The Samaritan woman went back to the people of Shechem, to tell them about the One Who knew everything back to about her, so Sveta is coming to the Old Bus Station in Tel Aviv to share with the women about The One Who touched her life, and changed her completely.

This is her story.

“In 1994, I came with my husband, my mother-in-law, and our baby daughter from Ukraine to Israel. We had no friends and no money. Soon, my husband and my mother-in-law pimped me out to our landlord in order to make the rent. When I was 20 years old, I left my husband and became a prostitute. I hated Israel and my plan was to make enough money and return to the Ukraine. However, I became addicted to alcohol and drugs to self-medicate. Every day got worse. Eventually, I lost all hope that my life could change. I was hopelessly addicted. I decided to return to my husband for a short time because I thought if we had another baby, maybe it would help me get my life together. My son was born addicted and immediately taken away from me by social workers. I soon hit rock bottom and went to the beach in order to kill myself with alcohol and drugs. I remember praying there that God would give my children a good mother, something I was unable to be the good mother that they needed and deserved. The Lord heard my prayer and the police found me. The police took me to the Emergency room. I was unable to walk and needed to go everywhere in a wheelchair. A kind medic who was a believer – talked to me for hours about God and encouraged me to go into a believer’s rehab community. “What would I find there?” I asked “Love,” he answered. I am so thankful that I took his advice. In this community, I saw people who had been just like me, whose lives had changed so much for the better. Some had their children returned to them. During this time, I cried a lot but I also noticed that my new friends had peace with God that had eluded me for so long. I started to believe that maybe God could love and care for me, too.

I began to read the Bible. The verse in Matthew 11:28-29 spoke to me in a personal way: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

I turned to God and asked him to forgive my sins and give me a new life. In time, my 13-year-old daughter began to visit me again. She had told me once that she hated me. and never wanted to see me again. However, when she saw the changes in me, she asked me to stay with the Lord forever.

I loved God and His Word but my personal problems continued to plague me and my dark past haunted me. In order to gain custody of my son, I needed to prove to the authorities that I could live independently. So, I moved into a flat on my own. I also had to pass a test in order to prove to them that I was capable of being a fit mother. After the day-long evaluation, I was told that I had zero chance of having my son returned to me. (I later learned from friends inside the social work system that I had been set up to fail because the wealthy, well-connected family who were caring for my son wanted to adopt him.)

I was devastated. I began to drink again. My friends all turned away from me and I felt utterly alone again. Therefore, I began to drink more and more.

One day, two strangers knocked on my door. My friend and social worker had asked them to stop by and check up on me. They took me to the ER and then a couple of days later into their home, where I recovered from severe alcohol poisoning. I stayed with them for a month and we became friends. We read the Bible together every day and I listened to lots of worship music. During my time there, I was restored spiritually and physically.

In spite of my poor chances, I still wanted to do everything I could to gain custody of my son. I voluntarily entered a nearby yearlong state rehab program. Eventually, the authorities stopped the adoption process and gave me a chance to visit my son on a more regular basis. I finished the program successfully and, afterwards, I went to live on my own, near my friends who had been waiting for me. For eighteen months or so, my son came home for weekend visits. And then, on 31 July 2013, my precious boy was returned to me! God answered my prayer that day on the beach and gave me another chance to be the good mother that I had prayed for.

I was alone for my whole life. Living off and on the streets of Tel Aviv, I was an addict for thirteen years. But God had a plan for me. He adopted me into His family. He restored my children to me. He gave me real friends. In fact, he gave me more than I ever thought was possible. Not just freedom from addiction to drugs and alcohol. But true freedom to live my life for Him.”