Bringing comfort to the elderly

“The Gospel teaches us that we have responsibility for one another,” said Ionescu Petre, a 71-year-old resident of Old People’s Home Number 1. “Our faith is demonstrated through our behaviour.”

Mr Petre, a retired Air Force pilot who is now in a wheelchair, has tried to live out his faith throughout his difficult life. He wrote a book called The Power of Love, which deals with the Christian experience of suffering, and now keeps busy by reading the Bible and painting icons to honour God. He also, secretly, practised his faith throughout the communist years.

n Treasured possessions: a resident of Old People’s Home Number 1 holds her well-thumbed Scriptures

Accept God

Mr Petre is delighted with the work being done at the home by the Interconfessional Bible Society in Romania (IBSR), which is running Opportunity 21 (O-21) pilot projects in three old-age institutions in Bucharest. He hopes that many of his neighbours, who lived most of their lives under the communist system and did not have access to the Bible, will now be able to learn about God and accept him into their lives.

Talk openly

Through the project, the IBSR has provided Bibles, prayer books and other Christian resources for the home, and is arranging for theological students to teach the old people how to use them. It hopes that these lessons, and other visits by young Christians, will encourage the old people to engage with the Scriptures, ask questions and talk openly about the Christian faith.

The project has already brought new hope to some residents. Nela Badea, 67, spoke of how coming to know God has brought her “peace and joy”.

“I cannot describe my faith but I can feel it in my soul,” she said. “Jesus said, ‘Knock on the door and it will be opened.’ Because of the Communion between God and his people, our priest can guide us to the light of the Holy Spirit, which fills me with peace and joy.”

She also described how the services at the home’s newly-built church help her: “Every time I go to a service, I feel happy and strengthened and I feel I can cope with the difficulties of life,” she explained.

Life has been extremely difficult for Romania’s elderly population, who suffered the most during the transition from communism to a free-market economy. In many ways, they have experienced the worst of both systems: under communism, their needs were not a priority, while under the current dispensation, the elderly, who rely on social welfare, are still suffering from the economic crisis.

One of the aims of the O-21 project is to demonstrate God’s love for the elderly and make them feel cherished and valued.