Why is it Important to Care?
Through reading scripture it is very evident that orphan care is the responsibility of every believer. Not everyone can or should adopt, but everyone can care for orphans. It is a command from our Father in Heaven.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, JAMES 1:27
Gods heart towards orphans is clearly stated in the following verses:
The helpless put their trust in you. You are the defender of orphans. LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will listen to their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so people can no longer terrify them. PSALM 10:14,17-18
Father to the fatherless, defender of widows– this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; PSALM 68:5-6
We need to open our hearts to the orphans and accept our responsibility. God commands us in the following verses,
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those who are perishing. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. PROVERBS 31:8-9
“learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. ISAIAH 1:17
The way we care for the orphans is a reflection of what God has done for me and you. We were once vulnerable and helpless, and God adopted us into His family. Caring for orphans takes sacrifice, just as God sacrificed His only begotten Son for us.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. JOHN 3:16
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ROMANS 5:8
Family Center: Casa Betania
Over the past eight years our relationship with Casa Betania has grown from a common acquaintance to a true family relationship. The administrator, Mr. Crisan, has become not only a fellow laborer but a friend and mentor.
Casa Betania houses between 20-25 children ranging in various ages and needs. These children have come from broken homes, hospitals, and abusive situations. It has been Sufficient Breads privilege to support the work the Lord is doing at their home.
As I have stated before, permanent family placement (adoption) is the best possible outcome for a child, however, when this is not available these Family Centers are a wonderful temporary solution. Our goal is to find a healthy, Christian, church-going, environment for all the children that cross our path. Please continue to lift up the thousands of vulnerable and abused children in Romania.
Bistrita: Ballet Class
I have had the blessing to meet a young woman named, Amanda Towle. She has a beautiful heart towards the orphaned and vulnerable children in her community. She ministers in the city of Bistrita. She has a wonderful ministry to the local gypsy community and low income families. Recently, she has expanded her ministry to include a free ballet class to the local children.
Several parents expressed interest in having their daughters participate after not being able to afford actual classes and attire which are both unreasonably expensive and mostly unavailable. The girls love ballet and it’s a constructive refuge for them from daily life and a source of joy. She wants to provide the girls with a healthy passion for dance, for celebrating life and for forming lasting friendships. As relationships are built and established with the girls and their families, she prays for opportunities to share the Lord and to minister to them individually.
Sufficient Bread is supporting her efforts by purchasing practice and performance outfits for the girls in her class. We pray for the Lord to be glorified through the efforts of this young woman for Christ!
Prayer Requests:
- URGENT! I was just informed that one of the houses at Betania has burned to the ground. It was not insured and they lost everything. No one was hurt. Please pray for the reconstruction and emotional impact on the children.
- For wisdom on how and when to return to the mission field.
- For Kelles pregnancy, baby due beginning of October. Its a boy!
- For Elenas immigration into the USA.
PRAISE REPORTS!
- We have found temporary housing for our family during this time of refreshment and training.
- God is continuing to work and mold our hearts to be more like His. Praise you Lord for renewing our passion and love for your people.
A Note from Kelle
Dear friends and family,
I hope this letter finds you well. God has been so merciful to our family during this time of furlough. In our previous newsletters we shared with you the reasons we were packing up and heading back to the States. These included health, financial and family issues. I was fully prepared to drop everything and start over in America.
I did not realize how beat up Andrei and I were from the mission field. Our original vision was slowly being distorted through our sin of looking to human leadership for wisdom and guidance instead of relying and holding fast to what God had initially revealed to us. I am SO GRATEFUL that we serve a loving and grace abounding Father in Heaven. He has been so faithful to gather us up in His hands, heal our hearts and bodies, and whisper His truth into our hearts. Thank you JESUS!
During this past month, Andrei has shared with me the work that the Lord is actively doing in his heart towards his people. Through daily encouragement, through the scriptures and brothers in Christ, his heart is healing and gaining strength. I sit here amazed once again at how our loving Father works in our lives.
We ask for prayer. Pray for Andrei as he continues to seek Gods plan for our family. Our desire is to return full-time to Romania next summer after our baby is born. We are working to raise our monthly support so that we can survive and actively minister to the fatherless and widows of Romania.
I hope you enjoy my “new” newsletter layout! My heart is to inform you about something that God showed me as a very young girl. My mom tells me that at a young age I told her very clearly that someday I would care for little children that did not have a mom or a dad. I believe it was God working in my heart even as a child. As the years have passed, I have learned so much about the many ways the gospel spreads. Some stand on the corner sharing with everyone that passes, some bring food to the shut-ins and those in need, all the while proclaiming the glory of our God. That is my hearts cry, that we would not simply care for the orphan in our own strength, but care by living out the Scriptures. I pray that this letter will inform you about the plight of the orphans and their care so that we all can never say, “Lord, I did not know!” God repeatedly states how important the orphaned and widowed are to Him.
“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” ISAIAH 1:17
Our mission statement verse is: Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. JAMES 1:27
The Bible also states very clearly:
“Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” JAMES 4:17 (WOW!)
“Don’t try to avoid responsibility by saying you didn’t know about it. For God knows all hearts, and he sees you. He keeps watch over your soul, and he knows you knew! And he will judge all people according to what they have done.” PROVERBS 24:12
I thank the Lord for giving each one of us the privilege to care and defend the fatherless of this world, that they may know of our FATHER in Heaven who seeks justice for them. What an amazing gift! God bless you all!
Much Love,
Kelle Andries
Sufficient Bread Ministry :: Loving Romania 