Jono's blog

UKRAINE CONNECTIONS

Ukraine connections with me are usually two different types. There are all the expats who usually have a well organised blog or email with prayer points. I regularly try to keep well updated about Rzhyshchiv and some other towns where I have good friends. I’ll share a few below.

But then there are the little snippets of communication with my Ukrainian friends. There are emails, Skype, MSN, the odd SMS or phone call. But mostly we utilise Face Book or Vkontakte (the slightly less secure Russian equivalent of FB). Today I had a good friend reminisce about hanging out with Ruth and Jon and I. Another former UTSIM student wrote “Hello! how are you? you soon to our Rzhyshchiv come?” I guess I need to go back and help her with her grammar. Today I have also been having an MSN conversation with a good friend who has a big struggle in his life right now. Please pray for this friend.

UTSIM

Due to a midterm break, computer issues at my end, and other causes, communication between me and Ukraine has been rather scarce of late. So information on the future developments of UTSIM will have to wait til next month.

For now I would like to give a brief summary of where UTSIM is right now.

Staff

ON LEADERSHIP

‎"A commander-in-chief is never dealing with the beginning of any event - the position from which we always contemplate it. The commander-in-chief is always in the midst of a series of shifting events and so he never can at any moment consider the whole import of an event that is occurring. Moment by moment the event is imperceptibly shaping itself, and at every moment of this continuous, uninterrupted shaping of events the commander-in-chief is in the midst of a most complex play of intrigues, worries, contingencies, authorities, projects, counsels, threats, and deceptions, and is continually obliged to reply to innumerable questions addressed to him, which constantly conflict with one another." Tolstoy

Any type of leader of people has the monumental task of trying to understand any given situation so as to make the best possible decision. But no situation can ever be fully understood. No true judgment can ever be made by a person. A truly great leader must be humble, he must recognise his innate ability to be wrong or make an error of judgment. He should consider the principle of the Indian proverb to “Walk a mile in another man's moccasins before you criticize him".