This post is also available in: Romanian
Sany is one of the orphans who has been part of our program HOPE FOR ORPHANS for a few years. He is one of the boys who was touched by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and transformed. Today, I still remember his baptism, in one of the pools from Felix Spa. Sany is one of the boys who, in spite of choosing to follow his own path, always comes back ‘home’ to Charis. When we launched the program A CHANCE FOR EVERYONE, Sany was among the persons who encouraged us to start it. We realized that some of the orphans, although they have their own lives now, feel safe to maintain a closer relationship with us, the people from Charis. This determined us to care for some of the problems they were facing, meet some of their needs and help them cope with their daily concerns.Sany left Charis when he was around 20 years old. He had several jobs and worked in various fields. I have to admit that, I saw in him a skilled worker in agriculture, although his qualification was in constructions. He worked in several places. For the past 7-8 years, he returned to Charis where he would stay for a few days, weeks or months.While he came and left, I used to watch him as he was carrying his bag and suitcase. There he had his entire life. One day he came to me and asked me to help him make a Resume in English and Romanian. He told me he had enough working in Romania, that he couldn’t save any money, clock was ticking, that he couldn’t do anything better and he had no place of his own.This is how Sany ended up working abroad. He worked in the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, and England. He had some very interesting experiences. There were place where he did not last long. There were place where he went through ugly moments. Interesting enough, after a few weeks or months in Charis, he would take it from the beginning. He would spend the money he earned on different devices and on daily expenses. When he left, he was again just him and his two bags.I remember his last departure, at the end of last year. I took him to the bus that drove him to the Czech Republic and I saw the moment when he entered the bus that would drive him to Slovakia. Together with Mona, my wife, we watched him as he lifted the suitcase and then, through the grey, muddy windows, he waved at us. We left quickly so he wouldn’t see our tears that we couldn’t hold back. He was again leaving and we felt sorry for him. We kept thinking how it would be this time for him.
Sany worked more than 6 month is Slovakia. I talked several time with him on Messenger. I encouraged him to take good care of his money because in this way he can think of having a home. He came back in July and we again opened the subject. He confessed then a moment he had in Slovakia when he asked God to give him a home. ‘I am 40 and all I have is packed in a bag and a suitcase. I can’t bear this anymore!’ he said.
Together with Sany, we visited a company selling caravans. Sany wanted to invest around 1500 Euros to buy one. Eventually, we managed to convince him to buy a better one. He invested almost 2800 Euros, almost all the money he raised in Slovakia. Together, we prepared a place in Charis, we brought the caravan and connected it to electricity. When he celebrated his birthday, Sany had his very first home. God listened to his prayer. God always takes care of the orphans.
Now Sany left again. He is working in England, but when he comes back, he will have a place to call ‘home’.
Daniel Ciupe
General Manager of Charis Foundation
Charis Project Updates
1. OPEN DOORS
As part of this program, one family organized a birthday party for their 14 year-old son in Charis Retreat Center. 50 people attended this event.
2. CHARIS FARM
We’re consistently active in Charis Farm from July to September.
Vegetable and Fruit Garden
We picked the apricots and made jam and squash. We started to pick the cucumbers, beans, zucchini, and tomatoes from the greenhouse. We picked the onions and prepared them to be stored for a longer period of time. We picked the tomatoes and made tomato juice. We made pickles from cucumbers and peppers for winter. We made plum jam. We picked the apples and made apple juice. We planted strawberries and blueberries. We picked the grapes and made grape juice.
The Apiary
We collected the honey and made the necessary treatments for the bees in this period.
The Animal Microfarm
We bought chicks and created a small chicken farm.
We cut, packed, and stocked the fodder for the goats for Autumn-Winter.
3. AGAPEO
We continued to provide monthly support for 2 Gypsy families who live in a village nearby Charis with vegetables, goods, and baby diapers. At each of their visit, the children accompanying them have enjoyed Charis playground.
4. CHARIS RETREAT CENTER
We changed a water pipe that was 20 years old which used to supply water to a part of Charis Center. Moreover, we remade and modernized two bathrooms from the first floor which were 20 years old. We continued repairing the vegetable greenhouse. We cut and groomed the hedge and the lilac tree and we organized an ‘Autumn cleaning’ in the center with a part of Charis team.
5. NEHEMIAH
We continued to serve in the Gypsy Church from Telechiu by preaching the Gospel.
PRAYER REQUESTS
- We have a small, yet passionate team of volunteers that get involved in our projects and activities. Pray that God would bless and reward the practical serving of: Rebeca, Teodora, Ronela, Liliana, Maria, Iudita, Lidia, Doina, Panfil, Vitalie, Sany, and Petrică.
- Our program, Open Doors, included this year almost 700 persons. Pray that God would double the number of participants to this program in 2019.
- It is becoming increasingly hard to provide the salary for our 3 employees, although all of them bring near the minimum wage. Pray that God will give us solutions and resources to provide for the salaries.
NEEDS
In order to assure the financial resources for the 2018 budget, in order to organize our programs, projects and activities in Charis, we had to borrow some money. Until the end of this year, we need 4000 Euros in order to pay a part of the loan.
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