Fulfilling Masha’s Childhood Dream

Many of you have heard Masha’s story before.

The daughter of an alcoholic orphan mother, she was removed to the orphanage system where she was abused, and began fighting with other kids as a way to cope. “Orphanage life is different from family life,” she said, “because kids who are at home feel loved and respected… I never felt any of that, all my childhood.”

Ten years ago, when she met the staff of Last Bell, she finally felt loved and valued. She became a Christian, and began healing and growing.

Masha this summer

We’ve walked beside her as she seeks God’s will for her future. She began studying to be a missionary, traveling as far as Georgia and Azerbaijan with YWAM (Youth With a Mission). But her plans fell through.

A couple of years ago, Andrey and Oksana Pankyeyev sat down with Masha and asked an important question: “What did you dream about as a child?”

Masha is gifted in sports and physical activities

Two years later, after much prayer and searching and many frustrations, Masha is finally pursuing her childhood dream: studying soccer coaching – along with ministry. She’s at the International Mission School of Precept Ministries Eurasia (in Moldova).

Masha’s soccer and ministry cohort at IMS

This is the perfect place for Masha, with her fiery evangelist spirit and love for people who need Jesus. She’s already dreaming about recruiting a soccer team that would also be an outreach group asking the question, “God, do you exist?”

Studying the Bible alongside soccer coaching

All of the photos here have been shared by Masha’s many IMS friends on social media. One young woman says Masha is “the most sincere and open friend at school.” She’ll graduate after three summers of study.

Masha’s willing to put in the hard work to succeed

Playing goalie

Ten years is a long time! But they were important for Masha’s personal growth, and thanks to the monthly donors who’ve funded our community of hope from the beginning, we’ve been with her for every disappointment and every moment of progress. Now we get to celebrate with her!

Masha’s IMS friends think she’s great!

Will you commit to a year of donating monthly so we can continue helping orphanage graduates survive and thrive?

A group from IMS traveled to church in another town, where Masha shared her testimony.

Here’s a video made by IMS inviting people to an open house, featuring Masha!