focus on training leaders so limit other involvement. However presently there is the church Tuesday evening Bible Study, Ron's intentionally minimal counselling, UFI teaching, and speaking/teaching opportunities at Seminaries and at our church. Small numbers but all seem to be presently yielding good fruit sometimes in surprising ways.

UFI Longevity

There are promotion trips scheduled (see previous Kyiv Callings and eventually next month's) but our focus at present is, as mentioned many times before, building the donor base and solid teaching team foundation. Please pray for Mike, Artyom, Ron and me in this regard… and be encouraged in reading “He Could Have Had The Money” in “September Sludge & Celebration” accompanying his Kyiv Calling. (Promo scheduled for Krasnadar, Russia; Rovna, Sumi, L'Viv Ukraine.)

Would you want to help introduce our ministry to others?

As you know we have a great need to expand our donor base for longevity of ministry here. Are there people who you think would like to join the Wellspring Kyiv email group? Are there people who would welcome some information about the UFI ministry, or personal interest emails? Let us know.

Adam Angst! ~ No school! But … he's OK and happy … now. All year long he had been looking forward to going to Redeemer University College in Ancaster Ontario (near Hamilton / Toronto area). Well, in summary I guess all the local Christian support by the Haas household, church, friends, relatives, and long distance this time by us (internet and phone) was not enough to keep him on top of chasing down more grants and loans, finding a summer job, tying up loose ends with High School and meeting all the first deadlines (not the extended ones) for University. He has excellent work grades but exams were delayed until now! September! BUT … (bad news/good news again) … he is still a fine young man who loves The Lord and had the maturity to decide that he was not quite ready to go to University and that next year he'd be much better prepared. Of course this is his mother writing, but others agree. It was a heart wrenching decision particularly as Adam had successfully pushed through a lot of challenges this year yet would suddenly not be rooming with his best buddy at that same University the next morning. Adam had adapted to a different culture here in Kiev, did extremely well learning Russian, loved the activities and people here, was and is well respected and loved by the youth here, and yet part way through he got stuck on doing all the schoolwork basically alone for the first time, even the internet program for that never once succeeding in spite of many hours of help to fix that. Then in order to finish school he had to discipline himself to minimize contact with friends when he returned to Canada early. He hid for a month while doing schoolwork. However, to make a longer story short, he would have limped over the altered finish line and probably suffered even more difficulties and burdens unnecessarily this year if he didn't suddenly put on the brakes. Yes it came through much discussion with us, but it truly was his own decision. He is very happily employed now and the Haases have once again shown extreme love and care in letting him stay there, though shifting to rent being paid, which is of course part of what he needs. He does not have to leave his church, Christian friends, and can easily visit Joel at Redeemer. Please pray for Noel Adam (18 this Christmas) and praise God for His faithfulness in developing the character behind that 11th hour God-honouring and parent-honouring email that made us cry.

Dawna Delights ~ Dawna is truly delighting in attending hairdressing school in Ottawa. She's living in the same house, going to the same church, I think has the same boyfriend, still enjoys her sister Angela who lives within minutes, but she does NOT still have her 2 to 3 jobs! She learned a lot from them but was very happy to leave them behind. All barely paid the bills and none particularly used her gifts. In retrospect it seems it was the best route and Dawna's very happy now though could use continued prayer. She described to me in detail over the phone her amazement and gratitude to God at how He has provided since we left and now to be doing what she loves and not chalking up thousands of dollars in debt is truly incredible to her. (To us too! Praise God!) Yes they DO give homework at hairdressing school and it's not all fun and games on your friends' heads!

Ange Plans ~ Angela continues in her great medical office job but has various other plans medically on her plate right now too. One involves moving clear across the country to British Columbia! We shall see. She too is doing well socially, spiritually, and whateverotherly.

Well there you have it; ministry and family news. Again, our thanks, love and prayers to you all!

Peaceably pressing on

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,

but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world,

and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Ephesians 6:12

Serving Christ … from Kyiv Ukraine: Ron & Linda

from Ottawa Ontario Canada: Angela Marie & Dawna Laurie

from Ancaster & Waterloo Ontario Canada: Noel Adam

Dr. Ron Harris: rharris@iGlide.net ~ Founder of Wellspring of Life Biblical Counselling Service: wellspringoflife.com Academic Dean Ukraine Family Institute:ufi_kiev@yahoo.com , rlharris@iptelecom.net.ua

World Team Canada :NEW 2003: 7575 Danbro Crescent, Mississauga, ON L5N 6P9

(905) 821-6300; (800) 610-9788, www.world-team.org ~

International Faith Initiatives Inc. (USA) www.internationalfaith.org ~ Rev. Linville: mike@internationalfaith.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We send out email newsletters which differ in format from this web page and from the 8.5" X 11" snail mail format.

For information, problems / changes / deletions regarding these newsletters, please tell me, Linda: rlharris@i.kiev.ua

Apologies for misalignments / spacing. New software would be nice. This one too often (but not always) glitches.

PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS

(These ones work well.No bells and whistles but I chose to make them this way

to eliminate computer and time problems for you. No downoad concerns!)

For

FALL 2002 KIEV photos (Our arrival and settling) CLICK HERE

For

WINTER 2003: UKRAINE FAMILY INSTITUTE IS BORN! photos

CLICK HERE!

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