Marius and Ana moved to Moldova from Romania more than 20 years ago as missionaries. After several years of helping people in the impoverished nation, they decided to build a large house that would serve as a church and community center. Soon, they began seeing orphaned boys who were homeless walking the streets with no place to go or no family to call their own. Marius and Ana took in some of the boys and thus, Emmanuel House was established.
In 2013, Marius and Ana became more aware of the increasing threats and dangers that orphaned girls were facing after aging-out of the state orphanages. At the time, 66% of or the girls were being sex trafficked into other countries. They decided to transition the home from a boys’ home into an all girls’ home. Three teen-aged girls who were in desperate situations, soon moved in and Marius, Ana, and their own children became the girls’ family.
The transition was not without great challenges. The large house that had been donated years before was still unfinished and it lacked in essentials such as appropriate heat. Additionally, the couple had lost support during the transition and were almost out of funds. Marius and Ana discussed closing the home and giving up on the dream of caring for a house full of orphans. Instead of quitting, they prayed for several months asking God to provide.
Temperatures inside the house often fell below freezing. Food became more and more scarce. Meals consisted of watered-down soup and cheap bread. All monies were almost gone.
On an early March day in 2014, Marius was asked to translate for a group of American college students who were on a mission trip to Moldova. The students were helping with a medical clinic at an orphanage far from Marius’ home. During the day’s activities, Marius met the students’ professor, Dr. Joe Savage and the medical team’s leader, Pastor Jeff Copeland. In casual conversation, Marius shared about he and Ana’s ministry to orphans with the pastor, but he never mentioned the desperate situation they were in.
Immediately upon hearing about the orphan work being done by Marius and Ana and that they had a large house, the pastor and the professor wanted to know more. Unbeknownst to Marius, it had only been three days prior that Joe Savage and Jeff Copeland stood privately praying in the middle of the largest orphanage in Moldova asking God specifically to give them “a large house, trained houseparents, and some orphaned girls who need help.”
The next day, Joe went to visit the house and soon he and Jeff met the three orphaned girls. Upon their departure from Moldova, the pastor and university professor duo, handed Marius some cash and told him they were going to start helping every month as able.
For five years now, Joe, Jeff, and a hosts of generous donors provide monthly for the large white house called the Emmanuel House for Girls. Dozens of girls have found hope, family, love, and guidance from living at the home. Marius and Ana have seen their calling lived out and their dream of caring for a house full of orphans in need become a reality.
“I do this because it’s special,” said Ana. “I know what it is to live hard, but for me the first thing is Jesus. I want to tell them about God. I think we as Christians have to do this not just for this life, but for eternity.” With one short visit to the Emmanuel House, one can quickly see the greatest message about God that they give is most exhibited through their love – love for God, love for each other, and their sacrificial love for orphaned girls who simply need some help.
Marius and Ana have been married for more than 30 years. They have four adult children and one teen-aged daughter who lives at the Emmanuel House. Marius continues to pastor a church and Ana recently received a master’s degree in social work from a university in Chisinau. Roads of Hope is tremendously blessed to have Marius, Ana, and their entire family as friends and partners in the God given call to care for orphans in distress.