From its very inception the whole purpose of SGA’s widows' project is found in Job 29:13, ‘…and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy’. This may be in Romania where the cost of living is challenging, or in Far East Russia where it is a struggle just to survive.
Silvia, a Romanian widow who has been battling skin cancer for the past two years, is now able to secure the medicine she needs thanks to the widows’ fund. She is a great prayer warrior and is always happy to hear that someone asked about her, and then she prays for that person.
Ileana, another Romanian widow, was so happy to receive the money. It just happened to come exactly at the time when one of her adult grandchildren, whom she had recently helped with accommodation, stole money that she had saved for medicine.
She thought that she would not be able to afford any that month, but God looked after her through the widows’ project.
A much younger widow is Ekaterina Shtompel whose husband, a former SGA sponsored missionary in Far East Russia, died very suddenly two years ago. Through the widows’ project, Ekaterina is receiving ongoing support.
It was with great joy she shared how Christians came to add a layer of insulation on a wall in her house. Although the temperatures dropped to -35 degrees the water pipes did not freeze!
Ekaterina went on to update us on her family. Her eldest daughter, now 16, along with her friend, has agreed to read the Bible over the phone. While she is delighted with her daughter’s spiritual growth there is deep concern for her 18 year old son and 13 year old daughter who do not yet profess faith in Christ. Her two younger boys aged 6 years and 22 months both have medical concerns.
As you can well imagine, Ekaterina has a lot to contend with as she cares for her family. She writes, ‘Due to all the business and many worries, I was involved in a car accident as I was making another trip to the hospital with the younger children. Praise God my children and I were not injured.’
SGA continues to support other widows of SGA-sponsored missionaries, such as Ramza Yegorov and family in Central Asia.
The widows’ project provides essential funding to help widows survive, but even more so, we trust that their hearts will sing for joy as they reflect on God’s goodness to them.