Dina Nechita was a little girl during the time of the oppressive communist dictator Niculae Ceaucescu. She lived in a poor village in Romania with her family and she knew the hardships of that life firsthand: no heat in the winter, no hot water, rations and shortages for clothes and food, and above all, religious intolerance. Christians – and especially their Christian Bibles – were not welcome. Bibles were illegal in Romania. So precious was their value that every Bible was always reserved for pastors or lay leaders – rarely for women and never for children. One day when Dina was eleven years old, a familiar woman smuggler from International Teams broke the distribution rules and handed Dina a “Holy” Bible as a gift. Dina cried, completely overwhelmed with child-like appreciation for the value of the gift. On that day she promised that she would read her Bible every day.

Seven years later, while in her late teens, Dina served in her church where she became well known as a youth leader. Her work introduced her to a number of International Teams missionaries and as a result of these relationships, Dina joined I.T. Romania as a missionary to her own people. By this time, the iron curtain had fallen and Ceaucescu had been executed with his wife, beginning a new era for the country of Romania. Unfortunately, the new “democratic” government did not change much, especially for the poor and oppressed of the country. Now in her 30s, Dina has been serving full-time in a number of ministries near Cluj, Romania, including work with the elderly, prisoners, mentally disabled and of course, orphans.

Meanwhile in Canada… God was also working in the hearts of some people at a Christian sports camp called Muskoka Woods. Little did anyone know that God, in His sovereignty, was writing a story where the two worlds would come together into a long lasting relationship and partnership.

The Romania Project started from an idea and became a small part of His bigger plan for a people whom He loves and is committed to.

From an idea… In the Fall of 2000, Gail Black and Rhondi Fowler (Tompkins) thought about leading a mission trip in order to challenge the summer staff of Muskoka Woods.

to a plan They contacted International Teams and planned a trip for May 2001 to Cluj, Romania, after university exams where finished but before summer camp began. They, along with Bob Fukumoto, conducted training meetings for team building, support raising, programming, Bible teaching and more.

to an experience Twelve Muskoka Woods staff went to Cluj, Romania and were overwhelmed by the needs of orphans, homeless people, elderly, gypsies and the missionaries themselves. God broke the hearts of these Canadians and left a permanent “scar” on their hearts.

to a relationship Six of the original team plus 13 others returned the next year and a deeper relationship began with missionaries like Ike Winegar, Anca Rusu, Dina and Dinu Nechita, and Matt and Denise Elliot. Two members of this team were “friends of MW staff”

to a commitment Bob took sole leadership for the third trip in May 2003 with the intention of continuing this ministry project for years to come. Sixteen people (including 6 returnees) were on this team. Marcus Fowler and Bob went for the third time! This time three “friends of MW staff” made the trip.

to a passion Six people, including Joni Allardyce, Marcus and Bob, went again for Christmas in 2003. The gravitational pull to Romania with its orphans continued to increase. In addition, it became apparent that “special relationships” were progressing between the Canadians and some of the orphans.

to a call Bob began to discuss with John McAuley, his boss, the possibility of greater involvement in the “Romania Project” and announced his resignation from Muskoka Woods in November 2004. Bob departed from Muskoka Woods officially in June 2005 to form a “missionary partnership” with Dina Nechita. He would be based in Toronto while Dina would be based in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

to a vision Helping Romanians help themselves” through the intentional training and discipling of Romanian students and Canadians, became the vision of the Romania Project.  Discipleship would come through “serving together in community” in the ministries that Dina lead in the Cluj/Beclean/Ilisua areas.

to progress and affirmation God continues to give “progress to the project” through the fine-tuning of the vision, clarity in the strategy, financial support, increased involvement, deepening commitment, spiritual growth and fruit in the participants and multiple affirmations. More specifically: the identification and growth of Dina’s ministry team of Romanian students, three of whom are orphans themselves; the provision of many support partners; the raising of full financial support for the first year of ministry; the increased commitment of many Canadians to the Romania Project; the hiring of a new partner in Joni Allardyce who served as a “part-time missionary” with the Romania Project; the increased interest of new short-term missionary candidates reflected in the 3 full teams who travel to Romania annually; the continued development of the training program; the disciples who are emerging from this ministry.