Iryna

My name is Ira, and I'm from a small town in Central Ukraine, but now I live alone in Vinnytsia, where I moved to study at the university. The greatest influence in my life has been the example of my parents, who showed me God and His love for me, and taught me to love Him not just with words, but by my actions as well. The biggest blow for me was the death of my mother from a serious illness when I was eleven years old. It was very painful, but even then, I felt God's love and support.

I've always been a part of the church thanks to my parents, but the turning point was Young Life camp, where I had the opportunity to reflect on my life and my relationship with God. It was as if I heard His voice speaking to me. From that moment on, every doubt about His existence disappeared, and complete devotion and love for Him was born. Now I am a leader and continue to fulfill our mission of loving teens like Jesus in Vinnytsia. My main motivation is to serve teenagers for the sake of their future and the future of our country. I want to see them personally develop their relationship with Christ and teach others about it.

Having witnessed my mother's suffering during her illness, I wanted to be someone who could alleviate the suffering of others, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. As a Developing Global Leader, I am attending a local university and studying to become a doctor and hope to specialize as an anesthesiologist. I will be the first in my family to graduate from university.