Dan and Pris Gollan

On a plane

Oh the pain

40 hours

40 years

Going round and round

The carrousel

With no luggage

Travelling light

Less to carry

But you rush

What’s your hurry?

Got to get there

Then the next place

But the smile has left your face

Destination?

Not this station

Got frustration?

Need elation?

Oh the pain

On this plane

The fortune belongs to a young man named Sasha from Odessa. On Friday he won 250 000 hrivna on the final of Everybody Dance. I was talking to him before the show and he said if he wins he wants to open a dance school in Odessa. Earlier I was supporting my friend Lida. It was fun being on Ukrainian television and I even made their evening news. You can find the clip in their archives or watch it right here. 

Set aside 20 minutes of your time and be prepared to be challenged. Watch The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard. Sure she has an American accent, but anyone reading this should be challenged. What action should it lead us to. I’m still thinking about this on many different levels. I welcome your thoughts also.

The Underground Cabinet, L’viv. Saturday December 6th, 2008

The Sum of all Things.

Without God – my life has no meaning. I can try and create meaning – or follow a formula created by another. I may find meaning for a time – but neither true nor lasting meaning. These creations of mine are usually short lived. The more obvious it is my own creation for meaning – the shorter lived.

So today – I was asked who I was and what I do. I balked. Not because I don’t know. Maybe because I feel I fail so often – but maybe because I feel I’m not allowed to sell it. I can only be a reflector of the Light and people must be drawn. I’m a rather unpolished reflector. But I consider things like – world government, justice, war – peace, racism, sin – my sin, impurity, hypocrisy, selfishness, greed, inequality, sustainability, the environment, the end of the world, heaven, hell, so many divisions in the Christian church. I feel that I want to work it out – and can’t. Somehow – I know – I believe that faith in God is the only answer – and yet even that can sound like an easy way out when telling someone else. Yet for me I know it is true.

So the conclusion:

My life is all about God.

Created by Him – in His image.

Separated from Him – by my sin.

Redeemed to Him – by Jesus.

It can only make sense to live 100% for Him. And when I fail – it doesn’t make His Way any less – but my salvation only greater. Tonight I nail my colours to His mast. I am a disciple of Jesus!!

Artificial doors

Artificial light

In the belly of the earth

Out of sight

Hiding from the bad?

Hiding from the good?

Separatists unite

As they should?

Seven hiding in a group

Two alone together

One with all his thoughts

Sits and thinks about forever

I want to have all the answers

And I do

But they’re not found in me

Or in you

So why do I talk

My ‘wisdom’ I expound

A never ending circle

Where truth is never found

Unless I stop

Stop

Wait

Pause

Reflect

Be still

Come out, come out

Come out from underground

Come out, come out

On truth alone to feed

For if the Son shall set you free

You shall be free indeed

Issues of the heart outweigh the workings of my mind

The focus of my life

What do I see?

Advice I once was given

“Keep Looking Up”

Refocuses my eyes where they should be.

BECOMING REAL
"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." (from The Velveteen Rabbit)

I want to become real. Thank you to all of those of you who love me and continue to love me through the process. Thanks Katya for an encouraging chat on Friday night.

UTSIM
As I write I have less than 3 weeks of teaching left til the end of the year. Time has flown by. The beginner classes are at maximum capacity and I am looking for extra teachers for next year. We will also be needing extra rooms at the school.
The current building situation is that we have asked the local council for a 49 year lease on an old public building that was once a sports school. The council will sit some time around the 10th of December to decide for or against us. The location is great and the potential is huge. It will need major renovations inside, but these could be done piece by piece as we grow. Please bring this before our Father.
The best thing about teaching is the students. I regularly say to Sveta after a lesson, “I really enjoy teaching those kids.” The classes are small and close knit. We often have the chance to pick up on a theme or an answer and speak positive and godly truths into the lives of these young people. I enjoy being with them, learning and laughing with them. Please pray for the students. If you want to personally pray for one student, please contact me via email.
The document saga continues. I was misinformed in believing I could get permanent residency. It is temporary residency I am currently seeking to obtain, the work permit being the first and major hurdle for this to occur. Really – I’m a little sick of talking about documents all the time.
Finally, please continue to pray about our end of year presentation night. The invitations will be going out this week. We hope to have a really professional and friendly time building bridges with the parents and others in the town.

LIFE OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS

RZHYSHCHIV HAPPENINGS
A number of us meet at Masha’s house on Thursday nights to pray. A few weeks ago Lena initiated an idea. Over the last 4 -5 years we have had a number of people either profess faith in Jesus or at least show a genuine interest – only to grow cold or walk away. Lena suggested that we stop every evening at 8:30pm and pray for these people. It has been amazing how much I have noticed chances to interact with a number of ‘old friends’ after I have been more diligent in prayer.
This week at church Bruce presented an opportunity to serve the community with a special Christmas dinner. The church will provide it and invite members of the community – including a number of prominent people in the town. Please pray for this outreach that it would be a combined effort from the church to our town.
Twice this month I have been able to provide extracurricular activities for some of the missionary kids here. I took some of the older ones to Kyiv for a Commonwealth Nations Remembrance Day Service. See my write up of this day. Last week we watched Charlotte’s Web together and some of the kids completed really good answers to a work booklet I put together for them.

WEEKENDS
I’ve been in out of Kyiv nearly every weekend for something. Often just on a Friday and I come back with Ruth and Jon. Jeff came with me one Friday and spoke at a school assembly. I managed to watch a couple of All Blacks games, of course we were going to win everything – it’s not the world cup! Funny I haven’t heard anything from my League loving Aussie friends. They have been unusually quiet.
Simbo and Asia came down two weekends ago. It was great to have a nice chill out weekend at home – even though the weather made us want to stay indoors. Simbo is from Scotland and Asia from Poland. They are currently learning Ukrainian and have a desire to help homeless children here in Ukraine. Maybe they will end up in Rzhyshchiv. I know I enjoy having them around.
This weekend coming I’m off to Lviv to visit my good friends Nat and Losha. Can’t wait to catch up with you guys again.

Finally, in a few weeks I’m heading off to NZ for a short holiday/family reunion. We try to get together about every four years. My nieces and nephews especially grow up so fast – and I will really enjoy reconnecting with them again. I’ll have 5 days in Sydney en route back to Ukraine.

WHAT YA READIN’?
“Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley. I’ve only just started this futuristic novel written back in 1931. As yet I’m not quite sure what to make of it. Another Hungarian book I read was a collection of One Minute Stories by Istvan Orkeny. Some of the wit of these stories was way over my head, others were very poignant. 3/5

PRAYER AND PRAISE
Council’s decision on leasing us a building
Continuation of temporary residency process
My students
Good friends Simbo and Asia, Nat and Losha, Katya
End of year presentation night
Rzhyshchiv Christmas party
How about 2 minutes prayer every evening at 8:30?

THANKS
To Gaven for a night watching the AFL Grand Final complete with meat pies and lamingtons. Only 2 months late!

Love Jono
Keep Looking Up

Yesterday was our first snow for the winter. It's currently sitting at about minus 2 so the thin layer of snow is still covering the ground. Before it started snowing it was raining, so just beneath the thin layer of snow is some lovely dangerous ice. I've walked up the hill a couple of times and I must admit I feel rather unsteady on my feet. It will be fun taking the van out later today. It feels nice to have snow - a reminder that winter is definitely here, but it also makes me think of all the jobs I was planning to do before the snow came and how much longer it takes to do things and go places. Getting dressed, chains on the tires, ice off the windscreen, clearing paths (if I bother to).

On another note, I bought a copy of the Message at a garage sale last week. It is refreshing to read. In Matthew 5 I read this morning, "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule."

The Bugler lifts his trumpet to his lips and the eerie yet familiar sounds of the Last Post echo through the crisp morning air. Heads bowed we stand in silence, remembering the fallen.

They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them.

I took Jesse and Marie Gollan and Brod and Bron Crowe to their first ever Remembrance Day service. They were pleased to meet real live soldiers from many countries. They enjoyed learning something new about their world. They were glad of a day out and another life enriching experience. I think best of all they enjoyed laying their wreaths at the altar of American Imperialism (a.k.a. - a trip to McDonalds).

I am a pacifist - and I believe today was important. Can I fully understand my beliefs about war? Not yet. I know I detest it. As I seek to know the heart and mind of Jesus - I believe this is the way He chooses for me to view my world.

Albert Einstein wrote: "how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action. It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder."

Life has many questions. I don't know all the answers. I believe war is not the answer. I don't know that pacifism is the answer. Life is more complicated than that. So I must have a solid base. Greater than myself, greater than all of mankind's noble deeds and noble people. On Christ the solid Rock I stand - all other ground is sinking sand.

In a collection of short stories I recently read the following seven connected statements:

1. Everything we grasp with our conscious mind is merely an assertion.

2. Some of these assertions are false, while others are true.

3. With an eye to the above, we reject the false assertions and embrace the true assertions. In short, the way in which we judge our assertions bears within it the possibility of the search for truth.

4. Man is the only living creature endowed with the capacity of searching for truth, because only he can reject or embrace a given possibility. Thus, truth is embodied in the image of the thinking man.

5. This capacity of ours has made it possible for us to triumph over the forces of nature, to cure the sick, to put and end to slavery, to love our neighbours as ourselves, and to plan the future with a view towards bringing about the best of all possible worlds.

6. In this manner, we have thus wiped hatred and sin, war and strife, sadness and penury off the face of the earth and are living in good cheer, security and happiness.

7. Provided our sense of judgment will not be impaired, this state of well being should hold out for all time to come.

HOW DO YOU EAT AN ELEPHANT?
I had trouble sleeping last night. This is a very rare occurrence for me. Many thoughts were swirling around in my head; obstacles and difficulties loomed before me as insurmountable. Suddenly an image of an elephant came into my mind along with the question “How do you eat an elephant?” I remember Colin Lees teaching this to a grade 5 class at Pacific Hills. The answer being, “One mouthful at a time.”
When I can’t see the way out of the maze, the light at the end of the tunnel or the solution to my problem; then in faith I must take one step at a time holding the hand of Jesus. Oh Jesus will never let me go – may I never let go of Him.

UTSIM
If September was crazy – October just flew by. We now have 22 students, and at the beginning level have had to turn students away. I would dearly like to be able to start more classes in the New Year. This will require two things, extra rooms and extra teachers.
A place to rent. Please continue to pray about a place to rent. Every week it seems that I am learning something new, and often feel very inadequate for the job in front of me. Until recently I thought that the best option would be to rent an apartment in the main five-story apartment block in the centre of town. I have since been told that this would probably be a hindrance to a number of families. The old soviet mentality is wary of anything that could look secretive. An office that is open for all to see is a much better option.
Good news! I received notice of my work permit for Ukraine and will receive the document on November 5. Thank you to all who prayed. I believe there are still some more steps to be taken regarding registration and eventually I hope to get permanent residency status.
The last week of October was a school break so we also had a break from classes. I now have just 7 weeks of teaching left before I head to NZ for a family reunion. This will culminate with an end of year celebration and prize giving to which the parents will be invited. Please pray for a positive evening of interaction with the parents.

LIFE OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS

HUNGARY
My sister Ruth and her husband Jon are also teachers here in Ukraine – so the last week of October was a holiday for all of us. They needed to leave Ukraine for Visa purposes so together we decided to pick a new country, and we headed to Budapest Hungary. We enjoyed wandering the cities of Buda and Pest on opposite sides of the Danube River. I caught up with Bruce Marlin from Sydney – the world is a small place. We then hired a car and cruised west to the Balaton region and spent 3 nights near the lake there. I enjoyed the thermal pools that even had a smell to remind me of Rotorua. It was also good to catch up with Bogdan from Ukraine who is studying at a Bible College there. The Bible College is in an old Castle that has been wonderfully preserved. The three of us all agreed that we had a good relaxing week – though the 27 hour train ride back home was something we were glad to finish.
I learned a very little of Hungarian history – a fascinating country – land locked in Europe and different to all the other countries around it. Learning any Hungarian at all was a challenge that even Jon struggled with. I managed ‘thank you’ and that was about it.

TRUCK
Today was a blessing. I met George, Irina and George Jnr and travelled through the forest to the where they meet for church. I met Irina 4 years ago and this year her husband became a Christian. I thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with them and the conversation I could have with Irina. Pray for her as she searches to know the truth.

I made my Ukrainian TV debut by being a crazy fan for the Ukrainian version of “So You Think You Can Dance!” One of my friends was a finalist and we had a good loud and boisterous following for her. I even made the evening news with my comments about the show. What does it count for? Nothing really . . .

WHAT YA READIN’?
“Everything is Illuminated” by Jonathan Safran Foer. This book I read after watching the movie of the same title. Based in Ukraine – I found the movie rather entertaining. Reading the book was a letdown. Bizarre and not worth your time. 1/5
In Hungary I picked up “God in the Wagon” by Ferenc Sánta. The first chapter was very absorbing – written about hard times in Hungary after the war.

PRAYER AND PRAISE
Premises to rent
Praise God for the work permit
My students
Irina and George
End of year celebration

THANKS
To Ruth and Jon for a really enjoyable holiday away together.

Love Jono
Keep Looking Up

Stuck in traffic! A rainy late Friday afternoon and I'm stuck in a propka. The name for a cork is the same word for a traffic jam. I see a sign for the metro system so I pull up on the footpath, park the van and head to the underground. 15 minutes later I'm waiting in the rain with some friends. I have a silly hat, a sign that says Lida for president, and I'm wondering why for the second time in a few weeks I forgot to bring a jumper when the weather is below 10 degrees. Eventually we hop on a bus and are transported to some weapons factory that has been converted into a TV studio. Moments later we are stage side, in the fan zone of Everybody Dance or in Ukrainian ???????? ???! The count down is on and suddenly the stage is alive with the remaining 18 dancers vying for 250 000 grivna. I almost didn't recognise my friend Lida as she has fulfilled a long time ambition of shaving her head.

It was a great night and towards the end we mingled with a number of the stars. If you live in Ukraine - vote for Lida via SMS. Just watch channel ??? on Friday nights at 8pm. Check out Lida's profile here.

MAY YOUR HEART BE FULL OF WHAT??
The other day I was dropping off Tashy at her former place of employment. She had a difficult meeting and I attempted to encourage her by saying “May God give you wisdom in your words and peace in your heart.” I only changed one letter but ended up saying “and may your heart be full of cheese”. It was pretty funny.

UTSIM
September has been a crazy month. This month the language school opened. We currently look like this:

• Natasha Kurilko – Director/Accountant/Bookkeeper
• Jonathan Miller – Teacher
• Sveta Hladchenko – Teacher’s Aide
• Masha Stratiychuk – Secretary/Translator

I think we have 17 students. We started with 8, but the number is changing every day. Currently we are running classes after school using one of the local school’s facilities. This means dragging everything down there – and sometimes waiting for a room to be available. I would dearly love to rent premises in the centre of town – please be praying about this.
I also currently have lawyers in Kyiv working on my documentation. I may have some problems regarding work permits and visas. I’m still holding my breath on this one and hopefully will find out within the next week or two. Big prayer point!
I’m really enjoying the teaching and the face to face interaction with the students. It’s a lot of work but I enjoy planning and creating, and the verbal interaction in the lessons. The students are mainly keen which is a bonus. Please pray for these students.
The document/business side of things is almost indescribable. To quote from a Kyiv paper, “If you are starting a business here, absurdly the first person you would have to hire would be a bookkeeper to sail you through the seas of bureaucracy and regulations. You simply wouldn’t do that anywhere west of Ukraine.”
LIFE OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS
Life outside of business does exist because I demand that it does. I guess this falls into a couple of categories

PEOPLE
I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with Mark and Jacqui from NZ who stayed at my place over the summer while working on Ruth and Jon’s house. Was also good to spend time with Ruth and Jon and I still see them most, if not every weekend. Shane from WA was also a great bloke to get to know. He hung out here for the summer and will hopefully come back sooner than later next year. I’m hoping to land another English teacher this way. Shane also rates as a formidable foe in table tennis. Max has come to stay and has been here a month. I’ve been so busy I’ve hardly spent much time with him. In-between times a bunch of people stayed over for Ruth’s 30th weekend, Looby Loo came to stay and 8 people from Moldova crashed here last night. It was also great to catch up with Nat in Kyiv for an early birthday and see the bump progressing in her belly.

EVENTS
Working backwards, we just had the 3rd Annual Chernihiv Conference. A good bunch from Rzhyshchiv went. It was a good time of teaching from the heart of God in Scripture – namely JESUS, MERCY, REDEMPTION, and THE GLORY OF GOD. We had good fellowship and fun together. Thanks to the organisers.
My little mate Jeff had an appearance at British International School in Kyiv for a Friday assembly. It was good to brush up the ventriloquism – but more so I realised that I’ve missed this little personality. He’s been a good friend to me.
I saw very little rugby this year, but watching the All Blacks beat the Wallabies in a close one which doubled as two finals – was really good. A representative from the NZ embassy in Moscow was also there so I was trying to be a little less demonstrative – but in those dying tense seconds – I don’t think I was able to contain myself.
And on the subject of rugby, I played in an expat beach rugby team at the annual tournament in late August. We played all right for a 5th placing. Was great to do something active again.
For anything further back check out the blog posts on the website.

CUT SHORT
The life of one of my first students was cut short by a tragic car accident a few weeks ago. I wrote about my feelings in a short tribute to Steph Evans. Read it here http://www.jonomiller.com/node/1634.
I came to understand the amazing help a Christian school community like Pacific Hills can be. Pray about the future of Christian schooling here in Ukraine.

New Look Newsletter
Do you like it? Dislike it? Send us your feedback please. See the attached PDF file.

WHAT YA READIN’?
“The First Circle” by Alexander Solzhenitsyn has consumed a large part of my reading time. It has been an interesting delve into the Soviet psyche as well as a thought provoking commentary upon human motives and behaviour. Albeit – rather slow moving. 3.5/5

Admittedly a little while back, I also read “A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian” by Marina Lewycka. It’s not in Ukrainian – it’s in English. A highly entertaining book made even more absorbing by the Ukrainian nuances to which I could relate. 4/5

PRAYER AND PRAISE

• Steph’s parents and brother
• Premises to rent
• Visa/work permit documentation
• My students
• Tashi, Sveta and Masha who work for UTSIM
• A glorious God, His mercy, His redemption and His Son, Jesus

Love Jono
Keep Looking Up

"Have mercy on me O God - because of Your love and Your kindness. Look down on me but do not see my sin. Remove it from before Your sight and mine. Cover me because of the blood of Your Son's death. May Your mercy restore me. May Your punishment be stayed. Lift me up. Set my feet on the Rock. May they not stumble again. May my foot not be moved. May my faith not waver. You have proven time and time again that You are faithful - You are trustworthy. Cause my faith in You to grow. May your mercy and grace be the crowning marks of my life. May my mouth sing praise and joyously tell forth all You have done and will continue to do. Let me dance - let me sing - may my heart be lifted up - may I see You my King, and live - Have mercy O God upon me - a sinner."