My name is Lila and I was born in Kiev. When I was six months old, my parents abandoned me in the hallway outside our apartment, and I was placed in an orphanage. When I was still in kindergarten, I realized that nobody loves us and really nobody cared for us. Instead of being loved, we were beaten and told that we were good for nothing and nobody will ever care for us. When I was in third grade, I started to smoke, curse, and fight with everyone. I began to steal and lie. In 1991, a few weeks before Christmas, Christians visited us for the first time and offered me an opportunity to spend my vacation with a Christian family. I agreed since I did not want to go to the psychiatric hospital and spend my vacation there. The children who remained in the orphanage for vacation were often sent to the hospital. While being with that family during Christmas, I heard that 2000 years ago Jesus Christ was born. After that I was always visiting this Christian family. Then during the summer, these Christians organized a Little Lambs camp together with their American friends. It was very interesting to spend the summer with Christian people. There was always a program, Bible studies, and games. We were changing – cursing less and we stopped fighting. But when we returned to the orphanage and time passed, we would be the same as before. After I graduated from the orphanage school, I was supposed to go to a construction school, but I was invited to move to the Little Lambs Home in Rovno and finish high school. I agreed because I knew what awaited me in this school of construction. While in Rovno, I felt loved and cared for. I began to think about my life.

On September 6, 1998 I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior.  This decision was very difficult for me.  After I decided to live with God, I began to see everything in a different light.  I have never regretted it and today the Lord has given me a ministry among children in orphanages.  He gave me everything I needed and what is most precious to me –His love.  I have finished the technical school and am now enrolled in a Christian college to become a missionary.  Last summer I went to two summer camps and shared with the orphans what God has done for me and that He can do the same for them.  I am so happy that I have the opportunity to share God’s love with these children.  It is obvious that they need love and are longing to have real friends who care for them.