October 13, 1998
Bev and I are flying home from one of the most wonderful Feast of Tabernacles we've ever attended. While we thoroughly appreciated spending time with the Estonian people, the socializing, the excursions and restaurants, those were NOT the most satisfying events.
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What was most gratifying was seeing progress being made in preaching the Gospel. What was most exciting to me was seeing NEW people coming to our meeting, listening to our messages and expressing a desire to know more about the Bible.
Estonia is said to be 92% irreligious. This high figure is part of the atheistic Soviet legacy. But, even in independence, the interest level in spiritual matters is abysmally low. Those of us working with the Estonian have asked God to open the hearts and minds of the people here. This prayer is being answered. People are now asking questions about the meaning of life. Some are wanting to know about God and His existence. Some are equating the misery and emptiness of the society they're a part of with Godlessness. We had 15 Estonians attend the Feast of Tabernacles with us and most want to continue meeting.
What has also been exciting has been the team effort by a number of people to DO something to support what God is doing in the lives of people. These initiative are also answer to prayer.
First, Lithuanian member Henrikas Klovas has offered to come up to Tartu, Estonia once a month to meet with the people there and and provide Bible Studies. He has done an admirable job teaching and providing desperately needed spiritual support. He speaks Russian and is able to give Bible Studies in a language that most understand. This service is not easy for him. The journey from his home in Kaunas, Lithuania to Tartu, Estonia now takes 15-16 hours. The Baltic Express train no longer runs all the way to Tartu and he has to take a train from his home to Riga, Latvia. Then a bus to the Estonian border. He must then walk across the border town to another bus station from which he finally takes another bus to Tartu. He has been arriving Sabbath noon just in time for the meetings, but this has been exhausting. He will now take off work Friday to arrive Friday night, get a night's rest and spend the Sabbath with the people. This is dedication! People from remote locations of Estonia will come to Tartu for the meetings.
Churches in the United States have provided money for the bus and other expenses for him to make this trip monthly. We want to compensate him as we're able for the day's work he is offering to miss to perform this mission. We need for him to continue doing this. The brethren in Estonia all have a high regard and respect for Henrikas Klovas. At this year's Feast in Tartu we ordained him a deacon.
Henrikas has also translated four Good News articles from Russian to Lithuanian. They are ready to publish and will be published forthwith in Kaunas. He has also had three or four interested parties meet with him in Kaunas. The last meeting was on the Festival of Trumpets.
Next, I want to applaud the work of John and Hazel Lambert. He is United Church of God elder living in Elmira, New York. Both John and Hazel on their own initiative have ramrodded the translation of five Good News articles from Russian to Estonian by Ylo Maaring. His work has been inputted into an Estonian version of Microsoft Word and has now been published. Incidentally, Henrikas Klovas has produced all his translations using a Lithuanian keyboard and fonts, also Microsoft Word.
The Lambert's have traveled to Estonia for the Feast the last two years and John has given a high percentage of the sermons.
The Lambert's have put together and contributed a computer which they left it with Tartu member Margit Kaljas. Margit is now connected by Internet and will help with the editing of the Good News articles and will start translating the United Church of God Correspondence Course. Progress!
Also, Juta Kulbin, UCG member living in Yucaipa, California who was born in Estonia and speaks the language fluently has been partially sponsored by her congregation in Southern California to come to Tartu for the Feast in Tartu the last two years. This has helped us immeasurably in communication with the Estonians who consider her one of their own.
I give credit to all visitors from Germany, Canada and the United States who came to the Feast in Tartu. All contributed to helping the Estonians feel a part of the greater Church.
In addition to all this we are making available Russian literature that has been in the process of translation for nearly the last two years. While Russian influence is diminishing in Estonia, it is still spoken by most of the Estonian population. I brought over a supply of the recently published Sunset to Sunset, God's Sabbath Rest and it was gratefully received. Russian literature translation has been sponsored by local donations. The Garden Grove, California UCG has paid for the translation of a number of articles, including half the cost of translating the Gospel of the Kingdom. The United Church of God Council of Elders in its August 1998 meetings gave its unanimous support for translation and distribution of literature published in Estonian, Russian, Lithuanian and Serbian.
This work has been a team effort by enthusiasts who want to make a difference. I truly believe that God has blessed us with growth and a change in the hearts of these people coming from the darkness of this world into the glorious light of the Gospel and salvation.
After the Last Great Day we held a meeting just for all the Estonians and Henrikas Klovas. We discussed a separate meeting hall that will make it easier to invite people to meetings. We talked about the basics of using the Bible and taking notes. We talked about tithing and everyone becoming responsible in helping out with the fledgling church. In the course of the meeting a new attendee offered to help find a meeting location, possibly using an employee hospitality room where she works.
We have all worked as a team and feel blessed with the results to date. This Festival was a turning point in helping the people feel a sense of responsibility for their group.
I plan to visit in February and John Lambert will go over for the Passover. We are already planning 1999's Festival in Tartu.
Please pray for all those working who are working hard to do God's Will and preach the Gospel in this part of the world.
Victor Kubik