Alyona

My name is Alyona and I live in a large city in central Asia, with my father and mother. My parents are not particularly religious, but we attend the Orthodox Church as a family. From childhood I believed that God existed, only I did not know who He was or what He thought of me. As a child, I did not have exemplary Christians in my life, in fact I was discouraged to pursue religion, therefore God remained a mystery to me.

I was a very obedient and correct child, but at the age of sixteen I met a more rebellious group of teenagers that drank, smoked, took drugs, and even ended up in police stations. At the time it seemed that they were fun and interesting. However, once in the summer, I accidentally found myself meeting with teenagers where no one drank, smoked or cursed, and they enjoyed playing games in the park. It was interesting, but immediately after this meeting I forgot about it. Sometime later I was invited to Young Life club where I met these same people; they were Young Life leaders! I loved my time at club so much. I realized that the entertainment I found at club was what I had wanted all my life, great fun without alcohol, cigarettes and other substances. Although I believed I was not worthy of God's love, I learned that God loves me for who I am, and that with God, I can cope with all my difficulties.

Now a Developing Global Leader, I am studying to be an interpreter at a local university. When I graduate, I want to work as a simultaneous interpreter able to assist and communicate with people from different countries. My ministry goal is to open a new club in my city so that I can tell teenagers about God, just as Young Life leaders once told me about Him. I will be the first in my family to graduate from university.