Tag Archives: Romania

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More Progress Reports

It’s a fun time of year for me as a World Vision sponsor, as annual progress reports have begun arriving in the mail. I’ve recently received two new reports for children in Romania. Below are the photos I received with those reports.

GabrielAugust2014

Gabriel, 10, is in third grade, and he wants to be a soccer player when he grows up. His project is committed to addressing issues such as a poor economy, child abuse, scarce education and lack of quality health services.

MihaiJuly2014

Mihai, 7, writes that his favorite meal is mashed potatoes and schnitzel, and his favorite season is summer. This year, he learned to recite poems and sing, and he likes to go caroling at Christmas. His project is working toward many goals, including providing access to educational activities focused on developing children’s communication and cognitive skills.

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Family Gift

Family Gift

Cristian, 5, is shown at left with his sister and nephew in Romania. His older sister listed the items the family bought with a recent gift: flour, rice, beans, tomato pasta, canned food, honey, peas, potatoes, dairy products, fruits, mushrooms, pasta, halvah, bagels, jacket, blouses, a tracksuit for Cristian and tracksuits for his sisters, washing powder, soap, shampoo and diapers for his sister, toilet paper and many other things.

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World Vision Gift

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Mihai with his sister and mother in Romania

A beautiful family photo isn’t the only reward for sending your World Vision sponsor child a family gift, but it is a pretty great one. Of course there’s also the great feeling you get knowing you helped someone out.

But the most important aspect of sending that family gift? It’s this: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” – Hebrews 13:16

It pleases God.

In verse after verse in the Bible, God commands us to share our blessings and care for the poor, and in my experience as a sponsor, He always has rewarded me many times over when I have been faithful to Him.

With just $100, Mihai and his family in Romania were able to purchase warm winter clothing and boots for both Mihai and his sister. His mother wrote that this was much appreciated because this winter would be a very cold one for them.

They also purchased school supplies for both children, a large blanket, shoes and toys.

Looks like money well spent to me.

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Christmas Wishes from Romania

This week, I received Christmas cards from two of my World Vision sponsored boys in Romania, Cristian and Andrei. Each country has its own style of card, which the children send to their sponsors every year. Below are photos of both the front and inside of this year’s card from Andrei, and also the front of last year’s card from Cristian.

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Front of card from Andrei, 2013

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Inside of card from Andrei, 2013

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Front of card from Cristian, 2012

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Gift in Romania

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Dragos, 13, of Romania, with his gifts.

Dragos, 13, of Romania, sent me this wonderful photo of himself with gifts he purchased using a family gift I sent to him. According to his letter, he bought: “a jacket, a tracksuit, pajamas, oil to cook, rice, beans, sneakers, t-shirts, preserves, pens and many other things.”

I think his smile in this photo is better than all of those items together!

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World Vision Gift Photo

World Vision Gift Photo

I received this photo from Andrei in Romania after sending his family a financial gift earlier this year. It looks like he got quite a few clothes, and I’m so happy to see that he got something fun – a soccer ball!

His letter:
“My dear friend,
Thank you so much for the wonderful gift you sent me. Thanks to you, Easter holidays were wonderful. My family and I are grateful for your goodness.
We will pray for you!
God bless you!
With love,
Andrei”

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Blessed by Giving

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Cristian, 4, of Romania, with gifts purchased using family gift money.

I’ve sponsored children in poverty for 2 1/2 years, and the thrill of receiving a sponsored child’s letter in the mail has not worn off.

Today, I was excited to find a letter in the mailbox from a child I sponsor through World Vision. I was even more excited to open the letter and discover two photos inside.

The photos showed Cristian, 4, of Romania, with items his family was able to purchase using a monetary gift I sent them in December. It warms my heart to see so many items stacked on the table in front of him. The purchase of food shows the family’s need, and I’m so thankful to have been able to help them out.

Because Cristian is too young to write, one of his older sisters writes letters for him. I’ve learned several things about his family in just 6 months of sponsoring him.

He lives in a two-bedroom home in rural Romania with his parents and six siblings. They suffer through very cold winters, with lots of snow, often piled as high as their house. One of Cristian’s young sisters has cancer, so she spends some time at a hospital. And, like children everywhere, his siblings like to invent games and make paper airplanes.

Today’s letter thanked me for the gift and listed items purchased: “canned goods, chicken legs, rice, sugar, beans, flour, peas, pasta, bread, biscuits, diary products, tomato sauce, diapers, washing powder, jam, cheese, apples, bananas, oranges and many other products.”

And these words, which humble me in ways I can’t describe: “Thank you so much for the wonderful gift you sent me when I needed it the most. We were going through a difficult time, and your help saved my brothers and me.”

I’m thanking God today that my own children’s needs are met every day, and that we can share God’s blessings with another family.