HYC Novosibirsk: Anthony Herrera and Makar Donskoy
A Tale of Two brothers..., one Russian from Moscow, and one American from Los Angeles... and another HYC baptism!
Anthony Herrera and 16 year old Markar Donskoy met on the first day of the Novosibirsk HOPE Youth Corps. They did not speak the same language, and they came from opposite sides of the world, but they felt an instant connection.
They shared a love of sports, and they immediately bonded, talking about their lives, and becoming fast friends.
Makar grew up in the church, but had not sought a close relationship with God yet. HYC opened his eyes and his heart.
Hope Youth Corps allowed Makar to make decisions on his own and be away from home, focusing on serving and learning more about himself. He prayed with brothers, and the friendships on Youth Corps allowed Makar to see the beauty of being a Christian at a young age and the benefits of it all! One moment that transformed Makar was Bible talk at Lenin Square. This Bible talk gave him the opportunity to share his faith and invite others to hear more about God and learn about being the 'Salt of the World'. Makar and Anthony met some teenagers who were their age.
Anthony says, "At first, Makar and I were so scared because they were smoking and had a group of skaters with them. The two guys who came out were heavily involved in drugs and did not live with their family. I (Anthony) used drugs before I became a Christian and could completely relate to these guys in what they were going through. Makar translated everything and shared with the guys that his friendships at school were fake and had him feeling like he needed approval of people to feel secure. Makar demonstrated to the guys that short term reltaionships with girls in the world are obsolete. The two guys were amazed by Makar and me, and wanted to know God more and come to church. They came to Sunday service and began studying the bible. This truly was a turning point in Makar's life because he saw people's lives changed through the Bible.
We were of course amazed by the orphanages and moved powerfully, but the personal contact made Makar feel connected to Jesus. HOPE Youth Corps introduced new relationships for Makar around the world and painted a beautiful picture for his future."
On the last day of HYC, Anthony and Makar left each other hugging and crying. The three weeks of HYC changed Makar's life!
And Makar was baptized this Sunday!
Again and again, HOPE Youth Corps transforms the lives of young people from all other the world. They make connections with God, with the poor, and with each other, that change their future for eternity!
