Maryna’s Testimony: Stepping stones to faith

For most of Maryna’s life, she has walked a path of brokenness, bearing the sting of pain with every step. At 11 years old, Maryna’s mother died, and shortly afterwards, her father walked out on the family.

“I don’t want to go into detail about that period,” said Maryna, who is now 17. “There was a lot of pain, tears, uncertainty, and despair.”

“When we were about to be placed in an orphanage by social services in Ukraine, I was a complete nightmare. All my inner pain erupted out. I was rude, I did awful things, I told lies, I despised people. I became friends with a street gang that did terrible things. What saved us was that my older brother had started going to church before these events. His outlook on life changed.”

One day at a Christian summer camp, the hand of God reached into Maryna’s life.

“My brother shared our story, and there happened to be a family at the camp who hadn’t even planned on coming, but at the last minute a spot opened up and they came. This family had many foster children. Our story touched them deeply, and after a while, they invited us to visit them.”

“We were welcomed into such a simple and relaxed atmosphere that we’d never experienced before. My younger sister cried and didn’t want to go home, but I couldn’t open up and trust anyone. I just couldn’t let people get close to me because I didn’t want them to hurt me.”

Eventually, Maryna and her siblings were adopted by the family.

“At first, I was very unhappy, slamming doors and refusing to talk to anyone. I rebelled,” she said. “Over time, I became friends with my new sister, Svetlana. I trusted her.”

Svetlana would go everywhere with Maryna, including Sunday School. It was there that Maryna started to seriously think about faith.

During this time, Maryna also discovered Mission Without Borders, through their partnership with the church.

“At first, I didn’t believe that God existed – but God’s miracles and care surrounded me. Once, I almost drowned at sea. When my strength left me, a man suddenly appeared, picked me up, and pulled me out of the water. Another time, the car I was riding in got into an accident. The hit was on my side, but I was left without a scratch.”

Each moment made God’s love real to Maryna. An undeniable, steady presence in her life that revealed itself through others.

“I have committed so many sins and don’t want to even mention them. Last Easter in April, at the end of the service, the pastor asked as usual if there were people in the hall who wanted to repent.

“Tears flowed from my eyes, and it was as if someone had lifted me up and carried me forward. That day, I gave all my sins to God and told Him that I didn’t want to return to them.”

Now, Maryna is a part of our Child Sponsorship Program. She teaches at the same Sunday school she went to, runs home groups for other young adults to read the bible, and leads an after-school club for children.

“Some people were like stepping stones for me, leading me towards Christ. Those people are my new parents, my older brother, and Mission Without Borders.

“My destiny has changed thanks to God, but He worked through so many people, and that includes the people who support the work of the Mission.”

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