Today as we were driving back to Ivano-Frankivsk from visiting locations we passed through the town of Nadvernia. This is a location where we have given substantial assistance to the District Hospital. As we passed the bus stop there were seven Ukraine military troops waiting for the bus. No doubt they were going to the east where fighting continues. The reports we are hearing is that Russia has absolute freedom to cross the border and bring in bus loads of troops to reinforce the pro-Russian troops that have brought evil’s ruin to Lugansk and Donetsk.
Thankfully the weather has been amazing for this time of the year. Today it was in the low 70’s and very warm. The morning began foggy and cold and I thought about the troops who had been outside all night. Hopefully the mild weather will continue. The milder temperatures will help Ukraine survive the winter’s cold in spite of Russia cutting off the gas supplies for heating. Today I talked with one who told me that if God gives Ukraine a good harvest and a mild inter then it will survive—there was an abundant harvest and now he awaits the mild winter!
Pray for a mild winter in Ukraine!
Ivan told me that the Church has kept a list of its prayer requests and recently took that list out and examined it. They found that 80% of their prayer requests to God have been answered and as for the remaining items they continue to pray trusting that God will answer them in the proper time.
Allow me to present a thought on the viability of the “economic sanctions.” Some of you may not want to read this so just skip down a few paragraphs.
We have heard the explanation for abandoning Ukraine to fight for herself with the statement we are punishing Russia with economic sanctions that will bring about the desired results (except for the THOUSANDS who have been murdered by Russian evil!). What is not highlighted in this excuse for passivity in confronting evident evil is the following…the US dollar is being replaced as the world’s monetary standard. The announcement this week that China has now overtaken the USA as number one in the world’s economic stage is most significant because that basically states the world will NOT rely upon the US Dollar but upon the Chinese Yuan as the standard currency…eventually Americans will have to visit currency exchange booths to exchange US Dollars for Yuan so they can purchase items. The loss of the position as number one in the world’s economic stage is not something Americans want to hear…so they do not listen. This willful deafness will not allow for the proper response to the situations in the world. The USA has become markedly WEAK within the last 6-7 years, yet NOTHING has been announced to the American population! This weakness is evidentiary in all fronts…militarily, politically, diplomatically, morally, and economically. How tragic that the citizen will never observe the degradation of any of these except the economical facet?
What this basically means is that the world is “de-dollarizing” its economies. That means the USA global influence is gone! And the reign of the US Dollar has come to an end!
To think that economic sanctions that are tied to the US Dollar will have any impact upon Putin and the evil Russian intent is misguided. True the billionaires in Russia are hurting and I initially thought they would have more influence. But it seems that is not the case.
Read thoughtfully this excerpted analysis that focuses upon the failing economic sanctions and indirectly addresses the weakened and weakening global position of the USA…
“Russia is firing back to the monetary attack against their currency and economy. On Oct. 10, a new report on Russian currency outflows shows that during the third quarter ending in September, the Eurasian state paid off a near record $53 billion in foreign debt, and sold off dollars to use as capital to stabilize their declining currency, and to protect their primary resource industry from the deflation America has caused through the dumping of excess oil into the market supply.
“Some of this money was used earlier this week to support the declining Rouble as President Putin authorized the transfer of over $2 billion to be used directly to support the Russian currency. Additionally, the Russian central bank has already authorized funds to be set aside to supplement Russian corporations and oil industries should the need arise for liquidity and capital.
Despite the reassuring narrative from The West that Russia faces “costs” and is increasingly “isolated” due to sanctions for its actions in Ukraine, the most recent data suggests reality is quite different. First, capital outflows slowed dramatically in Q3 (from $23.7 billion in Q2 to $13 billion in Q3) with September seeing capital inflows for the first time since Sept 2013. Second, Russia’s current account surplus was significantly stronger than expected ($11.4 billion vs $8.8 billion expected) driven by increased trade. Third, and perhaps most crucially, Russia paid down a massive $52.8 billion in foreign debt as Putin “de-dollarizes” at near record pace, reducing external debt to the lowest since 2012. (Zerohedge)
“Russia is not the only Eurasian nation de-dollarizing at a fast pace. Earlier this week as well, long time U.S. economic ally South Korea disseminated that their foreign reserve holdings had grown in the Yuan over the past year, almost doubling its prior total of 13.7% which was the amount they held at the end of 2013. These reserves replace former dollar holdings, and rise a huge red flag that the Far Eastern manufacturing center is quickly moving into the Eurasian Trade camp, and away from Western hegemony.
“America’s gambit to force down the price of oil is a ploy the U.S. used in the late 1980’s to destroy the Rouble, and tear down the old Soviet Union’s economy. However, the Russian leadership is not stupid, and have realized for a long time that this was an Achilles Heel in their economic system, and this time, the tables are quickly turning against the U.S. as Russia simply dumps more and more dollars to use as capital to supplement their currency and industry during these short term attacks by the West in their attempt to cripple them monetarily.”
Now for a brief report before we travel to a children’s emergency relief shelter…
Our typical day has settled into a routine…we are up early and ready to leave to meet various appointments that Ivan has arranged. After meeting Ivan we learn that the appointments that had been scheduled have now been cancelled because of the elections to be held on 26 October. It seems that during the election cycle those who are running for election have an uncertainty about their daily schedules. Plus there is the concern that our visits might be used to manipulate the voters. So often we go to bed with one schedule and then find that a totally different schedule is what we follow. Factor into the fluid conditions the reality that we get constant calls that need our attention on other actions and the entire schedule is more uncertain!
Usually after the re-arranged schedule has been discussed we take off on trips that last hours in driving and then we return to Ivano-Frankivsk just in time to unpack, grab our study materials and race to class. But all is good and each day, even given the uncertain schedule, is a good day spent here!
The evening classes continue to go well and our study in the Epistle of Colossians is encouraging.
It is encouraging to note that the subscriptions for the Blog continue to increase each day!
Be sure to tell others they register for automatic updates or can read posted updates on this mission trip at: www.kachelman.com/ukraine/blog
Thank you for your financial support and prayers for the brethren in Ukraine and for the welfare of the Lord’s Church in Ukraine!
John L. Kachelman, Jr.
Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
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