ELECTION TENSION ~ Ukraine Towards Russia or The West? ~ You emailers got a flurry of near as-it-happened reports and urgent pleas for prayer, but those of you relying solely on surface mail we were unable to reach so instantaneously. Hence the repeat of news on page one of this Kyiv Calling. Emailers scrolling past this page, PLEASE do not forget to pray for round 2: “our” November 21st Run-off election! Besides one percent being way too close for comfort, democracy looks very different over here. (Snail mail insert explains some of that.) More PHOTOS this issue.
BAD News GOOD News ~ Here's the last email I sent November 1st, the day after the “election”.
I have deleted this "Dear Friends" letter from this website posting, though it was short and respectful, reporting the voting outcome and requesting prayer. It did include:
"PRAY for the Ukrainians as they press on. Pray for those seeking to lead this country. Pray even for the bad guys, forgetting not God's pure Grace in our own lives."
It ended with:
"May something good, even very good, come from the "run-off" voting in three weeks.
Praying for tomorrow's US elections too.
THANK YOU for your prayers and emails particularly during these last few uncertain days.
In the steadfast hope of our sovereign triune God,
Linda
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. & Mrs Ron Harris
Kyiv, Ukraine"
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SUMI : Module 3 ~ I went with Ron this time finally meeting our precious Sumi students and sitting many hours with them as they dug into the riches of the book of “Job”. This includes teaching on the counselor in relationship and beginnings of the right use vs. abuse of scripture. Classes were held in this newly remodelled building wherein both secular and Christian Ministry takes place. Though the lights and portable heater went off many times, overall it was cozy and comfortable for study. With living conditions difficult in Ukraine and believers keen on practical ministry immediately, it is difficult to get all the between-modules-homework done. A typical comment by one student to encourage others was “Do ministry, just do ministry. Everyone has problems. Don't think about that. Just do ministry.”
Soviet Style Hotel Extremes ~ Day 2 the previous guests' beer and vodka bottles were removed from the little too-gross-to-show toilet room to the right of the sink. It was another bring-your-own towel and toilet paper place but improving and comfortable enough. Daily the floor was mopped with what seemed like toxic strength bleach. I opened the windows but was thankful bleach seemed better than the mystery liquid and smells there any past noon hours of each day. The right hand side green wall belongs to the shower room delivering hot water daily! Wonderful!
We were also genuinely thankful for black and white tube TV that warmed up to offer “snowy” Channel 5 reports leading up to election day. It's the station often UNavailable since it has a reputation for balanced accurate reporting. If you look closely at the top left quadrant of our hotel room photo you'll see a little speaker on the wall up near the ceiling. It had only a zero and up volume control. I was  delighted that though there were no radio station choices available in the rooms, it pumped out rich operatic voices that even made the military marching music somewhat enjoyable. T.V. delivered similar quality including ballet.
Extremes? Tonsa Progress and “Class” ~ Regrettably we did not have our camera on hand to capture the class of other “Soviet Style” (according to Sergei) hotels, such as where we met for two of the 4 Evening Team Meetings. You have already seen from previous Kyiv Callings and perhaps TV recently the old restored and new modern beauty of Kyiv. Sumi's not there yet, but has a really nice centre. Like many Ukrainian cities it seemed to be moving in the right direction. The legitimacy of where the dollars come from is not always clear of course. We're still living in Ukraine's post Soviet new democracy struggles. (Again, please pray for November 21st!)
Old Bricks & New ~ They were literally combining both huge old and small new bricks to construct this “new” building just next to where our Sumi students met for class. UFI does not own any building including our Kyiv Office. Because of finances we must rent. Artyom is ever searching for good deals. He has done well. Only once (Kyiv group module 7) did students and staff have to take transit to a friend's place whenever they wanted to shower. Food? Well that varies greatly. Extension sites (Sumi, Rovna, Krasnodar Russia, and soon Belarus) arrange and pay for student food/housing details. UFI provides teaching/training. They deem the sacrifice worth it and scrounge a lot! Even our gifted Teaching Associate Sergei was bursting with delight as he tried on his newly resoled shoes!
Progress and Determination ~ They certainly don't all have computers and some don't even have a phone. Letters mailed within Ukraine have sometimes taken weeks to reach Kyiv. Internet Cafes help get absolutely essential (to be invited back to each module) weekly student reports and questions to our UFI office in Kyiv
One of the student assignments after every single  module involves reading and studying the new book we hand out at the end of each module week. Each book is written in Russian, selected by Ron, and tracked down for purchase by Artyom. The latter is no easy task as finances limit publishers as to the numbers of books published at one time. Because the list says so, doesn't mean they really exist! Why Russian? Because from square one we're aiming at post Soviet countries. They all understand Russian even if they do not prefer it. Christians are just grateful.
New Book Every Module
(TA Sergei distributing them)
Daily Morning Worship ~ During Modules, at 7:45 each morning the staff prays together. From 8:30 to 9 students and staff sing, pray, and read scripture in various creative formats. Ira lives in Kyiv and goes to our church, but is a Sumi student. At first she and others did not like the difficulty travelling but now sees it as a blessing in that God provides module by module and she is able to focus her full attention on studies far away from Kyiv concerns. Both of these students (in photo) seem to be forever smiling
Daily Lessons & Nightly Reviews ~ Ron and Team teach all day every day each module week. Each evening the team meets to review for daily encouragement, problem solving, and improvement. Ron's tired but continues to love it! How does the rest of the team fare with these new challenges and long days? Just look at their faces!!! Praise God!
Tanya, Larissa, Maria
at Evening Team Meeting(s).
Sergei & Artyom were still smiling too; even super-charged, praising God just as much. (UFI staff: 12 and growing. Presently 3 westerners, 9 Ukrainians. Turns are taken going to modules and working in Kyiv Office. Kyiv Module 8 next week.)
October 31st. Linda Celebrates 50 Years ~ in peace amidst Ukrainian election day turmoil. Surprised by Philippians 1:6 truth 30 years ago, I, Linda, believe it now more than ever. Birthday fun? Well, others offered dinner but Ron and I opted for a romantic lunch in a Kyiv restaurant on our quiet side of the river. Yet somehow the dancing live in Sumi 3 days earlier, and then here with life-size fat fake Ukrainians (instead of the real and usually beautiful ones/ladies) will become B-day memories mixed with fireworks in Sumi celebrating 60 years Nazi-free, Putin in Kiev 3 days, a huge military parade on Khreshchatik with tanks, Soviet flags, Ukrainian soldiers in World War II Uniforms, police and security everywhere, thousands of people in the streets before and after election day, Ukrainian flags, and the year 2005 possibly not being the same-ol' same-ol' exciting ministry days of 2003 - 2004. Not naively but optimistically we pray that it gets better for all!
REJOICING in the truth that no matter what is happening personally, politically or otherwise,
“He who began a good work in you
WILL carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1:6b
Serving Christ … from Kyiv Ukraine: Ron, Linda
from Canada: Angela Marie, Dawna Laurie, & Noel Adam
Dr. Ron Harris: rharris@iGlide.net ~ Founder of Wellspring of Life Biblical Counselling Service Inc.: wellspringoflife.com Academic Dean Ukraine Family Institute:ufi_kiev@yahoo.com , 2004: Ron.Harris@worldteam.org
World Team Canada : 7575 Danbro Crescent, Mississauga, ON L5N 6P9,
(905) 821-6300; (800) 610-9788, www.world-team.org ~
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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.
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