What's gone on this week? March 22 we celebrated our third wedding anniversary. Not much of a celebration this year but some white tulips did find their way into Lena's hand and she gave me a nice gift. I had my English class on Monday followed by the Psalms group. Tuesday was Soup Group where we entertained questions about Jehovah Witnesses, church traditions, and all sorts of other topics. Olya, a first-year student at the National Aviation University, asked a question for the first time this week. Please pray for her that we can encourage her to be a part of the church life. Wednesday we had a long church planning meeting where we made some progress on several issues. Unfortunately, this week Vitaly's grandfather died and he'll be away from Kyiv for a while. Fortunately, Lera is better and back at work. We finally had a short staff meeting there to approve some changes in our policies. We are writing a new library brochure to replace the three random things we give people when they sign up for the library. We are also considering some changes to policies.

One big policy change is our concerted effort to raise funds among our patrons. We are developing several ways to encourage people to financially support the Center. Though we are a long way from the Center being sustained locally, we are taking the first steps toward that dream. Already, about $200 a month has been given. All total last year only about $800 was given. So we praise the Lord for his mercy in this grace of giving.

Tonight we walked around Kreshatik, the main street downtown. As we popped out of the Theater metro station, Yulia Tymoshenko with a slightly horse throat could be heard over the loud speakers. She was holding a rally at Maidan, the main city square. I wanted to rush down there but we needed to be on our way to the cafeteria we were eating in. The wind was bitterly cold. Tymoshenko really knows how to give a speech. I don't know too much about politics but she sure knows how to fire up a crowd of about 10,000 that had gathered for the rally. That's Yulia on the left. The sign says "Spring will triumph or be free!"

Of course, Kreshatik was teeming with political life. A group of Chernovetsky flag waivers were chanting near Kyiv City hall. He's running for mayor (and parliament, I think). He is the leader of the Christian Democrats and is a member of a large, charismatic church in Kyiv, some say it's the largest church in Europe. It's pastor is a Nigerian and Chernovestky is the head of one of the largest Ukrainian banks. They were giving out pens and plastic bags today near our metro but there was too big of a crowd and I couldn't get to them. His campaign slogan is "You have the right to live better." Who knew?

The orange tents of the president's Our Ukraine lined Kreshatik as did the crazy Natalya Vitrenko. Vitrenko is just crazy. She will say just about anything. A few years ago she was calling for re-nationalizing all industry when she ran for president. Now, she's just against NATO expansion and the current government. Then there is some other woman heading up a block, I forget her name. She always appears with large amounts of money in her ads. And there is another new party headed up by a woman. It's a shame American politics is so completely dominated by men. Of course, there is Hillary Clinton but who else? Nobody, really.

Finally, after we eating, we did walk to Maidan and the crowd was breaking up for Yulia's rally. It's a pity, for I was looking for a Yulia plastic bag or something. Maybe next time.

The election is Sunday and it's going to be fun. It's in stark contrast to the elections this past week in Byelorussia. This little country that borders Ukraine to the north is run by a dictator. Some attempts were made to protest the elections but there just weren't enough people and too much police presence. Maybe next time Byelorussia will get its red and white revolution just as we got our orange revolution almost two years ago. All this campaigning, I believe, is a direct result of the orange revolution. People just feel a little less afraid and a little less reluctant to participate in the political process. Some are saying this election will be the first truly democratic election in Ukraine. I think eastern Ukraine still has a way to go in truly becoming free but we are moving in the right direction. Let's just pray that God is glorified through whomever ends up in parliament.