This year Nancy & I celebrated Ukrainian’s Independence Day in Ukraine (August 24th). It is something American’s know little about. Yet our country has spent millions helping Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s attacks. What is going on here and should we care?
My son Caleb and I first visited Ukraine in 1994. My grandparents immigrated from Ukraine in 1902. Russia was still under the Czar. My grandmother, had ten chidden, was a hard working woman who could cook, made rugs out of rags, and handle a long-handled hoe. Most of all she was a godly woman who read her German bible. She often visited us on the farm they homesteaded near Warden, WA. She didn’t want to go back. “America is my home now” she said. She was right; life under the Czars and the Soviets was not good.
Things began to change in Ukraine. In 1991 it officially declared itself an independent state from Russia on August 24th. Change was coming. Then in 1994 my son Caleb and I were invited to help build a seminary in Odesa. Things were opening up. Other churches in America were helping. Christians who had been imprisoned for their faith were now free. They needed education so seminaries were essential. As we worked that summer in the hot sun I sensed the Lord was calling me to somehow help in the years ahead. Therefore, we have been doing that for nearly 27 years. Soon two of our children and their families, the Sukos and Gustafsons, became missionaries there. Each time we returned we saw improvements in the culture, infrastructure, and number of churches springing up without fear of persecution. God was at work!
How is the spirit of the country today? That first step of independence is still happening today even while at war with Russia. Last month we were in Kiev during their independence day celebration on August 24th. A focal point in Kiev was a massive Motherland statue which sits on a high hill in the city. The statue is similar to our Statue of Liberty.
The statue was built in 1981 to remind Ukraine about their socialistic Soviet background. A hammer and cycle emblem was on the massive shield held by the image a woman. That emblem pictured Communism as a governing system in which no one owns land or factories. Instead everyone in the community shares…or is “supposed to share their wealth.” That all failed in the revolution of 1989. But, the statue continued to stand with the old hammer and cycle emblem on the shield as you see in the image below.
However, on Independence Day (Aug. 24th, 2023) Ukraine removed the old communistic emblem from the 43 foot high shield. Note below the workers hanging in a basked as they worked. That was a brave step for a country still at war with Russia. That day workers quickly placed a massive Trident symbol on the shield. It is now the Ukrainian coat of arms. There are still a few small statues from the Soviet period in the cities. But they are mostly gone and will likely be completely removed soon. Russian has been the main trade language but now the Ukrainian language is being used much more recently. I am told it is easier to learn too.
What does the Trident mean? The Trident symbol is about a thousand years old. It has been found on ancient stones or bricks in that period. Some say it pictures a large bird diving into a field to catch something. There are plenty of fields there where such a thing could happen. It may be a symbol of power used by various rulers of the area to represent the unity of the Slavic peoples in the region. Others say the three prongs represent the Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy spirit.
That day all over the Ukraine images of the Trident were in stores, on clothing and decorations and everywhere you looked. I even bought a small silver one for my Nancy that she now wears.
The picture below shows part of the city of Kiev in the background.
That independence day we expected to be bombed for sure. Perhaps the workers on the statue were quick to get the job done. However, we thank the Lord there were no attacks that day.
Many ask who is winning this war. This week Russia attacked in Odesa a massive hotel on the waterfront in Odesa. We have seen it many times. Caleb said the attack was the loudest they have heard keeping them up most of the night. Later Russians declared they had killed thousands of people when hitting the headquarters of Ukraine military leaders. However, in reality the old hotel had been abandon for years and was scheduled to be destroyed by the new owner and something new built there. It seems God directed the enemy to help Ukraine remove that deserted old building. We would guess that cost Russia lots of money for missile that hit nothing of any value.
Thanks for reading. We are on our way back to the US from Moldova. :-) Mark & Nancy and some of our kids.
Special Notice: Last Sunday evening (9/24) we did a one hour power point presentation that we narrated of our six weeks in Ukraine this summer. Soon the media desk will have it available on line. I am also available to do it for small groups so just let me know.
Monthly MEN’S DISCIPLESHIP BREAKFAST Saturday Oct. 7th 7:45-9:30 . We’ll enjoy breakfast and some pics on Ukraine from the front lines (about 4 minutes worth). Then look at Acts 6, a short chapter with a lot of punch. Then think about how that applies to our church and home and world. See you then. -Pastor Mark
Pray for…
Pray for Ukraine in the days ahead since the war is not over yet.
Pray for the churches and the pastors we met that are working hard to help people.
Pray for the soldiers we visited in the hospital.
Pray for the soldiers on the front lines whom we met. They are working hard for their country..