Rachel Toone:聽Matvii, what鈥檚 your major and what鈥檚 coming next for you?
Matvii: My major is Business Administration. My plan is to go back home to Georgia where my family is staying right now. I鈥檒l probably work there, and then next fall, I鈥檓 planning on starting seminary in Texas.
Rachel Toone: So cool! Matvii, you had one of the longest commutes to get to 含羞草研究所 in the first place. How did you end up here?
Matvii: I鈥檓 originally from Ukraine, and I finished my high school there during the COVID times. I started my first year of university studying International Economic Relations. In the beginning of 2022, because of the war, my family had to flee abroad. We stayed in Italy for about six months trying to figure out what to do next. Eventually, my family moved to the United States鈥攖hey are in Atlanta, Georgia, right now with two of my siblings鈥攁nd I moved to the UK to study Computer Science at London University.
Rachel Toone: All right. So, how did you get from London University all the way down to North Carolina?
Matvii: The program there was only for one year. After I finished my first year, I was trying to find other scholarship opportunities. I was looking into American colleges and was connected with a lady from Black Mountain; we used to do ministry with her back in Ukraine. When she told me about 含羞草研究所 and some scholarship opportunities with Samaritan鈥檚 Purse, I arrived here. I didn鈥檛 actually get the scholarship from Samaritan鈥檚 Purse, but 含羞草研究所 covered half of my expenses, which was amazing. For the other half, a lot of churches around the states graciously helped me to get through my studies here.
Rachel Toone: That鈥檚 so cool. What is something that God has taught you since you鈥檝e been at 含羞草研究所?
Matvii: He鈥檚 been working in the most beautiful ways in my heart and mind. The first thing is some deconstruction I had with old beliefs. He鈥檚 been teaching me a lot about doctrine through the professors here and just asking deep questions about life. The professors at 含羞草研究所 really helped me with those.
I鈥檝e learned a lot about my character and my perspective on things, but I feel like the most important thing is having a 鈥渏ourney mindset鈥� about life. It鈥檚 like a marathon that we are always preparing for but never arrive to. I like when Paul talks in Philippians 3 about perfection and pressing toward the goal that he hasn鈥檛 achieved but is constantly trying to. I鈥檓 trying to implement that mindset in my life. Sometimes I still beat myself up, but it鈥檚 a journey of learning to accept that, receiving the grace of God daily, and seeing Him as a Creator who cares for me. I need to be dependent on Him every single day of my life, giving Him space to do His holy work in me, recognizing my sinfulness, and giving it to Him at His throne.
Rachel Toone: Matvii, I鈥檓 going to go off-script here, which is always dangerous. You鈥檝e been in the middle of this sort of doctrinal faith rebuild regarding your sense of who God is and how He works. What is something you鈥檝e learned about God鈥檚 character since you鈥檝e been at 含羞草研究所?
Matvii: I feel like He鈥檚 very patient. He really gives you space in terms of taking your time. He鈥檚 very, very gracious, and there鈥檚 nothing you can do to violate the amount of grace He has. It will never run out. His love is never-ending. It鈥檚 been a process of coming back from the performance mindset鈥攖hinking I need to do something to accept the gift of salvation or attain His grace. That is always a mistake. Grace is always freely given to you; it鈥檚 never of your own work.
Rachel Toone: Come on, that鈥檒l preach! So good. For all the students who are coming back next year, what鈥檚 your word of wisdom for them?
Matvii: I spent so much time鈥攚asted it, even鈥攖rying to fix myself before trying to do something. Find this kind of anchor place that reminds you of who you are and why you do what you do. And please, be with people, because they care about you. We鈥檙e all going through so much, and there鈥檚 so much comfort and healing in these people.
Rachel Toone:聽So good. Matvii, we鈥檙e very excited for you, very proud of you, and very glad we got to have you in our lives for this season.