Widower Alexey & His Daughter Veronica

This family I love very much. Six years ago Alexey’s wife Elena went to be with the Lord. We became close friends and I pray for him and his daughter Veronica (15). When I’m in Odessa region I always stop by to visit with them. We have good talks and prayers together. Last year Alexey got an infection and was in danger of gangrene of his leg. But by God’s miraculous providence with financial assistance from Brother Pat and DMI amputation was avoided and he lost only one toe. By God’s grace Brother Pat and Brother Dean were in Ukraine when we received the call about the need for emergency surgery. We drove all day to get there with the needed funds for his surgery. God is good and all things are in His hands. Praise God. Raising a daughter without a mother is a tough task. Alexey works as a bus driver on a city route. He has to leave home at 5.00 am in the morning and does not get back from work until around midnight. So Veronica was literally adopted by the ladies from the church. Over the last 6 years they have visited her daily trying to teach her the things a mother whould teach a daughter. Pastor’s Misha’s wife, Katerina, taught her to cook and she promised for the next visit to cook Ukrainian borsch for me and I’m looking forward it. Alexey is not in good health after last’s year’s surgery. He may walk without a lot of pain only about 200 meters and after that it starts hurting badly. He had to miss some of his working shifts recently and the family’s income is low. He is very much concerned as to how he will be able to pay the bills and provide a living if his health will gets worse. I promised him I would bring his need to the committee and hopefully we’ll take Veronica on our kid’s support program, with $50.00 per month. 

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​Somehow in our conversation we touched the issue of children’s responsibility for caring for their aged parents. I could tell this teenaged girl, who knows the loss of her mother and the love of her father who sacrificed himself to her, understands. We prayed together and I can say that I have never in my life heard a prayer like the prayer of this young girl, Veronica. It is not a formal prayer but a real, heart produced talk with God. It was moving and I thought of how the hardships of life make God real to people.

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