Men, women, kids on bikes - even a few dogs - came out to Walk by Nicoleta on April 19th! $16,000 and counting was raised for Darius House and Sunshine School.

Lydia Flynn’s dog Winston got ‘off the couch’ and Walked for RCE.
Nicoleta and Otilia led the way!
No one worked harder than Otilia who walked one mile (not easy with a walker) and raised over $600 on her own.
Diana
Iona and Nicoleta
Nicoleta
Building friendship at Cornerstone School (Washington DC). The children made cards for Nicoleta and are excited about becoming ‘pen pals’ with Diana’s class at Sunshine School.
Ioana, Nicoleta, and Diana gave their testimonies at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda where they were welcomed by Pastor Rob Norris & Pastor Todd Smedley.

The sun was shining, the participants dedicated, and the fellowship along the trail was grand as about 90 men, women, children and dogs turned out to Walk, Run, Roll, or Bike for RCE’s Darius Houses and Sunshine School on April 19th.

Nicoleta and Otilia led the way! The girls had not seen each other for four years and their re-union was very sweet as they had once been good friends and roommates at Darius House. Nicoleta and Otilia came to Darius House in 2000 when they were 5 years old. There they received much-needed physical therapy, recuperative care and God’s love. Nicoleta had been rescued out of a state psychiatric orphanage where she had been labeled ‘irrecoverable’. Otilia too had suffered neglect and abuse before coming to Darius House.

By God’s grace both Nicoleta and Otilia now have families of their own! Nicoleta lives in Arad, Romania with her adopted family (her sister Ioana accompanied Nicoleta on the visit to the US) and Otilia with her family in Falls Church where she achieves more than most 13 year old girls – overcoming the challenges of cerebral palsy.

Students from Ambleside School were the heroes of the day. Ambleside is a Christian K-8 School located in Northern Virginia. The students pray regularly for the ministry of RCE, especially for the children at Darius Houses and Sunshine School. Together the Ambleside Students raised $4,875 dollars!

Parker Davis (fifth grade student) was the overall champ - he biked a total of 25 miles! Followed closely by Peggy Powars and Hannah James who each biked 16 miles, and Esther James not far behind at 15 miles.

A special thanks to all the children at Ambleside who found sponsors and then went the distance for the abandoned children in Romania. Their enthusiasm and dedication made the day.

Our special guests from Romania (Diana, Ioana, Nicoleta) were a blessing to many during their week in the States. Diana who is a teacher at Sunshine School told the story of her life as an orphan and how God has given her a heart for the special needs children at Sunshine School. Ioana, Nicoleta’s sister, explained how God brought her to work as a nurse at Darius House in 2000 – where she met and learned to love Nicoleta. In 2003 Ioana’s mother and father adopted Nicoleta. Today she is a bright, happy girl attending regular school and learning to play the flute. When she played at churches and small groups her very life gave testimony to the glory of God who rescued her.