This is the story of Vika K. She was born in the Odessa region of Ukraine on November 6, 1989. Ukraine declared independence on December 26, 1991, twenty-four days after the break up of the Soviet Union. Vika’s early days are somewhat of a blur. We have a few details of her first seven years. At age 3, Vika’s mother and her current boyfriend in Odessa left her with her grandmother one evening and went out to drink the night away. With this regular behavior of her mother, it was just a matter of time before Vika was removed from her mother’s custody and placed in a shelter. Her mother’s boyfriend was quite attached to little Vika. In no time, he stole Vika from the shelter and took her back to her mother. In spite of his feelings for Vika, his own health was in jeopardy. He died not long after.
To avoid the authorities, Vika and her mother moved to the village of Big Valley, about 20 kilometers southwest of Odessa. Her mother soon found another guy to be her drinking buddy. There were a number of alcoholics who gathered in a house that became the “home” of Vika and her mother. This house, as you can guess, was not in very good condition at all. For a child, much less a preschool child, it was just not acceptable. The house had no windows to keep the cold out in the winter. There was no way to heat the house either. There were no kitchen or bathroom facilities. It was a place to hide from life, but certainly not a place to live. For Vika, it was very dangerous, even life threatening.
By the time that Vika had reached age 7, the people in the community of Big Valley were talking about Vika. They were talking about her living among alcoholics. It was 1996. Life in Ukraine was still very difficult. Rebuilding a country after 70 some years of oppression left everyone looking out for themselves. People could talk and talk, but what could they do. Who could afford to add one mouth to feed at their table? Who had enough compassion to take this child into their home? There was such a man. His name was Victor K. He went to this “house” one day and took her away from this terrible environment. He brought her into his home to live with his family: his wife, two daughters, and two sons. Vika’s mother didn’t put up a fight. She didn’t even object.
As time went along, Victor invited the mother to visit Vika at his house whenever she wanted. It was seldom that she came to visit Vika. She truly had no interest in her daughter. She was controlled by the bottle. Not long after, the house where the mother and her friends drank together burned down. Had Victor not taken Vika, she surely would have died.
There was a building, maybe a house, on Victor’s farm land. The mother and her boyfriend asked if they could live in this building. He allowed this. Also, he gave them work to take care of the cattle. He would pay them in food and clothing only. They were content with this arrangement. It continued for 8 years. During this time Vika’s mother, although she was living so close, showed no interest in her daughter.
Vika attended school in the village. After school each day, she would come home and eat a snack. Then, immediately she would go with her brothers to the field to herd the cattle. Her life was not an easy life. Life in Ukraine was not easy. Vika had an opportunity to live a “normal life” in the village. Even so, her past would haunt her yet. She had no legal papers documenting who she was. This meant that she could not move forward with her education. She could not even get a job without documents. She baby-sat for income. What else could she do?
Finally, in 2007, Vika’s documents were found after an exhaustive search through the public records in Odessa. Vika is now “in the legal system.” She has a chance to make a life for herself. Unfortunately, she still needed help. She found friends and spiritual guidance in the Illichevsk Baptist church. Maybe it was in 2004 that she made a commitment to Christ. She has become very involved in the church activities. She sings in the choir. She has a very strong and beautiful voice.
Vika has the desire to improve her life. Through the kindness of others, she has made it this far in life. Now it is up to her to go the next step. She has taken the examinations for University. She passed the exams and has been accepted into the program. Now she will need funding. She cannot raise enough money working to pay her own way. How will she go to the next step in her success story?
To avoid the authorities, Vika and her mother moved to the village of Big Valley, about 20 kilometers southwest of Odessa. Her mother soon found another guy to be her drinking buddy. There were a number of alcoholics who gathered in a house that became the “home” of Vika and her mother. This house, as you can guess, was not in very good condition at all. For a child, much less a preschool child, it was just not acceptable. The house had no windows to keep the cold out in the winter. There was no way to heat the house either. There were no kitchen or bathroom facilities. It was a place to hide from life, but certainly not a place to live. For Vika, it was very dangerous, even life threatening.
By the time that Vika had reached age 7, the people in the community of Big Valley were talking about Vika. They were talking about her living among alcoholics. It was 1996. Life in Ukraine was still very difficult. Rebuilding a country after 70 some years of oppression left everyone looking out for themselves. People could talk and talk, but what could they do. Who could afford to add one mouth to feed at their table? Who had enough compassion to take this child into their home? There was such a man. His name was Victor K. He went to this “house” one day and took her away from this terrible environment. He brought her into his home to live with his family: his wife, two daughters, and two sons. Vika’s mother didn’t put up a fight. She didn’t even object.
As time went along, Victor invited the mother to visit Vika at his house whenever she wanted. It was seldom that she came to visit Vika. She truly had no interest in her daughter. She was controlled by the bottle. Not long after, the house where the mother and her friends drank together burned down. Had Victor not taken Vika, she surely would have died.
There was a building, maybe a house, on Victor’s farm land. The mother and her boyfriend asked if they could live in this building. He allowed this. Also, he gave them work to take care of the cattle. He would pay them in food and clothing only. They were content with this arrangement. It continued for 8 years. During this time Vika’s mother, although she was living so close, showed no interest in her daughter.
Vika attended school in the village. After school each day, she would come home and eat a snack. Then, immediately she would go with her brothers to the field to herd the cattle. Her life was not an easy life. Life in Ukraine was not easy. Vika had an opportunity to live a “normal life” in the village. Even so, her past would haunt her yet. She had no legal papers documenting who she was. This meant that she could not move forward with her education. She could not even get a job without documents. She baby-sat for income. What else could she do?
Finally, in 2007, Vika’s documents were found after an exhaustive search through the public records in Odessa. Vika is now “in the legal system.” She has a chance to make a life for herself. Unfortunately, she still needed help. She found friends and spiritual guidance in the Illichevsk Baptist church. Maybe it was in 2004 that she made a commitment to Christ. She has become very involved in the church activities. She sings in the choir. She has a very strong and beautiful voice.
Vika has the desire to improve her life. Through the kindness of others, she has made it this far in life. Now it is up to her to go the next step. She has taken the examinations for University. She passed the exams and has been accepted into the program. Now she will need funding. She cannot raise enough money working to pay her own way. How will she go to the next step in her success story?
She applied for the Mission Ukraine Children’s Hope, (MUCH), Transportation Scholarship Program. After four long years of working in Odessa, and attending the university on the “session system,” (three weeks of lecture, twice a year), she graduated with a teaching degree.
Later that year, she married the son of the Senior Pastor of her church.
The following year, Vika gave birth to her first child. She and her husband Vitalik are very happy and are carving out a life for themselves.
Sixty dollars a month made this life-changing opportunity possible. Two, three, or four sponsors could send a youth to higher education for $15.00 (four sponsors) to $30.00 (two sponsors) a month. Education is not so expensive; lack of education is devastating. Consider becoming a sponsor with MUCH and together break the cycle of poverty in Ukraine.
