Yuschenko in America

Ukraine's President Victor Yuschenko now in the United States will visit with Bush and address a rare joint session of Congress. He is to visit Boston, D.C., and Chicago and hopefully strengthen ties with the Ukrainian diaspora. Coverage of the Pope's death will probably mean little attention in the media will be paid to this historic visit. Last week, Yuschenko's wife, who was born in America, received Ukrainian citizenship.

The president of Kyrgyzstan recently resigned finally. I'm not sure if the western media made much of this story since few people even know where Kyrgyzstan is. The nation of 5 million is one of the 5 Asian nations that were once part of the Soviet Union. Not unlike Ukraine and Georgia, fraudulent elections led to mounting protests and pressure on the government to resign. Finally, about two weeks ago, the protests became violent, rioters stormed presidential offices, and the president--who had ruled with an iron fist for 10 years--fled to Russia (Putin will apparently take anybody that has a questionable relationship to democracy). Since then, order has been restored in the nation and a new government is forming. During those protests, about 1,000 people protested in Byelorussia which is also ruled by a crazy dictator. What we are seeing, almost 15 years after it fell apart politically, is the actual demise of the Soviet Union. The West celebrated when the wall fell. Only now are people on the other side of the iron curtain beginning to celebrate. In the last two years, 3 former Soviet republics have experienced revolutions of sorts. Who will be next?????

As for us, Lena's mother Lyuda spent the weekend with us. I cooked a nice meal Saturday. My attempt at an Italian spread at least pleased me. I preached again this Sunday; I am starting a series on Christian leadership as our church begins the process of developing a more formal leadership. Many in Kyiv have been sick though the temps are now spring-like.