
Genuine JOY! ~ Orphan Masha, orphan Linda (both Ukrainians living with Ron and me), Brielle Goheen and our son Adam Harris (Canadians living for 10 days with Ron and me) just outside our Kyiv “shoebox” flat. Here is one tiny portion of our celebrating a late western Christmas in the JOY of Christ and NEW FREEDOM FOR UKRAINE! We've also been “having a blast” in homes, in the streets, concert halls, you name it… celebrating December 25 th Christmas, New Years on 31st, and January 7 th we join others for the Ukrainian Christmas. There is unique intensity, creativity, and spontaneous warmth amongst even strangers this season because of our Orange Revolution VICTORY. Better still is the belief of so many not primarily in politics but that God is doing something special here I Ukraine. Even Yushchenko, when asked whether he thought this victory was political or spiritual said, without hesitation, that it was spiritual. We do no know enough about him but think he is not an evangelical Christian. He seems wonderful though. For every news report you read or heard that quoted him and the masses saying only Slava Ukraieena (Praise / Glory to Ukraine) Western and European news reporters left out the very clear and equally loud praises to God / Christ. We personally heard that proper direction of praise many times. Slava Bogu! (Boshye! in Ukrainian) Praise God!
Christmas Day Dec.25th was “Election Eve” Ron and I went for what turned out to be an amazing walk. We could feel that the day was filled with uncertainty. Hope mixed with fear. We walked past the tents and somewhat depleted crowds though thousands still roamed and stood their ground there at Mydon (Independence Square). Every direction we looked and walked police could be seen just standing guard to prevent trouble. There are loudspeakers fastened to the light standards and corners of buildings. Such speakers were used in days gone by to announce news and orders from the repressive governments. December 25th Ron and I heard from them some of the MOST RICH, PEACEFUL, almost HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL CHORAL Church/Christmas/Carol music available on the face of the earth. For two hours we felt carried along in musical prayer. What would tomorrow bring? Bloodshed or blessing? New days or more of the old pain and suffering?
New Years Eve in Independence Square was simply extraordinary with the masses of people, Yushchenko greetings, incredible fireworks!!!, national anthem, new era begun; extremely moving. I babysat Callie McMurrin but got it through the window of a flat near Arsenalna metro and on TV.
 Yushchenko finished his New Year and Christmas Congratulation with:
I wish you to spend Christmas holidays in your family circle. I hope these days will bring peace, warmth, and desire to help those who need our help and support. From the depth of my heart I congratulate all the Ukrainians on the New Year and Christmas! Happiness to you, my dear, and God bless!
Christ is born!
Glorify him!
Victor Yushchenko
(Surviving poisoning and other corruption he became our new president of Ukraine)
PRAYER TENT
Sign reads:
“Embassy of God
… Saving Ukraine”
STREET SKIT: on what's in and comes out of heart. Banner is 2 Chronicles 7:14
“Tent City” Main Entrance. At first there were no walls or guards but as the weeks went on and tension rose, precautions were taken. In other cities there was a bit of tent attacking and burning and throughout Ukraine there were a number of beatings, but overall it was a bloodless revolution
Possibly a “FORCED SUICIDE” the day after the final election results. Ukrainian Transport Minister Heorhiy Kirpa was found dead with a gunshot wound at his home outside Kiev. The deputy head of the Victor Yushchenko election campaign Petro Poroshenko thinks that Kirpa could have been lead to suicide to conceal the illegal use of budget funds. Kirpa strongly supported Yanukovich.
Very Safe Christmas Party?
Dima is one of Yushenko's Body Guards.
(Me with him and his wife.
Party by member of our church.)
Concert: CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM!
That's what the poster between Brielle and Adam says. Adam recognized Roger (Maestro McMurrin) in the poster and just had to get a photo. The concert was great as was reuniting with other friends at the reception afterwards!
GROWTH! Expanded UFI team, IFI team, and Harris family! No we're not pregnant,! but Valya sure was! Our temporary loss of this extraordinary lady is for her joy of giving birth to a baby girl. She may return to work with us. Just before she left, God provided another quite different but very gifted and capable lady, Olga. We have warmly welcomed her to the Ukraine Family Institute staff. So that makes a IFI staff of 14 (plus Valya would be 15). Two of those are Jim and Marianna Peipon of Ukraine Medical Outreach! UMO is now part of International Faith Initiatives! Are you getting confused yet? Well it all makes sense when you think of IFI as ministry to the whole person; body (medical, teaching, evangelizing:UMO) and soul (counselling, teaching:UFI) . Other aid such as humanitarian, orphan, and other training have been in the IFI plans form square one but those steps have not yet been developed. We are all very busy as it is. The Peipons do come with Ukrainian orphan experience though so things will perhaps start happening there. I will give proper space and time to these (including photos) in newsletters soon to come. Now as for the expanded Harris family…we now have two young  orphan teens living under our roof. They are the Linda and Masha you see in these photos. Of course as many as were in the country, plus their spouses and children were invited to an IFI Christmas party by Jim and Marianna Peipon. Sorry you missed it Mike (president of IFI) but looking forward to your visit next month!

Many in a “shoebox” flat is NORMAL IN UKRAINE. What is not normal is that it is warm and all are well fed. We have these blessings.
This week has been interesting, with 6, sometimes 7 sleeping here, no washing machine or dryer (washer not working), and orphans friends visiting “our” Linda and Masha as well. But, it has been fun too. See orange fun photos. Tak means “Yes” and the other says Yushchenko (on the scarves).
Beslan and Tsunami NOT FORGOTTEN ~ Yes we feel grief for the Tsunami disaster and are sensitive to that immense sorrow and indescribable need while Ukraine rejoices in this remarkable moment of new freedom . We have not forgotten our plans for Beslan either (Russian school terror recovery). Thank you for rejoicing with us as part of a great moment in history. May God strengthen each of us in faithfulness through tragedy and triumph, giving always in gratitude for temporal and eternal comforts given by God to us.
"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn"
Romans 12:15
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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