What Love Looks Like in a Widow’s Kitchen

Earlier this summer, we were grateful to host a team of Bible school students from Torchbearers. Their visit was full of joy, service, and quiet acts of love that left a lasting mark, especially in the home of one precious widow in our community.

Mamaie Lenuta is an elderly woman in our village whose living conditions had quietly worsened over time. Her kitchen and only livable room were covered in cardboard, plastic, and worn-out memories. The space was dark, drafty, and barely functional.

Together the Torchbearers team, we installed insulation, laid down linoleum, and painted the walls.

The girls from the group showed such tenderness, washing dishes that hadn’t been cleaned in a long time, sorting through items one by one, and gently encouraging Mamaie with their presence. The transformation was simple but beautiful.

Mamaie was so overwhelmed with gratitude, she tried to kiss our hands.

Moments like this remind me why we do what we do. The Gospel is not only a message we preach, it’s a love we show. It lives in the scrubbing, the painting, the quiet dignity of showing up and saying, “You are not forgotten.”

We’re praying that with the help of another team, a family from Switzerland who will join us at the end of July, we’ll be able to return and finish Mamaie’s final room. With just a little more support, we can restore her space fully and offer her the comfort she deserves.

We replaced the cardboard floors in Mamaie Lenuta’s home. Here, her things are scattered in the courtyard.

If stories like hers stir something in you, we would love to invite you to come see the work for yourself! We regularly host visitors who want to serve, encourage, or simply witness what God is doing here in Romania. It doesn’t take special skills; just a willing heart and open hands.

To inquire about a short-term visit or mission opportunity, please contact us. You are warmly welcome.