Widow Visit to Lidya Kozir

Recently, Irina Donochenko visited with one of our homebound widows, Lidya, and we’d like to share a little bit about her.

Lidya came to church in 2005. She remembers all events in the church. She liked to come to worship services. After the second church was organized by Roger, she joined it. 

Lidya knew God from a young age. She was raised in an orphanage and she can remember when the Nazi’s started a fire in the village in 1941, where the orphanage was. Children hid under the beds and prayed God’s prayer. After telling this story to Irina, Lidya prayed God’s prayer like it was during the war.

Lidya is now 86, and although life brought her different trials—her daughter died after a car accident and had no children—she still trusts God.

Lidya used to live in small apartment in a good district in Kyiv. However, the apartment was taken from her and she received another one far from the center of Kyiv. When Irina entered her house, she saw the sign “Specialized house for war and work veterans, invalids”. Lidya later explained that it’s like a retirement home and she can live there until she dies.

Lidya lives alone and her health has become worse—she walks with walkers and canes. Social workers take care of her. Her son-in-law married another woman that is like a daughter-in-law for Lidya. Her son-in-law helps her to buy food using the cards. Thankfully, she has a good pension because she worked for 54 years. Lidya is very grateful to the mission for the care we provide because she spends a lot of money on medicines. 

Lidya and Irina spoke for three hours while enjoying tea and pancakes. Lidya shared about her life and asked Irina to tell about her life as well. They discussed a lot of God’s word, read Psalms, and prayed together. 

Overall, Lidya went through quarantine very easily. She said: “God is with me, I pray in the morning and at night. I read Psalms!” She invited Irina to come again because she had such a great time—it was like a worship service for her. 

Glory to God for our mission and work we get to do for the elderly.