In Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment , the sinner, Raskolnikov, bows down and kisses the feet of the prostitute, Doina, wildly saying, “I [do] not bow down to you, I [bow] down to all the suffering of humanity.” A little, bright-eyed Romanian street girl named Izabela has participated in that suffering.

She was only six years old when her aunt took her to a Romanian partner organization that works with children at-risk. She tightly squeezed her aunt's hand as she explained how Izabela's mother made her beg on the streets. Izabela had just reached the age to start school, but her mother would not register her. The aunt asked the organization if they would take her into their children's home and care for her, and the organization eagerly complied.

Unfortunately, Izabela's mother did not. Though she has some psychological problems, she would not hear of losing her daughter. She registered Bela (as she's called) for school, but she was still sent to the streets to beg, which caused her to miss many days of school.

Still, the mother's love for Izabela is undeniable. In a culture where many mothers do not care for their children, it is even encouraging. But her love for her daughter did not keep an abusive, alcoholic boyfriend out of the home; it did not motivate them to clean their apartment and rid it of parasites; and it did not keep Bela from begging on the streets.

Bela is now 10 years old. She continues to go to school, where her teacher says she is one of her best students…when she's there. Bela still lives with her mother and is still sent out to beg. To “make up for” income lost when Bela is in school, her mother takes other street children into her home. She feeds them and gives them a place to sleep. The price for her service may be as much as $5 a day – more than the average Romanian daily salary.

Amidst the abuse and family dysfunction is a relationship of love and commitment between Izabela and her mother. They can easily be compared to Doina and her insane stepmother in Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment . Doina is the young girl who is forced to prostitute herself in order to bring money home to her alcoholic father, poor stepmother and younger siblings. Although she engages in a sinful occupation, Doina's innocence and sacrificial giving bring redemption to the poor and the lost.

Izabela has suffered because of her mother's psychological problems. Forced to beg on the streets, Izabela has suffered the disgrace of social sin. But she has accepted dishonor for the sake of her mother. May Izabela, just like Doina, be used to bring redemption to the poor ones that she loves.