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Sveta's Story
Kazakhstan
Sveta's Story
Sveta was born with a developmental disability. Speaking was a challenge for her from the beginning, noises aggravated her and she absolutely could not stand her mother’s singing. Not so much because the singing was bad, but rather because there was just something about it that was hard for her senses to absorb.
Each time she heard the sound of it, she would cover her ears and scream.
Earlier in the year Sveta and her mother, Marina, discovered a Young Life club in their city. Saturday nights quickly became the highlight of the week, and there was nothing that Sveta anticipated more each weekend.
Club leaders also invited them to come to church. For Marina, church and Christianity was not something she was hearing about for the first time. Years ago, when she was a little girl, her family took her to church every Sunday morning. Marina could even remember a few hymns – singing and worship was always her favorite part.
So, when she learned that Sveta could not tolerate the sound of her singing, it filled her heart with a deep sadness.
As the holidays approached, Marina knew that kids at the club were going to be getting very special gifts. She heard that the ‘leaders’ had been working extremely hard for the past month putting together something they called “Advent Calendars”.
The moment she brought her Calendar home, Sveta inspected the contents. In her package she found 25 small bags. Each bag contained a figurine from the Christmas story, a scripture that told part of the Christmas story, a small gift, a treat, and an activity related to that day’s scripture that Sveta could do with her mother. She arranged them all neatly on the wall.
Every day leading to Christmas, Sveta and Marina would open one of the bags and spend time talking about Jesus, reading scripture, and doing a fun activity together.
On day seven of their journey, when Sveta read about Mary rejoicing in song of praise at the news the angel brought to her, the activity was simple. She was to grab whatever they had in the kitchen – spoons, bowls – and use them as instruments to create music and sing a joyful song in celebration of the good news.
Sveta was thrilled. Marina cringed at the thought.
They were having such a good time but this activity could ruin it all.
And that is when something miraculous happened.
Sveta enthusiastically grabbed her instruments and started making music. Suddenly, an old worship song she used to sing as a child entered Marina’s mind. But, she hesitated.
“Do you mind if I sing along a little?” she asked Sveta holding her breath.
Sveta didn’t respond.
Seeing no obvious protest, Marina decided to take the risk. With great caution she started humming along.
No reaction.
As the singing got a little louder though, Marina couldn’t believe her eyes.
Her daughter was... smiling!
Marina kept singing.
There was no doubt in her mind that at that moment, the Lord was right there with them. Her heart leaped with joy.
And in that, moment she knew that Jesus was holding her precious girl in his loving embrace.
About the Advent Calendar Project
The Project started several years ago in Kazakhstan as an effort to bring the Word of God straight into the homes of kids with special needs whose families are mostly Muslim.
This year, 160 kids with special needs received an Advent Calendar.
"There is so much out fo our control, but we deeply believe that the power of the Word can do the very things we, in our human power, cannot. This is why we have a team of 15 dedicated leaders who take turns praying and fasting for each individual child who received the Advent Calendar. We get to do this because we personally know each one, and it is great privilege for us to be able to life them before the Lord." ~Tatiana, Capernaum Leader
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