My name is Yuliia and I want to share with you a testimony of what God has done in my life. Before I decided to follow Jesus, my life was ordinary. Education, then work, marriage, birth of children. But then bad habits (alcohol, smoking, fornication and lies) started to ruin our family; it all lasted for years. My husband died of an epileptic seizure and I started drinking even more every day. I left my children with my parents and went to live on the street. Inside me there was emptiness, I felt lonely; everything seemed pointless. At that time I didn’t need or love anyone, I just felt sorry for myself. Then I got sick, my leg got infected, I could not walk, I was sitting on the street. Twice people called an ambulance, only the second time was I taken to a hospital. There they treated my leg, prescribed medication and released me. They said that if I did not take medicines, I would not save my leg. With great difficulty I came back to my shelter.

In the morning I was approached by Oleksii, one of the volunteers who serves the homeless, helping to feed and take care of them. He asked me what had happened and bought me medicines. He came for a few days running, prayed near me, talked about Jesus and said that God loves me. He brought tea and something to eat. He is now a teacher at the church I attend. I felt better; after a while I decided to go to a rehabilitation center for the winter, as it seemed best to me then. It was there that I opened the Bible for the first time. As I read through the Gospel, I felt guilt and remorse, my whole life was contrary to the Word of God. There I heard what a ‘broken heart’ was, and realized that it was about me.

When Pastor Ihor and his wife Halyna came to us from the Living Word Church in Kyiv, I repented. I cried a lot and felt the pain and guilt leaving me. By God’s great grace, the craving for alcohol disappeared immediately. I still remember that first feeling of joy at God’s presence. Before I was baptized, I doubted, it seemed to me that I was not ready. Eight months passed after my repentance. There was a meeting of members for  centers from Kherson and Mykolaiv. Pastor Korostylov preached about baptism and following Christ. I was overcome by sleep and could barely catch what he was talking about, but suddenly I heard the word of God clearly through the pastor calling for baptism, so on September 26, 2017, I made a covenant with God and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior!

My life has changed completely, and although, like other people, I experience difficulties, God is my protection and support, in Him I have joy and comfort. He gives me the love I didn’t have and I can share it with people. I can serve people. There is no place for lies and hatred in my life. God strengthens me in faith and constantly instructs me, helps me overcome difficulties and become better! I thank and praise my Heavenly Father for everything!