Merry Christmas

Ron and Heather have returned safely from their two week trip to Ukraine. This is a trip they always look forward to. Somehow, sharing at Christmastime what God has given MPI is extra meaningful! Buying food for the winter for the home-based orphanage association in Dneperpetrovsk, or gifts for all the kids in Children's Hope Orphanage is not only great fun, they really make a difference for people. In doing so, we are always mindful of people who worked and gave generously from their hearts. Those of us in the middle who pass the gifts on get the fun, but those who give in the first place get the credit.

With just a few days left until the end of the year, the MPI office will slow down for a few days. Each of us will be taking a little extra time off for rest and time with our families. Missions work always means at least some time away from loved ones, so we take the opportunity to relax and visit when we can. We look forward to January, which promises to begin another busy year. Yesterday Wayde got word of 9 skids of polo shirts waiting for us in Montreal. That's 3000 shirts, all needing to be re-packed and shipped. Almost matches our 4000 pairs of socks!

From all of us at MPI, we pray you have a blessed and happy Christmas. May you enjoy peace and bring peace in the year ahead.

What's it like?

We often are asked what it is like in the former Soviet Union. If the question relates to the political climate and civil and religious liberties, the answer is, it depends. Each country is forging its own way. For example, in the countries in which MPI is presently engaged, major political events have recently transpired in each of them.

Krygyzstan recently had parliamentary elections. The governing party won all the seats, admid widespread allegations by election monitors and others of vote rigging and fraud. In 2005 a popular uprising forced the previous president to resign. The present president then took office and seems determined to prevent anything similar from happening again. In contrast, Ukraine held early parliamentary elections at the end of September. It has taken until this week for the new prime minister to be confirmed. This was Ukraine's third consecutive election in which it is recognized that the will of the people was more or less fairly expressed. The new government has a one vote majority, so political paralysis of some sort is almost guaranteed, especially considering that the prime minister was dismissed by the president after only 8 months following the Orange Revolution in 2004 that brought them to power. But Ukraine's economy seems to keep functioning and it remains probably the most free in terms of civil and religious rights.

Russia also just completed parliamentary elections and the president's party won an overwhelming majority of the seats, so much so, that the government has almost unrestricted power, including the ability to amend the constitution. President Putin, who constitutionally must step down next May, has agreed to serve as the new prime minister. Commentators suggest that the Russian political system is now a combination of political power a la Soviet Union with the business oligarchy created under Yeltsin. One gets the feeling that Russia is closing in on itself. Then, last week, Putin met with the president of Belarus to revive the idea of the federation of the two countries. Belarus is now virtually a dictatorship. The presidental election in 2006 was not free or fair. Its closest friends are Iran and Venezuela. It is widely thought that the idea of federation would be to allow one of the presidents to circumvent term limits and continue on in power. Which president is an interesting question!

So, the social and political questions in each country are unique and complex. The Church must work under a variety of less than ideal circumstances - just as it has throughout most of history. MPI certainly does not involve itself in political issues but we must be aware of the conditions in which each of our partners must live and work. Understanding all of that is quite a challenge!

This week's prayer requests

Ron and Heather conclude their December ministry trip, returning home on Tuesday (18th). Pray for a safe return, lasting results from their trip and a quick recovery from jet lag so they can enjoy the Christmas season.

• Continue to pray for the government of Ukraine. Last week the president's nominee for prime minister was rejected by one vote in Parliament, with accusations that the voting machines were set to prevent a majority. After parliamentary elections in September, a new government still has not taken office.
• Christian Hope Church in Kiev rents a building from the city at very favourable rates because their orphange is based there. The mayor has indicated he would like to give them the building, although it is not clear he can do that. Pray for God's will and provision for the ministry base of this very active church.

Jesus still says, "Go!"

Each year MPI leads several teams of volunteers on a short term mission trip, usually two weeks. If you ever wondered why people go on a short term trip, or if it is not better to just send the money, you'll want to read Victor Cassells' article in the January newsletter in a couple of weeks. In it he reflects on the things that would never happen if everybody just stayed home. It takes more than money to touch lives. Often, for people living in difficult situations, the thought that a North American, who has everything and is comfortable, would take the trouble and expense to go to see them in their place and to share with them is of tremendous value. There is no substitute for presence! And that presence works both ways. The first time you go on a missions trip, you go thinking you will try to help. But you soon find out that you come home with more than you gave. Your life is changed, usually forever. Not only can you never again comfortably live in your luxurious cocoon but you discover that the little you can do means much and everybody can do something to make the world a better place.

This morning in the mail an envelope arrived from one of our recent team members. In it were several cheques. The story of the trip had been shared and people gave money to help - because they heard from someone they knew and trusted - who had seen it for themselves. In the envelope were funds to go over right away for a project and there were funds toward the 2008 trip. You see, going on a missions trip actually results in more, not less, money for missions. Why? Because hearts are changed, passion is engendered, stories are told. Isn't that what God did at Christmas? He sent his Son - and nothing was the same ever since.

Ron & Heather Update

Ron and Heather's ministry trip to Ukraine is now at its halfway mark. Communication overseas is, shall we say, more challenging than we are accustomed to here, so we have not heard as much from them as we would like. We did receive an email from them yesterday. It indicated they have been very busy and getting a lot done. This week they have traveled out of Kiev, to visit ministry partners in Dnepropetrovsk and Kirvoy Rog. One of their tasks was to purchase food and supplies for a home-based orphanage association. Food prices have increased dramatically in recent months - 50% and more - so this extra help over the winter months will be more than appreciated. It will no doubt be vital and we are so thankful for those who supply the bulk of these funds - by holding a summer yard sale to feed orphans in the winter! Please continue to keep Ron and Heather in your prayers, for strength, safety and especially effectiveness.

You Just Never Know!

We find ourselves often saying around the office the phrase, "you just never know." Sometimes we use it ironically, but often it has more to do with the unpredicatable and fun things that happen in missions. Doug's wife Gloria was inspired one morning over breakfast and wrote this poem that says a little of what its like to be part of a ministry like MPI. Let us know if it speaks to you!

"Because You Just Never Know"

by Gloria Whitelaw

Because you just never know
What will come through the door!
Brought by ladies and men
We’ve never seen before!
Dentist chairs and sewing machines
Bikes, wheelchairs and more
Because you just never know
What will come through the door!

Because you just never know
What will come in the mail!
Blankets, hats and mittens
Knit by fingers so frail!
Handmade socks and quilts
Rabbits, cats , dogs with a tail
Because you just never know
What will come in the mail!

Because you just never know
What will come over the phone!
Hundreds of dollars from folks
Who are home all alone.
They haven’t given in ages , they say
In tears, you can tell, by their tone
Because you just never know
What will come over the phone!

Because you just never know
Who will go on a trip!
Some who’ve hardly ever travelled
By bus, plane or ship!
Young or old, ladies and men
With cameras and phones on their hip
Because you just never know
Who will go on a trip!

Because you just never know
What God has in store!
A mission full of miracles
"God Moments" and more
Circumstances and coincidences
That leave our jaws on the floor!
Because you just never know
What God has in store!

This week's prayer requests

Ron & Heather's Christmas trip to Ukraine continues through this week. They will be traveling outside Kiev, to Dnieperpetrovsk and Krivoy Rog this week to meet with various partners. Pray for safety on the roads, strength for the travels and ministry and effectiveness in all they do.

• Pray for Andrei Shaitar in Belarus as he and the Together Camping ministry team prepare for their winter camp, scheduled for the last week of December. Pray that the plans all come together and that the kids that should be there all are able to go.
• With less than 3 weeks to the end of the year, please pray that MPI finishes the year with strong finances. We are on target to meet our annual budget. The winter months are always a bit slow in terms of income, so please pray that God would provide for that.
  

A Prisoner's testimony

MPI supports a prison ministry outreach in Ukraine. The director, Sasha, himself a prisoner for 22 years and his wife, Tanya, visit area prisons to establish and nurture congregations inside the prisons. You can see video testimonies of a couple of ex-prisoners on our Video page.

Here is a brief testimony of Arkady, of Disabled Persons Prison 45.

I'm 29 years old, and first came to Jesus in 1992, but did not want to live according to His commandments. In 2003 I came to this prison, and my faith was strengthened, in that I saw and was amazed by these people with all kinds of physical limitations, in a hurry to meet with the Lord in the prayer room, to give Him glory. Our brothers serve at the medical department. They help ones who have no one to turn to, except God. Many of our brothers are discovering character traits that are most wonderful, qualities of which they never thought or dreamed of, now they believe with a holy faith and thank the Lord Jesus Christ. After receiving water baptism, many of our brothers have been set free from bad habits (smoking, swearing), have received healing, and also salvation. For example, my brother Anatoly left this world and went to be with the Lord painlessly, pure and happy. I was personally the one who carried him to his water baptism, with faith he received baptism and is now saved. Praise be to Jesus, for pulling us out of the jaws of Satan.

You can read more about Sasha and the prison ministry in our Projects section. If you would like to help support the Prison Outreach ministry, please visit our Donate Now page.

Still searching for Christmas gifts?

Christmas is less than 3 weeks away! Still searching for a gift for someone who has everything? Why not give a gift that lasts? One that is in the same spirit as God's gift to humankind on the first Christmas. Consider donating to MPI in the name of your loved one. Any amount can be designated towards any of MPI's projects. We will provide a card to give to your friend or loved one that specifies what the gift in their name will be used for. Call us at 1-877-551-5525 for more information or to donate by credit card. You can also donate securely online via CanadaHelps from our Donate Now page.

Give a gift that lasts. A gift that will change a life. Give an MPI Gift Card. Everyone wins! A 2007 tax receipt will be issued for all gifts received by Dec. 31.

Something different

Yesterday we completed a different kind of project. Most of MPI's work reaches out to the disadvantaged - drug addicts, orphans & street kids, shut-ins, prisoners, etc. Unfortunately, there is very little government help for these people in the former Soviet Union. Only Christians seem to care, and while the needs can seem overwhelming relative to the resources the Church has, those who are helped take their place as productive members of society. One pastor told us his number one source of new church planters are those who complete his drug rehabilitation program. It is not far fetched to think that a rescued kid, educated with love by a dedicated Christian teacher will someday lead his country. It happens!

But this project focussed on the other end of the social spectrum. Earlier this year MPI was approached by a Canadian university professor who has been helping develop a private university in Russia. He was looking for a partner to help move the relationship to a new level. A Russian professor, who had been a Soviet dissident and became a world-class scholar in France had died. His daughter wished to donate his unique collection of books to the European University at St. Petersburg. Could we help? It was something new to MPI, but Wayde plunged in. After many calls and much correspondance (most of the library was in Paris, France), the books are now in Russia, on their way to the university. While in St. Petersburg with his short-term team in October, Wayde visited the university and has been invited to the grand opening of the new collection next June, when MPI will be publicly thanked for its role.

If societies such as those in the former Soviet Union are to overcome the challenges they face, such as corruption, the erosion of civil rights and poverty, a new kind of leadership is required. By working with those at the top levels of society, those who will take significant places of leadership, there is the opportunity to develop those new leaders. If you want to get to the bottom of a problem, sometimes you have to start at the top. MPI is grateful for these new relationships with significant leaders. It will be interesting to see where God takes us with them.

December Ministry Trip

Ron and Heather are leaving today for a 2 week trip to Ukraine. They are carrying extra luggage to distribute as aid. Royal View Church in London provided 80 Childrens' Packs to give to the pastor they support in planting a new church in Korostishev, about 100 km west of Kiev. Victory Christian School in London had their students make 102 Street Kids Packs to give away through Children's Hope Orphanage street kids outreach in Kiev.

They will also be meeting with many of MPI's ministry partners in Ukraine, to finalize business for this year and to look ahead into 2008. One of the fun things they will be doing is purchasing food and supplies for a home based orphanage network in Dnieperpetrovsk, Ukraine with funds provided by a community yard sale in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, with some additional funds we have collected. They will also be distributing Christmas Blessings to several hundred pastors.

Of course, Christmas is also about celebrating and Ron and Heather are particularly looking forward to sharing Christmas dinners with some of their dear friends and partners. Those are great times of mutual encouragement.

Please pray for this trip, for safe journeys, daily strength, effectiveness in ministry and that God's purposes would be fulfilled.

This week's prayer requests

Ron and Heather leave on Tuesday, Dec. 4 for 2 weeks in Ukraine. They will be meeting with many partners, concluding this year's business, planning for 2008 and encouraging many with Christmas fellowship. Please pray for their trip.

• This past Sunday was election day for the State Duma (national parliament). President Putin's party won an overwhelming majority, with the Communist Party a distant second. Pray that God's will is done in Russia.
• As winter settles in, the mercy ministry, carried out in Ukraine and Krygyzstan becomes even more important. Pray that the mercy workers would find those who especially need help during the cold months, and that there would be resources to assist them.