I was born in 1973 October 10-th in a village called Pastyrske, Smila district, Cherkasy oblast. When I was 13 I left my parents and moved to stay with my sister in Cherkasy. And that was the beginning of my independent life. The fruits of such life were seen very soon. When I was 17 I was convicted for a number of crimes. They didn't send me to prison at that time. An amnesty was announced and I was forgiven. But I didn't learn my lesson. Three years later I was put to prison for four and a half years. Freedom was behind but a wide way of criminal life was ahead. While being in prison I became even more obnoxious and crafty. On release I went to Smila and married a girl from that town. I wanted to realize my criminal plans but within three years I was sentenced to a strict regime prison for 3,5 years. My wife visited me, but then I was told she started taking to the bottle. I got fewer and fewer letters and soon I didn't get any. We had two boys at that time: Sasha and Nikita. My wife left our kids with her parents and started a dark nomadic existence. That pushed me to analyze my life and to think of what was wrong and caused such terrible results. I knew the fault was mine. Then changes came into my life. One prisoner offered me a Bible and said that I can find there the answers for the questions that I have and that I can receive peace and comfort for my soul. I started reading it. Then I started to pray very soon I quit smoking, cheating and swearing. There was a church in the prison built by Hope Now. I wanted to go but I couldn't overcome myself. Then a Hope Now team came to visit the church. They said the governor of my first prison was coming with them. I heard he repented and lost his job but I couldn???„?t believe that was possible and came to see. So that was my first time to the church. I was just curious. But when I heard a sermon of the ex-prisoner governor Col. Alexander Tarasenko and when I saw tears in his eyes - tears of love, I started crying. My heart was wrung and tears streamed down my face. I was given understanding and it brought changes into my life. I came to church in few days, knelt down and repented of my sins. I cried out to Christ and I felt Him coming into my heart and filling it with His love. In a few months I came back home a new person. I went through a bunch of temptations and God poured much of His blessings onto me. My wife repented - Praise is to the Lord. We are a Christian family now. My wife is restored in her college and relationship with her parents and others. I used to work as a carpenter but because of bad conditions of my health I had to quit. In 2001 my cervical vertebra was broken and as a consequence I have bad backache and I don't feel my arms sometimes. The doctors said I could not work again. I was reminded of Job. I completely trust the Lord. I am serving Him. God created a group of ex-prisoners including the ex-governor of the prison. We go to prisons together, to city and village churches and witness to them about Christ. I think and believe God will never leave me. Praise be to Him for everything. Amen. Volodymer Podgorny
