states: ”And I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free....” I wholeheartedly

agree. My heart fills with gratitude to God and this wonderful land where, regardless of who I am, where I came from, or what my goals are, I have that priceless gift of freedom. Freedom to

pursue my dreams. Freedom to worship. Freedom to get an education. These freedoms, however,

My story begins in Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union. My parents had graduated from college and gotten married. In 1985 my oldest brother Paul was born, and one year later Victor, my twin brother, and I were born. Olga, the youngest, was born three years later.

Life was arduous for everyone in the Communist Soviet Union. It was especially difficult for Christians. Christians, both young and old, were mocked, slandered, and persecuted. Young Christian students were given bad grades by the teachers. Through all this the young people trusted God and kept their faith as they got older. My parents were like this.

one of the first questions asked was if he was part of the Komsomol, the Communist party. When my father answered that he was not they would ask why. After he explained that he was a

Finally, three years after my parents had applied for visas we could depart for America. My grandparents and other relatives were also granted visas to leave. On April 2, 1992, we left our country. Even though I was five years old, I still remember the day. We were happy and sad when we left. Many relatives were left behind, but we knew that we were going to a country where there opportunities, freedom, and a future

ising four young children in a country that was harsh to

God answered their prayers. Somehow the government found out that there were many families that had been denied visas and called for interviews with these families. Slowly they began to let these families go to America. In December of 1991 we went to Moscow for our interview. The government granted us permission to leave the country. They even gave our citizenship back.

the government began to let people leave the country. My parents and other relatives decided to go through the application pr

Some topics in this essay:
America December, Soviet Union, Christian Jewish, Christians Christians, Christians Jews, Komsomol Communist, American I’m, Ukraine America, Bless USA”, Lee Greenwood’s, soviet union, leave country, parents trusted, somehow government, left country,