tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69119882007-12-29T02:07:00.892+02:00Jono MillerJethroBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1117535908608889972005-05-31T13:36:00.000+03:002005-05-31T14:13:16.663+03:00New WebsiteAll Jono's information, photos and news is now on his new website <a href="http://www.jonomiller.com/">www.jonomiller.com</a>Jethrotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1109077899933253442005-02-22T15:09:00.000+02:002005-02-22T15:11:39.933+02:00Whole New Web Site<a href="http://www.jonomiller.com">Jonomiller.com</a> is now where you can find all my latest news and photos.<br />It has a much better commenting system, photo galleries and content management.<br />You can even vote on a poll for my next hair colour.<br /><br />This will be the last post on here.Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1107186766675068952005-01-31T17:46:00.000+02:002005-06-28T01:31:01.986+03:00RPD 31 January 2005<h2>New Website</h2><br />You can find all Jono's news photos and more on his new website <a href="http://www.jonomiller.com">www.jonomiller.com</a><br /><br />Read Pray Delete Newsletter for 31 January <a href="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/pdf/RPD%20050131.pdf">available here</a>Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1106756554851870082005-01-26T18:09:00.000+02:002005-01-26T18:22:34.850+02:00Read Pray Delete 27 January 2005<a href="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/pdf/RPD%20050127.pdf">RPD Newsletter for 27th January 2005 is available here</a>.Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1106755717142073072005-01-18T18:05:00.000+02:002005-01-26T18:08:37.143+02:00Read Pray Delete 18 January 2005Back in Aussie. <a href="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/pdf/RPD%20050118.pdf">RPD for 18 Jan 2005 newsletter available here</a>.Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1105615288602244422005-01-13T13:18:00.000+02:002005-01-13T13:21:28.603+02:00RPD 13 January 2005<a href="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/pdf/RPD%20050113.pdf">Read Pray Delete</a> newsletter for 13 January 2005 available now.
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<br />Note Jono's new email address in the newsletter and on the sidebar.
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<br />Also this site will soon be migrated to Jono's new domain <a href="http://www.jonomiller.com">www.jonomiller.com</a>.Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1105594589205309462005-01-13T07:33:00.000+02:002005-01-13T07:36:29.206+02:00Update from Dan and Pris GollanWhat a ride!!! God has been a faithful Father throughout it and it was even in His plan to keep Pris here for a bit longer. Naturally, that didn't disappoint me. : )
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<br />We went into the hospital last Wednesday and Pris was wheeled into theater at about 13:30. I went in soon after and was there for the delivery of Elizabeth Rose Gollan (3760grams) born at 13:51. The operation was expected to last 30 minutes. I went with Elizabeth, (haven't figured out if I will call her Lizzy or Betty yet), out into the pre-op area to wait for Pris so we could go to the "wake-up room" and be there when she gained consciousness. We waited for a while and then chose to take the new bubby down to the special care unit for weighing and clothing and cuddling. I was called back up to surgery and waitedfor 20 odd minutes until the doc came out and told me tersely that Pris had been haemorrhaging severely and he needed to do a hysterectomy if she was to be saved. I thought we'd already discussed this eventuality and told him so and politely sent him back in to do his stuff. He immediately turned and walked back into theater. Over two hours had passed. I kept on waiting. An extra delivery of blood passed me in the arms of a courier. The nurses were most considerate. She continued to bleed. To complicate matters even more, in an effort to get the placenta out, a two inch incission was accidentaly made in her bladder. That needed discovering and then stitching. Over four hours later, they finally wheeled her out and immediately into ICU. The doctor wanted her "unconscious" overnight. She continued to lose blood and so they kept on giving her more. All in all, they said they had given her eight liters of fluid by 8:30 the next morning. (The body has about 5 liters of blood in it.) I spent some time with the baby feeding her and cuddling and then went back up to Pris. At 1:00, she was still bleeding. The nurses set me up in a room nearby with a fold out bed and advised I get some sleep, which I both felt like doing and didn't feel like doing at the same time. I was up again at 5:30ish and checked on Pris. I could immediately tell by the demeanor of her nurse that things weren't going well. She informed me that Pris hadn't stopped bleeding and "wasn't out of the woods yet" - to use her words. Prisherself looked pretty bad. I went away and prayed and called a few more people about the situation and then got a call at about 8:30 that Pris had stabilized, stopped bleeding and had just been taken off the ventilator (machine keeping her under and breathing for her.) She still had a mask on with oxygen being provided, but was conscious. I walked in to meet her blurry eyes with great relief and love. She stayed there in the intensive care unit for a couple of days and was then moved down to what they term a "high dependency area" in the intensive care unit. On the second day there, the docs disconnected her from some of the tubes and monitoring devices to which she was attached and we moved down into the normal maternity ward. Today, Tuesday the 11th, I left her able to walk around and sit up. She does 10 meters in under 10 seconds now! An achievement considering her pace yesterday!
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<br />Anyway, I am grateful for God's mercy to the kids and myself in giving us Priscilla. I have severe doubts that she would be alive today if we had stayed in Ukraine - good doctors notwithstanding. I praise Him for all He has done in this situation!
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<br />Elizabeth is a little cutie. What baby isn't! I have had the pleasure of changing nappies, bathing, feeding her a bottle, rocking her, dressing her, etc. etc., over this past week. I've enjoyed that.
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<br />I don't know if this will change our plans in any way concerning our return to Ukraine. I don't think it will but we have yet to talk to the docs about their opinion of long flights for Pris.
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<br />All in all, it has been a great ride and I have been grateful for God's presence, peace and grace!
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<br />Love much,
<br />Daniel.Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1105579517908642982005-01-13T03:24:00.000+02:002005-01-13T03:25:17.906+02:00Crowd MentalityWarning - this article contains cynical content.
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<br />Crowds are funny things. A lot of people act differently in crowds. They feel an empowerment that they don't feel when they are on their own.
<br />On New Year's Eve I was wandering through down town London. The crowd was fairly large, well behaved, ably controlled by an abundance of police, and enjoyed a fireworks display that was ok for a lot of money going bang in about 15 minutes. I ended up on the side of the river Thames sitting on a marble dome sort of thing and yelling Happy New Year and giving high fives to a bunch of teenagers I'd never met before. Why were we there? What did we achieve?
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<br />I couldn't help but compare this crowd with the huge crowds that lasted days and days in Kyiv during the Orange Revolution. There was something different. There was a purpose. Yet there was still a crowd mentality. In a crowd complete strangers feel free to act like life-long friends. Noise seems to be important in crowds. People that usually hate attracting attention towards themselves seem suddenly empowered to take on the world. (People like me have to work harder than normal to attract attention). Maybe the crowds of the Orange Revolution had a point, a reason. They will probably go down in history and maybe they will prove to have made a difference towards democracy in Ukraine. What individual difference did it make in the lives of those who were part of the crowd. An experience? Definitely. Life-changing? Who knows.
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<br />I thought of some other crowds. A Jerusalem crowd a couple thousand years ago one week welcomed a Galilean as King, and the next week cried for his blood.
<br />Jesus loved crowds - he had compassion on them. But for me his most touching stories are one on one.
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<br />What crowd do you belong to? Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1104719814349864822005-01-03T04:28:00.000+02:002005-01-03T04:36:54.350+02:00Monthly Newsletter for January 2005Leaving Ukraine and travelling news.
<br />All available in the <a href="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/pdf/monthly%20January%2005.pdf">January 2005 newsletter</a>Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1104291139425444152004-12-29T05:25:00.000+02:002004-12-29T05:32:19.623+02:00RPD 29 December 2004Merry Christmas!
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<br /><a href="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/pdf/RPD%20041229.pdf">Read Pray Delete</a> Newsletter for 29 December 2004 is available.Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1103498497490604012004-12-20T01:19:00.000+02:002004-12-20T01:21:37.490+02:00RPD 20 December 2004The <a href="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/pdf/RPD%20041220.pdf">RPD for 20 December</a> is available here.Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1103032173657453812004-12-14T15:41:00.000+02:002004-12-14T15:49:33.656+02:00RPD 15 December 2004<a href="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/pdf/RPD%20041215.pdf">Read Pray Delete (RPD) newsletter</a> for the 15th December is now available.Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1103030794632530012004-12-14T15:20:00.000+02:002004-12-14T15:26:34.633+02:00Orange Revolution - The Real UkrainiansOver the past few weeks, Ukraine has been thrust into the spotlight on the world stage. The media usually focuses on the sensational. I rubbed shoulders with ordinary Ukrainians. Here is one story.
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<br /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/09%20Dec%20008%20valera%20copy.jpg" align="right" hspace="15"/>Meet Valera Lutsenko. Valera is a 19 year old Computer Science student at the Pedagogical University of Ukraine in Kyiv. He is also the bass player for the band Dekanat.
<br />I met Valera one evening as he stayed on guard all night outside the tent I was sleeping in. He is one of the willing volunteers who has done everything with a smile. He has braved sub zero degrees and hunger for the cause of the Orange Revolution. I asked him why he chose to stay at the PORA campsite when he has a nice warm hostel here in Kyiv. Through a translator, Valera told me, "Ukraine is a wonderful, rich country with good people. But I am disillusioned and disappointed with the level of living for normal Ukrainians." He has been disappointed in the parliament and leaders of his country. "They look out for themselves and not the people of their country".
<br />I asked him how long he will stay. "As long as it takes," he told me, "we have waited 13 years for freedom, we are not going to give up now."
<br />After two weeks, Valera went back to his University. About 50% of the students were there. The lecturer told them that because they came, they would not receive bad marks, but because they were not protesting on the streets, they would not receive good marks. Valera, spent all day at University, practiced with his band in the evening, stood guard for about 3 hours at the PORA camp and then grabbed a few hours sleep. And he does it all with a smile.
<br /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/09%20Dec%20007%20valera-yushchenko%20sign%20copy.jpg" align="left" hspace="15"/>"The best thing about the Orange Revolution," said Valera, "is the friendliness and kindness of so many people. Their common unity has made them go out of their way to take care of each other."
<br />Valera also sees that when the Revolution is over, life must return to normal and that will be hard. "I will miss the new friends I have made over these weeks".
<br />I have stayed in PORA for just over a week. I have seen the ordinary Ukrainians. Day in and day out, this is not about a big party, crowd mentality or sensationalism. This is about real people wanting their best for their country, for their people, for their future.
<br />May the ordinary Ukrainians be the real winners when all of this is over.
<br />Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1102769960152396132004-12-11T14:55:00.000+02:002004-12-11T14:59:20.153+02:00RPD 11 December 2004<a href="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/pdf/RPD%20041211.pdf">RPD 11 December 2004</a> is now available.Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1102019909679512122004-12-02T22:20:00.000+02:002004-12-02T22:38:29.680+02:001 December in KyivToday was packed full of experiences unlike any ordinary day in Australia (or here for that matter).
<br />It started at 7:00am when I forced myself out of my sleeping bag to get dressed. I pulled on my jeans over my long-jons to find the bottom half were frozen solid. I managed to stuff my feet in my boots and lace them up before my fingers froze. I grabbed my bag and trudged off up the hill to the nearest Metro. One stop, one change of line, 4 stops and then catch a bus to the apartment. Aaaahhhh a nice warm shower, then I hit the computer. Stacks of emails (most will have to wait) and a monthly update to write. It all took longer than I expected, so I rushed out and caught a taxi instead of a bus to the bus station. That cost 15 times more than normal (about $4) which irked me (but you don't want to be late to a funeral). The minibus to Rzh took almost 2 hours so I was late - but so was the funeral in getting started - about 45 minutes. So I stood round slowly losing the feeling in my toes.
<br />The funeral was for Inga and Oksana's father. The two girls have been regular at church and youth group for about 3-4 months. As far as I am aware they have not yet decided to repent and make Jesus their Lord. Inga is 20 and was very brave-faced for the day. Oksana, 15, was really emotional. I really hurt for her.
<br />The church service is a priest chanting and a chorus answering. It sounds doleful. He walks around waving his incense and different people light candles. That lasted about 45 minutes. Then we walk behind the truck up the hill to the the cemetery. Here the family say their last goodbyes before the lid is nailed onto the coffin and lowered into the grave. After this I was able to to give Inga and Oksana a short hug and tell them we loved them and were praying for them. That's all I got to say to them, but it was worth being their for the day. Love is the ultimate tool in spreading the Gospel.
<br />It was after this that I realised I hadn't eaten all day (I think the worms were fighting). So I bought some yoghurt and biscuits and jumped on the next minibus back into Kyiv. I fell asleep on the bus and arrived back at camp PORA at about 5pm.
<br />I then met up with a friend and her Uni friends and took my NZ flag to walk around Maidan (the main square). Lots of people stopped me for photographs and some for an autograph.
<br /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/02%20Dec%20007-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/02%20Dec%20027-200.jpg" />
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<br />We decided to go inside for some tea and I had to wait in line about 15 minutes to use the public toilet. After meeting and chatting with another friend, I was heading back to camp, when I met up with some of yesterday's flag bearers.They talked me into going with them for food (free food in the City Council Chambers). It took ages. On the way I stopped to take a photo of police in riot uniforms. Pashtet (like pate') is not my favourite, so I lost my appetite quickly.
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<br />Finally I made it back to camp and got talking to some people round a fire. What are you doing in Ukraine? etc. Was good Ukrainian practice for me and some English practice for some of them.
<br /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/02%20Dec%20018-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/02%20Dec%20021-200.jpg" />
<br />Then joy of joys - the camp commandant came over and said I should sleep in the big tent with the others. A double walled, heated tent. Like moving from the outhouse to the penthouse!
<br />And this is where I am, writing this lengthy blog. Must go to sleep (nearly 2 am), back to Ukrainian lessons tomorrow.
<br />Jono
<br />Keep Looking Up
<br />Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1101996150128850002004-12-02T15:50:00.000+02:002004-12-02T22:10:40.916+02:00December 2004 Monthly Update from KievThe <a href="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/pdf/monthly%20December%2004.pdf">December</a> monthly update is now available.
<br />Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1101994513772231522004-12-02T15:30:00.000+02:002004-12-02T22:12:22.600+02:00Flags Are Up in KievWell last night I wandered the streets with my flag and a PORA flag. I had heaps of people stop and talk to me, It was called England's flag, Australia's flag and NZs flag. One guy stopped his car and said, "is that a NZ flag?"
<br />I was interviewed by a reporter. The paper's website is <a href="http://www.umoloda.kiev.ua">www.umoloda.kiev.ua</a> (i think). I joined a flag procession and we received many shouts and congratulations. I was asked to go up the front of the parade and walk next to the Ukrainian flag. Flags from other countries were being carried about 15 in all. I had someone come up and ask for my signature. It was about minus 5 degrees and my toes nearly froze off. Then I went back to my tent to try and sleep, The concert outside went all night and it was cold, I kept waking up. Gotta go now. More tomorrow.
<br />JonoJonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1101992999860216072004-11-30T16:44:00.000+02:002004-12-02T15:09:59.860+02:00Camping outside the Presidential Palace in Marinsky Park in KievNov 30 2004 4:30 PM
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<br />I've just lit a candle cause its starting to get dark. Why do I need a candle? Because for the next few days I will be living in this tent outside the Presidential Palace in Marinsky Park. As I write it is -2 degrees.
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<br /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/01%20Dec%20016-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/01%20Dec%20019-200.jpg" />
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<br />I am in a camp operated by PORA, an organisation formed to fight for fair elections. This camp site is 3 days old & numbers 300 so far. Most people are sitll situated on Maidan Nezalozhnosti but there was no more room there for me.
<br />Here everyone was very happy to have me. They gave me a tent, a pole for my NZ flag, warm food and offered me warm clothes.The cooperation and organisation is extraordinary. There are young and old - mostly from outside of Kyiv, working and living together.
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<br /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/01%20Dec%20012-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/01%20Dec%20013-200.jpg" />
<br />As of today I have not heard the High Court's official ruling. But I'm here rubbing shoulders with people who care enough to see their country leave corruption and lies in the past. They want integrity from their government, pray that they will also want it for themselves. Pray for this country (and pray I don't catch a cold)!
<br />Jono
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<br /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/01%20Dec%20009-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/01%20Dec%20031-200.jpg" />Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1101625732193111782004-11-28T09:07:00.000+02:002004-11-28T09:08:52.193+02:00Kyiv Newspaper (in English)For those who want an on the ground perspective here is a web address for a <a href="http://www.kyivpost.com">Kyiv Newspaper</a> (in English).
<br />Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1101625509062825962004-11-28T08:51:00.000+02:002004-11-28T09:05:09.063+02:00SnowingThe first two photos are taken from my back porch, 1 two weeks ago and the second this morning.
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<br /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/13%20Nov%20002-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/27%20Nov%20027-200.jpg" />
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<br />The rest are various shots of the house in the snow.
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<br /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/27%20Nov%20001-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/27%20Nov%20002-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/27%20Nov%20003-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/27%20Nov%20004-200.jpg" />
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<br />Finally here is a shot of a number of guys who have just started coming to youth group and also attending a study with Ben for new believers or interested people.
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<br /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/27%20Nov%20025-400.jpg" />Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1101624540586406322004-11-28T08:46:00.000+02:002004-12-02T14:43:37.800+02:00An article on Ukraine Politics by VladaThe following article was written by Vlada an Ukrainian friend. She is a 21 year old Christian and what she has written has summed up a lot of feeling of a lot of people here in this country.
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<br /><blockquote>Dear friends!
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<br />Ukraine needs your prayers so much!
<br />What is happening here is incredible! For more than ten years our country has been submitted to criminal authorities. They haven't cared about people of Ukraine, all those deputies only robbed us and acted in their own interests; corruption has become something usual for us. At the end they decided to continue terms of their evil work and tried to falsify the Presidential Elections! People couldn't stand it. It was so clear that they forced and threatened people to vote for the candidate from the authorities, more then that they forged the bulletins we use here in our country to vote in several regions of Ukraine. The lie of the authorities is evident and clear.
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<br />That's why thousands of people all over Ukraine came to the streets of their cities to protest against such unjustness and lies. Our present president and his surrounding + the prime minister whom they want to be our president are responsible for all these. They try to convince the people that the elections were clear and just and they use everything to deceive people. Before that they used the Mass Media and told us stories, but one can't hide the truth. When all honest citizens of Ukraine shared their protest against this crime, journalists, militia men, soldiers whom evil authorities tried to use against us joined people and refused to fulfill criminal orders of liars and deceivers.
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<br />People are for the candidate from the opposition. They cry out his name "Yuschenko is our president" and "Kuchma get out" (Kuchma is our present president if some of you don't know). I haven't seen such unity among people of my country! Many of them have been staying at the central streets of Kiev for 5 days already and they won't go away till the authorities acknowledge that they lie to us. People came to Kiev from different cities and regions of Ukraine. They stay at the streets of Kiev days and nights and inhabitants of Kiev help them. They bring them food, water, tea, warm clothes, they all are so friendly. And this unity among them is something really incredible! But the authorities are still strong in deceiving people. Yanukovich (the candidate from the authorities) pays money to thousands of men to come to Kiev to support him. And it is dangerous because many of them are either drunk or look like they are criminals. Some people say, including the president, of a possibility of a civil war. But we all believe that the truth is on our side!
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<br />By the way, the candidate from the authorities was imprisoned two times! But he doesn't acknowledge that and promises it before God!
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<br />We don't know how and when it will finish. The political situation is very intense and criminal authorities try to divide Ukraine into to parts: the East and the West! They are ready for any actions not to loose their positions!
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<br />Please, pray for our country that piece and justness will dwell here. Pray for peaceful solution of this political crisis, pray for lives of people who stand for their rights and freedoms. Pray that there won't be any hints of a civil war! Pray for the hearts of the authorities so that they will realize their crime against their people. Pray that God's name would be glorified through this situation.
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<br />Nothing will change if we don't trust God. Let His glory be above our country, let His will be above us all, let His name be praised!
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<br />Please, pray for Ukraine!
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<br />With love!
<br />Your sister in Christ.
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<br />Vladushka</blockquote>Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1101546014310899972004-11-27T10:46:00.000+02:002004-11-27T11:25:37.970+02:00More Photos from Kiev Election Protests November 2003I took some more pictures of Kiev yesterday.
<br />The sun was out and it warmed up to +2 degrees
<br />People are still out in force and trying to get to the Metro station was like cramming for the start of the Sydney City to Surf.
<br />McDonalds is doing a roaring trade. Other shops (non food shops) are closing early. Universities are nearly all closed.
<br />Pray that it stays peaceful, so far so good here in Kyiv.
<br />Jono
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<br /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/PICT0013-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/PICT0017-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/PICT0026-200.jpg" />
<br /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/PICT0015-200.jpg" />Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1101378195277439772004-11-25T13:00:00.000+02:002004-11-25T12:23:15.276+02:00Pictures from Kiev post Election November 2004I have taken a bunch of pictures in the last couple of days of the political rallies here in Kiev. Here are a few. This election stuff is just crazy.
<br /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/24%20Nov%20002-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/24%20Nov%20003-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/24%20Nov%20008-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/24%20Nov%20015-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/24%20Nov%20017-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/24%20Nov%20018-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/24%20Nov%20026-200.jpg" /><img src="http://www.millerfamily.biz/blog/blogimages/24%20Nov%20029-200.jpg" />Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1101302425728274172004-11-24T15:16:00.000+02:002004-11-24T15:21:16.326+02:00Soccer in Ukraine below zero - Dynamo winsWhy do I do it? Because its fun.
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<br />I can name one Ukrainian soccer player. Andrei Shevchenko. I've been told he is the highest paid player in the world, but he doesn't even play for a Ukrainian club. Kyiv's club Dynamo is playing in the UEFA Cup and I can't name one player in the team. But that didn't stop me going to the soccer tonight. They call it football and they don't even use a football, they use a round thing and you aren't allowed to use your hands, but you are allowed to fall over and cry until the referee comes and wipes your eyes with his hanky. But this doesn't stop thousands of mad fans turning up in the freezing cold to watch their team play.
<br />I put on two pairs of socks, thermal top, two beanies, gloves, scarf my thick jacket with hood pulled up and I still froze. It was 0 when I entered the stadium. There were people all over the field shovelling off the snow. It dropped to -1 and stayed there all game. Half way through the game the referee had to change from the white soccer ball to an orange one so it could be seen in the snow.
<br />When I arrived I bought a 40 hr ticket from a scalper for 15 hr (less than $4). I was frisked about 5 times by police before even entering the stadium and then when I entered my bay there is one guy to check my ticket, two more police to frisk me again and about another 10 police for moral support or cluttering up the entrance or something.
<br />The first half was boring 0-0. At half time I went in search of food, anything to try and warm me up. When I came back someone was sitting in my seat but I was happy to stand on the steps as sitting down gets your clothes all wet anyhow. A little while later a bored policeman tells me to sit down. I told him someone was in my seat. He said something else and I used the good old "I don't understand" line. He didn't like that and told me to 'come here' and motioned that he was going to send me out. But I wasn't going to him and he was too lazy to come to me so he sent one of his juniors who told me to sit in another seat. So I wiped the snow off the seat and perched on the edge of it. The guys next to me spoke English and welcomed me into their conversation and said to be careful with the police, because with the election they are all on edge and ready to make trouble for someone.
<br />Two late goals to Dynamo saw the homecrowd of 50 000+ go home very happy (albeit cold and wet).
<br />It's just because I love sport!!Jonotag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911988.post-1101302104905793142004-11-24T15:14:00.000+02:002004-11-24T15:15:04.906+02:00Ukraine ElectionsYou Have To See It To Believe It
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<br />On Sunday Ukraine had its second round vote for President. The top two contenders from the first round are voted for. Yanakovich, the incumbent Prime Minister has been officially declared the winner. He has been in jail for assault and rape. The election has almost without a shadow of a doubt been rigged in his favour with 100s of false ballot papers premarked for Him. The opposition candidate, Yushenko has a huge following and 1000s of them have flocked to Kyiv in opposition to the unfairness of this election.
<br />Today I walked down Kreshatik, the main street in Kyiv and the whole street is closed to traffic and 1000s of tents are set up with little booths and loud speakers and rallying points all over the place. The temperature had warmed up to a cool 0 degrees celsius but the spirits of the people are high and many want to stay there til they see justice done. I was just sorry that I didn't have my camera with me. It was a sight to behold.
<br />But more than just a sight, from a political point of view it would not be an understatement to say this country is in a crisis and there are already reports of brutality and bloodshed.
<br />I hope to get down town again tomorrow and take some pictures.
<br />Please pray for Ukraine's government.
<br />Love Jono
<br />Keep Looking UpJono