“Without You, I Wouldn't Be Here!”
Mission Possible has a rehabilitation center for mothers and children in the city of Asbest in the Ural Mountains of Russia. It has been in operation for twenty years.
The last time we went to visit, one of the employees, Tanya, came to hug us as we walked in the door.
Tanya came to the center at the age of thirty-six with her son Simeon. She had substance abuse problems and her nerves were shot due to living in constant fear. Her drug addicted husband had tried to kill her (he was later sentenced to prison).
Simeon was nine when they arrived, and he was also distressed. Due to his terrible home life, he had spent as much time as possible on the streets to avoid it.
At the shelter he calmed down.
This led to her full-time employment.
Tanya now works as a cook and teaches the mothers at the center how to prepare food. She also manages our humanitarian aid inventory and organizes the delivery of those items to dozens of families.
Tanya completed an HIV course and now helps HIV-positive mothers at our center. In addition to all this, this energetic mother graduated last fall as a social worker and received an official certificate!
