We all have chapters in our lives that we would like to be able to rewrite. Unfortunately, that is not something that is easily done. However, we can write the next chapters with a new perspective. Every trial and circumstance that we experience in life is given to us for purpose.

God uses the most horrible of circumstances for His greater good. Even though there is great pain through these trials, there is also much growth in our hearts and blessings to others through our testimonies. It would be easier to fall into self-pity as we grieve the bad “chapters of life.” But when we stand strong in faith and begin rewriting the pages of life through new eyes, the new chapters complete God’s story for us. His stories are always the best ones ever told!

Please continue to pray for Tatyana and the children to whom she ministers. SGA Storyteller Elizabeth in Central Asia shares her story. . . .

This is an amazing story of Tatyana, who faithfully serves at the local children’s center. She is a woman with a huge heart, but also a very difficult life story. She went through very hard challenges in her life, but was still able to keep her heart strong for God and for ministry.

Tatyana is a woman originally from Russia. She moved to [Central Asia], got married, and gave birth to a beautiful daughter. But everything changed unexpectantly one day. They were driving in a car and got into an accident; she was the only one who survived.

After that horrible day, Tatyana saw no meaning in life, didn’t know how to go on, and found solace in alcohol. She lived that way for quite some time. One day after a night of drinking, she and her friends woke up in an apartment to find a dead body. No one remembered anything, and in the end, she and her friends were arrested. It was in prison that her journey toward God began. Our sisters began ministering to women in prisons and Tatyana became interested, starting to attend the prayer room. She left prison a completely changed person. She agreed to every ministry opportunity that was offered to her.

Eventually, she married a fellow believer. They were sent to [a different city] to serve in evangelism. They rented a small room. They became friends with their neighbors and began helping them by providing food packages. Seeing Tatyana’s heart, many children were drawn to her. After seeing a great need, she and her husband organized meals for the children, since many came from troubled families, and some had no one at all and lived on the streets.

Unfortunately, over time, difficulties arose with her husband; for a while, she hid this (apparently he had started drinking). In the end, Tatyana and her husband were placed on probation because she didn’t immediately tell anyone what was happening in the family and tried to cover it up. Eventually, her husband left and Tatyana was left alone. Her heart was still burning with compassion for the children. She was later sent to the north, and it was from there that she was asked to go serve at another children’s center. It seems that the loss of her daughter has filled her with a deep love for other children. Every day, the children swarm around her, running to her; they truly love her.

She decided to devote her life to the children, and God is using her as a powerful instrument in their lives.