We don't always understand the way God works. As a young Ukrainian girl I never imagined serving God as a missionary and teaching English. I've always had a desire to help people. About ten years ago, I accepted Christ and began to understand the desire I had in my heart. God did a lot of amazing things in my life during that time and last year I became a full time missionary with COI.

When a person decides to serve God with her or his whole life, it doesn't mean that everything will be easy. Not long ago my dad passed away. His death was unexpected and it happened because doctors were not careful or responsible in treating him at the hospital. It was obvious that he shouldn't have died and our family even requested an autopsy when he died, which proved that what the doctors told us was not what really happened.

In our country many important services work on a bribe system. People don't have a lot of money so if they become victims of corruption or injustice, there's really nothing they can do to defend themselves. This is what happened to my family.

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:14-15; NIV) This has been a difficult principle for me to follow, but I know that it's true. I've had to make a hard decision to keep serving God as a missionary, even though life without my dad has become burdensome for my family in many ways. I praise Him that as my dad was dying, he prayed to receive Jesus Christ and I know that one day I'll see him in heaven. Until then I believe God will give me strength to keep serving Him with my whole life.

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