After all, we got the remodeling to the point that we celebrated Easter worship in our new location.  Our bookkeeper Riitta grabbed hold energetically and, working a long day (until two on Saturday morning), sewed all the curtains for our sanctuary.  She wanted all to be in tip-top shape when the members came to church. On Easter Saturday many members came to put up the curtains, cleaning, arranging our new place, preparing it for Easter morning worship. An electrician completed connections so that we were able to celebrate Easter together with church coffee and tea. As we had arranged, Eeva and I went to Kemi to conduct worship on Saturday. In the evening we returned (125 kilometers) to prepare our own parts for Easter morning. We received the benches on Thursday evening and they brought the altar on Saturday.  These had been constructed in the prison woodworking shop.

This is of very great significance to our congregation. All previous places have also included other renters. This is rented only to us so that we will no longer need to transport everything with us. (All cups, utensils, coffeepots, teapots, electric pot warmers, etc.) Later we will have a celebration during which we will bless our new place as a church. When and if this place becomes our own, we will dedicate it.  

Someone may think that it does not give the impression of a church, as it is in an apartment building, but in the world there are many such solutions. The gathering place for a congregation must relate to the upkeep abilities of the congregation. Otherwise, it can become a stone around the neck of the congregation and also to supporting congregations.

 CHILDREN’S HURTING HEARTS!

Each summer brings something special.  In July we held a children’s retreat in Kemi and Segeza.  We never know in advance how many children will come and what age they will be.  At the same time, there were village days and the local folks said they would be there.  Nevertheless, we prepared and waited, and to our amazement, in addition to last year’s children, new ones came.

One parent is missing in many families or then both parents drink.  Children do not experience love and they grow up on the street.  At first the children are wary of one another when they come to vacation bible school; they are ashamed to sing and pray.  When they experience receiving love and assistance from adults other than yelling and angry commands, a desire to return is born in them.  They come to you and tell things from their lives, some made up because they are ashamed to tell how it really is.

At Segeza it was somewhat the same.  The theme at the retreat was the ”Our Father who art in heaven” prayer.  We had seven bible studies, one for each petition of the prayer.  Our goal was that in praying the Our Father prayer, the children would also understand its content.

At the children’s bible school, we were amazed to observe how God works in children’s hearts.  Have you ever heard a three-year-old girl pray for work for her father and also health so that he would be able to care for his family?  Or the prayer request of an eight-year-old boy that the little girl would not worry, for God helps?  Do we need more evidence?

For the first time in my life I saw a child brining his parent to church.  There was a boy who had moved recently from another village.  We invited his mother to come and observe the bible school program and she participated with interest in all the bible studies.  The next day the boy brought along his three-year-old sister.  Perhaps this is the way God brought this family into a relationship with Him.

In spending time with these children, one begins to feel sad that you are unable to be a part of their life.  Following the retreat, they must return into their barren, rugged life from which they escaped for a few days.

Nevertheless, it is a joy to see how the Holy Spirit touches children’s hearts and creates change which is hard to believe without personally having seen it.

(Words and picture by Pastor Alexei Krongolm, Karelian children’s and youth work coordinator in the Ingrian Church.  The picture is taken in front of the little Kemi church on the White Sea in far Northern Karelia.  The church is a friendship congregation of Peace, Poplar, Wisconsin, and Zion, Skanee, Michigan.  This article appeared in the Inkerin Kirkko magazine; the translation from Russian to Finnish is by Miina Virtanen and from Finnish to English by Antti Lepisto.)