On the Sunday service of June 20 were sounded touching and sad words of farewell. Amazing, courageous, faithful, sincere, God loving, loved by us, Erin Brassart was returning home. She has devoted her life to young unbelievers in Poltava for two years. She effectively used her own knowledge which she received from her university, to teach English in schools. At the same time she was a witness of the love of Christ to a perishing world. Through this fragile young woman God has done a great work for the expansion of His kingdom in Poltava, and bringing up Salvation Church.

Before her trip home, we asked her some question which she gladly answered.

Q: Erin, why did you decide to come as a missionary specifically to Ukraine? What inspired you, spending two whole years of your life, to serve here?

A: In my heart I always felt a calling from God to go for a long time to serve in some overseas countries. For some reason I was confident that God would send me to Africa or Central Asia. In the summer of 2007, My sister, Amiee and I were invited to participate in an evangelistic camp in Kiev. I had no great desire to go there because I knew that Ukraine is a Christian country. It happened in such a way that we finally went to Kiev. After two days of service in Kiev, I realized that I should come to Ukraine again. I had seen how God has used me in the ministry for unbelievers. Some of those unbelievers even repented. After that, I prayed to God asking Him to give me the opportunity to come to Ukraine again.

After returning to the U.S. thoughts about future missionary work did not leave my mind. I soon applied for service in one of the missionary organizations. I was offered a huge list of various countries and cities where I could serve what God called me for. On the list I began looking to every word that started with the letter “U”. Surprisingly, Ukraine was not on that list! What could I do? Was the desire I had to serve the Ukrainian people not from God? I decided to accept the offer of a missionary position in an African country.For three months my thoughts were filled with doubts. I was unsure about my choice of the country I would be serving in. Literally, I was tortured by these doubts. I could not sleep normally. The nights were long and restless. I felt very uncomfortable refusing a possible missionary assignment to Africa, but I could not go against God and my own conscience. People within the organization were very understanding. 

For the first time in those three months I could breathe freely again. On the day before my birthday a missionary, with whom I had met while in Ukraine, called me. While he was in the U.S. he had met my parents who told him about my desire to serve in Ukraine for a long period of time. This missionary gave me the contacts of Mike Ray, who wanted to invite me to come to the small Ukrainian town of Poltava to serve students and youth. The next day, my birthday, I called Mike and ended up talking to him for an hour. After I hung up the phone, I was totally sure that these plans were form God. This was a gift that God gave me for my birthday!

It says that all foreigners during their first week of being in a new country experience a culture shock. What condition did you have? How did it show itself?

I remember that I was shocked by the Ukrainians’ attitude towards time. They are always late, changing plans at the last minute. Once, I was preparing an english lesson for fifth-year students, and then was suddenly sent to the first- year students. Then the Ukrainian winter...the first time I felt terribly cold. Where I live back in the states, you can walk in a T-shirt during winter, that cannot be said about the Ukrainian winter, which was incredibly cold and snowy. I was anticipating spring as never before! It was also difficult to figure out your transportation system. I was learning minibuses numbers and their directions for a long time. I did not know how to ask the driver to stop. I could not answer the questions that people were asking me in transport. It was terrible! It’s scary to remember.

What is the biggest difference between Ukraine and the U.S. that you have noticed?

I was pleasantly surprised with Ukrainian friendship. It’s easy to make friends with someone. And if you have friends then at any time, day or night, you can rely on their help and support.

Were the first steps of your ministry in Ukraine easy or hard?

I didn’t organize my ministry from scratch. Mike and Linda Ray had already built relationships with universities and had gained permission to teach in schools. I had a hard time when I wanted to see fast results of my own work: repentance, conversion, awakened interest of young people to God. But I still believe that the work that the Lord performed through me was not in vain and will surely bear fruit.

Erin, are people in Ukraine more open to God than in the U.S.? If yes, then why?

In this, our peoples are very similar. Each country thinks that they are Christians. The difference is that you have a more orthodox bias and we have a protestant. In yours, and in our country are very few true believers. Most of them just call themselves Christians, but they are not. Ukrainian students are very similar to American students. They have common interests, a lot of prejudice about religion, asking similar questions, such as: Why did Jesus have to die? Why do Christians say one thing but act differently?

Are you satisfied with the work the Lord has done through you, or do you have regrets about some things?

I am grateful to God for all that He has done through me. Of course, I always notice those moments where I could have done something better and did not. Even if I missed a lot of opportunities for more effective ministry, I know that God will do work in the hearts of people until the end. I pray that God in His perfection filled all of my shortcomings. I could say for sure that I have done everything that I could.

If God gave you the opportunity again, what would you do differently? How would you develop your ministry here?

First, from the very beginning I would start to study the Russian language. Second, I would organize a discussion group for the unbeliever girls, which may be developed into a Bible study.

Erin, you already mentioned about friends. How many friends do you have among the Ukrainians?

I have found a lot of new and good friends among the believers and unbelievers. Many of them encouraged me in faith, and encouraged me to testify about Jesus constantly. I’ll miss them.

You spent a lot of time with the youth of Salvation church. What is your opinion of the younger generation of our church?

For me, it’s a great honor to be involved in the lives of the young people at Salvation church. Your young people are very active ministers. In the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians there is the description of the cooperation of all members of the human body. I observed the same cooperation among the youth of Salvation Church. The youth take part in every area of church ministry: children’s ministry, sports ministry, small groups, worship, helping. I am very grateful to the youth for their help with the U.S. teams. You are a great support and encouragement for me.

You just described the “ideal youth”. Have you noticed any disadvantages?

Yes. It was sometimes very hard to understand their conversations in Russian! I did not always understand Ukrainian humor. It’s strange when everyone else is laughing and you’re not.

We, as young people, would like to hear your good-bye wishes to us.

Ok. I pray that God will create through the young people at Salvation church new families. I pray that boys and girls will become men and women of God’s heart (Titus 2:4-8). I pray that new families become good leaders and good examples for young people.

Last question: Do you want to come back to Ukraine again?

Yes, of course! Very Much! I just need to find some finances. My church and the university where I studied want to send teams for serving Poltava’s students and kids. So we will not leave you alone!

Thank you very much for your time and interesting answers!

You’re welcome! I will miss all of you a lot!

Tatiana Varyanitsa

 

 

Saturday’s farewell to Erin Brassart included an unforgettable good-bye party. All who knew Erin came to bless her trip home, to love her, and to cheer her up with fun contests and assignments. For Erin, the good-bye party brought not only pleasant surprises, but difficult tests. She demonstrated her knowledge of the Russian language that she has learned over her two years in Ukraine. By the way, with this assignment, she managed quite well. At the end of the party we had a beautifully decorated cake with the shape of an American flag and the Ukrainian heart. Beautiful songs, best wishes, tears of living--everything that’s left now is in our memories. We will keep these in our hearts and souls on the way to eternity. 
  Pictures from this event you can see  Here