Thanks from Howard and the rest of the Romania Support Group to all who attended the Cream Tea a couple of weeks ago. As well as being a good social occasion with our visitors from Romania, Florin Dana and Irene Fodor, £323 was raised towards the support we send to churches in Romania for young people’s camps held during the summer months.
We’ve just off some more money given for the Romanian churches we are linked with to help Ukrainian refugees – £12,000 in total. As well as supporting refugees who have gone to Romania the money will be used to send aid into Ukraine for people who are internally displaced.
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And here’s a message and some pictures just in from Rei Abrudan, from Via Church, Cluj-Napoca,
If Christian nations were nations of Christians, there would be no wars. After this war, I’m afraid, there will be no victors, only losers.
After a huge refugee wave during the first two months of war, things kind of calmed down. As a result, our ministry is focusing on those who chose to stay (650 Ukrainians in our area) trying to grow their community stronger by offering social care (finding jobs, meeting basic needs for people with disabilities, integrating children in kindergarten and schools), judicial assistance (legal paperwork, political asylum, immigration status), medical assistance (surgeries, treatment for chronic conditions, etc.), community care (recreation, support groups) and spiritual care.
Also, we are offering support to other communities across Romania, where the number of refugees is larger.
Many of the refugees moved further west, others went back home. Larger and more stable communities have formed near the eastern border.
In Iași, for example, right next to the Ukrainian border, there was a Kids Festival held in June, which we sponsored. It was organised by a local church over there and other partners. Right in front of the mall, they had 1 workshop for parents, 4 workshops for kids and all kinds of fun activities for one day. Out of 3.000 participants, 400 were Ukrainians. The event ended with an evangelistic message from an Ukrainian pastor.
Another way of helping other communities across Romania, was helping a kindergarten in Arad by buying some beds, as they turned into a refugee cen
English courses
At their request, understanding the need, we are offering ESL courses bringing in English teachers. This month they are taking a short summer break, but they will resume starting on September.
Leonid and his family are doing fine. He is travelling more often to UA to visit the shop he is owning there, so that the business doesn’t die, but he is struggling thinking that things are not improving there and they can’t see a future back in UA. They are considering the idea of moving to Cluj permanently, especially for their children.
He is constantly searching for ways to help and care the Ukrainians in Cluj…and he doesn’t seem to get tired or weary of doing this for so many months now.
So this is a modest part of our joyful serving of people in need.
This war will not determine who is right, only who is left. So, we want to be there for those left.
Doing what we can, with what we have, where we are! Thank you for your support!
Rei Abrudan,
Via Church, Cluj-Napoca, Romania