Estonia

Report about Estonia and the rest of the Baltic World, 2007 [italics added]:

Once one little Russian boy was asked that if he could tell something to God, what it would be.  And he said:  “Dear God, take me back!  Life here is so boring!”

I feel that I definitely can’t be this boy!  First, I am much bigger than a little boy.  You probably know very well how little boys defend themselves – “It is not my fault!”  I can say the same.  The secret lies somewhere in the kitchen . . . 

As a representative of Estonia I can say that our life in our small republic has not been boring at all.  Estonia is small (1.4 million), and people there are shy and reserved, but this little republic jumps on the news, anyway.

[Heldur’s report included several pictures.  At this point he described some recent events and the political situation in Tallinn.]

Now, our students.  At present time we have 24 students from Estonia and Latvia, among them nine MAs.  Life has not been boring for them, either.  I don’t know what class was taught here that quite a number of students [have been] getting married.  You heard about them from Czech, Poland, and now comes Latvia.  Our MA student Elijs found finally a nice Latvian lady and they are getting married, Lord willing, on the very day Estonian group returns from Haus Edelweiss, on August 18.  And Zigmars’ wife is expecting her first baby.

[There are 84 evangelical and Baptist churches, with over 6,000 members.  Every summer the churches hold a baptism service.  TCM students are pastors, chaplains in the army, and church planters.]

Life is not boring for our alumni as well.  [ There are 12 alumni from TCM – ten pastors, two church planters, and one Sunday school teacher.  Pictures and information about ] Argo Buinevich, Meego Remmel, and Leho Paldre.

What am I doing?  [In addition to being] a Pastor in our Oleviste Church [1,500 members], I am also the Board-member and a member of the Mission Board of our Union of Evangelical Christian and Baptist Churches of Estonia.  I am also a substitute pastor for a smaller Free Church in Koeru, coordinating the church-planting project, both for Estonian and Russian Churches.  And my wife coordinates me (at least she tries to do that!), and she has been in this tough business already more than 27 years.

Life is not boring at Haus Edelweiss.  [Series of pictures.]  It has never been boring in the kitchen here.  And it has never been boring in the classes, either.  Here you can see Ken Helm working and all the students learning.  Also, the people here have not been boring at all.  So what else can I say?  As you see, even Sunday service is not boring here at Haus Edelweiss!

One little boy was playing soccer with his brother and the brother hit too hard and broke the window.  He pledged his younger brother not to tell about that to anybody.  The younger one said, “No, I am going to tell it!”

Older:   “What do you want?  Take my watch!”

Younger:  “No, I don’t want to!”

Older:  “OK, take my bicycle.”

Younger:  “No, I don’t want to!”

Older:  “OK, what do you want?!”
Younger:  “I just want nothing but to tell about it!”

I just want to tell!  We just need to want the same – to tell about Christ and what He has done in our lives.  Give the good news away to someone!

I don’t think we would have been effective and capable enough to reach others without your loving support.  Thank you!  Really – the life is never boring here at TCM, and life is never boring with Jesus!

The service, the love, the sincerity, the laughter.  And also tears.  I remember very well as just some two weeks ago one American lady asked with tears in her eyes, why did you Eastern-Europeans not expect Americans to serve you?  It was quite an unexpected question for me.  But you see, we lived many years in a lie, and we knew we lived in a lie.  How can people who live in a lie think about themselves in a good and proper manner?  So it was somewhere in us that we do not deserve [to have] Americans serve us.  But you know – you serve not us, but you serve the Lord!

A little boy broke the window:  “I just want to tell!”  TELLING – THAT’S WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT!  Telling about Christ’s love, forgiveness and care.  Without you we would not been as effective . . . but now we are!  Thank you.