Olesia

My name is Olesia, but I prefer Lesia. I live in the small Czech Republic town of Jirkov with my husband. My parents and grandmother also live here. I was born in Kherson, Ukraine, and grew up in a loving family, though not a Christian one. We were always close, supported each other, and openly expressed love. I truly enjoyed my life in Kherson and never wanted it to change. However, everything changed on February 24, 2022, when Russian troops invaded Ukraine and occupied my hometown. We could not leave right away and had to stay under occupation for almost a month. My mom and I managed to escape to the Czech Republic, but my dad and older brother had to remain behind because it was too dangerous for men to travel at that time. I was only 15 then, and after everything we went through with the war, I began to see the world differently. It was almost as if I had grown ten years older overnight.

I accepted Christ into my heart at my first Young Life camp, a year before the war. At that time, I was not a believer and did not think Christianity was for me. I thought Christians seemed weak and boring. However, during that week at camp, complete strangers became like family and I saw a joy in them I had never known. On the last day of camp, I felt Jesus speak to me and, for the first time, I consciously responded to Him. I started going to Young Life clubs. Some of my old friends did not accept the change in me, but the Young Life community supported me, prayed for me, and taught me the foundations of my faith. I am now a Young Life leader. 

As a recipient of the Developing Global Leaders scholarship, I am studying science and medicine at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. I want to be a doctor, and I hope to share Jesus with many people around me.