SEPTEMBER 2018
From seeds to self-sufficiency
A FAMILY’S JOY IN BECOMING SELF-SUFFICIENT. “This small plant may not look like much now – but it will grow,” Nicholae Beza picked up a small tarragon stem, “It will bring taste into the food my wife prepares and I will even sell some”.
Nicholae and his family live in rural Romania where 30% of Romanians are living in poverty. For a very long time, Nicholae knew only hopelessness and despair. His chances at a positive future for his family looked as small as that tarragon stem – but God had bigger plans for him.
As Nicholae looks towards the house he is building for his family, he ponders his life so far. He has fought alcoholism, fear, depression, hardship and poverty. When we first met him he was defeated by all the challenges – but our Mission came alongside him and walked the journey with him.
Nicholae and his family were supported by MWB each step of the way, especially when everything looked hopeless.
And now, years later, the Beza’s are doing so well, soon they will no longer need our assistance.
When MWB identified Nicholae as a hard worker who was brilliant with his hands, and had skills in building, we helped him begin his own business. A need was raised with his Australian sponsors to assist in supplying construction tools so he could take on bigger projects and earn more income. He now has two wood-cutting machines, an electrical drill, a new wheelbarrow, a laser level to help him design straight walls and scaffolding to build them.
Self-sufficiency isn’t just about material support. A family on our sponsorship program also receives an abundance of spiritual and emotional support – this was particularly essential when Nicholae’s wife had cancer. In moments when their future looked bleak, that support was essential in helping Nicholae have the determination and strength to keep pushing forward.
“In the past, I always had to improvise to be able to go higher,” said Nicholae, eyeing the scaffolding outside the house. “You can only do so much with a ladder. The clients also take me more seriously now. I hope that my own house will be finished soon as well. I have built this house with only these two hands. I made the concrete in this old wheelbarrow, before you gave me the new one. It’s as heavy empty as it is when it is full.”
He laughed shortly, then let out a short sigh, as if he remembers all the tiredness it caused him.
MWB supports many families on a path towards self-sufficiency. Whilst it doesn’t happen overnight – the journey is just as important. With your support, we can bring hope to
“MWB has been with me for a long time, and for that I cannot thank you enough. My eldest daughter and my boys are all grown up now and can take good care of themselves. They all have jobs and are doing well. I am still raising my two youngest girls but it is much easier now for us and I look to the future with hope.”
more families throughout Eastern Europe to stay together, empower them with dignity and to know God’s blessing and provision through a self-sufficient life.
Nicholae’s wife is also doing well – she is working as a housekeeper and her employers are very fond of her.
“The idea behind Family Sponsorship is to help beneficiary families get to a point where they don’t rely on us for month to month living,” said Cristina Ranca, MWB staff member, “They are
Just $50 can change the life of a family. Give Hope Today!
given substantial help to allow them to make a living of their own.”
With the tools that we have given him, Nicholae is building not just a house for his family – but a brighter future too, one full of possibility for all of them.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
TURNING OBSTACLES INTO OPPORTUNITY – OLEH’S STORY
HOW YOU CAN HELP! 1 Sponsor a family through our Family to Family “I was full of hesitation and uncertainty back then. The future seemed so hazy. We were struggling, but we had some land, and my friend told
sponsorship program $40 per month.
me that it would be possible to provide for my family by working it. I have learnt that it is very hard, but possible.
2
” You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you”. Psalm 128:2
Give a general donation
Oleh, his wife and five children live in Ukraine, a country and society
towards our ministry for
currently in a deep struggle against war, economic collapse and
helping people become
unemployment. Oleh’s family and his siblings from generation to generation have struggled with alcoholism and poverty, but now, together with his family, he is working hard to break that cycle.
“This family literally had nothing,” Mission Without Borders Coordinator, Olexandr said, “They just had one poor, small room. MWB and the local church began empowering them to make renovations and provided them with furniture and white goods. This gave the father a foundation
self sufficient –coupon enclosed.
3 Support through giving to
to achieve what he is doing now.” Oleh was given a tractor, boxes of
a dedicated self-
seeds and some live stock to get him started. Today, Oleh is now very
sufficiency project.
clear with his vision for supporting his family. The tractor greatly increases the crops he can produce. He cultivates one hectare of land growing wheat and potatoes and he also keeps cows, pigs, poultry, rabbits and has bee-hives. With his skills he also does some carpentry work for extra income.
Contact us to find out what projects we currently have available.
4 Pray for the work our MWB Coordinators are doing with families in need in Eastern Europe.
It’s the little things that make a difference – your support can be the change they need.
Oleh looks tired, but he is very enthusiastic about what he does. His faith in God and the support of his family and children keeps him going
With a small plot of land, Oleh has done his best to provide for his family, but despite always finding solutions to problems, this has always been a struggle but one he can be proud of.
Oleh’s wife, smiled as he spoke, you can see the pride all over her face. Her husband certainly is a wonderful role model to their children.
“Knowing that I will grow and harvest vegetables from my own garden lightens my burdens so much. I cannot wait for harvest time. I feel like we are starting a journey, and I can’t thank MWB enough. It was their support that gave me this start. I needed direction and hope and they gave it to me. It is hard work, but now, against the odds we are doing well.”
From nothing, Oleh and his family are now able to stand on their own two feet and have found hope out of hopelessness.
HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO ALL OUR DAD’S As we celebrate father’s day this month, we invite you to give a gift on behalf of, or in memory of a special dad in your life. What better way to celebrate them, than by helping a father in need in eastern europe? Show your support by giving to this month’s appeal or visit our online gift catalogue and purchase seeds or tools - gifts that will make a difference to a father in need.
WWW.MWB.ORG.AU
Just $50 can change the life