Yes, we are back.  It is a difficult two day journey.  My seventh.  I had hoped to see our sweet Nastya...though...it is so frustrating to send her back to the streets.  She has learned them well, so well now that she cannot pull herself from their grasp.  The story goes that she and three other girls were walking on a dark highway and drinking and going about their business of survival - by the only means they now know.  Nastya and two others began fighting and it moved into the road and before they knew it a car hit two.  One girl is now dead.  Nastya went to the hospital with her pelvis rebroken from two years ago when she was hit and run then.  She has a concussion and broken arm.  They wanted her to recline carefully in the hospital bed for at least a month for the pelvis to begin healing.  They cast the arm and planned to put in pins after things settled down a bit.

Auntie Alla was at her bedside and video taped the broken girl for me.  Scratches on her face were hidden by her arm as she cried. When Alla told her God had once again spared her life and she needed to give up prostitution, Nastya told her to leave and not come back.   Regretfully, the lack of addictive substances and lifestyle got the best of her.  She snuck out with two street boys who brought her clothes.  A few days before our visit she showed up at Auntie Alla's center with her mom but would not come in.  Alla said Nastya's mom looked bad.  Not the same as last time I saw her.  Her face was puffed out from alcohol and she is also living back on the streets.  Nastya had left some stuff at the hospital and wanted it back from Alla.  She was wearing a coat and holding her arm.  Some kids told Alla they are sure she removed the cast. 

I thought Nastya was at the bottom.  A four year old girl living on the streets and sleeping in sewers.  I thought that was as bad as it gets.  She just turned fifteen and is heading down into the darkness even further.  We are still praying.  Hoping.  Hope with us.  Pray with us.  Miracles can happen.