Worst in Europe

In recent years, some of the highest new infection rates for HIV/AIDS has been in Russia and Ukraine. There are several reasons for this: poor (non-existent) sex education and drug use are among the top reasons. This, along with alcoholism has contributed to a high death rate, which along with a low birth rate results in declining population totals. These are very serious problems for any state, especially for those wanting to take their place among the world's leading nations.

Russia has finally begun to pay attention to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and is now devoting serious money to combat it. Their rate of new infections is starting to come down. But Ukraine still has a long way to go. Despite major international aid to combat the problem, Ukraine still has the highest infection rate in Europe and it is still increasing. Here is an excerpt from a report from the Kyiv Post (May 7)

Ukraine’s HIV/AIDS epidemic is a threat to Europe, according to UNAIDS, while international experts said the Ukrainian government is failing to curb the disease’s growth rate, which is the highest in Europe.

About 1.63 percent of Ukrainians, or about 756,300 citizens, were estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in 2007, up from 1.46 percent of the population in 2005, or 685,600 citizens, according to UNAIDS. The statistics only reflect official cases, while those infected is likely higher, officials said.

“The current efforts of national and local authorities, the public and donors to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS have failed to have a due impact on the epidemic,” said UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Francis O’Donnell.

The report cites inadequate implementation of the proper strategies and corruption as major factors in the failure to get the rates down. Some funding agencies have withheld funds or directed them to other, non-governmental bodies.

A lot of progress is being made in Ukraine in developing the economy. Church leaders there tell us that there is more money in Ukraine, so they have been able to fund ministry initiatives with local money that would have been impossible a few years ago. But, there are still massive social problems that seem to overwhelm the government. People are suffering and dying. The evangelical church makes a disproportionately large contribution to social welfare. For example, Pastor Valery and his union of churches with which MPI works has 25 drug rehab centres throughout the country. We are told that about half of the rehabilitants in the centres are HIV+.

Don't think that Ukraine, on the verge of joining the European Union and NATO, is like the rest of Europe in all respects.

You can read the full news report from the Kyiv Post here, until they archive it.

Change in Russia?

New Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, (left) was sworn into office on Wednesday, and 3 hours later nominated outgoing President, Vladimir Putin as Prime Minister. Since their party, United Russia has two-thirds of the seats in the Duma, his confirmation is a foregone conclusion.

Putin surprised everyone by hand-picking his successor and then saying he would serve as PM. Many observers had wondered if he would stick with the 2 term Presidential limit or find a way around it. It appears he found a way without changing or violating the Constitution. In Russia, the President has the larger share of power, so it will be fascinating to see how the government will actually work. It appears the whole process was designed so that Putin remains in power.

Putin is popular in Russia. He was active, in office when rising oil prices swelled government tax coffers and he effectively postured against the West. But he also consolidated almost all power into his own hands, imprisoning some rivals and threatening others. The new President spoke in his inauguration speech about championing the rule of law, just as Putin did when he took office. It remains to be seen what that means.

Russia has a history of power based on individuals rather than on institutions. It is power based on the later that makes for open, free societies. The attraction of the former is stability - but only for a time, until the individual passes. Then troubles can quickly come.

The Moscow Times has an interesting editorial along these lines. You can read it here. And keep praying for Russia!

Hungry People

Food has become a newsworthy topic of late. Although we can grow enough food to feed everybody on the planet, there is a distribution problem and frankly, some of us waste a lot of it. The bitterly ironic thing about food is that while some people are dying for lack of it, here in North America some people are dying from too much of it.

CBC Television featured a story last night about a Canadian family attempting to live for 3 days on rations the UN distributes to hungry people. It is interesting, to say the least. You can watch it here.

As it happens, April and May are the months of MPI's food campaign. We support several ministries that have at least some component of feeding people and that is what we are raising funds for. For example, MPI is committed to $6000 per year towards the food budget at Children's Hope Orphanage in Kiev. Check our recent newsletter for some insightful information about what people live on in Ukraine.

You can contribute to our food campaign at http://www.missionpartners.org/donate.html

This week's prayer requests

The container shipped to Ukraine has still not been released. The port is apparently contacting our Canadian shipper demanding storage fees, when in fact it is illegal for them to charge such fees. Please continue to pray that this is resolved soon and that the container is released without additional charges.

• The Mercy Team to Kiev, to be led by Marilyn is now just over a month away. Please pray for the team members as they prepare to go and visit Mercy Ministry clients.

• Pray for MPI's staff and Board as they as they work on plans for the ministry's future.
  

Brief Conference Report

Pastor Yura, Ron and Valentin, recovered addict and prisoner

On April 16-17, MPI facilitated and participated in a leadership conference for Ukrainian pastors and church leaders of the Ukrainian Missionary Church. The conference was held in Evpatoria, Crimea, a 2500 year old town on the Black Sea. Along with Ron, Heather and Doug, was Doug's wife Gloria and Toronto pastor, Rev. David DiStaulo. The theme of the conference was "Searching for the Depths." Topics covered included, "Your Personal Life: Be fervent and faithful in prayer," "Do you love and trust me?", "8 characteristics of a healthy church," "Challenges to ministry families," and a session for women only, led by Gloria. Last year was the first time this particular union of Ukrainian churches had ever had a session specifically for women and they requested we provide such a session again this year. Family life and gender relations have recently become hot topics in Ukrainian churches, so our seminars on families and for women were very timely and we received very positive feedback.

We were also able to spend a few days getting acquainted with the church in Crimea. It is still relatively small, whereas in some places, half of the population is Muslim. Yet the church is going forward, reaching out in practical ways to show the love of Christ. We visited 2 drug rehab houses. On Sunday, one of them was packed full of people from the village for the Sunday service, and a new deacon, a former homeless drug addict, now married with a family was commissioned. Pastor Yura from Saki took us to a residential school with 148 students, most of whom had developmental or physical challenges. It is a government supported school but the buildings are old and funding is inadequate. When asked who helped the school, the director, Victoria, said, no one except Pastor Yura, and he can't say no! The church had helped with the computer room, put a new roof on part of a building, and brought Samaritan's Purse shoe boxes so each kid would have a birthday present. Specific evangelistic efforts toward the Tatar people are also being made, where we met a missionary from Siberia who is believing God for the first Tatarian church in history!

There are great needs and great opportunities in the Ukrainian church and the church in Crimea particularly. The people there are getting on with the job, believing God for the strength and resources. Although they need our help, they are not waiting for it. Although they are stretched to the limit, the Ukrainian Missionary Church sees great opportunities for mission in central Asia, where Russian is spoken and everybody likes Ukrainians (sort of like Canadians!). So much missionary effort from the West is directed to Ukraine because it is open and responsive. But the church there sees that they must not simply be a missions receiving church, they must be a sending church. It is great to work with people like that!

Click this link to see photos from the conference and trip.