our friend max from tajikistan

A few days ago, we posted Alex' testimony...now here is Max's testimony:
Chesnov Maxim (Testimony for the US) My name is Maxim, I’m 22; I live in the city of Dushanbe, Tajikistan. I will share my testimony. From the time I was a little boy, I have lived without parents. I have not seen my father since I was born. My mom and I lived with her husband (my first stepfather) who at first was a good father and husband. But he began to drink all the time. He would come home drunk and beat my mom endlessly. Sometimes he beat me. It continued until it was almost every day. At that time, I was nearly two years old.
Mom and I began living in different houses, rented apartments and with friends. At times we simply lived on the streets. This continued until Mom met one more man. He was the son of leprous parents; His parents lived in a leprosy colony. Since he lived with his parents, we had to move into a leprosy colony ,too.
But her trouble continued. Because he was a drug addict, after a while my mom began to be on drugs too. We lived there four years. After 4 years of living this life in the leprosy colony, we again returned to the city of Dushanbe. I was 6 years old.
In the city mom began to meet friends – drug addicts and to accept drugs. It continued until mom was put in prison for 5 years. I was left absolutely alone without anyone or anything
Around 8 years old, I began to live in cellars or on roofs when it was necessary. I began to beg, steal, and earn money for a piece of bread . Polishing shoes was my first job. In a week I earned $1.50.
Then I began to wash cars. It was necessary to fight for a place to work. Because other children had parents who did not work, either. Then it worked out that I could work at a stable and groom horses. I worked there one month. All this time I was living on the streets.
After enduring all this, I decided to go back to leprosy colony to my stepfather and to ask him if I could live with him for a while. He agreed.
There was a small garden with fruits and vegetables. I looked after it (watered, and planted). One week prior to my arrival some foreigners from an organization brought help. They gave us sugar, flour and other goods.

My stepfather had collected a bag with products for my mom. He sent me to a church of evangelical Baptist Christians in Dushanbe. They had contacts who took things to prison. I took the items to the Baptist church. It was Sunday morning. There I met the person who was responsible for the prison services. Before he took the items for my mom, he asked me, “where do you live, and where are your parents?” Having learned about my life, he suggested that I live in «the Children's Rehabilitation Center» at the Baptist church. I agreed. At the age of 13, I began to live in «the Children's Center».
At 13 years old, I had never been to school. The church helped me, by placing me in school. I was accepted at once into the second grade. The Program normally takes 11 years. I finished in 6 years.
In 1998 I began visiting the Church and I accepted Jesus into my heart. I have understood that only He can change my life. In 2002, I was baptized. I try to serve the Lord in every way that I can. I sing in the choir and I help with youth services.
The Lord has blessed me with a family. On July 13th, 2008, I got married. My wife and I now wait for the birth of our first child. We live with her parents in one court yard. I have constructed a small room at the end of the court yard.

Now I am studying economics management at the university. I am very grateful to the Lord that he has protected me all my life. Now I understand it. The work which the HANNA PROJECT is doing renovating and expanding the children's center at the Baptist Church is very important. With this expansion, it will be possible to lodge even more children who do not have anyone or anything. These children today are on the streets. They die of hunger and cold, without ever having learned about

God’s Divine love. Today each of us can help them. Everyone can offer a helping hand. Just like it was done for me during the most difficult moments of my life when it seemed that there was no hope of a life. I told myself that it was the end. Then Jesus reached out his hand to me to help me and told me to lift up my eyes and hands to the sky, because it is only the beginning, the beginning of a life which I give you!!!

Today thanks to Jesus who has helped me through kind people, such as you. And by your prayers, I can stand on this place and testify to you of this life. Alleluia!!!!!Thank God!!!!!