Jono's blog

Wow, it is well over a month since I got back to Ukraine and feels like I have written hardly any emails at all. Actually sometimes it feels good to not be online much, (other times I wish I was more).

One friend Max came to stay for a couple of days after camp. He is away for the summer but will come here in September. I get on really well with Max and it will be great to have him around.

I have had two separate trips to Crimea – both just relaxing holidays. The first with friends from Kyiv who invited me to go with them, and then with Ruth and Jon and extras – becoming an August tradition for us.

I am beginning to realise that it's not about me

It's your grace, not my works that set me free

I'm beginning to trust in the grace that I can't see

And it's more than touch and sight to believe

So I will choose another day to step out on the platform of your grace

And I won't be afraid of the mess I might make

Cause Jesus you're bigger than my mistakes

I've been the champion of screwing things up

Taking what's right and making them all wrong

This I know with all my heart,

I can't earn it, I know I don't deserve it.

Awake desire within me,

Open my eyes so I can see.

Without your love I can't even breathe.

Jesus your grace has set me free.

Variety is the spice of life. However, too much spice spoils the food. It is the subtle differences that bring about a pleasant change. It is the slight change of perspective that teaches us something new. Trying an old trick a new way uncovers a skill. Approaching the same situation from another angle helps get us out of the rut.

I thought about this today as I was getting dressed. I don't know why, but I put my left leg into my trousers first. It felt weird! I then realised that I don't think I have ever done that before.

Also I bought a new camera. Fiddling around with all the settings and functions, I notice that the subtle changes in setting help bring out a variety of finished products.

With NSW on school holidays I spent the last two weeks up in Queensland. I stayed with my "Aussie family" the Gollans. Highlights include but were not limited to:

• climbing Mt Beerwah
• organising a garage sale
• working with Josh
• ANZAC Day service
• riding with Tim
• Jemimah's surprise 18th (which I didn't give away)
• basketball training
• general socialising
• seeing Serge and Tanya from Ukraine
• walking in the bush etc.

Tim and Judith are both much better bloggers than I (and I currently don't have a camera), so you can see pictures of the climb and pictures from the garage sale on their sites. Judith also drew a really good image of an Australian diggers hat. Click on the picture for a larger version on Jude's site.