Lisenko, Olga

Description

Tell about your childhood, school, family, etc.

I was the third child in the family. Time of WW II. Poorest people and criminals were gathered in the town I was born. Food was delivered only by food vouchers. Terrible. First my father was taken to the front line. Since he was an expert in farming, he was put in  a special department to be responsible for turning farming fields into military airports. After the war we came to Ukraine, to a village in Dnepropetrovsk region. My father was a Ukrainian so he brought me into Ukrainian school. Only in the 3^rd grade I was able to understand Ukrainian and became a better student. I was very different from other students. My hair was red and curly. I was nicely dressed because my mother would make dresses for me. So I was often bulled by my class-mates.

Where did you work? Was your work good? Were you happy with your job?

When my father became a leading engineer of Kakhovka Hydro- electro- station our family had to move to Cherkassy where I finished school and first worked as a typist in that very school. Then I graduated from the pedagogical university. Then I went back to the same school as a teacher of elementary school. I work very diligently and received many rewards. But I hid the fact of my disability.

Tell about your present life.

My first marriage was not good. I had only one kidney so the doctors did not let me have kids. Later I divorced my husband. Year later after I moved to Kyiv I married a man who was much older than me. He was a prominent Ukrainian linguist. We had lived for 18 years before he died. Then I found a job as a hotel administrator (totally I had worked for 33 years). I met my third husband when I was 49. He was a military. He was an attractive person – both inside and outside. After 10 years of our marriage he died – he had had very strong emotional bond. It was the man with whom I found true love. I cry when I recall those memories. Sorry.

Have you accepted Christ? How long have you been following the Lord?

When I lived in the village I had a friend – an orphan girl whose grandmother was a believer. It is from that family I learnt about the good power, about God. So all my life long I have had that faith in the God of the Trinity. I have had 18 surgeries and before each of them I prayed. I would always ask God to give me strength and patience to overcome all my hardships. And now before going to bed I always say, “I give my spirit into Your hands, my Lord, Jesus Christ, bless me, have mercy and give me Your eternal life”.

Tell about one thing your sponsor needs to know about you.

In Soviet school we were taught that America was our enemy. But now everything is on  the contrary: it is Russia that attacked Ukraine destroying our people and land. We value and remember that it is America, our wonderful friends who help and support us. I have been in St. Paul Church for about 10 years. I used to be a part of our church choir. I love singing prayers and hymns. I love classic music and poetry. Maria Fuchka (#156) takes care of me (I have problems with walking) – she is a wonderful person, I am thankful to her for everything. I wish our sponsors success in their business, good health and happiness. I am very thankful to my sponsor for taking care of me. I appreciate it and will never forget it.