Sunday, June 20, 2004, I was bound for Ukraine along with 46 other confessional Lutherans—youth and adults. Our first several days in Ukraine were spent in Kiev and the surrounding region, sight-seeing and becoming acclimated to foreign sights, sounds, and tastes, as well as to the eight-hour time difference. By Thursday we were ready, anxious and excited to set off for our various assignments in seven ULC congregations scattered across western Ukraine.

I was blessed to be one of six teachers (three adults and three outstanding young Lutheran Americans) destined for the charming old town of Kremenetz, nestled in the verdant hills of northwestern Ukraine. There all of us lived with Vasyl Andriechuk, the president and deacon of Lord’s Cross Lutheran Church, and his generous and hospitable family. Over the next few days we settled in and prepared for our roles as teachers. That first Sunday, following the beautiful Ukrainian worship service, we Americans were introduced to the Kremenetz congregation and welcomed by the congregation’s children with Ukrainian songs and the traditional loaf of bread and bowl of salt.

By Monday morning American teachers and Ukrainian translators and pupils were eager for VBS to begin. Our school ran for three fast-paced hours for ten days. Every day we studied God’s Word, our lessons centering on the Lord’s Prayer. Additionally, we taught English, music and crafts, all aimed at instilling God’s truth into the hearts and lives of “our” children, ninety percent of whom were non-Lutheran. Everyday Bible School attendance grew as word spread through Kremenetz until we reached about 140 children, age five (or younger) to age twenty. That’s right—age 20! Daily they arrived, many as much as half an hour early, and they stayed late just to talk. Often afternoons were spent visiting with our students or playing games and sports with them.

The days flew by as students, translators, and children grew in faith and understanding of each other and of the loving and gracious Lord who made us all and who desires to save us all by the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. All too soon our VBS drew to an end. A closing program gave the children the opportunity to witness in song to their families and the community about the love and all-sufficient work of Jesus. I wish each of you could hear those child-like Ukrainian voices raised in singing “Jesus Loves Me.” Goodbyes were bittersweet and tearful; I looked forward to my return home, but I was sad to leave that beautiful country and its endearing people. God willing, I will return to Ukraine this coming summer. In the meantime, I pray that God’s Word will be firmly rooted and grow in the hearts and lives of our Ukrainian brothers and sisters in Christ; and that their faith will be strengthened and encouraged as mine was by this experience.

You can participate in this program of Thoughts of Faith in any number of ways: 1) Keep VBS in Ukraine in your prayers. 2) Encourage participation in this program by the youth of your congregation. This is an excellent way to recruit our young people for studying to be a teacher or a preacher and to develop in them a heart for mission work. 3) As a congregation or an individual, consider subsidizing young people who are interested in serving as VBS teachers in Ukraine. 4) Think about traveling to Ukraine yourself as a teacher/chaperone for VBS.

For more information contact Thoughts of Faith, Inc. toll-free at 1-877-892-4718 or by email at contact@tof.org.

By Polly Joubert who is a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Okauchee, Wisconsin.