Report on the women's rehabilitation center in Ukraine
Seven years ago, Brother Igor Golovchak and his wife founded a rehabilitation center for women in Ukraine. This year they celebrated its seventh anniversary. Brother Igor himself found God in a rehabilitation center for alcohol and drug addicts.
Unfortunately, unlike men's centers, there are very few such shelters for women. Brother Igor's mother and sister died at the ages of 56 and 28 from excessive alcohol consumption. He realized the great need for such centers. He and his wife felt that God was calling them to take homeless women into their home. In 2013, they welcomed their first women, washing them, giving them clothes, and providing them with everything they needed.
Currently, 34 women live in a center in the village of Pustomity, in the Rovno region of Ukraine. Eighteen of them were homeless, and five are disabled and unable to move independently. Since the rehabilitation center was established, 25 women have received water baptism; some are now members of the local church. Twenty-four women have passed away peacefully, several having previously entered into a covenant with God.
Sister Galina feeding the chickens.
Transcript
My name is Lena and I'm 33 years old. When I was 12, my mother died in an accident, and since then I've suffered from a mental illness. At 19, I came to Germany and in 2010 met a family who practically lived out their faith in Jesus. This family showed me that God exists. I saw how lovingly they treated each other and did many things together. I hadn't experienced anything like that in my own family. They invited me to their church, where I was warmly welcomed.
Twenty-two days after my conversion, God baptized me with the Holy Spirit, and a year later I entered into a covenant with God through water baptism. However, I still had to go to the hospital repeatedly. Once, a brother recommended that I go to a women's center in Ukraine. That's how I ended up at the center in the village of Pustomity.
It was a big adjustment for me at first, because I live alone in Germany and here 29 women were housed in four rooms. The women had health problems or difficulties with alcohol or drugs. One woman was missing a leg, another was bedridden and needed care. Some were already firmly established in their faith, while others were still in the early stages.
Each woman there is assigned tasks such as washing dishes, sweeping the yard, tidying the rooms, caring for the animals, cooking, and more. The women's center has a small farm with pigs, goats, and chickens. It also includes a large plot of land where vegetables and herbs are grown and preserved for the winter.
Discipline was paramount there. We prayed, fasted, and read God's word. We were looked after by a brother or by missionaries. On Saturdays, we could make phone calls; otherwise, there was no contact with the outside world. Services were held twice a week, and our presence often contributed to the program. But the sisters from our community also frequently participated. We sang and recited poems.
I received a warm welcome at the rehabilitation center and felt very well. I tried to wean myself off the medication; we fasted and prayed, even at night, and in the presence of the Holy Spirit, I felt better and better. The four weeks passed very quickly, and unfortunately, I had to return to Germany. Thanks to this community, I feel much better today and miss the women I met there. Thank God!
Lena R. from Wassenberg
