A Homeless Mother and Children Find a New Life
This beautiful family photo was taken last Christmas. The photographer wanted to delight the residents of our shelter home with her professional skills and invited them into her studio to be photographed.
Maria and her children had been residents in our shelter home prior to this photo. Last Christmas was their first worry-free one because Maria didn’t have to wonder where to sleep and how to feed her children. Her face reflects her joy and peace.
Maria grew up without a father and was abandoned by her mother at the age of eight.
Her grandparents took her in to care for her. Only a year later, though, the little girl suffered another loss: her grandmother died. Maria was supposed to be taken to the orphanage, but her grandfather found a new spouse who lovingly cared for the young girl.
Thanks to the love she was shown, Maria has many fond memories of her childhood. “It was good to live in the country. I got to feed the animals, and I had friends.”
Big city life
When Maria went to vocational school at the age of 17, she faced the temptations of a completely different lifestyle in the big city. She had a baby and then another. The single mother tried to make ends meet. Her grandparents and aunt shook their heads. “Soon you will leave your children as your mother did,” they said.
“I had made mistakes, but I would never leave my children!”
Maria, however, had firmly decided to not abandon her children. Hardships continued nonetheless, and the family ultimately had no roof over their heads.
In the midst of the pandemic, no city shelter would accept the family. Maria had heard about Mission Possible’s shelter home in Omsk, though, and was welcomed there.
It was a huge change for the three. Maria immediately started helping in the home and was especially enthusiastic and skilled at cooking.
PHOTO: At the time of the family's arrival, the Omsk shelter moved to a new rental facility. Maria was eager to help with the painting.
A church and new friends
Maria found more than a roof over her head. She found friends, hobbies, a church family, and faith. She wants to build her future under God’s guidance.
Her step-grandmother and aunt visited the shelter. Maria sent a letter with them to her grandfather, thanking him for all his care and apologizing for her mistakes.
Maria meets her mother
Maria hoped to reestablish a connection with her mother as well. We managed to find the whereabouts of the alcoholic woman, who unfortunately lives on the street in the heated pipe tunnels.
On a cold winter day, mother and daughter met together after many years. They hugged, cried, and Maria told how God had miraculously helped her and her children.
Maria goes often now to take food to her mother.
Moving to a new home
We are currently preparing a home for Maria’s family in a nearby village where the local church can assist them as needed. Maria’s dream is to find a husband who will be a father for her children.
“The best thing about this work
is seeing how the old and broken
become whole and are made into
that which is beautiful and good!”
– The Omsk Shelter Home Team
