When war forced Zhanna and Victor to leave their home in Ukraine, they carried with them little more than their children and their faith. Like many families fleeing conflict, they did not know where they would land or how long the journey would last.

What Zhanna did know was that she wanted her children to continue growing up with Adventist education.

In Ukraine, Adventist schools are well established, and the Chuprun family had hoped their three children would be educated in a faith-centered environment. But war closed doors they never imagined would close. As refugees, their future felt uncertain, and choices were limited.

When the family arrived in Poland, they were given temporary refuge on a church campus that included a young Adventist school—KOMPAS. For Zhanna, discovering that an Adventist preschool and primary school existed there felt like an answer to prayer.

But another obstacle stood in the way: money.

Like many refugee families, the Chupruns had no financial margin. Tuition at a private school was beyond their reach. Still, Zhanna prayed. She longed for at least one of her children to attend the school.

The youngest child was accepted into the preschool at a significantly reduced fee. Zhanna was grateful, but her heart remained heavy for her older children, who had to attend public schools instead.

Determined to contribute however she could, Zhanna began working on campus, cleaning buildings. Victor helped with maintenance and construction projects. They worked faithfully, quietly, and gratefully, never assuming more would be possible.

But Zhanna continued to pray.

Her greatest hope was for her daughter, Sofia, to attend the Adventist school. When school leaders learned of the family’s situation, they searched for a solution. A request was submitted to ASI (Adventist-Laymen’s Services & Industries) explaining that refugee children longed for Adventist education but could not afford the cost.

The answer came back with unexpected generosity.

Funding was provided to help Sofia attend the school for an entire year. With the additional support, her tuition was reduced to a level the family could manage. “It was Zhanna’s dream,” one teacher said, “to have her child here.”

Sofia joined the school and flourished.

Two or three years later, with continued support, the family’s oldest son also enrolled. The Chupruns now had all three children learning in an environment shaped by faith, kindness, and purpose.

For Sofia, school quickly became more than lessons and homework. It became belonging.

One year, students were invited to participate in swimming classes—an optional activity that required an extra fee. Sofia wanted to join, but her family could not afford it. When a teacher learned of the situation, she quietly stepped in and paid for Sofia to attend the classes for the entire year.

No announcement was made. No recognition was sought. It was simply an act of compassion—one of many that define the spirit of the school.

For families like the Chupruns, Adventist education is not a luxury. It is stability in a season of upheaval. It is spiritual grounding when everything else feels uncertain. It is a reminder that even in displacement, they are not forgotten.

The Chuprun children—Nahum, Sofia, and Natan—are now growing, learning, and serving alongside classmates from Poland and beyond. They study Scripture, learn outdoors, serve their community, and experience faith not only as belief, but as lived practice.

Their story is one among many.

For Zhanna, the answer to her prayers did not come all at once. It came step by step—through a school, a community, generous hearts, and a God who listens. And for her children, it came in the form of a place to belong.

KOMPAS is much more than just a school. It is a place where children feel safe to learn and grow in a supportive environment, where they are encouraged to grow closer to God and to each other. Thank you for supporting mission by giving generously to the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering.