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My name is Sveta, I’m 32. Six years ago God called me to Himself in the women’s prison in Uman where I made my covenant with Him.
I grew up as a naughty selfish child. My parents tried to grow everything the best in me, but I was drawn to street life, where one could do everything he wants, where there is freedom and no one punishes you. I didn’t suspect what was waiting for me and how it would result.
But street grows lawless people in full meaning of the word. And the devil was tempting that sin was a sign of dignity, strength, impunity.
I tried drugs when I was 17, not to be left behind by my friends. First it was cigarettes, wine, then drugs. I comforted myself with a self- deceit I can quit any time I want and with those thoughts I had no worldly cares. But one day I realized I was dependent on drugs.
One should have money to get drugs, I was unemployed and had to steal. I was going deeper and deeper into sin. I ruined my relations with parents, had no friends (I had “friends”, until I had no money).
I left home when I was 19, I lived in dens, but when I felt bad, I wanted to be changed, wanted to leave the life and I returned to my parents. I still cant’ imagine how they could forgive me. But in time I was back again stealing and drugs. I couldn’t be released by my own efforts, only Jesus can break the nets and irons. I wasn’t in a hurry to come to Him, but He was always near to me. He rescued me many times trying to focus my eyes on Him.
I went to Kyiv and met a young man there. And the devil used me and didn’t want to let me go as he needs such people to destroy others.
But God is faithful to His word. He loved the world and wanted everybody to be saved in Jesus. The devil used me in a way He wanted. But God watched me all that time. He tried to knock the door of my heart in many ways, but I was torn to pieces by sin, drugs, loneliness, depressions, betrayals. When coming to steal I asked the Lord to stop me and help me. I was even ready to be sent to a prison and wanted things to be changed as I had terrible thoughts and desires to steal or to kill.
In three days after the prayer I was captured and put in a prison.
And before that I had a chance to talk to a girl, who knew the Lord but failed and stepped back. She gave me a Bible a few days before prison. When I asked her: “What do I need it for?”
“It may be useful to you”, she answered. And it has been always with me. I didn’t read it but carried everywhere. The police allowed me to takethe Bible into my cell. I had nothing to do there and started to read. Few months after I was transferred to a women’s prison I knelt down and accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour. And there I met sister Aileen Callender from England who used to come and tell us about Father’s love and His Son Jesus Christ. And the seed got into my heart. I started visiting church and finally God had reached His goal and I became His daughter in Jesus Christ. I was baptized and in 3 years and 9 months came out as a new creation, new person.
My parents couldn’t believe, some people made fun of me, some said I got mad, but some were interested.
I have a son named Nikita as a result of my life in past. He is 8 and studies in 2nd grade. Much time was lost but God helps to restore our relations. And his birth is a miracle as well. I got pregnant and kept using the drugs. I was afraid to do an abortion, I wanted to have a son, I even pictured him in my mind. And God not only protected His creation but has given me the desire of my heart. He created him exactly as I dreamt. Big green eyes, long eyelashes, and nice smile. And now he is a healthy boy. I could never dream of becoming a wife, of having a house and a family. That style of living took all of my dreams and hopes. I considered myself to be a scum of society. It can be so in society and with devil but it is different with God. I am still amazed with His mercy and love shown to me. More than a year ago God gave me a nice Christian husband. And we met with him in men’s prison in Hutory. (That is the prison Vic Jackopson visits.)
I got there because I started serving in a prison ministry. It is a team of brothers and sisters who served in prisons, found Jesus there, and made a covenant with Him. We visit prisons and share about our Lord Jesus Christ and of what He has done in our life. So I came to the church once and met my future husband who became a real man of
God.
He loves God and after He was released God united us as husband and a wife. And we were married by our beloved and dear Vic Jackopson. We had nothing to celebrate the wedding, no place to live but our Father provided us with everything we needed and even more. God has arranged the wedding, has blessed us with wedding rings, has given us a house to live in, it’s not our house but it is supplied with everything we need, even spoons and forks. Our Father has blessed us the same way He blessed His people in the Promised Land when they got houses, lands and field. We do believe He will send us a house as our family decided to become missionaries in a village people don’t know about the Lord, live without God and go to hell. Their souls long for the Saviour as it was with us.
My husband’s name is Dima. He serves as a preacher in the church and goes to preach in villages. When the church has blessed us for the missionary work Dima started visiting a village called “New life”. I do believe the time will come and the village will correspond to the name, I just want to add “New life in Jesus Christ”. Amen.
There are still difficulties hindering the service, we don’t have a place to live there yet. The closer you are to people the more possibilities you can use to bring them to salvation. They could see your life then, communicate and visit the church. But we are glad we can do at least something when we come to visit. We keep visiting prisons, share our testimony in churches, praise God and His great love to all people. We are so happy to have such a loving and great Father. He knows us by name and never leaves those who come to Him, those He created, His people. May honour, glory and praise be to our Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our family received another great blessing from the Lord. And it’s our second son, who is 6 months old. We named him John (Ivan in Russian) that means “God is merciful”. And He is merciful indeed. He was merciful when we rejected Him, He is merciful now when we do mistakes, and His mercy is great.
I am HIV infected from the past, but God has protected Ivan, he is not infected and is born healthy. What is important I live with the disease and I am not afraid to die. Because I know the way I go and I know who is waiting for me, my beloved and loving Father. I am so thankful He is.
Sveta.
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