Corabia Foundation
The Corabia Foundation (The Ark) is a Christian charity based in Sardu, a small rural village in the north of Romania and has been in operation since 2004. It is an official Romanian charity with strong links back in the UK.
UPDATE DECEMBER 2021
Things are a little different here at the moment as I`m sure you can imagine.
We were able to start up the kids` programmes again here in Sardu in the summer. Initially we held them outside, then inside with all the windows open. We have also been holding the programmes with the Roma kids in Sanpaul, though these have all had to be inside as there is nowhere to hold them outside. The children were really excited to be back and we have had good numbers attending.
Last week we took the decision not to hold the Sanpaul programme as there were many children in the community who were ill (with colds, coughs etc., not sure if there was anything more serious) and thought that bringing them all together in one space (since they`d probably come along anyway) was not a good idea.
The young man who usually drives round to pick up the children for the Wednesday programme and translates for both programmes has just got a new job which will mean he will be working away most of the time. This has happened quite suddenly so I don`t have anything in place for the programmes this week but hope to be able to sort something out for the near future.
We have been running a Bible study for a small group of young adults in Sardu every Tuesday evening which is going well. Currently all who attend are Christians but we are discussing how we might broaden this to make it more of an outreach while maintaining a space for study and Christian growth.
The Roma church in Sanpaul had to close for a while (as did all churches etc.) but reopened some time ago (though not really observing the mask wearing and social distancing which still are the current regulations.) I think we are very much missing the input from Paul and April (our American colleagues) as they have returned to the States temporarily to access some medical treatment for Paul. Paul brought very sound teaching almost every week in Sanpaul and April was involved with the women in Sanpaul, they both helped out a lot with the children and teens work and I miss them a lot. In Paul`s absence there has not been much good solid teaching in Sanpaul though we are working on bringing some speakers in to help that situation.
We have not had any teams/individuals from the UK or America since the beginning of the pandemic but we have had some groups from here in Cluj here for weekend children`s camps and adult Bible study and training weekends. I was also very happy that one of our minibuses was put to good use in the summer transporting children and supplies to summer camps (even though we weren`t running the camps).
I am currently trying to make arrangements for our usual shoeboxes to be brought over as our usual means of bringing them is not now possible because of Brexit. We may be able to have them shipped over by container, I`m just looking into what is required for this including the costs.
Also due to Brexit I`ve had to re-register as resident here, I`ve submitted all the required paperwork and hope to go immigration tomorrow to pick up my residency permit.
Bob and Edith are hoping to visit for about a month over Christmas, I think it is about two years since they were here and everyone is looking forward to seeing them.
Prayer points -
- For help with the children`s programmes, ideally a driver and a translator
- The Roma church in Sanpaul, to grow in maturity (spiritual and general), to be able to bring in good teachers
- For Paul and April and family in the States, that Paul is able to regain the level of physical fitness to be able to return to Romania and that they are able to sort out all they need to over there (Paul`s mum died suddenly fairly recently and they are having to sort out her house etc before they return) They hope to return in January, pray that this is able to happen.
- For wisdom about the shoeboxes, whether we should pursue bringing them over or whether it is time for something different maybe.
- For direction about starting up some of the teens programmes.
I really look forward to when we will be able to receive teams again and when we can return to running more of the programmes.
UPDATE DECEMBER 2021
Things are a little different here at the moment as I`m sure you can imagine.
We were able to start up the kids` programmes again here in Sardu in the summer. Initially we held them outside, then inside with all the windows open. We have also been holding the programmes with the Roma kids in Sanpaul, though these have all had to be inside as there is nowhere to hold them outside. The children were really excited to be back and we have had good numbers attending.
Last week we took the decision not to hold the Sanpaul programme as there were many children in the community who were ill (with colds, coughs etc., not sure if there was anything more serious) and thought that bringing them all together in one space (since they`d probably come along anyway) was not a good idea.
The young man who usually drives round to pick up the children for the Wednesday programme and translates for both programmes has just got a new job which will mean he will be working away most of the time. This has happened quite suddenly so I don`t have anything in place for the programmes this week but hope to be able to sort something out for the near future.
We have been running a Bible study for a small group of young adults in Sardu every Tuesday evening which is going well. Currently all who attend are Christians but we are discussing how we might broaden this to make it more of an outreach while maintaining a space for study and Christian growth.
The Roma church in Sanpaul had to close for a while (as did all churches etc.) but reopened some time ago (though not really observing the mask wearing and social distancing which still are the current regulations.) I think we are very much missing the input from Paul and April (our American colleagues) as they have returned to the States temporarily to access some medical treatment for Paul. Paul brought very sound teaching almost every week in Sanpaul and April was involved with the women in Sanpaul, they both helped out a lot with the children and teens work and I miss them a lot. In Paul`s absence there has not been much good solid teaching in Sanpaul though we are working on bringing some speakers in to help that situation.
We have not had any teams/individuals from the UK or America since the beginning of the pandemic but we have had some groups from here in Cluj here for weekend children`s camps and adult Bible study and training weekends. I was also very happy that one of our minibuses was put to good use in the summer transporting children and supplies to summer camps (even though we weren`t running the camps).
I am currently trying to make arrangements for our usual shoeboxes to be brought over as our usual means of bringing them is not now possible because of Brexit. We may be able to have them shipped over by container, I`m just looking into what is required for this including the costs.
Also due to Brexit I`ve had to re-register as resident here, I`ve submitted all the required paperwork and hope to go immigration tomorrow to pick up my residency permit.
Bob and Edith are hoping to visit for about a month over Christmas, I think it is about two years since they were here and everyone is looking forward to seeing them.
Prayer points -
- For help with the children`s programmes, ideally a driver and a translator
- The Roma church in Sanpaul, to grow in maturity (spiritual and general), to be able to bring in good teachers
- For Paul and April and family in the States, that Paul is able to regain the level of physical fitness to be able to return to Romania and that they are able to sort out all they need to over there (Paul`s mum died suddenly fairly recently and they are having to sort out her house etc before they return) They hope to return in January, pray that this is able to happen.
- For wisdom about the shoeboxes, whether we should pursue bringing them over or whether it is time for something different maybe.
- For direction about starting up some of the teens programmes.
I really look forward to when we will be able to receive teams again and when we can return to running more of the programmes.
