By Craig Shrum
May 24 five Ambassador students and graduates arrived in the Transcarpathian region of western Ukraine. They were Kathi Nomm, Brenda Plonis, Sarah van Lanen, Sonia Magega and me.
Our invitation came from Victor Pavliy and Mission Nazareth, a charitable organization staffed mostly by Sabbatarians. As mission director, Victor arranged housing and other details for our seven-week stay.
Although no official Ambassador Foundation program was planned this summer, the students still wanted to maintain the relationship we had established. Thus, the students used their own funds, with a small grant from Church Administration International, to continue last year's goal: building friendships with the Sabbatarians and others in the community.
We taught English to about 80 teens and adults, a fraction of those who were interested. Even with classes halfway finished, parents begged us to teach their children. We simply did not have space for everyone.
Our students were of many faiths, not just the Sabbatarian congregations. The classes were featured on television and in the newspaper.
We weren't fluent in Ukrainian or Russian. However, Katerina Seibert, an English teacher, became a valuable translator and friend. So did Sergei Lyubikh, a Sabbatarian missionary who spoke some English. As Sergei told us, "You do not understand all that I say, but you understand my heart."
Sergei invited us to evangelize with his missionary group. They preach, sing and distribute used clothing in rural areas. On Pentecost we accompanied them to two poor villages. The villagers looked hungry--and not just for physical food.
Afterward they handed out copies of the New Testament in Russian. However, the supply was limited. When others saw the Bibles, a fight broke out among them. We left quickly to avoid further trouble.
We spent weekends with Sabbatarians in several towns. Their worship consists of a two-hour service Friday night and two services of two hours each on Saturday.
At one service we announced that Mr. Tkach was ill. The pastor called on everyone to pray. The congregation of 120 people knelt down and prayed--some out loud, a few even crying--that God would heal Mr. Tkach.
At first we were concerned about how the church's doctrinal changes would affect our relationship with them. Though there are differences in belief, they are all conservative in their observance of the Sabbath and dietary regulations. Most, however, do not observe the annual festivals.
One evening Victor asked: "Which are you for--the Worldwide Church of God, or one of the factions?"
I replied, "I'm for Christ." It was exactly what Victor wanted to hear. He gave me a hug, and I felt relieved to have this question out in the open.
We differ from the Sabbatarians on many doctrines. They do not wear jewelry or make-up. Dancing and drinking alcohol are forbidden. They observe the Sabbath more strictly than most of us ever did. They do not drive, bathe or cook on the Sabbath. And they are well aware of our different beliefs on these issues. Yet they continue their relationship with us. Why?
To me, the most powerful answer to this question came on my last evening in Ukraine. Vasyl Mondich and Victor Pavliy came to our house to say good-bye.
When they left, Victor told me, "You have come back to Transcarpathia this summer, and now you have really become one of us."
"Yes," I replied. "You are my Ukrainian brothers."
"No," Victor said. "Not Ukrainian, not American, just brothers."
By Brenda Plonis
Leaving America for western Ukraine, I didn't know what to expect. I knew my summer there would teach me countless lessons. What I didn't know was that in those seven weeks, the people I'd meet in Ukraine would become like family to me.
During our third week in Ukraine, four of us became ill from a stomach virus. As soon as our friends and students found this out, they overwhelmed us with offers of help.
The people we came to help often ended up helping us. Their concern was even more evident after Craig Shrum left in June to take up a teaching post in Japan. Many times visitors dropped by to be sure Kathi, Sarah, Sonia and I had what we needed.
Our last Sabbath was especially moving. At services the congregation sang hymns for us. The pastor called us to the front to pray for us. They asked me to say a few words, as I served as project director after Craig's departure.
I told them we could never forget their generosity and that they were like family to us. After services they repeatedly asked us to return next summer.
As we prepared to leave, many came to see us off. Alla, one of the Sabbatarians, hugged and kissed me, then she looked up to the sky and motioned that she would be praying for us. At that moment, we didn t need English, Russian or Ukrainian--we understood each other's hearts.
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