Panchenko, Nina

Опис

Tell about your childhood, school, family, etc.

There were 4 kids in our family. I had three brothers. I am thankful to my parents for raising us. They taught me to work. We has a small farm – a cow, rabbits, chickens, pigs, some land. We, kids, helped our parents. I was a good student in school – I enjoyed to study.

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

I worked at a school cafeteria and later sold tickets at the cinema. Then I entered a pedagogic university. After graduation I worked as a teacher for 20 years in Gorlivka. Then we had to move to Kyiv to take care for our old parents. In Kyiv I worked as a chemistry teacher. I totally worked for 50 years. I enjoyed my work but it took all my time. I was not well paid as all teachers then.

Tell about your present life.

I am retired now. I live alone. I have no kids because of WW II. My niece and nephew help me some. My best friends are books. I like to read.

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

When I worked at school I had to teach atheism. Surprisingly but it was atheism that led me to Christ. I read that in the world only 3% of people are non-believers and 97% are believers. So I thought, those 3% cannot be right. And this is when my road to the Lord started. I became a member of St. Paul Church on September 1, 2014. It was in 1995 when I accepted Christ.

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

Surely, our sponsors need to know people whom they help. I am very thankful to you for your help. You are noble people. Let God bless you with good health and strength. Here is a poem I wrote in 1997.

Oh, Lord, come to me and dwell in my heart forever. Now I believe that You make miracles in the world. Weak non-believers are trembling. With You my soul is rejoicing and singing. When a non-believer comes to You, he becomes stronger. The Lord is with me. Lord! It is so wonderful to live with You, to love You and all Your creation. Lord, thank you for loving us all so powerfully. You give us warmth, gentleness and love, sunshine, hearts of our friends, joy of every day and hope. You are the one who delivers us from pain and suffering. Say, what else can I thank You for? I thank You for everything: for living, for walking, for laughing and crying, for working, for loving and suffering, for seeing the sun and the moon and for loving You above all.