| October 2004 Newsletter |
10 Days of Miracles
The group that visited Romania in the month of September was a true miracle for many. Everywhere they went, they left behind God's blessings, and through their selflessness answered the prayers of many. The group consisted of brothers and sisters from five different states, many having met each other only upon their arrival in Romania, but as children of God their purpose was singular, that of helping the saints wherever a need was evident.
Over 150 families were blessed with a food package, 16 families received supplies for the coming winter.
These were no small packages by any means, since they consisted of 25 kilos of sugar, 25 kilos of rice, 50 kilos of flour, 50 kilos of corn meal, 10 liters of oil, 5 kilos of pasta, 3 kilos of detergent, and all these at the cost of $65 per package. It may not seem like much to many of us, but for a family that has nothing, it is nothing less than God smiling down on their home, and extending His hand of blessing.
Two cows were purchased during this team's trip, and 5 homes were either bought, or helped in their construction. A well was dug for a family of 13, financial help was given to those who needed it, and even some much-needed surgeries were paid for.
During their ten day stay, the church in Boureni Hirlau also had its official opening, a great joy for all the Christians in that village, that now have a place to come together and worship.
We mention this, not to honor anyone in particular, but to bring glory to our God, who is a God of miracles. Many are still waiting and praying, knowing that in His time God will answer their requests. All we can do is continue to be at God's disposal, and do the work which we have been called to do, with diligence and tirelessness.
Hand of Help Staff.
An Ordinary Day
For me, September 20 started as just another ordinary day. For the Horoblea family in the village of Damacheni however, it was a day of great importance. Ever since they came to Christ, the Horoblea family has been under constant persecution. Simply because they call themselves Christians, they endure daily beatings from their neighbors, their friends have all abandoned them, and the persecution is not limited only to the parents, but extends to the four children of the Horoblea family.
When the owner of the small room they were renting found out they had become Christians, he told them to leave, and the Horoblea family had no choice but to look for a home. They found a small house for 40 million lei, ($1200), and they all agreed it was their only hope. All they had was the need for a home, faith and much prayer.
They spoke to the owner, explained they had no money, but that they were praying for God to provide it. The man snickered, and said he would hold the house until the 20th of September, but if they did not come up with the money he would sell it to someoneelse. They came and spoke to me, I went and saw the home, but all I could do for them at the time was give them a food package, and a little money to help with their needs. I told them they needed to keep praying, and we would pray with them, and God, if it was His will, would do a miracle.
Time passed, and as the business of everyday life took its toll, I forgot about the Horoblea family, but the One who watches from the heavens did not forget. On the morning of September 20th, I had a dream. A man was standing beside me, holding a whistle in his hand. He looked at me, then looked at his watch, and began to blow his whistle.
"You forgot about them," the man said, "See how they cry and pray for help?" Suddenly I found myself in the Horoblea family's one room, and saw the entire family on their knees, praying fervently, the mother and father having tears in their eyes.
"You must help them," the man said, "you must help them today, not tomorrow, today. I will return," the man said, and with that he disappeared.
I went to the orphanage, and shared the dream I'd had with the group that was visiting, and knowing we had to act as quickly as possible we got in the car and headed for Damacheni. During the drive, I called brother Doru, the local pastor, and asked him what he knew of the Horoblea family's situation, and if anything had changed.
"I know they had an all night vigil," he said. "They spent the entire night in prayer hoping for an answer, and now they are at my home with some other brothers from the church, continuing to pray. It's the last day the man said he would sell them the home. They need a miracle from God."
"Tell them we're on the way," I told Pastor Doru, "tell them God heard their prayer, and we are coming with a group that is going to buy the home for them." I stayed on the line as Doru relayed the message, and as soon as he was done I heard a great chorus of 'praise God', and 'hallelujah' coming from the group that was assembled in his home.
When we arrived at Pastor Doru's house, Rebecca Horoblea was crying, and when she saw me, she said, "I saw you last night in a vision, you said you'd come to help us, and I fell on my knees to thank you, but you picked me up and said 'don't thank me, thank God He is the one who sent us."
The home has been purchased for the Horoblea family, and they can worship God in peace, without the fear that they would be thrown out into the street for serving God. When I visited them in their new home, Rebecca said, that the man who sold them the house couldn't believe they had come up with the money.
"I never thought you'd get it, I had already planned to sell it to someone else. Where did you get all this money," he'd asked.
"Jesus gave it to us," Rebecca answered.
I learned a great lesson that day, one that will stay with me the rest of my life. Though men may forget us, God never will, though men may abandon us, God will always be there to embrace us as His children, standing with us in our times of trial, and proving his faithfulness.
Virginia Boldea
God Keeps His Promises
Every day we are confronted with new and unique situations. It seems one need is always greater than another, and the one common thread is the desperation that threatens to overwhelm. With all the requests for help, our constant and continual prayer, is "Lord whom do we help today?" It is a prayer that never goes unanswered, and the knowledge and certainty of our next project is always made known to us. When God chooses to do a work, there is not a power in the universe that can oppose Him.
One day the Irescu family from the town of Tudor Vladimirescu came to us with their request. They are a hard working family, yet poverty has always been one step ahead.
We helped them purchase a plot of land immediately, but then all we could do is wait on the Lord, and pray. God heard their prayers, and while visiting them, they received enough to be able to build their home on the same plot of land they received. Now all we need is the floors, to drywall the outside, and paint the inside of the home, and there is always the furniture. They need a few beds, 2 tables and chairs so they have a place to eat, and the children have a place to do their homework. This is a family that has absolutely nothing, and in order to finish that which we started, we will also need to purchase blankets, sheets, and pillows for them. In order to complete all that we've purposed for this family, we need at least $1500 a seemingly impossible sum at this juncture, yet we know that God has the power to work, as He has worked thus far. He keeps His promises, and he never leaves a work He has begun unfinished.
This is a great miracle for the town of Tudor Vladimirescu, and the name of God is being praised. Only God could bring about such a great miracle for this family, and all the townsfolk are in awe of how perfect strangers could do such a thing for someone in need. May God abundantly bless all who are not indifferent to the needs of those going through hardships and trials. Know that the prayers of the Irescu family on your behalf will never cease, and that God counts the tears of His servants, wherever they may be.
Hand of Help Staff
At Winter's Threshold
As most know, our family is larger than the average family. Unless one is present it is difficult to imagine all the intense labor that goes into preparing for the winter months, and storing the necessities that we will not have access to until next summer. It is a daunting task, which must be accomplished in its totality in order to insure that the children will have all they need during the months when snow blankets the ground, and the earth no longer gives of its harvest.
The work goes on, unhindered, and the children are growing, it seems almost too fast. One day you see them in diapers, the next you see them waddle around the orphanage, shrugging away your hand if you try to help, because they want to do it on their own.
Iosiv, Vladut, and Petrica are a constant joy, hearing them try to say new words each day, often times seeing them stand in the doorway of the office with a crooked smile, hoping I brought some candy.
Stefanel, Laura, Petronela, Alina, and the other children their age have started kindergarten, all anxious to learn.
Lidia, Ioana and all the seven year olds, have now graduated to the first grade, and twelve of the children just finished the eighth grade, and have now been accepted to specialty schools. Nicoleta who's been with us since the opening of the orphanage, recently got married, and every day brings new joy, and new surprises.
I ask that you pray for the following needs, as we will need to purchase them before the end of this month, otherwise we will run the risk of paying twice what they are right now.
Thankfully meat, poultry, cheese, and eggs stay at the same price levels, and we are able to purchase them throughout the winter. Please pray that God provides for these needs. I thank all those that stand with us for this work, and keep it in your prayers. All you do on behalf of this work contributes to the future of these innocents, showing them every day what the love of God is. May the blessing of God never be absent in your life, and may He hear and answer your prayers whenever you stand before Him.
Dumitru Matei
Only God Can!
I can tell you nothing more than what God already knows. We have prayed, we have cried, we have fasted and labored until we could labor no more, but I have come to believe that those born to be poor will remain so no matter their endeavors. No matter how much I toil for my four children, it never seems to be enough no matter how much we try to save we can never finish our home.
Although the foundation is laid, and the walls have been raised, we are still without a roof. Hearing from others who have been benefactors of your goodness, hearing that you help people in special circumstances, we decided to write these few lines, and ask if perhaps you would consider our family.
We have been hungry many times, our clothes were never sufficient to keep us warm, and now with winter reminding us of its soon return, I fear we are lost if God doesn't bring about a miracle in our lives. May God hear our prayers and our cries, and use you to send us help. All we have left is our hope in God, and we know he can provide the $1500 we need to finish our home. We beg your forgiveness for being so bold, but you, God's servants, are our last hope on this earth. May God do as He wills.
The Anghel family Ungureni
Chased Away
What we hope to accomplish through this newsletter, is to present just a handful of the hundreds of requests for help we receive on a monthly basis. Often times much prayer goes into choosing which needs to share with you, because there are so many which are immediate, and desperate. Hardship, pain and suffering have left its mark on many, and the Bible tells us that on this earth we will have such hardships. Suffering came to Dina Papuc's home as well, when she made the life changing decision to serve the Lord.
The fact that she had been his wife for seven years, the fact that she had bore him five children, were readily discounted by her husband upon his discovery of her conversion. He simply filed for divorce, packed up all her belongings, and the children's belongings, and set them outside, proclaiming to all who would listen that he could not, in all good conscience, continue to live with a woman who changed her faith.
When she begged him to let her stay in the house for the children's sake, he threatened to beat her, and chased her away with a stick. This is how Dina Papuc came to be homeless. God however, was not blind to her situation, and He began to send help. Her family bought her a piece of land, Hand of Help bought her a cow, and assigned her a sponsor. This family, is still in need of a miracle however, that of having a roof over their heads, and a home where they can live.
We believe that God placed us here, to be a voice for those such as Dina Papuc, and on her behalf we ask that you pray for her situation, and see whether the Lord would lead you to help in this matter. The miracle that Dina needs is $4000, so we can build her a home. We know that only God has the power to bring this about.
Due to the rising cost of construction materials, which have surpassed 30% this year alone, the price of building a home is quickly going up. All we can do is make the need known, and leave it in God's hands. God knows the needs of this mother, and her children, and with our prayers and yours, God will do the impossible.
Hand of Help Staff
The Hand of Help Website
Recently we have been adding many new articles to the hand of help website. These are articles that due to the constraint of space we are not able to include in our newsletters. These are articles ranging from the recent natural events taking place throughout the world, to the new attempt by the current Russian government to centralize power once again, to a soon to be posted sacred desk series, on Biblical teaching. We will be adding articles on a regular basis as the Lord leads. We realize some may not have access to the internet, and we would like to take this opportunity to make a hard copy of all new articles available to you upon request. If you do not have internet access, and would like to receive posted articles, please write us, and we will send them to you as they become available.
Hand of Help Staff
Recent Visit
My husband, George, and I (Helen) had a very satisfying trip to Hand of Help Orphanage at Botosani, Romania. We give God the praise for this fact. We had about 30 people praying for us that this would be so. 1 Peter 4:1 "To Him be glory and power."
We were on this trip for 2 weeks in September. The weather was nice the first week, but rained the second week which prevented us from traveling out in the villages as the roads became very muddy. It was a sad thing to see the poverty of the people in the villages caused by the communist rule of past years. Their recovery is slow. On the brighter side it was a joy to see them rejoice in receiving the food packages we delivered to them.
Virginia Boldea knew where to go in each village. We met many hardworking large families depending on these food packages to help them eak out a living. Corn meal mush seems to be the one dish they are pretty sure of having to eat 3 times a day. George and I had taken 4 large bags of clothes on our trip, which were also distributed.
There were 5 in our "team". We pooled our gift money which went toward the purchase of the food packages, 2 cows, which were given to needy families, 1 mud-straw brick home, helped purchase to other houses, Bibles and shoes for the orphanage children.
It was a great joy to see these 120 well-cared-for and happy children at the Hand of Help orphanage. These children run up to the staff and visitors alike, giving a hug and receiving the same. They are fed very good meals (we ate with them) and they are adequately clothed and housed. It was interesting to see them leaving and returning from school with backpacks.
We distributed many Bibles. One day I saw a group seated on a blanket reading their Bibles. It was easy to spot. I pray it will lead them to the Savior. Hebrews 4:12 "�the word of God is living and active�"
The work at the Hand of Help orphanage is well organized. For this reason it was not feasible to enter into their workforce. Except I was able to be in the sewing room several days, sewing slacks, skirts, and 3 pieced quilts from the scraps. I commandeered my husband and one other from our team to cut material and thread in elastic. Working together we were able to do quite a lot.
Not all the needs could be met by our small group of five. We rejoice in what we could do and in the opportunity to travel in Romania.
Hand of Help is doing a marvelous job of caring for the orphans. Many people continue to come asking for help. As prayer is lifted up for those in need, God answers with Christians in the United States responding to these prayers.
Prayer is powerful and God is powerful to answer. I pray many people will respond to these prayers of families in destitute conditions. It is not pleasant to see hungry children and parents without resources to meet these pleas. Luke 6:38 "Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use (give), it will be measured to you." This is our testimony.
"Love in Christ,
George and Helen Knapp
Recent Visit
Psalm 34:7-8, "The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him."
Upon my return to the United States in late August, I had a very vivid and troubling dream. I shared it with the staff here in Wisconsin, and with a few other brothers, but continued to pray and seek direction from God as to whether or not I should include it in the newsletter.
At the staff's urging, and feeling a release from the Lord, I have included this dream in this issue of the newsletter.
I dreamt I was walking through a sparsely wooded forest, and suddenly my attention was drawn to an eagle flying high above the tree line. It was a beautiful sight to behold as the eagle rode the thermals, flying in slow lazy arks across the blue sky. I began to quicken my pace, and keep up with the eagle's flight, all the while keeping an eye on it, noticing that it was slowly descending toward the earth. I followed it for a long time, its descend not being sudden but very gradual.
Finally I came upon a small clearing, where there were no trees, just some bushes on the edges of the green grass. The eagle landed in the clearing, and began to look around not seeming to notice me.
As I began to wonder what the relevance of this was, a man dressed in white, hands clasped in front of him, appeared beside me, and said, "Be patient, in due time you will see the purpose."
I was silent as I watched the eagle, and was beginning to grow somewhat impatient, when suddenly, it seemed out of nowhere, a brown snake lunged at the eagle, and bit down on its left wing. The snake's strike was very quick and very precise. The eagle reacted without delay, clawing and pecking at the snake cutting deep wounds in its underbelly, trying to defend itself and ward off the serpent. Just as it seemed the eagle was winning the battle, and the serpent was retreating, another serpent appeared, red and black diagonal stripes covering its body, and without hesitation struck out at the eagle's right wing, biting down, and refusing to release. After a momentary tug of war the serpent tore off flesh and feathers, leaving a large wound on the eagle's right wing. The second bite was much worse then the first, and for an instant the eagle was stunned. Then a serpent much larger than the previous two, made up of many colors, slithered toward the eagle, opened its jaws, and lunged, taking the whole of the eagle's head in its mouth before biting down.
The serpents retreated and the man who had been standing beside me, walked to the eagle, knelt down, picked it up, and held it in his cupped hands. The look of grief on his face was beyond any I have seen in my life. Just seeing the look on the man's face broke your heart.
The man continued to look down at the eagle, and with a pained voice said, "The true tragedy, is that at any moment it could have sought the safety of the above, it could have soared toward the heavens and would have found its protection. This has been revealed to you, that you may know, the first bite has been, the second is yet to come, and the third will be its destruction."
I watched for a long time as the man held the eagle in the palms of his hands, the pained expression never leaving his features. I was too stunned to speak, or ask any questions, what I had seen having seemed so real. The feeling followed me into my waking hours as well, and each time I closed my eyes I saw the entire scene play before my eyes throughout the day.
One thing that I feel I need to share with you is that the second bite seemed to come from an unexpected place. Although I have my own opinion concerning this, I choose to keep it to myself, because expounding on personal opinion is a dangerous thing when it comes to things that God reveals.
I was hesitant in sharing this dream, because I know some will perceive it as a reason to fear. It is not a reason to fear, but a reason to be stirred, and emboldened for the kingdom of God. The reality, is that these are the times we are living in, and I for one am thankful to God for his forewarnings, knowing that His children will never be unaware of what the future holds. All I can do is urge you to be watchful, and diligent in your prayers to the Father. This nation, today, is more in need of prayer on its behalf than at any time in its history. It is the prayers of His children that compels God to relent, and tarry. Stand in the gap, you are precious in the eyes of God, and He hears your heartfelt supplications.
Joel 2:12-14, "Now, therefore, says the Lord, turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm."
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
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If contributions exceed the amount needed to help a family, the extra contributions for that project will be used to help a family in a similar situation. It is our commitment to you before our Lord that we will be faithful in the disbursement of all contributions that we receive.
The Hand of Help Staff.