PENNY: (comes in and puts her bag down) Doh-brin-den!

MR. CHRISTOPHER: (peers at her over his glasses and paper he’s reading) What?

PENNY: Doh-brin-den. It’s how they say hello in Ukraine.

SURFER BOB: Well, howdy, Penacita! I jess overheard you talkin’ about yew-kraine. Say, isn’t that over there in communist Russia surrounded by barbed wire and big guys with guns? I didn’t know you could talk Russian!

PENNY: Well, you’re right about one thing, Bob-o. Ukraine is located near Russia. But as for the rest, I think you’re a few years behind! See, we’re studying Ukraine in my geography class at school, and I’ve learned some fascinating things. And by the way, Bob, they DON’T speak Russian. They speak Ukrainian. It’s a totally separate language.

SURFER BOB: So you’re not going to send me to darkest regions of Kiev to be a spy against the communist party and dodge bullets? Because I’m raring for some adventure! Why, I’ve even got this super-snazzy X-ray gun I can use to … AH! Here it is. (holds up a plastic banana) My favorite secret weapon! It shoots spitballs. Now where is my favorite purple bulletproof vest …

PENNY: Bob, I hate to burst your bubble, but Ukraine is not a communist country. You won’t be needing any spitball guns or bulletproof vests.

SURFER BOB: It’s NOT?

MR. CHRISTOPHER: That’s right, Bob. If you’d watched the news in the last DECADE, you’d know that what we call ‘Russia’ used to be known as the USSR.

SURFER BOB: USSR … isn’t that some kind of ship like the USS Minnow? You know, Gilligan’s Island?

MR. CHRISTOPHER: No, Bob – it’s NOT a ship. Fortunately, I like to know what’s going on in the world and don’t spend my free time watching sitcoms, like some people. The USSR stands for Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. And for a long time, Russia had control over a huge part of Eastern Europe. These territories had to speak Russian and adopt Russian customs – even religion – and eventually fork over vast amounts of food and money – often leaving their own people starving. It was a dark time for Eastern Europe with lots of people killed and all kinds of political violence and war.

PENNY: Sounds terrible.

MR. CHRISTOPHER: Oh, it was, Penny. But that’s not the end of the story. In 1991, the USSR collapsed. And Ukraine, along with many other territories, declared their independence and became free nations.

PENNY: And just like today, Ukrainians are free to speak their own language and follow Ukrainian customs and traditions.

SURFER BOB: Well … maybe a few things have changed since I watched the news regularly. But I do keep up with fashion, that’s for sure! It’s tough being the hippest guy around but somebody’s gotta do it!

MR. CHRISTOPHER: PLEEEASE!

SURFER BOB: Why, Mr. Christopher, anytime you wanna get some mongo fashion advice from li’l ol’ me, the flyest dude in the whole cyber-surf kingdom, I’ll be glad to help ya out. See, Pennarino? I went easy on him.

PENNY: Uh … thanks, Bob. Hey, Mr. C, why don’t we take a look at the location of Ukraine so our Kids on Mission can see where it is?

MR. CHRISTOPHER: Good idea, Penny!

check out Geographic Locator here

PENNY: Wow, Mr. C! Ukraine sure is surrounded by a LOT of different countries!

MR. CHRISTOPHER: You’re right. And because of Ukraine’s great soil and climate for growing crops, it’s often known as the breadbasket country. It produces a huge amount of Europe’s grain and other vegetables. That made Ukraine extremely valuable to the USSR.

PENNY: Ukraine sure has been through a lot of major changes, huh Mr. C? I wonder how God is using those changes to teach Ukrainians about Himself. You know, Psalm 46:10 says, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

MR. CHRISTOPHER: Exactly. And in Revelation, the Bible promises that there will be people from every nation, people, tribe and tongue – and that includes Ukrainians!

PENNY: Hey, BOB-O … Can you dig us up something about Southern Baptist mission work in Ukraine?

SURFER BOB: Well, while you all were standing here jawing, I decided to go ahead surf on down there and see what was cooking.

PENNY: You mean you have a story already?

SURFER BOB: No, no! I said what was cooking. I brought back some Ukrainian cabbage rolls and beet soup! Mighty tasty! Especially when I dab a little salsa on ‘em …

MR. CHRISTOPHER: Salsa? I should have known you’d be thinking about your stomach. Can you bring us back a story?

SURFER BOB: I reckon … as soon as I finish this borsch!

MR. CHRISTOPHER: This what?

PENNY: Don’t ask, Mr. C. You never know what Bob-o can find when he’s out surfing. One time he ate a peanut butter and sauerkraut sandwich after passing through Germany. Wow! What do you know? He’s back already with a story!

MR. CHRISTOPHER: I guess that borsch and salsa must’ve done the trick. Let’s see what he got!

to watch the Features, click here

MR. CHRISTOPHER: Incredible. You know, it never ceases to amaze me the way God is working all over the entire world. And do you know what’s extra special, Penny?

PENNY: What’s that?

MR. CHRISTOPHER: The fact that God lets us be a part of His plan to tell the nations about Him! I mean, the Bible says if we keep quiet the very rocks will cry out in God’s praise! But He lets US be the ones to tell the world about what a great God He is – and how people from every nation can know Him!

PENNY: Wow! It is pretty amazing. And it’s also sad that not everyone is willing to take a part in God’s great command to ‘go into all the world’ and preach the gospel.

MR. CHRISTOPHER: It is sad, Penny. Especially when there are so many ways to be involved. We can pray for missionaries and countries around the world, we can give money to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® and Cooperative Program to help fund missionaries and mission projects, and we can give any amount of time God chooses for us to serve overseas – telling people about Him!

PENNY: After all, if God loves the nations, shouldn’t WE?

MR. CHRISTOPHER: That's right, Kids on Mission. Ask God what part you can have in helping the nations to know that God loves Him – the greatest news of all time.

PENNY: That’s right! And tell us how God is giving you a part right now by writing us at Kids On Mission, International Mission Board, P.O. Box 6767, Richmond, VA 23230!

SURFER BOB: Hey, Mr. Christopher! I mailed you something back from YEW-KRAYNE. It should be getting here any time.

MR. CHRISTOPHER: Uh, oh … I always worry when he says that.

SURFER BOB: I got you one of these rad hats like me since you seem to need a little help with your fashion statement, Mr. Christopher! Aren’t they swell??! That out to do the trick – right, Penarita? And we’ll work on the rest later. That might take some work.

MR.CHRISTOPHER: Well, I’ve got something for you, Bob. It’s the Ukrainian word, ‘DOH-poh-BAH-chen-yah.

SURFER BOB: What does that mean, Christopher?

MR. CHRISTOPHER: It means goodbye, Bob!