Sunday with the saints in Ivano-Frankivsk

As my last week on this trip begins it was a warm sunny day spent with the brethren that are meeting at the Carpathian Hotel. We assembled for Bible study, worship, and fellowship and I am just getting back to my room at 8:30 p.m. The crowd today was few due to the continuing holidays and then there were some gone into the country to plant their gardens. Several weeks ago the box of seeds from the Knob Creek congregation (Fulton, KY) arrived and were distributed to the members and visitors. These seeds are valued because from them will come the food provisions for the coming winter months. The Knob Creek brethren have been supplying these garden seeds for (I am not sure how many) years. Not only are the vegetable seeds sought but also the flower seeds. By the end of today all of those seeds have found a home in the rich, black soil of western Ukraine and the sun’s heat has begun the process of germination. The growth of planted crops here is phenomenal. It seems that one week you see the fields planted and the next week the seeds have germinated, bursting through the soil and are about six inches high.

In attendance at worship today was the lady that teaches Christian Ethics at the village schools in Nebiliv—Oksana Stepanivna. Julia brought Oksana to worship and introduced me to her. Although several of those that have come with me on previous trips have met and talked with Oksana, today was the first time for me to meet her. When Tanya heard Julia introduce Oksana to me as the teacher of Christian Ethics in the schools, she was fearful of what the reaction of Oksana would be; but after talking with her for some time Tanya was convinced that Oksana was sincere and very nice. Oksana is trained as a Biologist and taught that subject for many years. She told me that in past years she worked in Poland and would return to her home in Ukraine to visit. “Those times were very much different than now. Then you were fearful of speaking about the Bible to others in your village and you never dreamed that you could see, even tough and hold a Bible.” We continued talking and Oksana said that she wanted to thank me for making sure there were Bibles in the schools in her village and for the teaching materials we had provided to her. She commented on the series I am teaching on “The Beatitudes.”

“We teach a course on the thinking of Christians in level eleven and I use the beatitudes to instruct the students. You approach it differently than I do. Your approach is very good but it is good only for those who have been taught foundational matters.”

By this she was saying that the level of instruction needed in the villages was very elementary. She appreciated the lesson today (“Blessed are they that mourn”) and said that she really gained much by it. She complimented Ivan and the work that he has been doing in the village. He has taken a number of Bibles and other literature and furnished it to the school for use in their classes. It is this school that had such dilapidated desks and chairs that it was almost impossible for students to sit still because they had to balance themselves to keep from falling. We helped replace some of the chairs and tables from various shipments and then we purchased some chairs as well.

In an interesting comment on the way that I and others that have visited with me taught classes, Oksana remarked that our presentations approach things differently than most are accustomed. She says the general population is in a “transition” from ritual and tradition as a basis for religious belief and practice to that of the conviction of the heart. This opened he opportunity to discuss the superiority of belief and governing by revealed Truth rather than by ritual and traditions of men. I found her comment to be most significant and it challenges us to make certain that we are teaching so that this difference will continue to be observed and accepted. This is the point that Ivan has been stating for a long time in regard to western Ukraine—the people here are so trained in religious thinking that it takes a long time for them to see the futility of man’s traditions being in a position over God’s Truth.

Oksana remarked that there were many teaching in the schools that saw the announcement of my classes but this is just a very bad time of the year for them to come because they must get their gardens planted. I told her that I and others would be returning and we would love to come and teach in the schools during the day and then have special classes with the teachers at night. Oksana said the best time for this to be planned was in October. I told her that I would be back then and I hoped that some others would be able to be present as well. I will not be able to complete my course on “The Beatitudes” so I will pick up in October where I leave off here. If any reading this are interested in returning with me in October and taking part in this incredible teaching opportunity, please contact me! I will provide you the course material for the study and all you will need to do is to prepare it on the most elementary level you can. Can you imagine a greater opportunity than being able to be in the midst of approximately 15,000 and teach children the marvelous truths of God and then be able to communicate God’s love and plan of redemption to adults?

“Pure religion and undefiled…” Those who are involved in the work of these trips often are greeted with great appreciation by those we visit. Last spring Mike Mitchell was present and heard of a number of widows needing help. He had been given funds by brethren for the purpose of helping the widows and orphans. He left some of those funds with Ivan to help the neediest widows. Here is a picture of an invalid lady that cannot get out of bed. If you look closely you can see that she is receiving a 100 grievna bill (a little over $20.00). This is MORE money than she has received in the past three months. A number reading these reports have given funds for the purpose of helping those in great need. Your generosity is a tangible way that people who have never heard a single word about God can know what the grace of giving means. Through these opportunities we have doors and hearts opened to the Word of God.

As she was about to leave today, Oksana turned back to me and said, “You have shown us the church that provides instead of demands. Through your gifts and benevolence we have come to see that there is a different church than what our traditions and rituals describe. You tell us about a church that follows the Master’s love and that seeks to show God’s mercy and grace in salvation.”

This last week has begun very well. Thank you for your support and prayers.

Tomorrow I am going to visit an orphanage for disabled children and it is a long way from the city. This is the orphanage where Ron Swang visited earlier in the year.