The LORD hath done great things for us;
whereof we are glad. Psalm 126:3
The news that we’ve been waiting for has arrived! Yesterday morning (5th March) Luigi, the oldest of the six children abandoned by their parents last December, finally joined his siblings at the farm. After two and a half months of waiting, Mihaela received a call from “child protection” a few days ago to ask if we were willing to host him at the farm as well, or he would be assigned to another family. They thought that it would be extremely dangerous for him to stay at home alone with the two parents, especially since the misery and violence had worsened even more after the other five children had been taken away. Of course we agreed immediately.
Luigi was taken from school yesterday morning by social workers escorted by the Romanian police, the sight of whom worried him a lot. But our Nicu and Mihaela Stroi were also with them, and they immediately put his mind at rest about where they were taking him.
Only those who’ve followed this story from the beginning (22nd December) can understand how much we’ve agonised and prayed for this to happen. God has been good to these little ones, and praise to Him who’s made us part of this new joy.
On his arrival at the farm, Luigi was welcomed in a celebratory, heart-warming way by his siblings, and Mihaela and Nicu immediately put him at ease. His personal hygiene was really poor, so he was washed, given clean clothes and above all fed properly; he hadn’t eaten a hot, nutritious meal in months.
Unfortunately this story never seems to end. In a few days, there’ll be a final process to decide if these children can stay with us indefinitely, or if they have to go elsewhere. At the moment, we’re praising God because finally all six of them are together; safe, warm, with comfortable beds and above all surrounded by the love of a family that will take care of them as God commands in Scripture.
On behalf of Bethesda, we want to thank you all for the prayers and for the material and emotional support that you’ve given us so far. We want to give the best we can to all of these children, and know that we can thanks also to your continual material and spiritual support.
God bless you!
Orazio [Translation by Renée Schalks]