The cry of the basic needs of Sudanese refugees in Egypt, and that of Egyptian Christians living in countries around Egypt who were forced (for religious reasons) to escape their homes, was also heard in Romania.
As a result, a team of 10 believers from Bucharest and Braşov went to Cairo, inspired by their love for Christ (He Himself, in His childhood, a refugee in Egypt). By various practical actions, they were a living testimony of the Christian life devoted to the God who loves the entire world, regardless of race, religion, or social condition.
Love in Action
Through their acts of love, the Romanian believers brought to Cairo glimpses of hope from the Heart of the One Who Loves Egypt as He Himself says: "Blessed be Egypt, my people ..." (Isaiah 19:24). The actions of the Romanians consisted practically in the renovation of an insalubrious apartment in which a family of refugees from Sudan lives with their 5 children.
There are no right words to describe the unique emotions of these children when they saw their renovated apartment equipped with electrical appliances and pieces of furniture that are strictly necessary for their daily life: "I have never slept on a bed before and, until now, I never drank a cold glass of water during the hot days and nights in Egypt!"
Their parents also said, "We are overwhelmed by God’s outstanding love who sent a group of Romanians to help us have decent living conditions"! "We never would have imagined that the love of God for us is so special.
" With a trembling voice the mother said: "My entire life I have been doing laundry by hand in an old washbasin; with the help of the Romanian team God has now blessed me with a washing machine that can do this tiring work for me "!
The refugee family who received the practical help
A better future for children
Additionally, God allowed the team to serve at an elementary school (grades 1 through 4) where the children of the Sudanese refugees study. The Good Friends Basic School is attended daily by over 60 children of different ages. The Romanian team provided the means to divide the space into four individual classrooms.
They installed mobile walls than allow the space to be also used by the Christian refugee church as Sunday chapel. School uniforms, books, school benches and other necessary supplies (water dispenser, printer, cabinets) were also purchased for these children.
The emotional part
But perhaps the most remarkable effort for the Romanian team consisted in ensuring the daily breakfast and lunch for the children over a longer period of time. One of the teachers said that many refugees spend all of their money to move the family from Sudan to Egypt, so they have no money left to provide food, clothing, and shelter in Cairo. Consequently, the resources invested by the team for food and clothing for these kids means so much to them. In order to express their gratitude the children of the refugees learned to say in Romanian language: "Thank you! Romania we love you"
While in Cairo the team was requested to comfort a family of Sudanese refugees that suffered the traumatic loss of their teenager daughter. Her father said: “We would never imagined that God would bring us such comfort from His disciples who came to Egypt right when our child passed away. We feel that God showed us a special care in this difficult experience in our life“.
The ways in which the Church from Romania opened their hearts for ministry in Egypt has such a great impact both for supporting the refugee families that came to this country and for helping the Egyptian families that fled for their lives from surrounding countries only to have the same hardships as the Sudanese refugees. Upon their departure from Egypt, the Romanians left a little bit of hope, but it generated a great impact among the Egyptians.
Cornel Boingeanu
Pastor, The President of the Baptist Churches in Bucharest