Yesterday was our first snow for the winter. It's currently sitting at about minus 2 so the thin layer of snow is still covering the ground. Before it started snowing it was raining, so just beneath the thin layer of snow is some lovely dangerous ice. I've walked up the hill a couple of times and I must admit I feel rather unsteady on my feet. It will be fun taking the van out later today. It feels nice to have snow - a reminder that winter is definitely here, but it also makes me think of all the jobs I was planning to do before the snow came and how much longer it takes to do things and go places. Getting dressed, chains on the tires, ice off the windscreen, clearing paths (if I bother to).

On another note, I bought a copy of the Message at a garage sale last week. It is refreshing to read. In Matthew 5 I read this morning, "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule."

The Bugler lifts his trumpet to his lips and the eerie yet familiar sounds of the Last Post echo through the crisp morning air. Heads bowed we stand in silence, remembering the fallen.

They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them.

HOW DO YOU EAT AN ELEPHANT?
I had trouble sleeping last night. This is a very rare occurrence for me. Many thoughts were swirling around in my head; obstacles and difficulties loomed before me as insurmountable. Suddenly an image of an elephant came into my mind along with the question “How do you eat an elephant?” I remember Colin Lees teaching this to a grade 5 class at Pacific Hills. The answer being, “One mouthful at a time.”
When I can’t see the way out of the maze, the light at the end of the tunnel or the solution to my problem; then in faith I must take one step at a time holding the hand of Jesus. Oh Jesus will never let me go – may I never let go of Him.

UTSIM
If September was crazy – October just flew by. We now have 22 students, and at the beginning level have had to turn students away. I would dearly like to be able to start more classes in the New Year. This will require two things, extra rooms and extra teachers.

Stuck in traffic! A rainy late Friday afternoon and I'm stuck in a propka. The name for a cork is the same word for a traffic jam. I see a sign for the metro system so I pull up on the footpath, park the van and head to the underground. 15 minutes later I'm waiting in the rain with some friends. I have a silly hat, a sign that says Lida for president, and I'm wondering why for the second time in a few weeks I forgot to bring a jumper when the weather is below 10 degrees. Eventually we hop on a bus and are transported to some weapons factory that has been converted into a TV studio.

MAY YOUR HEART BE FULL OF WHAT??
The other day I was dropping off Tashy at her former place of employment. She had a difficult meeting and I attempted to encourage her by saying “May God give you wisdom in your words and peace in your heart.” I only changed one letter but ended up saying “and may your heart be full of cheese”. It was pretty funny.

UTSIM
September has been a crazy month. This month the language school opened. We currently look like this:

• Natasha Kurilko – Director/Accountant/Bookkeeper
• Jonathan Miller – Teacher
• Sveta Hladchenko – Teacher’s Aide
• Masha Stratiychuk – Secretary/Translator

I think we have 17 students. We started with 8, but the number is changing every day. Currently we are running classes after school using one of the local school’s facilities. This means dragging everything down there – and sometimes waiting for a room to be available. I would dearly love to rent premises in the centre of town – please be praying about this.