Vernigora Nina

Description

Tell about your childhood, school, family, etc.

In 1932 my family was sent out from Ukraine to Russia. I remember there was an elementary school in our small village. I was a good student, but once received a “D” for a semester – it was the only bad grade I had in school.

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

After having graduated from the University I worked at the scientific institute. I was in charge of the library, archive and the lab. It was an interesting job. I enjoyed working with people there – our staff was very friendly, it was much fun to work there. Even now when we see each other we feel like a family.

Tell about your present life.

I am actually a very energetic person. I am 85 now. Two years ago something broke within me. I started losing vision. Last year I had an eye surgery but it did not help – I can hardly see while I am writing now. Perhaps I am very nervous because of my son who has cancerous tumors of lungs and kidneys. He lives from one chemo therapy to the next. And results are not good, but everything is in the Lord’s hands.

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

I know the Creed by heart. In 2002 I read the whole Bible three times. First I read it as a piece of literature. Then I was learning some psalms by heart and memorized other passages and the third time it was very deep and attentive reading. It is God alone and help of our church that keep me alive during the last 20-25 years.

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

I will tell you about my childhood. Though I was born in Russian, I have Ukrainian, Polish and German blood in me. The village I was born in was very beautiful. One had to be an artist to communicate all the beauty of that place (I had “D” for art and painting class). There were different facilities in the village: school, daycare, store, recreation club, sauna. But the main site was a prison where people were sent for political crimes against the Soviet regime. Some of the prisoners could come into the village sometimes. My aunt started so called business with those people. The prisoners were stealing oats from horses and my aunt and other people in the village picked berries in woods. So oats were exchanged for berries. Thus our family made flour from oats and then some kind of jelly – it helped us to survive during famine. Many people died. Then an adult received only 240 gram of bread per day and a child – 120 gram. In 1946 I got very sick. One of political prisoners who used to be a doctor saved me. Because of my sickness our family was returned back to Ukraine to Kyiv region. P.S. I am greatly thankful to my sponsor. Let the Lord bless him with good health and long-living.