Finding God in Unexpected Places

Substitute Teaching

Substitute Teaching is something I never expected I would be doing in Ukraine. A few weeks ago I substitute taught the third grade class at Kiev Christian Academy for a friend, so she could be in her brother’s wedding. During this time, I got lice. Thankfully after only another week in Kiev, so I would have someone to help check my head, the lice were gone. During this week of substituting, I was asked by the fifth grade teacher if I could teach her class for a few days, the first week of February, while she fulfilled the Visa requirements of leaving the country after so many days. It was a difficult decision to make because of my ever diminishing time left in the Ukraine. After some council, prayer, and though; I accepted. By doing this I was able to take a week in Chernovtsy to work on a few odds and ends and to pack up many of my things. It allowed me to travel from Chernovtsy to Kiev instead of just from Chernovtsy to Vapnyarka. Normally, this would not be a big deal but I have a suit case in each place. It would be difficult and somewhat senseless for me to pack my things in Chernovtsy and take them to Vapnyarka by train only to board a train a few weeks later with twice as much luggage at a two minute stop in the middle of the night. In other words, it was an opportunity to move my luggage here. I was still able to work from my computer on things that needed to be done and I was able to spend a little more time in an American English speaking environment, which though somewhat difficult will hopefully help me as I reenter the United States. This was my reasoning. I did not think there was any other reason that God would bring me back to substitute. I did not come to Ukraine to work with English speaking missionary children. But God surprised me.

Learning about Grace

Grace Defined- Acts of Kindness, that we do not deserve.

Romans 1:7 “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 1:3 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Corinthians 1:2 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Galatians 1:3 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,”

Ephesians 1:2 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 1:2 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Colossians 1:2 “To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.”

1 Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.”

2 Thessalonians 1:2 “Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Timothy 1:2 “To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

2 Timothy 1:2 “To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Titus 1:4 “To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.”

Philemon 1:3 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

The children have been learning about Paul in chapel. The woman speaking during the chapel I was there for discussed grace- acts of kindness. If you have to earn it, it is not grace. Children took turns reading the first verses in Paul’s books- Grace, Grace, Grace, Grace, Grace… Over and over again Paul began his books with Grace. Do a search and you will find that he first mentioned grace at the beginning of each of his letter but he discussed it countless times and usually reinforced the idea as he closed his letters. Paul understood grace well. He was a great persecutor of Christians but God gave him the opportunity to become one of the greatest apostles of all time. Just like Paul God has grace for us, in big things and in small things. Every day we have the opportunity to experience grace. It may be as simple as a stranger opening the door for you. Maybe we see the most beautiful sunset or a friend calls just to see how we are doing. These are small things but things that we have not earned; they are acts of kindness, moments of grace. If we are not careful we will miss them and we will also miss the opportunity to thank God for them.

My Moment of Grace

Last week, I was substitute teaching in fifth grade, something I enjoy but found somewhat difficult, knowing I had less than fifty days left in Ukraine. As I write this I have less than forty. It becomes more difficult to leave the ones I love; knowing my time with them is little. I struggle with the emotions of saying goodbye and looking toward the overwhelming thought of reentering into my own culture. My journey in Ukraine has not been easy. I have fought many battles and faced many obstacles but God has been faithful. As I look toward March 19th, the date I return to the states, I feel as though I am on a roller coaster. As I have mentioned above there are many things weighing on my heart but there is another side. There is part of me that is excited- There are parts of my culture and my country that I enjoy and miss greatly. I am excited to see my family and friends that have loved and supported me during my time away. The anticipation of not struggling to communicate is a relief.

It was in the midst of this whirlwind of emotion that I found grace in one of the fifth grade students. This particular boy was adopted from the very first orphanage I served at, in Radomyshl Ukraine. I remember the sights, the sounds, the smells, and the children well. I still know the names and faces of many of the children in the group I worked with in June of 2005. It was difficult to leave that place, to leave the children, not knowing exactly what would become of them but knowing the crime, prostitution, and suicide rates for orphans in Ukraine. My heart aches, knowing that there is still a great chance that some of the kids I have worked with over this past year will become part of these statistics.

But here in the fifth grade classroom, I met a boy whose chances of becoming part of these statistics had all but disappeared when he was adopted. During a writing assignment in which they had to describe someone they looked up to and admired. This boy wrote about his father. He wrote about his father’s love for him and for God. He wrote about the time his father spent with him and the games they played. He wrote about his father’s life- his kindness and his hard work. He wrote about grace that was bestowed upon him.

By sharing his grace, he gave me grace. As I wrestled with the emotions of leaving my children, God reminded me through this little boy that my work with such children has only begun. It is okay for me to go back to the states. The children I work with are his and not mine. I will carry them with me wherever I go in my heart and I hope to continue to be in touch with them over the years.

It is time for me to prepare for the life God has ahead of me. Adoption of children who are not loved and cared for the way God intended them to be loved is my ultimate goal. I knew coming over here, that when it came down to it- I could affect thousands of orphans lives a little bit if I were to work in an orphanage for years or I could give the opportunity to a few children to have a completely new life as a mother. This is still a long way off but I have truly been inspired by the children God has placed in my life this past year. I am thankful for families who are willing to adopt children, to rescue them from hopelessness. I am blessed by the faces of children who have been adopted. I don’t know where the next year of my life will take me but by God’s grace I will continue my journey into the unknown with Him.

2 Corinthians 9:8
“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”