Catherine

My name is Catherine, and my friends call me Katya. I live in a large city in northwestern Russia. I have two brothers and a sister and currently live in an apartment with my mother, younger brother and sister. I have a good relationship with each of them. One of the more painful moments of my childhood was my parents’ divorce; it was a long process and I had to take part in court issues. During that time, my dad stopped giving us money and now gives us practically nothing, leaving my mother to support us on her own. We no longer have a connection with my dad other than the occasional times he will come to our apartment to take our things, as the apartment is registered in his name. I pray that God will teach me and help me to forgive my dad.

I have gone to church since childhood because my mother took us and is a believer in Christ. Many people in our church also serve in the Young Life ministry so I began doing Young Life as a child. My faith in the Lord changed and grew after I went to Young Life camp. I came home excited to lead my peers to Christ. The next school year, I invited many friends to Young Life, some of whom gave their lives to Jesus and became a part of the church. I am now a leader, and I plan and create decorations for clubs and camps.

As a recipient of the Developing Global Leaders scholarship, I am studying media and communications at a large university in the city where I live. After graduation, I want to go into freelance work and have a private web design business while continuing to serve teenagers through Young Life.