At the end of July, Galina was admitted to the hospital for a planned surgery. It was mid-summer, a time leading up to the gathering of the harvest and the birth of her third grandchild. At 54 years old, Galina and her entire family had hopes that after the operation, she would be able to recover quickly and return to her everyday life - taking care of the household, helping her children and looking after her grandchildren. However during the surgery, the doctor discovered that the pain and discomfort bothering Galina was not inflammation as diagnosed previously, but the final stage of cancer that had spread to her abdominal organs. Galina went through a major operation, after which she entered the intensive care unit with disappointing forecasts from the doctors...
Galina's family was worried and prayed to God. Katia, our sister in Christ and Galina's daughter, asked the church to be persistent in prayer. She sought comfort in her conversations with disciples, scriptures and prayers of healing for her mother. The most difficult part to accept was facing the fact that her mother may die while suffering in a coma. Katia was worried about the salvation of her soul. Over many years, she had invited her mother to church and offered to study the Bible with her, knowing that only by becoming a disciple of Christ and being baptized that a person acquires forgiveness from sins and the gift of salvation. Galina refused and often spoke negative words against her daughter's way of life in Christ. 
The doctors declared that if Galina did not receive consciousness within seven days, there was no hope. We decided to pray for God to give Galina a final chance. Another chance for her wake up for at least a few days to confess her sins and get baptized in accordance with the scriptures. Days passed by quickly, one after another. Desperate prayers and faith in God's love towards her mother gave Katia hope to hear good news from the hospital.
And so, one day Katia called and found out that her mom was feeling better and that she had regained consciousness. Without delay, Katia rushed to the hospital and shared about God, Christ and repentance. Galina agreed to study the Bible and live her life according to scripture. She had little physical strength, and at times when we were reading scripture or praying together, we would take a break until Galina's pain subsided. Confessing one's sins, admitting faults, deciding to deny oneself, and trusting God in all circumstances are difficult steps for a strong, healthy person, but Galina made these decisions in faith despite her physical weakness.
On August 18, Galina was baptized and became our sister! The fact that God has forgiven sins and has given his daughter virtue - his Spirit, as promised in Acts 2:38-39, was obvious. Her suffering and pain in her dying flesh was turned into glowing happiness and healing. After her baptism, we went into the living room, to look at photos from family albums. Reflecting on Galina's wedding, her three children and the events from the life of her grandchildren, the room was filled with joy and light.
The doctors noticed Galina's improvement as they began preparing for her chemotherapy. It is a harsh operation and unfortunately, without it, modern medicine cannot cure cancer. Patients undergoing this kind of treatment need physical strength. And Galina, though she was feeling better, was still fairly weak. We prayed and waited.
During this time, Galina lived as a disciple. She prayed to God, listened to recordings of Sunday sermons, and had Katia read scriptures to her (she herself could not read). She had multiple conversations with her husband about God as he lovingly and carefully cared for her. As a result, he began to read the Bible.
In mid-September, Galina's health dramatically turned worse. Galina was taken away in an ambulance and admitted back in the hospital. The cancer had spread and began to attack her vital organs. We were with Galina during the last hours of her life. While visiting her in hospice, we witnessed her soul fighting in her wounded body for perserverance and faithfulness to God.
On September 24, Galina's life on earth ended and we have faith that she met face to face with our heavenly Father. Over Galina's 54 years on Earth, she received much...a loving husband and beautiful children and grandchildren. But most importantly, she was able to receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life through repentance, baptism and accepting Christ as her Lord!
When we asked Galina during her Bible study what influenced the change of attitude in her heart, she responded, "There, in the hospital after surgery, I saw a struggle between good and evil for me. And I saw that evil was winning."
God answered our prayers by giving Galina another chance. With the armor of Christ, she was fighting for her relationship with God and the promise of eternal life.
At the funeral, we experienced varying emotions. It's hard to lose your mom and realize she is no longer present in your life. But there is joy in knowing that she is in the arms of our Father. It gives us hope in being together with God in heaven for eternity! God is the ultimate source of hope and peace even through the most challenging moments in our lives, such as loss.
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." -- Ephesians 6:10-13 (KJV)
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