About five years ago, our daughters, Megan and Moriah, started a literacy center for Roma girls who lived in shanties at the edge of town. Since the Roma girls had never had the opportunity to attend school, they were very excited about it and wanted everyone to know that they were schoolgirls. Megan knew they would enjoy wearing matching outfits for school, so she searched for a seamstress who would be willing to sew a lot of skirts for very little money. She found a woman named Nerta.

Whether singing, reading the Bible aloud or discussing the scriptures, Nerta is an energetic and enthusiastic participant in Sabbath worship. Since she has begun to trust Jesus, she has overcome some personal struggles, and it has been a blessing to watch her grow in Christ over the last couple of years. As she has been getting to know her Lord better, it has affected every area of her life in a positive way. Her compassion for others, her commitment to family nurture and her desire to share Jesus with her neighbors have flourished. A year after her husband Eddi was baptized in the Osum River, and about two and a half years since she began studying the Bible with us, Nerta also went to the river to publicly declare her decision to give her life to Jesus. Her baptism was simple and joyous.

Last winter when our church group was distributing ADRA Christmas gift boxes to needy children, Nerta asked us come with her to visit some needy neighbors. The three children showed obvious delight with the gift boxes. The youngest child, a sweet little girl, grinned from ear to ear when she found a matching red coat, hat, and mittens in her box that fit her perfectly. The mother, Anita, had tears in her eyes. She was clearly moved that strangers would care enough to give gifts to her children. When she thanked us, we said, “Don’t thank us, thank God!” Since then, she has accompanied Nerta’s family several times to our home on Sabbath to learn more about this loving God. Nerta told us she wants to study the Bible with Anita, and she wants to see her and her family in heaven.

Anita is a sweet, humble woman with a friendly smile that lights up her face. Her two oldest children, both boys, are noticeably thin and sickly. Anita often had to cancel plans to join us because of the children’s health challenges.

The middle child, Ray, shows a special interest in learning about the Bible. He even comes to worship sometimes without his family. He uses crutches, though he doesn’t have an obvious leg or foot injury and can walk short distances without the crutches. I guessed his age to be about 8, but when I asked him, I was surprised to learn that he is 14 years old. Nerta explained why he and his 16 year-old brother are so small and thin. They have a serious inherited blood disorder called Thalassemia. Ray uses crutches because of his thin, brittle bones. The boys’ bodies don’t produce enough of a certain component of red blood cells. They need regular blood transfusions and frequently suffer from infections and crises of intense pain. The blood transfusions keep them alive but cause an excess of iron they cannot process. The boys need iron chelation therapy, because without it their hearts, livers and kidneys suffer damage that could prove fatal. The chelation therapy medication is too expensive, so their only hope is to hang on until they can possibly get bone marrow transplants from their younger sister—the only cure. Nerta has been praying for this family for quite some time.

Nerta wanted to be sure Anita could attend her baptism, so we had to be flexible with the timing. Praise the Lord, the boys were feeling well, and it was sunny and warm that Sabbath. After the baptism, Anita said she might be the next one baptized! Nerta couldn’t stop beaming. What a glorious day!

Please pray for Nerta and her husband Eddi as we help them begin a small group of un-churched people. Pray also for Anita and her family’s physical and spiritual needs. May the Lord make a way for the boys to get the healing they need, and may He be glorified!

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