Deception at the UEC
On Tuesday night, during my English class, I noticed that some of my students were delayed from returning to class after the break. It seemed someone was promoting something to them in the corridor. As I investigated closer, a woman was trying to get my students to sign up for Christian modeling classes, whatever that is. As my class ended, I noticed this same woman seemingly coordinating activity on the second floor of the Center. It seemed odd to me. We had had some difficulties with her in the past and had been watching her.
As a young woman left the Center, I asked her what was going on upstairs. She told me that there were classes being offered, one kind for $75 a month and English classes for $75 a month. "English classes upstairs?" I inquired. "Yes, you can ask the woman upstairs. She'll tell you everything." "And the English classes are being taught here?" "Yes, twice a week for $75 a month."
I then went up stairs and found someone from this crowd counting a pile of money on the couch, large gryvnya notes, US dollars. Before I confronted them, I wanted to make sure the leaders didn't have many of our library materials since it's doubtful we wouldn't see them much more. Tonight I confronted her and she told me she didn't know she couldn't conduct a business there. The ban on commercial activity, though, is clearly stated in our rules all new patrons must read. We had even asked her earlier if that's what she was doing and she denied it. Of course, they are banned from the Center. At $75 a head with about 20 people and no overhead, that's $1500 and since no one reports unofficial income here, it's all tax free. Not a bad take. And that's only classes that are twice a week.
It's hard to keep up with everything that goes on at the Center. We do our best, though. Guess this story won't make it into our newsletter, but it's a part of the day in a life......
Today we invited Oksana and Ira over to lunch. Ira is a recent church visitor. She was an exchange student in Minnesota last school year and attended a church there. We hope she will become a part of our community and grow in her faith.
As a young woman left the Center, I asked her what was going on upstairs. She told me that there were classes being offered, one kind for $75 a month and English classes for $75 a month. "English classes upstairs?" I inquired. "Yes, you can ask the woman upstairs. She'll tell you everything." "And the English classes are being taught here?" "Yes, twice a week for $75 a month."
I then went up stairs and found someone from this crowd counting a pile of money on the couch, large gryvnya notes, US dollars. Before I confronted them, I wanted to make sure the leaders didn't have many of our library materials since it's doubtful we wouldn't see them much more. Tonight I confronted her and she told me she didn't know she couldn't conduct a business there. The ban on commercial activity, though, is clearly stated in our rules all new patrons must read. We had even asked her earlier if that's what she was doing and she denied it. Of course, they are banned from the Center. At $75 a head with about 20 people and no overhead, that's $1500 and since no one reports unofficial income here, it's all tax free. Not a bad take. And that's only classes that are twice a week.
It's hard to keep up with everything that goes on at the Center. We do our best, though. Guess this story won't make it into our newsletter, but it's a part of the day in a life......
Today we invited Oksana and Ira over to lunch. Ira is a recent church visitor. She was an exchange student in Minnesota last school year and attended a church there. We hope she will become a part of our community and grow in her faith.
posted by Kyivmission at 12:52 AM
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