Week #5: Meet Natasha and Tanya...

On Monday, Jenny went with Social Services to the village of Rozvashev to pick up 6 children who live in desperate situations. The lives of two children in particular are terrible and here is their story...

Natasha (16 years old) and Tanya (4 years old) are cousins living together with Natasha's mom. Also, living in the home is the mom's husband, who is not the father of either of the kids. Tanya's mom is mentally challenged and unable to care for Tanya. Therefore, Natasha's mom has legal guardianship over Tanya. The men in the home are alchoholics and drink a lot. The smell of alchohol was evident to Jenny when she stepped out of the van. Natasha's mom grew up in an orphanage and by Jenny's observation was very mean and violent towards Social Services and we assume towards the girls also.

From what Jenny saw, the girls live in complete squalor and filth. When Jenny arrived, Tanya was wearing nothing but dirty underwear and covered in grime from head to toe. Tanya appeared to have not bathed in weeks. Both Natasha and Tanya came to camp with nothing but the clothes they were wearing and both of the girls had terrible lice infestations. Natasha's hair was so long and infested that we had to not only treat her head, but also cut her hair (bobbed it) to take care of the problem.

Next year, Natasha will go away to trade school and Tanya will be left alone at home. Tanya is too young for camp, but when Natasha got in the van, Tanya clung to her and begged her not to leave her. We shudder at the thought of what Tanya's little life will be like next year when Natasha goes away to school.

Natasha (16) and Tanya (4)

Jenny interviewed Natasha this afternoon and this is a paraphrase of what Natasha said about camp...

"The counselors here are so nice and treat us with respect. When we are playing sports and get tired, some of the counselors give up their chairs and invite us to sit down. This was the first time in my life I have heard a Bible story. I also learned in Bible class that boys shouldn't beat girls. I never knew this before."

Please keep Natasha and Tanya in your prayers as they return home to such a harsh life.