Vladimir Gavrilenko
I was born on April 1, 1935 in Kyiv.
Опис
Tell about your childhood, school, family, etc.
I was born into a poor family. I was one of five children. Two of my siblings died of famine. Our family had big problems with food and clothes. We took turns wearing shoes. The three of us shared one pair of shoes. My mother used to make us new clothes from old, worn and moth-battered clothes.
Where did you work? Was your work good? Were you happy with your job?
First, I got a job with a wood processing plant. It was a difficult work, and working conditions were detrimental for my health. So I quit this factory and got a job with company specializing in haberdashery. I was allowed to work at home. I was able to create my own schedule and satisfactory working environment.
Tell about your present life.
After the war started, I moved to the village. My niece took me in. I was given a separate room. I spend the whole day outdoors. I can do some simple work: for example, knock the seeds out of the sunflowers. I try to be useful as much as I can.
Have you accepted Christ? How long have you been following the Lord?
I believe in Christ. I have followed the Lord since 1979. I have attended worship services and Bible study groups. I have taken Communion. I have tried to obey all of Christ’s commands. He lives in my heart!
Tell about one thing your sponsor needs to know about you.
I have had some health issues. I am hard of hearing and have a deteriorating eyesight. I suffer from inguinal hernia. It’s difficult for me to walk.
Story
Yesterday I visited Vladimir Gavrilenko (#363). He has been in our program since 2011. Always polite, quiet and smiling, this man is dressed in his suit jacket and VERY CLEAN.
Vladimir is 86. His wife died last year and because of very poor health he does not go out any longer. His wife’s niece is his Stephen minister.
Vladimir family did not do well during WW II. A family with many kids was evacuated from Kyiv. Vladimir was the only child who came back to Kyiv – awfully weak with lots of health issues, he was happy to be alive. His mother died in 1946. And his father who has just got back from prison died two years later.
Vladimir spent his young years in multiple hospitals. Though a talented and kind fellow managed to graduate from technical college.
Vladimir met his wife in 1964. Unfortunately, the couple had no kids and his wife’s niece was the only really close family for them. Oxana is 57. She lives in a village two hour drive from Kyiv. Now she goes through breast cancer treatment. Every Thursday she comes to a Bible lesson. She visits Vladimir every week, cooks and cleans for him (I made an interesting observation: Vladimir’s apartment is the most ascetic and clean apartment I have ever seen – I assume it is so because of Vladimir’s poor vision). Vladimir says, the food vouchers is tremendous support for his pension is very small. (I assume it is because all his life he worked at home making nets).
I did not come to visit Vladimir with “empty hands”. I brought him a nice hand-made blanket and a couple of scarfs (good for his balcony walks).
This man is very very thankful. I see a need of other MMK workers visiting him since he is very lonely.