We are currently
constructing two homes for the elderly, one in Koreston and the other
in Pulin, to help meet these needs. In each case, we are committed
to caring for a small group of eight to ten old babushkas. The widows
desperately need to be in a safe and secure environment where they
can spend the rest of their days in peace and quietness. The primary
target group is "the poorest of the poor" in the Zhitomir region --
those who live alone and have no family to take care of them. Each
facility will be similar to a "foster home" where a caregiver lives
in the building as resident director and gives the elderly the "family-like"
attention needed. Cost of the building in each case is in excess of
$200,000.
There are many
who are in desperate need of this kind of care. Tamara, who lives
in Sadtki, near Zhitomir, is one of them. There are hundreds more
just like her. It is expected that the widows will be admitted for
occupancy in mid-summer. At that time we will post pictures and a
brief biographical sketch of each widow for your information.
The homes will
be sustained by local initiative (community support, kitchen gardens,
and a percentage of the widow's pensions) and sponsors from abroad.
If you would like to sponsor a widow for $30/month, you can click
on the Donate button and we will link you up with a widow of your
choice.
If
you would like to donate to support a widow click HERE.
Tamara's
Story
"I was born in
the village of Sadki near Zhitomir. We were Germans. My father's name
was Schiewe. My mother and father had a nice farm. When the Communists
came we lost everything. They took our house, our cows, our machinery,
our furniture, even our silverware. Everything. We were very poor.
We ran from place to place. Our lives were in danger. Then the war
came. It was awful. My father died and my mother was left with four
small children. When the German Army retreated, we decided to stay.
I married a Pufahl,
but we had no children. Then my husband died. Later, my mother died,
too. Now I'm all alone. I have no one, except a few friends at the
Baptist church, which I attend. Life is hard. I live mostly on potatoes.
I also have a cow. I don't know what I'm going to do when I can't
take care of myself anymore. But I know that God is good and He will
take care of me." .
.
