Back from the land of the dead

“While living surrounded by the graves, it seems that we began to bury ourselves alive too... Well, that was until you published our story, which reached the hearts of hundreds of people! I have no words,”- Larisa timidly wipes away her tears, hugging her daughter Mariam.

It is so scary around! The cold gets into the bones, and you keep thinking about that mother and daughter who are trying to survive in these unbearable conditions. Do you remember the story of the Sikharulidze family we published recently? https://chernovetskyifund.ge/en/projects/661-sikharulidze/. And it's even more surprising that these people look so happy now!

“Yes, I am very happy because my mother does not cry anymore. It has been a long time since she was so happy and contented. It was unbearably painful for me to see her crying, and now she smiles, as she used to smile many years ago, when I was little girl! " - says Mariam.

- We are really happy that the life of your family has changed after a touching story about you was published. Larisa, please tell us more about this.

Larisa: Do you remember the day, when I told you about our miserable existence in this place surrounded by graves - I was devastated emotionally and life almost had no meaning for me? We asked kind people to share some bread with us; any help would have been a huge gift for me and my daughter. I could not even imagine the things that happened after that. Please, look around – we had no appliances at all here, and now we have a TV that a priest brought to us. We can spend lonely and cold evenings now watching TV together with Mariam. We love to watch movies and to imagine our future - that one day we will get off the cemetery and start living among good and kind living people. The washing machine turned out to be an extraordinary thing - now the laundry does not smell damp anymore and it dries quickly! Finally, we got a refrigerator, it’s so beautiful!

There are also gifts from the good man David - a new bed where my child sleeps, and a computer! I would never have saved money for these things in my life, I could only dream about that! You make the dreams come true! Our life is again filled with meaning and hope! God bless you!

- Larisa, thank you for your kind words! What did you remember the most? Maybe you remember the names of people, who helped you?

Larisa: How can I forget the names of people, who saved my child from starving to death? Dozens of complete strangers called me, asking about what we needed. Some people texted me saying they did not have the opportunity to help, but they supported me with their words, they asked me not to despair and believe that God would not leave us. So it happened, and it is very symbolic that the very first person who came to visit us was a priest - he brought us a TV and said that he would pray for us. Is not that a miracle? I also remember the girls who visited us - they work in some store. They got horrified when they read the story about us. They raised money and bought us some meat, pasta, and butter for us. Not long ago one man visited us together with his little son. They brought us foodstuffs, household chemicals, clothes and gave 30 GEL to Mariam. My girl could not believe her eyes - she never saw so much food in her life! I am so grateful that you appeared in my life!

- Larisa, was there any feedback from the local authorities to our post? Maybe you have addressed them again?

Larisa: There was no feedback at all, and there is no point to address them again.

- Let's not talk about sad things, Larissa. Did you expect such support from the friends of the Fund? What emotions did you experience?

Larisa: Of course! My belief in good is unshakable - I hoped for the help of kind, caring, and empathetic people. How would my daughter and I have survived to this day, if not for their help? And furthermore, I had heard a lot about the Fund and the support that you provide to those in need. But I could not imagine that number of calls with words of empathy, the number of visitors sharing food and clothes with us. Mariam and I were shocked, and now our happiness knows no bounds. I am very grateful to everyone who showed compassion to us during such difficult period of the pandemic!

- Larisa, what does this help mean to you?

Larisa: What was my life like before you appeared in my life? The main purpose of my life was to find some food for my child for tomorrow, not to let her starve or freeze to death. While I was struggling for survival surrounded by graves - a lonely adult woman - I have completely forgotten how it feels when somebody takes care of you. When caring people began to call and visit us, I again felt like a beloved child. It’s an indescribable feeling! After dozens of years, I seemed to have returned to a carefree childhood, where there is no place for despair... You all became relatives to me and my child, you gave us hope for a better life. Thank you!

- Larisa, I’d like to talk to your daughter, you are so emotional while speaking about her. Mariam, how did your life change after our publication?

Mariam: With your help, we’ve got new home appliances, which made our life much easier. You also brought me a lot of beautiful clothes, and most importantly - now I have a computer, I can attend online lessons, watch my favorite films and TV series, search for the necessary information. I really want to change our life for the better and I hope that I will succeed. I will study and do my best for this ... And I also want to thank you for the sweets, I haven't eaten so much chocolate for a long time! It was so nice that complete strangers supported us so much!

- Dear Mariam, we wish you all success! Larisa, let’s continue our conversation. Do you have any other problems which we could help you to solve?

Larisa: I am embarrassed to ask for anything else - considering the crisis in our country, there are many people besides my daughter and I, who need help. Of course, the problems still remain, and it will be difficult for us until I start working... Most of all, I worry about Mariam's health, she has bad teeth, she often has toothache... She needs some teeth to be filled, but I don’t have money for that. If anybody has chance to help us with that - I will be very grateful!

And the dream of my life is to get away from here with my Mariam, to have our own space - cozy and nice, like other people have! We will be grateful for any help, be it food, clothes, or financial support. I would also be happy to receive your calls and to hear your kind words of support! Thank you for everything!

***

Dear friends, these people huddle on 10 square meters, surrounded by graves... They are all alone and they need our help since we are their last hope for survival. Please, let us join again to support them! It’s in our power to save Larisa and Mariam from starving to death!

If you have a heavy heart because of everyday problems or unresolved issues, as a distraction just see our posts on Facebook, or better dial the number of any of our beneficiaries. Call them and you will forget about your problems. Because they are nothing in comparison with the problems of those to whom you opened your good heart and came to help in the most difficult moment of their life.

Our problems are noting if compared... Here are true misfortunes, in front of your eyes! Just thank the Lord for what you have. You are the happiest person in the world! Remember this and help those in need.

Unfortunately, problems of this and other families do not end here and now... Therefore, from time to time, look through the stories of unhappy people on our website, talk to them. Every time you dial the Phone of an unhappy person, God is blessing you! For sure! Go on helping these families! This is the best service to the Lord!

 Your kindness is a chance for yourself to be happy in everything!

Friends, thanks again to all!

Our Fund’s accounts are:

#GE15TB7194336080100003

 #GE42LB0115113036665000

#GE64BG0000000470458000

(Purpose: the Sikharulidze family).

You can also transfer money from our website https://chernovetskyifund.ge/en/projects/661-sikharulidze/.

It is also possible to transfer money from ОРРА, TBCpay and ExpressPay terminals. Find our Fund under "Charity" section (You can read more about rights and responsibilities of the Fund following the link https://goo.gl/GY2Gus).

One call saves life - 0901 200 270.

Let's believe that helping others, we take care of our own souls and draw closer to Lord through the suffering that we share with others!