Sunflower Fellowship Romania

There is a strong possibility that THE SUNFLOWER FELLOWSHIP ROMANIA charity will NOT be closing down at the end of 2024, but may continue “under new management!” A group of members from a large ecumenical church here in Fleet visited Casa Valentin in August this year, and ran a holiday Bible Club for local children.  Having met with us on their return, two members of the group let us know that they were seriously considering taking over the charity. They are going to Romania at the end of this week for a few days to meet with Adrian and Gabriela and experience some more of day to day life at Casa Valentin. Another couple from the summer trip have said they will join them so that there are four trustees. Further good news is that the American businessman who supports Adrian and Gabriela's project in Tulcea, and who has been generously supporting Casa Valentin for the last year, has agreed to continue doing this for the time being, which will give an opportunity to build up the charity's funds.

We have always been so grateful for all the support you have given over the last 23 years, and we do hope you will continue supporting Casa Valentin, not only financially, but also in prayer. God has been very gracious to us over the years and He has provided our every need. We invite you to continue the journey of faith with us.

At the moment a young Ukrainian Christian couple called Vladimir and Victoria, who are expecting a baby at the end of December, are staying at Casa Valentin. The husband’s father is a Ukrainian Baptist pastor who asked Adrian if the young family could move to a safe place for the birth. The family were very concerned as the older brother had recently been killed in the war and their father is still fighting. Vladimir is hoping to get work locally so they can contribute to the expenses.

We will let you know as soon as we have more definite information.

[*Edit, please also read news update above*]

After twenty-three years running the Sunflower Fellowship, with John now aged 90, and as we have been unable to find someone to take over from him as the Charity’s Treasurer, the Trustees are planning to close “The Sunflower Fellowship Romania” at the end of this year (2024). However, at the same time we will open a new Bank Account with “Casa Valentin” in its title. (This account is especially provided by our bank for charities, clubs and societies). All existing Standing Orders can be transferred to the new account, along with all the other donations we receive, mostly by cheque. Then at the end of each month, starting with January 2025 we will simply send all donations received to Adrian and Gabriela’s account in Romania. We will send you full details of the new account in December,

We apologise that we have not sent you many updates recently. However, 4 groups of children have had a holiday booked so far, and we are hopeful that 4 more groups will be booked in before long. We are pleased about this, but it will be challenging financially so if you could give a little more this summer to  help us out, we will be most grateful.

We have been very thankful that an American Christian friend of Adrian and Gabriela has kindly offered to contribute half the average cost each month for running Casa Valentin this year (2024). Without his help we would have struggled this year, as all the costs in Romania have risen exponentially. We are hoping that he will be able to continue helping us in the future. Please join us in praying for the Lord’s continued blessing on Adrian, Gabriela and all the staff and children who visit Casa Valentin.

In order to continue funding Casa Valentin and the vital work they do with both local children and war refugees, we need to find significant extra funds each month. As is the case for everyone, costs have risen steeply in recent times so that we are now well below what is required to keep things going. Grants and one-off donations are wonderful, but without commitments of monthly giving we are left not knowing if there will be enough month to month. Please pray for the charity, and consider if you can spare a regular amount to help sustain its work. If you can please contact us for a regular giving form. Thank you!

You will be pleased to hear that we now have a new cook – Elena – who lives in Cataloi. The staff are working very hard to help the Ukrainian refugees, and below are extracts from an email sent by Adrian and Gabriela, bringing us up to date with all that is going on at Casa Valentin. We are so grateful for the many donations we have received in aid of the refugees. Adrian writes:

“With a total of almost 500 people that stayed from 1 to 3 nights at Casa Valentin until today, March 16th, and maybe another 500 helped with either translation/orientation/ transportation from the Customs border point to Cataloi, or even picking them up from some northern cities, we are most blessed to have this great opportunity. The way we see it, direct contact with the refugees is a great thing. A blend of love, faith and hope coming from our team in contact with despair, hopelessness, weakened or even broken down spirits, anger, and frustration, gives us the opportunity of being a vivid, real testimony about a God that is known in theory but now proven in life experiences.

The rhythm of refugees coming through Customs has decreased a little bit yesterday. We had 29 souls on Monday at Casa Valentin and yesterday morning we were left with 5 (until noon). The rest of them have been helped to go to other places like Bucharest, Constanta, Ploiesti, Câmpina (Romanian locations) and even further on, to Germany, Netherlands, Israel and Spain. But last night more came and so we had 36 last night, 31 this morning at lunch. The 5 that were yesterday at noon, have today left.

The Emergency Unit that works at the Border point in Isaccea, now rules over the destinations refugees are offered to go. They arrive and after they are sorted by where they think they would like to go, they either get on busses or wait in a huge triage tent. Some stay 1 or 2 nights, either waiting for some of their left behind relatives to catch up, or because they have no clue where to go. For those who are most vulnerable, (handicap people, elderly people, mothers with small children) those in charge have lists of available places like Casa Valentin. For those who do come to us we have to provide transportation to Cataloi and then onwards to their future destinations.

Yesterday we had a visit from Emil Toader – Mission Link International Romania – and he brought basic food (flour, maize, rice, cooking oil, pasta, sugar and also some tomato pasta) packed in a small van, (a 20 year old faithful van that still runs). The van will stay with us for a month to help us to transport people around the local area. Yesterday the van brought a group of 7 people and their luggage from Isaccea to Casa Valentin. They were waiting for hours for someone to pick them up but 7 is too much for a small car, and too little for a bus. So they have to wait. But we just got the van and it started immediately to be used!

Thank you all for your continued support, especially the extra amounts sent in February and March for the refugees. May God allow us to serve His Kingdom and be a testimony for the lost, wether they are refugees or not! Adrian and Gabriela”.

EXPENDITURE ON REFUGEES

The money we have sent so far has been spent on: Urgent Needs (mattresses, beds, bedding, blankets, etc) Health products including Pampers, Formula, Toilet paper, Soap and sanitizing items, Equipment (cleaning, cooking, laundry bought/repaired), heating (24 hours a day and in every room!) Electricity for heating and all equipment including Hair Dryers, Irons and charging mobile phones, Food and Fruit, and Fuel for transportation (for cars and vans including taking refugees to the doctor and to Tulcea for shopping and financing purchase of clothes when refugees arrive with only the clothes they are wearing).

We are expecting that the expenses for March will be much higher than usual for electricity, water (showers, washing machines, drinking water and cleaning much more than usual), sewage (cesspit now having to be emptied weekly), food and salaries (to include the additional cook). The Sunflower Fellowship is continuing to send extra payments to Adrian and Gabriela as necessary and wish to thank you all for your generosity and prayers.

With best wishes from the Trustees.