Viter, Tamara

SKU: 69 Category:

Description

Name, date and place of birth:

#69 Viter, Tamara. January 23, 1942. Polkovaya Nikitovka Village, Kharkiv region

Tell about your childhood, school, family, etc.

There were 4 kids in our family. Our parents worked at sugar plant. Not far from our house there was a church and we could here when church services were there. Kids were not allowed to go to church. If there were seen in church by older school kids they would be harshly disciplined in school in front of all the kids. But on Easter we would manage to get lost in the crowd and enter the church for a service.

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

After I finished school I found a job at a sugar plant. In 1960 my mother died of sever disease. And then I moved to Kyiv where I found a job at a bread baking factory. The work was not easy – I worked in 3 shifts. I lived in a dormitory then. Then I received a university degree and became an engineer. I was responsible for distribution and control of finances among various factories of Ukraine including military factories.

Tell about your present life.

In 1997 I retired. First I helped taking care of my granddaughter, since her parents were working from dawn to dusk. Now pensioners have hard life especially now, during the war. Because of the war the whole Ukraine lost balance. But we believe in our victory knowing that God will help us. With all of my heart I am thankful to our American brothers and sisters for their help to us and the church. This help is both spiritual and financial. I pray for the end of the war and peace in our long-suffering Ukraine.

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

I have believed in Christ since my childhood. I remember memorizing some prayers that I heard from an old neighbor who used to go to church. So when facing hardships I would always ask God for help. I have been going to St. Paul Church for 12 years now. Here I learned a lot about God and Jesus Christ. My life has been changed – now I do my best trying to help others.

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

My sponsor is Coney Gothward. She lives in the state of Virginia. We write letters to each other. She calls me and asks me about my health, my family, my kids. She is very kind and caring. Her recent call was on January 15 of this year. She knows a lot about the situation in Ukraine, she asks many questions about it and our church. She would like to come for a visit. Coney tells a lot about her life and her 4 kids and 5 grandkids – they all are scattered over the US. Now she is staying in a warm state because in her home town it is very cold. I pray and thank God for having such a sister in Christ. I am thankful to her for her kindness and understanding of our difficult life especially now. Thank you so much for spiritual and material support of our St. Paul’s Church. I wish Coney lots of God’s love and His blessings on fulfilment of her wished and hopes. Good health and happiness to her, her kids and grandkids and, of course, her husband Bill. January, 2023