Karelina, Valentyna

Опис

Tell about your childhood, school, family, etc.

I spent my childhood in the town of Bakhmut in a loving, Ukrainian-speaking family. I spent a lot of time with my sister at my grandparents’ house in the village. I went to school until the 5th grade in a Ukrainian-speaking school.

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

I worked at the Bakhmut Pedagogical College as a teacher. I liked the work very much. The working conditions were great for both professional development and self-improvement.

Tell about your present life.

Today I am an IDP. My house and all my belongings were burned to the ground. Two years ago we started from scratch.  It was very difficult. But with God’s help, we are slowly starting to recover. The main thing for us is to wait for the victory. We are donating to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The Lord helps us – we help the army. I do volunteer work, weaving camouflage webs for the military. When things get really hard, I go out and take care of the flower beds near our house, it calms me down. My flowerbed looks the best.

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

I believe and trust all my innermost thoughts to Him. I am very grateful to Him for everything I have. For the fact that all my relatives are alive and safe. Everything I have and don’t have is of God’s will. In Bakhmut, I attended an Orthodox church, there was nothing else nearby.

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

I grew up in a family where we relied only on ourselves – we worked, developed, and dreamed. Now I find myself in a situation where I have only memories of my former life. I have not received social assistance from the state for two years. I thank everyone for their help. I believe that the world will not leave us alone with our pain. The truth and God are on our side.