God only knows the many roads this child has walked. I am thankful that one day Sasha, at the age of nine, walked down the road that led him to me! Watching God blow away the dust and dirt to reveal unimaginable beauty has changed my heart forever. I first met Sasha at Myakovskogo, the government shelter where I work as an EZRA volunteer. Both parents were in prison. Sasha had known a life of begging and stealing. He told me that he was going to be a thief, that he would kill people and burn the Myakovskogo shelter down. He often seemed depressed and wanted to be alone. He initiated many fights with other children and talked about killing gypsies. I was told by another child that Sasha had urinated on a gypsy child while he slept. Sasha usually lost the many fights he started, but I never saw him cry. I thought to myself: What will become of this young life?

The children at the Myakovskogo shelter had the opportunity this summer to attend a ten-day Christian camp led by an American group. As I ministered at this camp, God intensified my love for Sasha. He was starved for attention, and would do anything for it. Once he climbed on the railing of a balcony and threatened to jump from the third floor! He said "nobody loves me”. Later when I attempted to talk with him he seemed to not even remember the incident! I stopped him from throwing a brick at one of the counselors. Everyday he took pens into his room and colored his body from head to toe. He usually took a gypsy boy named Robert with him and they covered each other with ink. When asked "why”, Sasha said, "because we are not beautiful”.

One afternoon two other counselors were burdened to intercede for this child. We cried out to God to rescue Sasha from this horrible life! 

One day Sasha asked me to walk with him. He walked with me to the edge of a forest and told me to run. I asked "why” and he said, "I know you want to run away from me, so I am letting you go.” I told Sasha that I love him and that I did not want to run away. He smiled, took my hand, and we walked back to camp.

I overheard Sasha tell some of the counselors "I love you”. He went to the counselors for hugs, and began to socialize with other children. On the day the Jesus film was shown, many of the children were inattentive, but Sasha sat in the front with his eyes glued to the screen. Children in the film told about how they came to know Jesus and Sasha moved closer to the television and watched and listened.

After Sasha watched this movie he was changed. He did not paint his body again. He wanted to sit with us and be cuddled. He would ask us to read the Bible to him. He rarely got into fights with peers, and became friends with Robert, the gypsy boy. He asked counselors to pray with him. What brought about the change in this child’s life? When Sasha watched the Jesus film, he believed. He started down the road of faith.

When Sasha left the camp, it was the first time I ever saw him cry. He was placed back at Myakovskogo. The teachers could not believe the change in Sasha! He asked me to help him write letters to the camp counselors and cried as he told me to say that he loves and prays for them. He held a cross in his hand and asked me if Jesus really died for him. The Master and Creator has set Sasha free, and the beauty of the masterpiece is magnificent!

Sasha now resides at Father’s House, a Christian orphanage outside of Kiev. He continues to heal and grow. What will become of this young life?