Dreams and blessings: the Bisa family

We all dream. What do you dream about? A new phone? A new bike or car?

We met the Bisa family a couple years ago as they we're looking for help starting a farm to provide food and money for their four young children. RCE helped them buy goats and gave them hope to dream more.

The Bisas dreamed of a house of their own. The family was living in one room of a relative’s home while they waited to build a house. The situation was difficult as their oldest daughter, Nico, started to go to school and needed a clean and quiet place to do homework.  

Last spring, as they were almost done saving to build a house, disease hit the goats and half of them died. The treatment for the others was so expensive that the family had to use their savings to protect what was left of their farm.

The dream that was so close to being fulfilled turned to dust. The family was in crisis and desperately needed help. 

We at RCE want to bring hope into sadness and light into darkness. We know nothing is impossible for our God, so we began to help the family despite the obstacles. But we didn’t know God was going heap blessings on this family in the form of willing hands and generous people.

We started to build the foundation in March and by September we already had the roof on! God sent several teams to do the labor, which made everything a lot cheaper. 

We want to take a moment to thank to everybody who was involved in this project by providing money, labor or prayers! May God bless you with at least the amount of joy you have brought to this family. 

Here is just a glimpse of the miracle that happened in that garden this year.

Making Mercy Happen, 2016

“What one day of love can do for someone who has never been loved . . . ”

On Friday night, Oct. 21st, RCE celebrated making mercy happen with friends and partners of the ministry at Fourth Presbyterian Church. Senior Pastor Todd Smedley and his daughter Hannah welcomed the guests and shared their personal impressions from a mission trip in June.

Three years ago Beni and Nora Petrean welcomed two abandoned children with special needs into their already large, happy, and musical family!

Ovidiu Martin, RCE General Manager, introduced the ministry of RCE.

The Blessing of Belonging to a family: A mother’s perspective.   

A new sister’s perspective. 

A father’s perspective.       

Three years ago, before he was adopted into the Petrean family, Gigi could not speak, he was troubled and sometimes violent. Gigi has been transformed by their love.

Paula was only three when she came into the Petrean family. Now she belongs! 

The Blessing of Belonging in Christian Community

Sorin was born into a world of darkness. He lived in isolation, unable to speak, kept behind orphanage walls for nine years - until RCE rescued him. Ten years later, Sorin’s art explodes with wonder at the world that was opened to him by God’s people. Smiling self- portraits, friends eating together, exploding fireworks, planes, trains and machinery, and lots of whimsical animals – Sorin’s work exudes joy and life.

Simple joys: Claudiu's story

Meet Claudiu. He is 15 years old. His father left and his mother has disabilities. He has a younger brother and a sister.

This is Claudiu a few years ago.

Claudiu came to the Darius Houses through Child Protection Services because his mother was unable to care for him, and he often lived on the street. He came with some trauma from his mother’s actions.

Claudiu and Cristi, one of our Sunshine School teachers, at a fun event at the school.

In the past few years, Claudiu has learned lots of things, like feeding himself, dressing himself and sometimes even taking care of some of the younger kids.

Today, he is a strong teenager, full of life, and attends classes at the Sunshine School. Claudiu has worked hard all summer with our construction team, making a bike path on campus and building the new patio for Amy’s House. He also regularly helps with cleaning the house, setting the table and taking out the garbage.

Claudiu flying!

Claudiu’s biggest struggles come with big feelings that are difficult for him to control. He struggles to communicate his frustration. He requires extra attention, but with encouragement, he thrives and is capable of great things.

Claudiu (back center) and his class at the Sunshine School.

Claudiu loves helping, but his greatest joy is a simple can of juice. Twice a month on Fridays at the Sunshine School, they enjoy social activities like going to the theater, park or supermarket. So every other Friday, when he knows they’ll go to the store, he comes into Ovi’s office, asking him for 2 lei (50 cents) to buy a can of juice!

Another picture from the event on campus.

We don’t know yet what God’s plan for his life is, but for now we are working to create a program that suits him and helps him develop his communication and social skills.

Melon picking!

September

I cannot believe September is almost over! It has been a full month, as we had lots of activities and events.

First of all, our campus is starting to look more like a playground instead of an construction area! The older kids (including Claudiu -- see next week's post about him!) helped with painting, cleaning and cutting the grass.

Also the school year started! Almost 70 kids from Darius Houses and Arad started the new school year. It was great to see how students reacted seeing old friends and classmates or teachers. We pray that God will watch over the Sunshine School this year, protecting the students and giving wisdom, patience and energy to the teachers!

We had an American team visit us one week this month. Some of them are board members and others were here in Romania for the first time. Together they visited families and RCE projects, participated in building a roof and at one of our community events. It is great to see how God is bringing people to work for His ministry!

The community event the Americans participated in was a dinner for local businessmen. We invited members of the community to come see the ministry and its projects, to meet some of our kids and in the end to be encouraged to help sustain RCE long term. It was a nice to have dinner together and to be able to talk to each other. We hope God will touch hearts and will bring people to support this ministry!