Katya's Life Changed at the Rehabilitation Center
Rehabilitation for Mothers and Children for More than 20 Years!
The rehabilitation home in the mining city of Asbest (in the Urals Mountains on the European-Asian border) was our first center established for mothers with substance abuse problems and their children. It recently celebrated its twentieth anniversary!
Hundreds of mothers have been there for rehabilitation where they receive health care, psychological and spiritual support, and life skills training. Most have become free from their substance addictions and now attend church. And the lives of their children have been completely changed.
A New Home for Mothers and Children in Omsk
Inspired by their results, local Christian teams have opened locations in three other cities that model Asbest’s rehabilitation center.
Omsk, a city in the heart of Siberia with one million residents, is Mission Possible’s newest base. The rehabilitation home operates in a rented house that can accommodate five mothers with their children. It has been a joy to see that in a short time their lives have changed both outwardly and spiritually. One of the mothers is Katya, whose story is below.
PHOTO: The rehabilitation home in Omsk operates in this rented house. The work is led by Kirill Nazarov (front).
Katya: "I Want To Stay Here to Help Others!"
Katya was a single mother and her life was a seemingly hopeless one.
“My boy wept from hunger at night and asked for bread!
I had nothing to give. It shattered my heart!
“But at the same time, I felt I nearly hated my child because I had to take care of him alone, and I wasn’t able to. My nerves were undone and I shouted at him. The fact that I couldn’t control myself made me feel even more miserable. I was constantly under condemnation.”
Katya feared that she would lose her parental rights to her son, as had happened with her daughter some years earlier.
Raised in a correctional boarding school for orphans
Katya was taken to an orphanage at the age of eight. A few years later she was placed in a boarding school for orphans in need of educational assistance.
“My best memories from that time
are the Bible studies held by
Christians from the local church.
I attended church gatherings with them.”
After boarding school, Katya’s life got worse and worse. Her relationships failed and she was left alone with her little son.
A Christian friend told Katya about the new rehabilitation center
“My only support was a friend
with whom we got to live temporarily.
She knew about the centre and said,
“You still have a chance!”
PHOTO: Katya and her son with the other mothers and children from the Omsk shelter home.
This is how Katya came to the Omsk Rehabilitation Center where there were a few other mothers with their children in similar situations.
Katya came to faith in Christ at the centre, and the process of inner healing began. She is involved with the church and has made new friends.
"I would like to work here!"
Aggression and bitterness have been replaced by joy.
“I’ve overcome the tendency
to lose my temper and shout.
For the first time in my life,
I am able to love!"
"I am dreaming of getting an apartment, and I would like to remain a volunteer at this centre.”
