John White - Developing Church Leadership in the Russian Speaking World
DCU, Prospect Ilicha 106-A, Donetsk 83059, UKRAINE                  April 2004
011-38062-345-5342 | jwhite@alumni.princeton.edu | http://www.marucheck.net/jw

Snow in April and Other Mysteries

Winston Churchill once called Russia "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." And living in Ukraine, I am finding many mysteries that I don’t understand. Why is it snowing today, in April? How can Ukrainians appear to be so sure about everything when they often don't agree with one another? How can some DCU students complain that classes are far too difficult and others complain that they’re way too easy? And maybe you’re starting to wonder, why hasn’t John been writing prayer letters?

I’m really sorry about that last mystery. At least that’s one that I can clear up! As you may know, I took a trip to the US in January to go to a CBI conference and to translate for DCU President Sergei Rybikov during a support raising trip. Coming back to Donetsk in February, I dived back into teaching and have only just come up for air! It’s only a short breath, though, since I’ve just started teaching a brand new course: Contextualization. And, I realize that this is all the more reason that I should be writing you more often and asking for prayer. Again, I’m sorry and very much appreciate your prayers even during my silence!

Focusing on the Receptor

I just finished teaching my course on Introduction to Missions, and one of the things I teach each year is that the good communicator focuses on the receptor. It’s more important how someone hears what I say than if I speak eloquently or not. God took the form of a human being so he could speak human words that we could understand and follow. He focuses on us.

And so now, exhausted from a very long academic year, I try to teach a brand new course to students who are graduating in June. They have spring fever. They have already been taught some of the things that I’m trying to teach them (but I’m not sure which things!). And, they have many worries about the future. How can I teach what they really need? How can I focus on them?

Please pray for me. I am really tired, but I get the privilege of "the last word" with these 22 students. I’d like to help them understand how to "contextualize" the gospel so that they can communicate God’s truth. I’d like to help them move into their next context. Please pray for them, too.

Praise and Prayer:

• Praise God for a good trip to the US in January, both to learn more about CBI’s future direction and to raise some support for DCU
• Pray for my physical and spiritual health, especially as I’m extremely busy
• Pray for my Contextualization class, that the students would grow in heart and mind through what they learn
• Pray for my DCU prayer group and church Bible study, that God would use me to lead both of them well
• Pray for my role in public relations at DCU, that I could help the school get to more stable financial ground
• Pray for our church plant, Living Water, that God would bring us both health and growth

By His grace,

John

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