Boni Schanil

 Report from Boni Schanil

What a great joy and privilege it was to visit Tartu Academy of Theology and personally witness the vision and faith of the founders, students and staff!  

Our group was graciously met upon arrival and treated most kindly in every way during the duration of our trip. We were treated to wonderful hospitality in homes and personally transported by people who had busy 
work schedules and family lives to care for, as well, and the hostel where we stayed fully met all of our needs. Eenok, Eha, Siimon, Evelin, Tiiu, Piia and other staff and students are so giving and gracious-living their great faith in Jesus Christ and reflecting it in their actions toward others-not only to us but to their fellow Estonians.

It was fun connecting with participants at the English Language Camp around the Word of God-using stories of King David to bring hope in Jesus Christ - where together our class prayed for God to take away the "giants" (shyness, anxiety, sadness, etc.) in our lives and to help us grow in faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. After only five days of working with students, we were surprised at the marked improvement in English-speaking ability, and for the English speakers, an improvement in speaking a few Estonian words!

We felt as though we were standing on Holy Ground when we had the rare opportunity to travel to Southern Estonia with Rev. Eenok Haamer, as he returned (after ten years) to the place where he hid out in exile from the Stalinists, while his father, Rev. Harry Haamer was exiled to Siberia. I am so thankful to God for the opportunity to relive history as Eenok stood on this ground and told his story, while his son, Rev. Siimon Haamer translated into English from Estonian. Seeing how Eenok went into exile at such a young age and that he had the Word of God and songs to draw on, has taught me the importance for each of us to instill the Word of God in our children's and grandchildren's hearts and minds-and our own too.

Another great impression was laid on my heart in two ways. First, Siimon took us on a walking tour to see a vacant building that sits in the heart of the university district, which is a perfect location for TAT. TAT currently leases space and has need for expansion to such a building and so I pray that the Holy Spirit will stir people from all around the world, to provide the financial support needed to purchase this building and for all the details for the building to be returned to TAT (they had it at one time and for legal reasons it was taken away). The need is $3 million U.S.D. to totally renovate and expand the building for current and future needs. When God calls, God will provide! Second, was a vision shared by Eenok that revival is coming to Estonia. As TAT trains Christian leaders in the only ecumenical Christian college (B.S. and M.S. degrees) in Estonia, this coming revival places an urgent call to each of us to catch the vision for a faithful response that this facility will come into fruition as soon as possible. 

Thank you TAT. It's my hope to return to Estonia next year and once again see my dear Estonian friends and to make new friends in Christ Jesus!


Boni Schanil