Dear brothers and sisters, friends, and supporters,
It’s with joy that we write to you, grateful to the Lord who continues to support the work He Himself began years ago in Romania. We would like to share with you some important moments from the last three months (April–June), hoping they will be a source of encouragement and motivation for you to pray with us and for us, as well as to support this project, which continues to greatly need your assistance.
2025 Summer Camp Fundraiser
We left off last quarter with the launch of the fundraiser for the 2025 summer camps in Romania… And to our surprise, we exceeded all expectations! Thanks to your generosity and enthusiasm, we not only reached our goal of hosting 400 children, but we far exceeded it: This summer, over 450 children will enjoy a unique experience, filled with games, friendship, outdoors, growth… and above all, a deep encounter with God’s friendship. The first camp has already concluded with great success at our Chedes Agape center, where approximately 100 children participated enthusiastically each day. Their smiles and the joy in their eyes were an immense gift to us. (Watch the video story below.) And it doesn’t end there! We still have six summer camps in as many villages—one of which was recently added in Oșești—ready to welcome many more children to experience unforgettable moments of play, friendship, and encounters with the Lord. All of this is possible thanks to your continued support. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to each of you! Together, we are giving hundreds of children a summer full of hope, love, and new opportunities.
Short Missionary Trips
Visits to our Chedes Agape Center continue, where various groups enthusiastically take turns choosing to “invest” a long weekend to join
us in the areas where we work. In the second quarter, three teams actively participated in these first-hand experiences: Christian Group of Parma and Fidenza together with the MIA association (April – Video) Veritas Church of Rozzano and Forte Rocca (UD) (May – Video) Ancora della Salvezza Guidonia (June – Video) It is wonderful to see how God is calling more and more churches and groups to collaborate with us in this country. This not only strengthens fraternal communion, but is generating deep and fruitful partnerships, bringing new momentum to the work we are doing together.
A Seed of Hope for the Chiriac Family
Last winter, we met the Chiriac family, who live a few kilometers from our Chedes Agape Center in Rebricea. Their situation of extreme poverty and isolation deeply touched everyone who visited them. The family is made up of two parents and four children, two of whom have physical and mental disabilities. They live in a small mud hut, in conditions barely survivable, with only a small plot of land and a few farmyard animals. Thanks to the tireless commitment of Denis Zlatan, the support of a Romanian donor, the contribution of Bethesda, the practical work of missionary groups, and the help of many donors, we were able to build a new, thermally insulated room, which will allow them to face the winter with greater dignity and in safer and cleaner conditions. During the work, we learned more about the painful reality they live in. Their disabled children have no access to treatment, diagnosis or educational support: they are practically illiterate, without any therapeutic support. Their journey will be difficult, but with God’s help and the compassion He has placed in our hearts, we want to ask for great things for this family. We believe that the love we are trying to convey can become a seed of faith capable of growing in their hearts.
End-of-Year Celebration for the Saturday Kids’ Club and After-School Program
On June 14th, the final meeting of the year for the Saturday Kids’ Club and After-School Program was held at our Chedes Agape Center.
The team of teachers from Iași, together with our local collaborators, organized a special day filled with songs, skits, games… and, of course, who could forget the pizza! This year, over 40 children and youth regularly attended the Saturday meetings, an encouraging sign of their interest and involvement. We are particularly happy because, on several occasions, we were able to involve families as well—especially mothers—giving them the opportunity to see firsthand what their children experience during our programs. God has been good to us. Once again, He has allowed us to take a step forward in our evangelicalization of this area. All glory to Him!
Church Visits – A Time of Communion and Shared Vision
This quarter, we had the joy of visiting several churches and Christian groups. They warmly welcomed us, inviting us to share times of fellowship, prayer, and testimony. It was a treasured opportunity not only to share what God is doing through the work in Romania, but also to present the practical needs of the project and involve others in the journey. We had the privilege of meeting:
- The churches of Basilicata, gathered in Paterno (PZ)
- The Connection Community of Milan
- The group Cristiani Biblici Insieme of Sesto Calende (VA)
In every meeting, we clearly sensed the Lord’s presence and saw how the Holy Spirit is awakening interest, passion, and a desire to collaborate. Many people expressed their willingness to support the work, both from Italy and by actively participating in missionary trips. We are grateful to God for every open door, for every heart touched, and for this ever-expanding network of communion. Let us continue to work together, moved by the same love for the Gospel and for the people.
Current and Future Projects
Finally, we ask you to continue praying for all our current and upcoming projects:
- Support for the Zlatan family and their work in running the Chedes Agape Center (Reason: Zlatan Project)
- Humanitarian aid for extremely poor families (Reason: Chiriac Project)
- Saturday Kids’ Club and After-School Programs 2025-2026 (Reason: Educational Project)
If you would like to participate in one of our short missionary trips and/or host us at your meetings or by video, please call us for a brief introduction, email us at info@bethesdaonlus.it or WhatsApp us at 3405087901 For donations Bethesda ETS – Ama il tuo prossimo IBAN: IT44K0200801636000103772416