Travel Teaching in Ukraine by David Springer
Submitted 11-15-22
I was in the Ukraine May 19th – 28th, 2006. The first three days of the trip were set aside for travel teaching and the balance was for business – organic soybean consulting. The beauty of Kiev and the vast farmlands in Ukraine were stunning. But it was the Baha’i friends that I was blessed to meet in Ukraine that have touched me most deeply.
Of course, I contacted the National Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Ukraine before leaving. My offer of service was referred to the National Pioneering and Travel Teaching Committee. They suggested that I contact Mrs. Alina Shlyakhova, an active and steadfast travel teacher, who could assist with translation, making arrangements, etc. I contacted Mrs. Shlyakhova via telephone before I arrived. It was impossible finalize any plans over the phone at that time, other than that I would contact her when I arrived in Kiev.
I arrived in Kiev on the evening of May 19th, and she arrived at my hotel late the next morning. Praise be to God, she had the trip completely planned. We spent the day arranging train tickets and sightseeing in Kiev. That evening we boarded a train bound for Lysychans’k located in the far eastern region of the Ukraine.
Our train ride that night was unforgettable. We enjoyed the evening visiting with some students from Harkov schools and university. We always took the most economical train seats so we had four people in our compartment and two in the aisle outside our compartment. As it turned out, students came over from the next compartment and our little area was overflowing with interested friends. The conversations went on well past midnight.
We arrived at our destination about noon the next day and we were greeted by two Bahá’ís, Cialina Pvatova and Svetlana Chursina, who accompanied us to the home of Anna and Viktor Stepasko. That afternoon was truly heavenly delight. Friends from two Assemblies were represented and two seekers were present. We had a fireside and enjoyed delicious borsch. Our meeting was brief but my heart was wedded to those friends and that place. It was a rural village with gravel streets, simple houses, and friends radiating a quiet calm love. By early evening, it was time to rush back to the train station. This time we were traveling back toward Kiev to Poltava.
We arrived very early the next morning and found our way to the home of Julia and her 12 year old son (I am sorry but I cannot read my handwriting so I cannot spell their last name for you). As soon as we were settled, Julia went off to make arrangements for our visit to the University while we rested. Within about 45 minutes I was awakened with the summons that we had to go to the University right away. We ended up speaking to an English class and an English Club and spent the rest of the day at the university. There were around 25-30 students in the English class and they asked some very good questions. There were probably around 15 students in the English Club class. After finishing at the university, we rushed back to start dinner as friends from Poltava were coming for dinner and a fireside. Again, it was a touching, soul stirring, and joyful meeting and we stayed until the very last minute before again rushing to the train station. One of the seekers came with us to the station as he and Alina were having a delightful conversation. Alina and I parted company that evening as she returned to her home and I returned to Kiev. I can still feel the joy that exuded from those friends.
What a contrast to visit a quiet rural village in the far eastern part of the country one day and then a “college town” in the central part of the county the next. In my mind I can still see the group of ladies in Lysychans’k sitting outside preparing the borsch. And I can still feel their warmth and their confidence as they chatted and cooked. And I still can feel the youthful energy and excitement of the friends in Poltava. I cherish those memories.
Alina also was from the eastern part of Ukraine. She left her family and traveled all night to meet me in Kiev. Then she took two night trains accompanying me and took another night train back home! Four night trains in a row! It was a bounty for me to accompany such a tireless teacher of the Cause. I am shamed by the trouble she went through to make the trip possible! I contributed so little and her efforts in helping me, her patience, her translating all of the time–explaining everything, etc.–were unending. She seemed to embody the very spirit of teaching and building community. It was my precious benefit to experience this love for the Cause and now my responsibility to likewise serve in this plan.
Ukraine is torn by war. Lysychans’k has been in the middle of the fighting. I don’t know what happened to any of the friends. I pray for their safety.
By the way, after I arrived back in Kiev, I wandered all over Kiev all day and got completely lost! No problem because I would not meet my business colleagues until the next morning. When I finally arrived back at the hotel, my colleagues were waiting for me. Plans changed and we needed to rush to catch another night train, heading toward the Black Sea!