Karen & Ruben Popet – Beraca Orphanage in Jdioara, Romania

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.   James 1:27

June, 2024

Dear Friends,

We had a great trip to Romania.  It was wonderful to spend time with the children and teenagers and to meet the two new children who have come to live at the orphanage.  They have all gotten taller and have matured.  It was encouraging to talk to them and hear what has been going on in their lives over the last two years.  The two new children have adjusted well and are happy.

We did some special outings with everyone, too.  One night we took all the children and teenagers out for pizza.  For Children’s Day on June 1, we went to Lugoj to a celebration happening in the park.  There were inflatables, other activities, food, and music.  It was fun to spend the day with them.  A couple of Sundays after church, we went with everyone to the mall for lunch and to spend time together.  One Sunday, they were part of a pantomime at church.  They did a really good job.  Another afternoon, we visited a friend and took everyone with us.  We had a barbecue there, picked cherries from the trees and played with the new kittens.  Valentina’s brother got married and all the children and teenagers and our family went to it.  A wedding in Romania usually lasts about 9 hours and this one was not any different.  But we had a lot of time with the children and teenagers as well as other friends that we knew there.

Since Ruben has such a big family, they had a family get together so we could meet with everyone.   That was really special for us.  We also visited many of them during our time in Romania.  We got to see several of our friends, too.  It was great to spend quality time with them.  Most are in full-time ministry, so it was encouraging to hear how God has been working in their lives. And several of the young adults who grew up at the orphanage came to see us.  It was wonderful to see how they are succeeding in life.

We are so thankful to God how He brought Valentina and others to continue the work that we had started in Romania.  For us, it was such a blessing to see the orphanage running smoothly and the children and teenagers so happy and content.  God is so faithful to provide so that His work can continue.

The group who came was a blessing.  They accomplished many projects like painting the children’s rooms, the bathrooms, the clinic, and the kitchen.  They also built a bike shed and put up a fence.  We visited some of the widows with them and had a women’s meeting.  They did a VBS for the children of the village for a couple of nights.  And they spent time with our teenagers and children which means so much to them.  The last evening, we had a barbecue and bonfire.  That was a perfect way to end the week.

Again, we want to thank all of you for your faithful financial support as well as your prayers.  They are so important to the ministry.

Beraca Foundation, P.O. Box 674, Jacksonville, IL 62651; karenpopet@gmail.com

beracafoundation.weebly.com

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