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 The Problem of Pain
When I look at the injustice and suffering around me, my heart becomes filled with outrage and indignation. Then, gradually compassion, care, and love takes over. This is especially true when I see the children and the elderly on the streets of Romania. Without faith in God our hearts would literally burst from the tensions these feelings produce. We have seen over the last 18 years many missionaries that came to Romania and being overwhelmed by the injustice and suffering they saw, they left shortly. Trying to use reason to solve life’s big problemsputs us in great danger. Many people even in the Church think that the foundation of the world we live in is rational. When reason fails, we enter a faze of despair; we work harder, get even more discouraged, eventually we give up, pack up and leave. The Bible tells us a different story: the foundation of reality is not rational, it is tragic.
The Book of Job particularly, shows us Satan as the author of the suffering and pain we encounter each day. When we try to use only reason to alleviate the pain and suffering we see we enter a dead-end street. The Bible teaches us that God alone has a way out for all of us and that is not through reason, it is through His son, Jesus Christ. This is why, we not only help the needy with their physical challenges; but our greatest desire and challenge is to bring people to God; to share the Gospel with each individual and nurture them to faith in God. This is the key to a painful, but successful ministry.
 The most difficult people to minister to are the young orphans. As you might know, we have plenty of them in Romania. Their suffering is immeasurable; many of them cry themselves to sleep each night. Most of them now, 18 years after the Romanian Revolution, have food and a bed to sleep in but their sufferings are still there. When someone suffers and knows it is his fault, it is easier to accept the pain; when suffering comes to someone that knows it is not his fault, is very difficult; but when you suffer, and is not your fault and your best friends think you are responsible, you reach the limit of your suffering. In this category are most of the teenage orphans in Romania. I believe, Job of the Bible would understand them best. In his case, wanting to help, Job’s friends only deepen his suffering. They did not know the big picture. In our attempt to help others we always need God’s wisdom and compassion. We can not rely on our own understanding, the suffering is much more complex than we could ever imagine.
Through God’s provision, PTJM comes along side to demonstrate God’s love, care and compassion to the orphans and the poor: through our discipleship project at CP 2, in the 22 foster homes we have in the Bihor county, at the Children’s Hospital in Oradea, and in the Gypsy villages of Tinca and Sabolciu we try to address the overwhelming needs and suffering the orphaned children and the poor encounter each day. We know God has a plan for all of them, and God’s redemptive work is the foundation of human life. Our prayer is for more resources so we could represent Him better, so that even more people would come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The lost, the suffering, the poor matter to God and also to us. How important are they for you?
We invite you to prayerfully consider becoming a source of joy, a pathway to joy for many suffering people by joining our ministry. Through prayer and financial support you could become our partner in God’s redemptive work in their lives.  Suffering and pain is no longer the only option these children have; God offers them a pathway to joy through the preaching of the Gospel and the work we can do together. We pray you join us in this awesome journey of faith.
In His service,
Cornel & Karen Bucur
Please Pray for:
• Church Planting Ministry: more workers to help share the Gospel with Gypsy people.
• Funds to build a heating facility and a shower room. We need 100 chairs and a simple PA system.
• Orphan Mentoring Program: our staff and the 120 youth at CP2.
• Foster Care Ministry: our foster families and the 27 children. For funds to run this ministry.
• Oradea Children’s Hospital: the 50 abandoned orphans and our 7 staff members working there.
• The Bucurs: missionary support is needed. Protection, wisdom, and strength.
• More partners to join our prayer and
support team.
PTJM Wish List
Our wishlist contains a list of emergency and on-going needs of the children and families in our projects.
We are praying for partners who are interested in making a donation to help us purchase these much-needed items in country.
For additional information on how you can get involved into organizing a shipment of donated goods for our orphan care projects in Romania, please contact us.
 View the Current Donation Needs Wish List
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