23
We rejoiced in the baptisms of NASTYA
(daughter of sister Marina from Kharkov),
NADEZHDA, VIKTOR and TAMARA, ANDREJ (a
direct fruit of our Bible distribution program)
and VIKTOR, husband of sister Vera and father
of brother Denis. Further, one contact from
our work with ex-JWs, DENIS, was visited and
baptized, with our brothers Sergej and Vitaly
assisting greatly. Especially moving was the
baptism of Viktor, whose wife and son have
been baptized many years. He is really very
ill and barely able to walk. He was literally
carried by our brethren to the lake, carried
into the water and, despite great pain and
difficulty, was immersed - and greeted and
dried with such tenderness and care by his
wife and son.
Brother Andy wrote up his impressions:
“Apart from the mosquitoes, I can’t recom-
mend the Ukraine Bible School highly
enough. Never having been to Ukraine before
and not speaking a word of Ukrainian (or
Russian, apart from nyet which I didn’t need
anyway as the experience was yes, yes; not
no, no) the welcome from the Eastern
European brothers and sisters and those from
other climes could hardly have been warmer.
Study sessions, mainly led by Duncan on the
daily readings, were lively, and translations
willingly provided for those with English as
first language including a number of Ukraine-
based Nigerians.
The accommodation being in a Soviet-era
sanatorium was interesting, set in extensive
grounds in a wooded village setting to the
north of Kyiv. The nearby lake yielded a more
than adequate setting for the baptisms that
took place at the School. These were indeed
joyful occasions and we hope that the
recreational bathers enjoyed the musical
accompaniment as much as we did. The last
evening saw an emotional breaking of bread
service which was most moving and helpful
for all, including, of course, our new
brothers and sisters. After the final study
session covering Romans chapters 10 and 11,
in which Duncan further reflected on the
possible nearness of our Lord’s return (one of
the strong themes of our time together), we
concluded the evening with a talent show;
some exhibited more talents than others, but
I have to say that the language ‘barrier’ did
little to detract from our enjoyment of the
varied items.
As I mentioned I had not been to Ukraine
before, but definitely do hope to be asked
again. I would recommend this to anyone
who needs uplifting in their faith and who
would like to enjoy fellowship with brothers
and sisters in this part of the world which has
not had things easy in the last several
months. It was especially good to see the
loving relationship between people of
different ages and backgrounds, and the
renewing of friendships that had clearly
lasted many years, in contrast to the spirit of
breakup in relationships which there is now
throughout Ukraine.”
Our new brother emerges from the waters of baptism and is tenderly greeted and dried by his wife and son