The Light of Christmas to Orphans: Valya's Story
The happy voices of children playing were heard inside as Lena and Sasha knocked on the door, bags of groceries in hand. Valya warmly welcomed them into her home.
She had a sad past. “Nothing but ruins,” as our team member put it. She and her sister grew up in an orphanage. When they were old enough to leave, the sisters moved into an apartment together. They had only each other.
Sadly, her sister’s life was derailed by drugs and bad relationships. She had two children, a boy, and a girl. One day as she was drunk and neglectful, her two-year-old son Tolik fell from a fifth-story window. A large tree canopy broke his fall and saved his life. He did, however, suffer a head injury and broken legs. Tolik’s mother then fatally overdosed, and Valya got custody of her orphaned niece and nephew.
Mothering Tolik and Sonya, who has tuberculosis, has been hard, but Valya has been diligent in her care.
An orphan knows what it’s like to be an orphan, and Valya desires to give her sister’s children what she lacked: a family.
Last Christmas, Valya came to the church for the first time, invited by our team. She had just found out she was pregnant, and her partner left her as soon as he heard.
When the gospel was shared at the service, she realized how she needs God’s grace and that He sent His Son into the world for her sake, too. She accepted the greatest gift of all – Jesus – and her life has taken a new direction.
After Christmas, Valya called our team member Lena and told of her pregnancy. Their conversation confirmed Valya’s decision to keep the baby, so her family grew by one more child. Lena has become a friend and great support for Valya and is just a phone call away at any time.
Lena and Sasha entered Valya’s apartment for a visit. Instead of three children, there were four!
– Who is this girl? Lena asked.
– My friend got sick with covid, so I brought her daughter here while she recovers.
– How are you handling all these children?
– Great! You didn’t teach me in vain to pray, did you? I pray, and it always helps!
God is the Father of the fatherless (Psalm 68:5). Valya now belongs to a family of brothers and sisters in the Lord and a heavenly Father who loves her very much.
