Category: Bruce Posts (Page 127 of 211)

With the political situation heating up in Crimea, I though it would be helpful to map a few things out – at least in general.

I think the tensions will remain high and potentially remain unstable for quite some time in the south of Ukraine.  The history of Crimea in particular is fascinating and Russia’s influence very powerful.

While West of Ukraine is announcing victories and clamoring for a sense of national unity for the ‘whole’ of Ukraine, the South and East of Ukraine is much more skeptical and denouncing the recent activities in Kiev.

I am attempting next week to get visas for Rostov-a-Don, Russia (noted in the map) – We aren’t sure who will go with me just yet.

The gas company has promised some ‘results’ for this coming Monday, March 3.  We shall keep you posted!  In the meantime I have some electric heaters going on the first floor and hope to begin restoring the Cafe from it’s winter slumber – we have some broken pipes from the frozen water to repair, and coffee to start brewing again!

Bruce

As I’ve started and stopped this blog due to our electricity going off randomly, I’m reminded how unstable this country is.

Politically there is a significant vacuum as parliament continues to replace those who run out of dodge.  So far Russia has been fairly quiet, but rumors of mobilization in the South (Crimea) and strong words from the Kremlin raise concerns what their next steps could be.  However general mood among Ukrainians I talk to locally and in Kiev is one of hope.

Economically the Ukrainian Hryvnia has decreased by 20% in the past 3 months, and at the moment approaching record lows against the US dollar.  The country is billions in debt and close to full collapse – now appealing for emergency funding from the West.  The banks across the country have implemented cash withdraw limits, including $45 per day ATM limits in our own town.

In the background, we can hear the army depot, located about 20km from here, detonating their bombs.  Normally we wouldn’t think anything of it, it usually happens once a month or so.  However today, as our windows shook and my desk reverberates from the blasts, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t curious of the timing.

I awoke thinking of the Cafe downtown.  How amazing it would be if we could be open right now.  What a light in the center it could already be, particularly in times of fear.  Sadly, it sits.  It sits finished, invested in, labored over, and prayed towards.

It sits because this country has sat for so long in the dark ages (in terms of economic development).  The utility companies are 50yrs behind, they have little sense of economic stimulation and the importance of small business to a nations well being.  It sits because there has been no accountability within the most basic procedures.  The cafe sits because private business has been viewed as a liability in Ukraine.  Until this mindset changes, the temporary financial help of other nations will never solve the countries need for independence.

Ukraine will always ‘need’ others to keep from financial collapse unless it figures out that economically stable nations thrive by encouraging private business – these businesses create jobs, competition, better products and services.   They inspire creativity, and risk takers.  Currently it’s too great a risk to invest in Ukraine, not so much because of the President, but the mindset towards business itself and the many road blocks in place to prevent it from even getting off the ground.

Frustrated.  I want to see our collective investment in this town reaping results, encouraging hearts, building relationships, selling pizza/coffee and employing a few good folks.  I have other discipleship things on my heart to transition towards, but we must first get this thing rolling.  We are told the Gas documents and personnel will be arriving March 1.   That’s next week.   Lord keep me from being cynical – It’s just hard when things are so close, you can almost taste it.

Bruce

This morning Broderic, Bronwyn and I went to church in Kiev.  Afterwards I decided to take my oldest two down to the center (referred to as Maiden) where all the action has been the past 3 months.

I took the cautious route by Metro, and approach the area from quite a distance out.  The closer we got, the more amazing the scene.  The streets our family has often enjoyed strolling down were completely jammed with army tents, seized army vehicles, and 1000’s of people making their way to the stage area.   There were families, grandmothers, even small babies in strollers – while still unpredictable, it was a moment I think we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.  A nation wrestling for independence – and the cost on display at every turn.

Broderic snapped shots of our entrance into Kiev – at least 3 separate checkpoints established by the protestors.

The goal of the checkpoints was, and is to ensure protection of the protestors from armed forces and thugs sent in from the East.

Kreshatek – the main street in Kiev was fortified with bags of sand, garbage and everything they could possibly find. They were allowing a single file line in / out and monitoring everything.

This is where many of the International Press are staying. You can see the signs and lights in the windows.

Molotov Cocktail or ‘petrol bomb’ – stash of them along the sidewalk.

For the most recent updates to the situation in Ukraine we trust http://www.kyivpost.com/

In the past 48hrs we’ve witnessed what a fierce, fed up national can do when it’s continually abused, stolen from, and murdered by it’s own government.   There’s no amount of writing that can fully encapsulate the complicated events of the past 3 months in Ukraine.

We’ve witnessed the liberating power and uncontrolled nature of social media.  Twenty years ago the acting government could and most likely would have used fierce and swift force to deal a death blow to the initial uprising.  However, this time armed with live feeds on YouTube, journalists from all over the world tweeting pieces of the truth, the old school propaganda machine met its match.

As I write this, the government can’t find the President.  Rumors of his resignation have been reported and Maiden continues to be occupied by battle hardened civilians who will not accept anything less.  The parliament has been meeting through-out the day dismantling Yanukovych’s self-granted powers.  You can hardly keep up to the speed at which things are happening, it’s dizzying and would have to be a full time job to keep up with.

I’m hesitant to believe that our neighbors to the East are going to sit back and accept these decisions.  If not military, there will be economic reactions (nothing new to Ukraine).

Regardless, we are thankful that the tension from this week, which made its way to our small town in the form of barricades and protests against our Mayor, has at least temporarily subsided.  The nation mourns the loss of life in what they believe was the cost for ousting the President and the oligarch regime he represented.

Whether he returns with force somehow, or has truly resigned, there is a strong confidence in the people that going back is not an option.   I’m quite amazed at this confidence, the nation woke up to the reality they never had democracy in the first place – it was merely a copy or shadow of the real thing.  I hope they achieve it, but it’s not over by a long shot.

We were able to meet yesterday for prayer with about 20-25 in the center.  It was much shorter of a prayer time than I had hoped, but we prayed.  If things do change for the better in this country, my prayer is that the gospel will flourish.  If things continue towards economic collapse, or meander in political confusion, I hope the church will be the light it can and should be.  Either way, the answer for the hope of all mankind remains the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Thank you for the prayer,

Bruce