“We Had Nothing, but We Had God and That Was Enough” - with Yaroslava Malkova

Perrine sits down with Yaroslava Malkova, Brand Director at 971 Hospitality, and one of the most quietly influential creative voices shaping hospitality today.  Known for her sharp creativity and strong character, Yaroslava steps into a rare moment on the other side of the camera to share her story of faith, resilience, and the kind of upbringing that shapes a person from the inside out.Born in a tiny village in far east Russia and raised in a home built on prayer, service and Sabbath rest, Yaroslava’s childhood was anything but ordinary. She opens up about growing up in the church her parents founded, witnessing miracle after miracle, and watching her mother hold a family together with strength, dignity and faith. She also tells the powerful story of her parents adopting children who had been abandoned and desperately ill, and the way God’s timing saved their lives.From her early years in rural Russia to arriving in the UK with almost nothing, Yaroslava shares how church community, divine appointments and unexpected helpers carried her through some of the hardest seasons of her life. She reflects on years of working multiple jobs, studying in a foreign language, cycling hours in the rain because she could not afford the bus, and later meeting the people who would become her family in London and eventually lead her into the world of hospitality.Together, Perrine and Yaroslava explore:growing up in a conservative Christian home and how that shaped her characterwatching her parents build a church from scratchthe miracles that marked her family’s storythe power of a mother’s prayerlearning resilience through hardship and healing through therapythe story of being supported by her church when she could not afford her studieshow giving, faithfulness and generosity opened doors years laterbuilding a career in hospitality through creativity, trust and communitywhy she does not see her work as a job but as a lifestylenavigating identity, culture and calling after moving across the worldthe importance of accountability, loyalty and people who push you toward GodYaroslava also shares the moving story of how her own consistency and boldness in faith influenced Perrine’s journey back into church leadership. Their friendship is a testimony to the way God uses people to guide, strengthen and redirect us at exactly the right time.This episode is a reminder that God can take someone from a tiny village with nothing and write a story filled with purpose, provision, beauty and calling. As Yaroslava says, “We had nothing, but we had God and that was enough.”⁠Produced by Pineapple Audio Production.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the journey on Instagram at @peaceandpurposewithp.⁠