The faces of poverty

Yesterday we took several of the teachers and assistants from the Sunshine School on the first of RCE's cross ministry vision trips. We went out with Ovi and Doina and visited some of the poor families they serve in the villages through Project Caring. The teachers were moved in ways words cannot describe as they saw the conditions in which many in Romania live. They were also touched by Ovi and Doina's work and how they come alongside those they serve without hesitation. These pictures are of two young boys part of a very poor family with six children. Ovi and Doina helped them build a new house when their previous one collapsed. They help by providing medicine and food when needed, but most important of all, they try and teach the family ways they can provide for themselves. They encourage  the children to attend school, encourage the parents to find work, and teach them to live with dignity. As I am writing, the mother of this family and one of her daughters are in Ovi and Doina's office picking up medicine. They hitch hiked from their village which is a thirty-five minute drive from Arad.

These cross ministry vision trips will continue throughout the year as we strive to expose everyone employed by RCE, to the various aspects of the ministry. Next week some of the staff will visit families who have adopted children through RCE, along with Mimi and Carmen's social team.