WILL YOU TAKE US TO MOSCOW?

Sergey and Marina, two siblings from the streets, have been with us for many years. In June 2003 Sergey finished his school, Marina is planning to get married.

This story by Anastasia Vern describes a tragic turn in their lives, a moment when they discover they don't have anybody.

1991: An alcoholic mother comes to Moscow with her children aged 7 and 5. In order to be able to by bread and vodka, she prostitutes herself and her daughter.

1995, May: Marina, 11, and Sergey, 9, occur on the very first photo we take of street children in Moscow. They begin to attend our street patrol.

1997, October: Marina and Sergey are housed in our Moscow shelter home among the first children. Sergey becomes a keen helper of the street patrol. Their mother, Claudia, leaves for rehabilitation at a Christian center for alcoholics and drug addicts.

This picture of Marina and Sergey - a random shot showing homeless kids on the streets - was the first photo taken within our street children's project. Later we realized these children were Marina and Sergey!

1998, September:
The children have recovered mentally and physically. Their mother returns from rehabilitation and moves with the children to their home village. We stay in touch with the family.

1999 and 2000:
Marina and Sergey spend their summer holiday on our farm together with the shelter home children.
Their mother has remained sober and the family has kept their faith. In the summer of 1999 Sergey, a serious young Christian, receives water baptism.

February 11, 2001:
The children call our shelter home and tell crying that their mother has been taken to a hospital in coma. "Will you take us, if our mother dies?" they ask. Anastasia Vern leaves for the children's home village in the same day.

Anastasia's report

Late in the following night I arrived in Tambov. As the first thing in the morning, I went to the social welfare office to talk to Lyudmila Polyakova who was responsible for children's affairs. In the beginning her attitude to me was suspicous.

Polyakova told that Marina's and Sergey's mother had died the previous night of untreated diabetes. "Why did you come here so quickly?" she asked me. "Several years ago we took the responsibility for these children", I answered. "You, of course, want to take them to Moscow?" Polyakova asked. I replied that my purpose is to help these children and to do it according to the laws so that everything be done properly. Polyakova then understood that I am not going to argue, and her attitude became more positive.

When I and Polyakova went to the children's home, I saw Marina on the street with her friend. She was crying hysterically. Some relatives and neighbors were in the house. At that moment Claudia was brought there. Her completely naked body was thrown in the middle of the room, wrapped in a dirty sheet. I was told that the relatives had refused to wash Claudia, for which reason Marina had to do it. The neighbors brought some clothes for Claudia. The social welfare office sent a coffin free of charge. It was damp and had been put together quickly of some boards so that chinks remained between them.



Sergey and Marina saying
goodbye to their mother.

Sergey was being looked for. When he was finally brought home, he didn't dare to go in. During the entire time when the mother's body was there, Sergey couldn't stay inside of the house. When he saw me, he seemed relieved. "You will take us to Moscow, won't you" he asked. I hugged him and said: "Don't worry, be brave." He nodded.

Polyakova talked with the relatives about Sergey's and Marina's custody questions, but nobody was willing to take the children. Their uncle, Claudia's brother, came only in the evening, drunk as always. When Polyakova suggested that the uncle become the children's guardian, Marina pointed at the crook on the ceiling and said: "If uncle is made our guardian, tomorrow you can take me down from that crook."

Sergey said that whatever the decision, he will leave on the next day for Moscow. If I don't take him with me, he will travel after me by train. Uncle said that it doesn't make any difference to him and the best solution would be to burn the house. He even did not come later to the funeral, he went to drink.

When Polyakova suggested that it would be best to give the custody rights to our shelter home, I said that we agree under the condition that the children will be provided a place to live when they turn 18. Polyakova said that the children's uncle is not opposed to the house being transfered to them, but he doesn't want to have the official documents issued as it costs 1500 rubles. I told that we are ready to pay this sum for him.

On the next day, the office workers began to add more costs to this sum, and the prise rose to 5500 rubles. I stated that we cannot pay that much, and if they want, may the custody rights be given to a governmental orphanage and I will feed Marina and Sergey on the street. After hearing this Polyakova had a talk with Marina and then told that the children will be sent to our home in Moscow.

The office worker began to slowly write the documents, dropping hints that this work actually is not included in her job description and she only is wasting her time as she will not be paid. I said that she do only what she regards as necessary, I myself would anyway leave for Moscow on the next day. As she understood that I am not going to give her money, she called the child welfare committee and issued the documents for transfering the children's custody rights to our shelter home.

I spent the night in the home of an old lady next to the children's home. Sergey came with me, Marina slept at home with her aunt. Sergey kept on waking as he had the feeling that somebody was holding his legs and pulling him down. Marina fell asleep only when she was given sleeping pills. I warned her of taking more pills as during those days she had continually been taking sedatives.

At the funeral the children didn't cry. I think they didn't fully grasp what was going on. The only relative present was one of their cousins, a pretty well-off woman who brought a lot of foods. After she was gone, the neighbors shared the supplies among themselves and returned to their homes.

Sergey's class mates had collected some money and bought clothes and food as a farewell gift. It was a very touching moment when his friends came before our leaving with their mothers to bring the gifts and say goodbye. Everybody hugged Sergey and cried.

The same evening I sat with Sergey and Marina in the train for Moscow. The children were exhausted and fell into a restless sleep. I remained awake in the dark, stuffy cabin. Two things kept whirling in my mind: that these endless days were now over and that I had man-aged to bring Sergey and Marina to safety. Tomorrow, a new time would begin in their life.