A Place to Belong: Dima’s Story of Transformation

A Troubled Beginning

Dima was known as the most difficult child at the day center. At just fifteen years old, he had already earned a reputation for being troublesome, a challenge for those who tried to help him. He had no father, and his mother, though not an alcoholic like so many others, was rarely present—always working abroad to support her four children. Each child had a different father, and they had come to Moldova in search of a better life. Instead, they found instability.

Dima spent much of his time on the streets. He would disappear for weeks, with no one knowing where he was or whether he had eaten. He struggled in school and had no real place to call home. He lived with relatives, but they could not provide the stability he needed. His life was a cycle of neglect and survival, with little expectation for anything more.

A Simple Invitation

Then, one day, a worker at the day center—a young man who himself was disabled and used a wheelchair—sensed that he needed to do something different for Dima. Instead of just offering him a meal at the center, he invited him into his home for dinner. This simple act of kindness was shocking to Dima. No one had ever treated him like he mattered before, like he was worth being invited into a family setting. Sitting at the dinner table with this man’s family was a foreign concept to him, but something inside him shifted.

That dinner turned into a pattern. The worker continued to invite Dima, taking him to events, spending time with him in the car, and simply being present. He didn’t just talk about love—he showed it. And as Dima received that love, he began to change.

A Life Transformed

The boy who once slept on the streets and avoided responsibility started to show up at church. Not because he was forced to, but because he wanted to. Eventually, he made a life-changing decision—he chose to repent and give his life to Christ. That was six months ago.

Today, Dima is not the same child who once vanished for weeks at a time. He still faces challenges, but he is different. He is growing, serving, and even helping the very worker who took him in. He now assists with leading programs at the day center, a place that once was just a meal stop but has now become a home.

The Power of Love and Stability

His transformation is a reminder of why this work matters. It is often slow and sometimes thankless, planting seeds of love that may take years to grow. But when the fruit does appear, it is worth celebrating. Dima is proof that something as simple as a hot meal and an open invitation can change the course of a life.

The day center is more than just a shelter. It is a safe place, a constant presence in an uncertain world. For children like Dima, it is the only stability they have ever known. And in that stability, they find hope.

Because someone saw Dima—not as a problem, but as a person—his story is now one of redemption, purpose, and a future that once seemed impossible. And for that, we celebrate.

👉 Listen to the full podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/842389/episodes/16895068

👉 Watch the interview: https://youtu.be/b-D7g001r_E