A Christmas with Peace
Son – chose to live a street life, committed crimes and was sent to prison.
Mother – started drinking and experienced a nervous breakdown.
Daughter – ashamed by her family and began skipping school.
When Mother came to our rehabilitation center she learned she was HIV-positive…
Yet in the midst of anxiety and confusion came peace and hope.
Galina had a messy divorce in her past and was strapped financially as a single mother to her young son Danil. Because of her negative marriage experience she wasn’t ready to marry her new partner, even though he took good care of her and Danil.
The young boy began calling his stepfather “Dad” and ran happily to meet him from the kindergarten playground. Daughter Lena was born, and life was good.
Family boy becomes a street boy
Problems began when Danil approached puberty. He completely changed and joined a gang of street boys.
His teachers contacted home with concerns about his school absences.
When his stepfather tried to talk to Danil, the boy said defiantly, “You’re not my real father!”
The boys on the street stole to survive, so Danil began to steal. The police caught him several times, but since he was under 14 years of age, the only punishments were fines laid on the parents.
Galina sought help from the school psychologist and social workers and did her best to make the home a comfortable place. But Danil continued to turn to the street.
Mother collapses mentally
When Danil turned 15 he was sentenced to a juvenile detention center. Galina had a mental breakdown and began to drink. She could not forgive herself for not being able to protect her son.
Schoolmates mocked Lena because her brother was in prison and her mother drank. She began to skip school and her studies suffered.
While all this was happening, Galina heard about our rehabilitation center and contacted us. We decided that she and her daughter would come to the center and enroll in our program.
Shocking news at the rehabilitation center
Just a few days after their arrival, Galina ran a high fever and was coughing severely. She was too weak to move. The cause of illness was not known. We hadn’t tested her for HIV yet, so we did, and she tested positive! It was a huge shock for Galina, who did not have multiple partners and didn’t do drugs.
Medical treatment started immediately for her. Our counselors encouraged Galina and helped her cope with the weighty issues she was facing. Her physical condition improved quickly.
Finding faith in Christ and inner peace
While at our center, we had many conversations with Galina about faith and the Bible. She began attending church gatherings and participated in our Bible studies and prayer times. Soon she accepted Jesus!
Galina began to change. She now wore a smile on her face and opened up, making friends with others. We got to know her in a new way. She had a good sense of humor and was intelligent, able to have conversations on seemingly any given subject. She also demonstrated how gentle and loving she was as a mother, sharing a warm relationship with her daughter.
A new beginning in a new town
Separation from Danil, who is serving a two-year sentence far from our center, has been very difficult for Galina. She is allowed to call her son twice a month. The prison managers have been pleased with Danil’s behavior, and the boy has continued his school studies with good progress.
Danil was glad to hear that his mother and sister had moved out of their hometown. “Don’t go back,” he pleaded. “When I get out of here I want to start a new life away from old acquaintances.” Galina’s partner has come to see them and hopes they will return home soon. But Galina is confused about her HIV infection. She plans to stay in this new town with her daughter, get a job, and help her son when he’s released from prison. She has already found a new circle of friends at the rehabilitation center and church.
Both Galina and her children are facing a new beginning after many difficulties.
(For privacy reasons, the names have been changed and the location is not given.)
