Adriana journey because of sponsorship.....

Adriana, Ternopil, Ukraine site, is 19 now, but she has a little slip of paper that takes her back in time.

“My journey with Chalice started eight years ago," she says. “I remember the day when my mom took me to a place where I wrote my first letter to Chalice. I still keep the draft sheet of my first letter and sometimes reread it. It brings up unforgettable memories.”

“I remember how excited and grateful I was to find out that I got sponsored. It was somebody I had never met who offered to support me.”

Adriana and her twin sister Snizhana are the eldest of a very large family. “I am blessed to have my wonderful parents and 12 siblings: six brothers and six sisters,” she says. “Our parents work very hard to keep such a big family, but I realize how hard it has been for them to provide for us.”

As soon as the snow melts, she and her family are out in the farm fields, where they grow a cornucopia of foods: buckwheat, soybeans, corn, beets, carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic, cabbage, tomatoes, and cucumbers. “Later we cook delicious meals made with fresh-from-the-garden veggies,” she says.

Whenever Adriana looks at that draft letter to her future Chalice sponsor, she remembers how important that moment was for her, and her family.

“From that day on, my life started to change. The sponsorship program has made a great impact on my family’s life." Along with Adriana, four more siblings were sponsored through Chalice’s Ternopil site.

"Owing to regular sponsorship support, we have had proper nutrition even in the times when our parents didn’t have any income. Foods, clothing, and school supplies helped us get our basic needs met.

“I owe my happiest moments in life to the site, which has become my second family.”

"I realize how many wonderful things I have experienced with the site and how blessed I am to be a part of the sponsorship program. Our family really appreciates sponsorship for five of us. It’s a tremendous support.”

She looks back fondly over eight years of site Christmas celebrations, especially their famous talent shows. "Whether it was a dance, a song, or poetry recitation, every performance was appreciated. These moments have become my everlasting memories.” She also “loved to receive a Christmas card from my sponsor. In return, I make my own card every year to show how much I appreciate her support.”

Always big sisters at heart, Adriana and Snizhana are happiest when they’re working with children. Every summer, they volunteer at a Christian summer camp. Adriana is now pursuing teaching in college.

"I adore children and know that I have chosen a career path that is right for me. The sponsorship program has given me a chance to pursue my dream and achieve my goal to become a teacher.”

“Chalice is a gift from Heaven. I am infinitely grateful to the founder of the sponsorship program and all donors who provide such precious support. If it wasn’t for Chalice, my life wouldn’t be so bright.”