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Life time encounter

28 May

More than a year own brother and sister attended the same church and had no idea they were close relatives.

29-year mariupolites Oksana Sychiova – is a believer. She married a believer 10 years ago. She used to live with her Mom. Dad caused many problems and abandoned them. Oksana doesn’t want to recall it. He drank and used drugs. Then he was imprisoned.

– I suffered much because of Dad, – Oksana shares. He was in prison , wrote letters to us, said he had changed. When he got released he came back to them. And then he returned to the former conduct…. Any way he’s still my Dad.

Oksana tells us that to some extent the situation in her family. The girl has been praying for her close people for over 10 years, she is a singer in the worship team of the Church of Good Changes.

– I knew I had a brother, Oksana tells. I always wanted to have a brother. My parents had divorced long ago, my father had a son from his second marriage. Their family was also dysfunctional. I was sorry of the boy. I didn’t want him to repeat the destiny of our father.

The girl knew almost nothing about her brother, even what city he lives in. But she had a big desire to find him.

20-year – old Sasha Mironenko barely remembers the father’s face. But he’ll always remember the drunken parties of his Mom and Dad.

– My dad was imprisoned when I was 4, -Sasha says. When I grew up I started using drugs and wandering. Once I was arrested and got a conditional term. My life was so useless. I could hardly graduate from High School.

One nice day Sasha has lighted up. He reflected on his life. He go to know about the rehab center “ Republic “ Pilgrim” where they help to the people like him.

– I came to “ Pilgrim”. First I didn’t like it. I didn’t believe in God, – Sasha shares. – But gradually I started getting used, made friends who are ready to support me in tough times unlike my former pals. Then I entered a trade college. Graduated and then got married. My wife is a believer too.

The last years Sasha’s father didn’t live with his family. But the son wanted to find his Dad so much. He got to know from the relatives that he had just been released from prison. The guy had come to an address bureau, took the address and has gone to the father’s home. He had arrived there where his parent had been registered. The door was opened by the native aunt of the father – Sasha’s grandmother. She told him that his Dad was imprisoned again, it was the third time…

The grandmother and her grandson were talking abut life… While chatting she mentioned that he’s got a sister who is also a believer. She lives in Mariupol.

-Who’s she? How can I find her? – the guy wondered.

– I know nothing about her, his grandma said, – only that she sings in the choir, and that her husband is a musician, he plays drums in the same church!

To Sasha’s great surprise she attended that very church he did for a year and knew nothing about each other. They saw each other on Sundays and barely communicated. Moreover, Oksana with her husband and other parishioners of the church taking care of “ Republic “ Pilgrim” and supporting the street kids became a reason of changing destiny of her own brother.

On Sunday Sasha went to the Church of Good Changes. He hesitated to come up to unfamiliar person and to confess that they are native by blood.

– I asked my girl-friend ( now my wife) to call Oksana – Sasha remembers. For they used to talk to each other before and I almost didn’t know her.

– I was having a rehearsal, – adds Oksana, – Nastya came up and said that Sasha was calling me. I went out to the Pilgrim yard. By the gate there was a young man. He asked me with his voice trembling: “ Are you Oksana? – I am Sasha Mironenko. I am your brother”.

Oksana could hardly get what he was speaking about, she was lost and didn’t know how to respond. The only thing that made her reflect was his last name Mironenko.

– Then we went home, Oksana tells. – I remember it was a frizzy day. We were walking- me, my husband, Sasha and Nastya. Then I recalled that Sahsa’s friend had told me that he was renting an apartment with a guy who looked like me very much. And his last name is just like my maiden name. I thought we were just namesakes. I couldn’t even imagine we had been so close and had no idea about each other…

They came to Oksana’s place and spoke and had tea all the night long.

– I was scared, Oksana shares. I thought Sasha was just like Dad. But I was wrong. We recalled our life with Dad. Had many emotions after such an encounter. We’ve got different mothers and it’s exciting to notice similar features of character.

– The first feeling I had – is brotherly love to my sister, – Sasha adds. The children in “ Pilgrim” when they got to know our story, they started seeing many similarities in us: smile, some gestures…

Oksana’s mother treats Sasha with watchfulness. The daughter is trying to persuade her mother that her brother is unlike his Dad. Sasha’s mother is an alcoholic and she showed no interest to Oksana. But regardless of mother’s behavior the guys are happy having found each other and they are convinced there are no accidents in life.

 

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