Dear partners in the gospel,
 
LaVerne and I returned ‘home’ Friday night. Our six pieces of checked luggage are with us, after a delay of one day for one piece. TSA cut off the locks of two of the four Action Packers to check their contents — cannot imagine what could have triggered that.

We slept well the first night but last night the wheels in my head would not quit turning till about 4 AM. We leave behind in Crimea people and situations that are unsettled and unsettling.

So many people asked me to let them know my impressions from Crimea, but I doubt I will give any details in a newsletter. I learned enough about some things to feel sad, even more sad than i felt under Ukraine’s governance.

One of the things I heard over and over again was that Big Brother is watching and listening. I felt the change of time in years, not in hours. On more than one occasion I was asked to remove the battery from my phone. Maybe this is unjustified paranoia. Then again … but I cannot tell you that story.

Some are quite pleased to be under the Russian Federation. Some think that they are ‘back under the USSR.’ Some think this with great joy; others with foreboding.

Some say that the government of Crimea really has two faces — that which is done openly and that which is done like in the early 90s.

People are resilient; they always find ways to manage.

Maybe I will write more about the contrasts and changes another time, but most of the changes you have already read about, and now sanctions have made life more difficult for many people while others have not felt it. Pensioners receive more money from Russia than they did from Ukraine, but the prices are higher too.

The government says all problems are only temporary. Time will tell, for things could get worse before they get better. Will war continue in Eastern Ukraine? Will that cause sanctions to increase?
 
Pray for Crimea, Ukraine and Russia – may there be peace and opportunity for development. May truth and justice find a public sphere in which to grow. May Christians understand the priority of the gospel and living for Christ, whatever one’s political preferences. The same can be prayed for America.

Pray for us to find a home soon. We will resume house searching.

Pray that our flat (apartment) in Simferopol sells soon and at a good price — next year we will face Russian taxes if we do not sell it this year.

Pray for a long-time friend, Martha B, who has recently discovered that she has cancer.

Pray for Andrei Taran’s mother (Leonida) who survived surgery for her cancer but surgery did not get it all and her ability to withstand chemotherapy is uncertain.

Pray for our CIU staff, small in number but large in vision.

Pray for the students they seek to reach, including the 21 residents of the Center.

Pray for safety for our staff. Our problems with the CIU (IIIC) building have attracted all kinds of interests and people. Someone not on our staff but trying to help us faced threats against his life which resulted in extortion.

Pray that my representative will be able to meet with people in high places this week to lift the raid on our IIIC building and to talk about compensation – and that we will eventually get some compensation from the building if they do not return it to us to sell to other buyers (who would offer much much more than the Crimea government will).

Pray for other ministries in Crimea that are undergoing major changes. Pray for those who are applying for visas to visit their (Hopeful Hearts) ministry to orphans/orphanages (and who will take back some suitcases for us!).

Pray for YouthReach and Nastya (Anastasia) — they will serve orphans in mainland Ukraine this month.
 
Pray for LaVerne who is doing pretty well but is back to doctor appointments.

Pray for Shannon as she returns to the US even as I write, and pray for her family — Eric (her brother in law )died.
We will miss Shannon at the Center till she returns. She leaves unfinished classes and will miss major planning meetings. Pray that she gets a visa to return to Crimea next year.

Praise the Lord that the TMI/CIU ministry continues in Crimea, though with changes necessary to the times.

Thank you for your partnership,
Georges (and LaVerne)
2014-11-02