Bible School in Ukraine, January 2008
We're really grateful to all who donated towards this Bible School. Individual thank you mails should be on the way to those who sponsored individuals. The following report is from one of the speakers, brother Pradeep Kana from the Yeoville ecclesia in South Africa.
The Bible School was held in the snowy city of Poltava, Ukraine. Brethren and sisters attended the school from Russia, Belarus, Latvia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, England, United States of America, and South Africa, as well as Ukraine. The wonderful hand of God brought all these people together in one place.
All who attended joyfully experienced the love, fellowship, spiritual encouragement, care and concern. It was an amazing experience to see brethren and sisters from near and far coming together to share around the word of God. Some journeyed for up to four days to attend the school. This showed to me the zeal and love that they have for each other and their desire for fellowship around the word of God. This is the only time some brethren and sisters have for fellowship with others of like faith and this annual school is what they plan and wait for all year long. Truly amazing the faith these people express. So many travelled so far just to meet and fellowship. What an amazing thing. We were so lifted up by their faith and desire for the things of God.
The spiritual encouragement was led by Brother Scott Ketelsen, from Tacoma, Washington State in the United States , Bro Duncan Heaster of Riga , and myself, Bro. Pradeep Kana from South Africa. (Photo: Brother Pradeep telling us about the Yeovil Bible Education Centre in South Africa).
The topics were based on Israel, the Bible (fulfilled prophecy, history, archaeology, authenticity, etc..), the character of Abraham, prophesy and the elements of the fruit of the spirit. The spiritual food was well accepted and all have a lot to meditate and start applying in our daily lives.
We distributed Russian Bibles. Some brethren received complete Russian Bibles. There were many who did not have one with large enough print for them to comfortably read, and some who needed a new one, and we were able to provide these. Others had friends they had been witnessing to who did not have a Bible and there were some for them too.
Photos: Scott distributing Bibles; sister Lena gratefully receiving her new Bible and starting Bible marking; Brother Pavel from Siberia with his new spectacles; distribution of spectacles brought by Brother Scott from the USA
There was another joyful event that they all appreciated. As many cannot afford to get medical attention, we distributed some reader eyeglasses of various strengths so they can read their Bibles easier. They were so happy to receive them, and also some large print Russian editions of the Bible Companion. Some of them were in tears of joy. We also gave some help to various poverty stricken brothers and sisters in relation to Winter heating needs and enabling them to have operations they need.
Photos: Sister Sofia and her brother in the flesh, brother Boris, have no other existing relatives apart from each other. They are delighted to be together in the hope of the Kingdom. We presented them each with large print Bibles and spectacles
We were also greatly rejoicing at the baptisms of NINA, ANNA and MAXIM. Each of them were relatives of existing sisters.
Photo: Sister Nina [left] is the sister of our sister Raisa [centre], who lives in Russia; she came all the way from Kazakhstan to be baptized- 4 days journey for an elderly lady alone. The two sisters were so happy to be in each others' company; and they became friends with old sister Sofia from Ukraine [right]
Photos [left]: Sister Anna (right) with her sister, Sis. Larisa, who belongs to the Ipswich UK ecclesia but joined us for the Bible School and witnessed her sister's baptism ; Sister Anna with a greeting card made by Bro Pradeep's Sunday School class at the Yeoville ecclesia in Johannesburg, South Africa. We truly do have a unique international fellowship in Christ
The annual program of poetry, prayer, and the play followed the baptism. Sister Danita from Belarus, although very sick, made a special effort to attend, and had written the play for us to perform. The morning was very fulfilling spiritually and was followed by the breaking of bread service.
The brethren and sisters were also uplifted by the music and guitar playing by Bro. Scott. We all sang together, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God”, which became the theme song of the school. It was harmoniously sung in both Russian and English. By the time we got to the end of the week they had the song
memorized. It sounded like angels singing praising God in different languages but the same tune.
It was very encouraging to attend a fellowship with a people who were humble and appreciative of all that was done for them. They were so thankful for the opportunity to attend. Carelinks paid for the cost of the School and used the funds frugally to achieve a lot. Some of the brothers and sisters live in extreme poverty situations. It was touching to see sister Sofia and other old sisters walking on the slippery ice with walking stick, and gave a new angle on the prayer to "Keep us from falling". She travelled so far by various buses and trains, despite angina attacks, it was a miracle really that she didn't have a fall, wasn't robbed and arrived in one piece. God is doing such a great work here in the Ukraine and Eastern Europe. The gospel is being preached to the nations here. We were in tears to depart from one another. Such a sweet bond and family feel was about the conference. Being mutual encouraged in our faith we departed in the hopes for next year's Winter Bible School. God willing.
