Pastor Edward Petrenco and his wife, Anna, have dedicated their lives to ministering to vulnerable children in rural villages.
“There are dysfunctional families, broken families, incomplete families; there are families destroyed by alcohol. The most important need is the safety of children,” he says. “They genuinely don’t have enough to eat, and no one takes care of them. They cannot learn properly because they do not have the necessary things , and often they don’t even have the desire. Clothes, truly everything, they lack everything.”
The list of needs is long and can feel overwhelming. But the Petrencos are helping to change one child’s life at a time as they partner with Justice & Mercy International to bring the hope of Christ to boys and girls in their area.
Aimed at caring for Moldova’s most vulnerable, JMI’s child sponsorship program supports children living in poverty who lack the basic necessities needed to thrive.
“Sometimes we, as parents, want some significant, visible changes to happen immediately when the children receive love, clothes, good conditions, and we want them to become happy and content. But it’s not that easy because the children already come with very heavy and complicated baggage,” he says. “Therefore, we have learned to observe and rejoice in small changes.”
They have seen God work in the children’s lives over the years. Edward says it starts with a child believing that the positive changes are real and consistent. Their stress lifts without having the constant worry about where their next meal is coming from, and they can sleep better because their appetite stabilizes. Then, behavior changes follow because they are more regulated and able to learn and grow.
“When they start to envision their future, to dream–and to dream not of goods–but they start to dream and think about studies, a family of their own, they begin to feel God, to pray sincerely,” he says.
This process usually takes time. That’s why JMI’s vulnerable child programming commits to helping kids throughout their childhood and into young adulthood, as they build healthy lives and learn to put their faith in Christ.
“I really like the structure of the program, the organization, how the processes are thought out, because they come into the family when the children are young and stay with them until they grow up,” he says.
Our sponsorship program provides seasonal clothing and shoes, hygiene items, school supplies, access to program visits, medical care coverage as needed, communication with a caring sponsor, and, most importantly, the chance to hear the Gospel regularly.
“We visit children in the villages every month to tell them the truth that God loves them and that there is someone watching over them,” JMI staff member Ala Cojevnicov said. She grew up in an orphanage and attended JMI summer camps. As a teenager, she came to our Transitional Living Program and graduated. Ala now has a family of her own and works as a Sponsorship Coordinator to help vulnerable, orphaned, and abandoned children in similar situations that she experienced. (Read her story.)
“I am really glad that I can now give back by helping them, talking to them, hugging them, and just spending time with them,” she said.
Edward also believes consistent monthly gatherings are essential for the children’s well-being. “They go there and understand that someone is waiting for them, someone will write them a letter, someone will contact them. For many children, this is a hope. It’s like a small flame igniting inside them,” he says. “When on their birthday they receive a gift from the sponsor, you understand, perhaps the child has never had a gift, and thus he receives something he never even dared to dream of. This long-term continuity builds relationships that help children cope with their situation. And, when they grow older, they have the opportunity to go to school and achieve something in life.”
GROWING UP IN CHRIST
Vasile Guglea, 16, entered our sponsorship program in Badicul village about seven years ago when a local pastor saw his need for support.
“I was born in a family with fewer resources, in a non-Christian family, where every day I heard swearing and all sorts of ugly things. I didn’t have much love and affection,” he said. Referring to his behavior as “mischievous,” Vasile acted up frequently in school and at home. Over the months and years, he stayed in our program, attending the gatherings and hearing the Gospel message.
“There is a difference because when you have a sponsor, you know that someone is helping you from afar and thinking about you, sending you something every month,” he said. “When I had troubles or problems, even at school, even in the family when we did not have enough food or firewood for the winter, I always prayed to God, and He found a way and a solution. He always came to our aid, and I truly felt His presence.”
After years of the church, JMI staff, and his sponsor pouring into his life, Vasile decided to accept Jesus last year, the year his father died.
“I realized that life without God has no meaning, and I made this decision and repented. I turned to the Lord,” he said. “My life changed radically. Now I am happy with the life I have.”
Vasile was baptized this summer and came to live at one of our Transitional Living homes, where he is continuing his studies and dreaming about future professional opportunities.
Our Transitional Living program focuses on those who are at the highest risk of being trafficked: vulnerable teenagers. The teens have sponsors, the loving guidance of house parents, a Christ-focused community, education, counseling, and skills training.
“In my future, I see hope. I am going to study in Chisinau. I will serve in a church, seek and stay close to God,” he says. “Maybe I will become a good servant, maybe a pastor, or maybe an evangelist, but I leave my future in God’s hands and follow His paths.”
SUPPORTING SINGLE PARENTS
Children in our program come from all kinds of heartbreaking home situations. Sometimes, there is severe neglect, but other times, the parents are caring for them the best they can with limited resources.
In Mirzasti village, where Edward and Anna serve, a single father named Rodion Pesterean struggles to care for his three kids while losing his eyesight.
“I have major health problems, yes, what can we do? This is how we struggle. I lost a hand, and my vision is getting worse and worse,” he explains.
His family lives in an old house without running water. They garden and raise animals to save money and eat simply, but Rodion calls the situation a crisis. “I support them as best I can with the help of the Lord,” he says.
His mornings begin with caring for the birds, waking up the kids, feeding them, making tea, and getting everyone ready for school. Then he works in the garden with the potatoes, hoes and pulls weeds, and so forth.
The kids help take care of the rabbits and chickens. All three are sponsored in our vulnerable child program, and additionally, the Pesterean family is supported by our Priority Needs program. This program partners a sponsor with a specific family to provide a monthly food bag with items like rice, beans, flour, sugar, oil, and more.
“We thank those who help us a lot, the sponsor, and everyone,” he says. “Food products come. School supplies will be soon. Whatever the Lord gives, whatever help we get for clothing for fall, for winter, it is provided.”
His oldest child, 14-year-old Rada, says that coming to the monthly JMI gatherings helps fuel their family with hope. “When we come to meetings feeling down or sad, you lift our spirits,” she says.
Although daily life is challenging for her family, Rada knows she can have a brighter future. “I am studying, trying to learn new things, and I strive to learn all these things to acquire a profession, to start a business.”
MANY MOUTHS TO FEED
Down the road from where Vasile grew up, a family with four young children in Rumeantev village relies on our sponsorship program to make ends meet.
“We are grateful for people who want to help our family,” mom Valeriu Bratoi says. Most of their meager income goes to food, so there isn’t much left over for other necessities. “Buying shoes for everyone is very costly, or buying jackets for winter, hygiene products, school supplies,” she says. “It’s a huge help for us because buying for four children is difficult.”
Valeriu says that receiving this support keeps her family inspired to give what they can to others in need. “Even if not financially, we can help someone in need physically or with kind words. We try to thank God for everything He gives us. Even if before we thought we had little, now, with more children, we see God’s help and blessings more clearly.”
Their ten-year-old daughter, Beatrice, has been in our sponsorship program since kindergarten. “You always think about how your sponsor cares for you, saves money for you, works, and puts their heart into this program,” she says.
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IN MOLDOVA
It’s this pouring into the lives of children and families over the long term that creates lasting change, through God’s grace, in the lives of vulnerable children in Moldova.
Ala has had the joy of watching other kids like her experience full life in Christ through this ministry.
“I have seen some real examples of the children who graduated the vulnerable sponsorship program and went to the Transitional Living program. And after that they continued their study, they got married, they have a family, they have a stable job, and now for them is a completely new life. And this is really amazing,” she says.
By partnering with local churches and employing passionate staff and volunteers, we trust that God will continue to redeem these families’ stories as He draws them to Himself.
“I see God is working directly in Moldova. He has a heart of a father and He promised He will never leave the orphans and those who are in need. And I really believe it,” Ala says. “I believe that he’s working through people. and I also believe that if he has a plan, he will accomplish it till the end. And maybe we as humans can look at the lives of some children and maybe can’t understand their situation, their emotions, their rough times. But I believe that God is looking at them with love, with purpose, with a future. So because of Justice & Mercy, we can be a part of this amazing work that God is doing here.”
Edward agrees. Sometimes, you have to look very closely; other times, you can’t miss the miracles God is performing in their villages.
“God is God everywhere. Yes, He is God in America; He is God in Moldova, meaning He is in every place, and He works through people everywhere,” he says. “Truly, His mercy towards Moldova is great. Yes, His mercy is remarkable. He continues to care for us.”
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