Scherbina, Irina

Description

Tell about your childhood, school, family, etc.

I was raised by my mother. My father left us when I was one year old. We lived together with my grandmother and mother. But later my grandfather died in a car accident. My mom was the only one working in the family. When I was 3 years old, my grandmother secretly baptized me in the Orthodox Church. I went to a secondary school and also to a music school. Then I studied at a music college. After college, I graduated from the conservatory.

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

At first I worked in music schools. I taught solfege, piano, and was a choir director. In another music institution, I was in charge of the choir department and was a choirmaster for 10 years.

I moved to Kyiv more than 40 years ago. I worked at the National Opera of Ukraine as a chorus member. I also sang in the Roger McMurrin Choir for 10 years until I retired. I was quite satisfied with my work because I was doing my favorite thing – music. We also performed a lot of incredible and interesting music together with the Roger McMurin Choir, and went on tours to America. I also traveled to other countries with the National Opera.

Tell about your present life.

We are all in the same difficult situation now – there is a war in the country. Every day we hear air raid alarms. Whoever can, runs to the shelter. We are witnessing serious destruction, seeing the infrastructure damaged. Because of this, there is a shortage of electric power, the electricity is cut off for 4-5 hours a day, and sometimes for the whole day. Sometimes there is no water or heating. Food prices have also risen dramatically. Pensions are not being increased. I have almost no teeth left. And I have no money to get new ones. I’m afraid of getting seriously ill, because I have no money for treatment. All this makes me feel depressed. We thank our Armed Forces for holding back the enemy. And we also thank everyone who is helping us in this difficult time.

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

I believe in Christ, God and the Holy Spirit with all my heart. I live alone and it is hard for me to imagine how I would live if I did not know God. I pray every day and rely on Him. I thank God that He is. I accepted Christ into my heart and have been following Him for 25 years.

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

I want my sponsor to know that I am very grateful for the help. Food vouchers help us to literally survive. Everything they help us with is simply necessary for life. I always pray for my sponsors, for our church, St. Paul’s, and for the Music Mission Kyiv. Thanks to the grocery cards I have, I can even invite guests to the holidays from time to time and treat them. God’s blessings to everyone!