Project Caring

We all awoke at 8:00 for breakfast at 8:30.  Usually we wake up earlier than that, but it was decided to postpone the breakfast following a late previous night. We had a delightful breakfast spread, as usual, and departed to begin our visit of some of the Project Caring families. The goal of Project Caring is to provide support to make families self-sufficient again. Strengthening families in crisis can help prevent abandonment of at-risk children. Today we brought food packages to each of these families.

The day began with a visit to a poor village outside of Arad. The family we visited was struggling to make ends meet, and we began to tour their small house. The yard contained a mix of children and animals, and the conditions were relatively poor for that family, however RCE remains committed to fostering a stable life.

The second family lived in the same village and was a short distance away. This family was in a similar state and had 5 children. There were many chickens roaming through the yard of the house, and we were able to meet all of the kids and they were happy to receive candy. RCE is sponsoring an addition to this family's house.  The additional room will provide a separate space for their daughter.

Next, we drove to another village and met a family that was further along in their pathway toward restoration. The parents lived in a humble, run-down home that looked similar to those of the first two families. However, after a quick turn down a corridor, we entered the daughter’s room. This room was completely different; being clean, tidy, and sanitary. The family even invited us to enjoy beverages in that room, despite their limited resources.

Afterward, we drove to a part of the village where the Pentecostal church was located. It was a simple one-room worship area, and Ovi and his wife explained the history of the church. He mentioned that the church owner gave part of his property for use of this church. This was because there was not a local Pentecostal church in the village. Furthermore, the church was able to provide a central point of gathering for each of the families, including the ones served through Project Caring. Ovi also explained the loaning process for Project Caring families. 

We exited the church and entered a house that was next door. This family was much further along in the path toward restoration. They even had Romanian music playing outside on the loudspeaker. At this point, we were able to clearly see how God is at work, providing a beneficial life for the children. The family explained that their daughter was able to move to university, which is quite a blessing!

The final home we visited was a family with children and an adopted child with Down Syndrome. As we disembarked from the van, he came straight to us and welcomed each of us with a huge hug! This was an especially memorable moment. We toured this home and saw the restoration in full, with a very healthy and clean home, and children.

We drove to Arad to grab lunch. We decided to surprise Jim, since it was his birthday. We had lunch at a hotel in Arad, and Jim got a large cake. This was quite a special moment, since it was in celebration of Jim’s birthday, and also it was our last day with Ovi before he would leave the country for travel. We finished up and went back to Sunshine School to rest up for a bit.

After the busy and tiring work days, it felt great to spend the afternoon to relax. We drove in the van to purchase souvenirs at a local grocery chain and department store. This was a different type of immersive experience. The Romanian shopping experience is quite different, but very much the same. We purchased goods such as coffee, tea, müesli, chocolate, and wine. The store was also kind of like a mini-mall with other shops and even a pharmacy inside of it. We went to a second store afterward, and then returned to Sunshine School for dinner.

Dinner consisted of eggplant dip, fresh tomato, and meat. We spent some time in prayer. We really reflected on how each of the families were able to paint a picture of God’s sovereignty. Despite the differing success that Project Caring families are able to show, there seems to be a common theme of God being in control. We can surely rest in the fact that everything has already been finished by Jesus Christ on the Cross, despite what we might expect or want to see.

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Author: Matt Bagnara