Bethesda Foundation
Location: Arad, Romania
Timeline: On-going
Status: Currently Operating
Topics: Care for Elderly and Disabled
The Need
In the wake of the Communist regime, the utter poverty in Romania is still apparent. The Romanian elderly receive the equivalent of 25 USD per month as a pension to live on. This must cover food, rent and heat. Those whose spouses are still alive are only slightly better off because they receive two pensions. However, the widowed very often cannot afford to survive. The situation has become so desperate that many Romanian widow and widowers literally freeze to death in their homes because they cannot afford to pay for heat. In addition to the poverty they endure, many must pass their remaining days isolated and alone. In this destitute situation, the Bethesda Foundation offers hope to many elderly Romanians. Vio and Daria Pop have huge hearts for those who are physically disabled–themselves having experience with this particular challenge. They began taking the elderly who could not afford to support themselves into their own home in exchange for 90% of their pension. The Pops provide these dear, elderly Romanians with a warm place to stay, the basic necessities of life, and the fellowship of being with a family.
Daria is also a medical doctor who must teach at a local medical and vocational school as well as direct a Christian school for disabled children to help pay for the ministry that God has given them. As time allows, Daria drives to a remote village to provide the only medical attention and medications that these residents have available to them–all free of charge.
Daria and Vio allow God’s love to flow through them from 6 am to midnight most every day as they care for Romania’s disabled and forgotten people. Currently Bethesda’s cost per person is approximately 200 USD per month. The elderly donate 90% of their $25 pension to help cover these costs.
Goals
- Evangelize while providing Christian love to the needy.
- Raise funds to maintain their current facilities.
- Acquire a facility where they could house elderly men.
Needs
- Funding to pay the nurses who care for the women and to expand the facilities for the purpose of taking in men as well.
- Financial support for the Vio and Daria to cover increased living costs. The pension that the elderly contribute does not cover the additional cost of caring for them.
- Increased exposure to those with hearts to care for the elderly and disabled.
- Prayer for Vio and Daria as they serve the Lord in this ministry.
Who’s Involved
- ITMI to provide oversight and US presence for exposing this ministry to potential supporters.
- Supporting churches in England and the US.
Bethesda is growing–and is only limited by what God is able to do with the Pops’ two loaves and five fishes, which they have offered Him long ago.
They are now in need of support partners to help them grow.
