First situation:
The first situation I encountered was meeting Dănuț (42 years old), a man with a disability. He was dragging himself across the floor of the room, which moved my heart to tears. I did everything I could to bring him a wheelchair. With the help of his older brother, we placed him in the wheelchair, and Dănuț, with his deformed hands, began to move the wheelchair around the kitchen. The joy I saw on his face is hard to describe. Now, the family said, they can easily move him from one room to another, and in the spring they will be able to take him outside in front of the house to get fresh air. I promised to visit them again in the new year and to tell them about the wonderful love of the Lord Jesus (photos: Dănuț 1 and Dănuț 2).
Second situation:
The medical assistant from the commune told me about Aunt Ana (80 years old), who some time ago fell and broke several ribs. She now has a great need for a walker for people with disabilities so she can move around the kitchen (she lives with a daughter who is also ill and cannot support her while walking). With God’s help, I was able to bring this walker to Aunt Ana, who, filled with joy, took a few steps through her kitchen (photo: Ana). It is very hard for me to see helpless people who thank me so beautifully; I try with all my strength to help them lift their eyes and hearts toward God and to thank Him instead. With this family as well, I have a wide-open door to present the Gospel to them.
Third situation:
Also before Christmas, I met a poor family in my area of work who were in great need of help.
Filaret and Maria—two children; their mother is mentally ill; their grandmother is ill—88 years old; their father had abandoned them many years ago. I realized they would have nothing for Christmas—no food (only very little), no sweets, no fruit. They had made a Christmas tree that looked very poor.
I bought them food: oil, sugar, flour, rice, beans (I asked Maria, the daughter of this family, if she could make some sweets, and she said she could if she had the ingredients). I also bought them oranges, bananas, and cozonac.
Again, they did not know how to thank me, especially Filaret and Maria. I promised this family that I would visit them again in the new year and, as much as I can, help them with food. I also promised to bring each of these children a beautiful, new Bible.
Prayer support:
· I gave Christmas packages to 35 children (in the localities of Ponorel, Sohodol, and the Brazești mission point). Of these, 15 packages were for children from non-believing families—this is, for me, a “bridge” to connect with these families and bring them the message of the Gospel in their homes.
· For Dănuț’s family mentioned above—all unbelievers.
· For Aunt Ana and her daughter—unbelievers.
· For the family of Filaret and Maria, their mother Daniela (mental health problems), and their grandmother Burz—all unbelievers.
· For my back problems—I need to go this month for 11 days of rehabilitation in Alba Iulia, a three-hour round trip by car (if there is no snow; otherwise, even longer).
May grace and peace be multiplied to you also in 2026. Thank you very much for the entire past year; you are a great blessing to us.
The motto for my family and me this year is Psalm 116:1–2:
“I love the Lord, for He hears my voice, my pleas. Yes, He has inclined His ear to me; therefore I will call on Him all my life.”
In His Name,
Florin and Magda Botar - PIEI Romania Missionaries
