|
News
|
Dec 15, 2011- Jan 2, 2012 -- "We were blessed and privileged to spend Christmas and the
New Year holidays in Chicago. Our family likes the Romanian tradition: whenever there's a holiday, the church service is one
of the most important priorities in the Romanian community. Caroling is the highlight of Christmas; from the very young children
to the more mature youth, as well as adult choirs, everyone goes in groups all over the city to sing about Jesus' birth. The
church services don't stop and the gospel is preached from Christmas Eve through Christmas Day morning, Christmas Day evening,
the second day of Christmas, and New Year's Eve evening through New Year's Day! We spoke in churches and Becky spoke to the
youth groups in many churches and at Logos Christian School. We give thanks to God for His using our humble message. In one
church, after Becky finished singing, one of the choir directors surprised us by saying, “2000 years ago, angels came to the
shepherds and tonight, an angel in a wheelchair has come to us, to sing 'Silent Night'"!
To God be the glory!" |
 | Click camera to see photo slideshow. |
|
June - July 2011 -- The mission trip to Romania in July was one of the best
of Becky’s Hope! The retreat for parents of special-needs children who had never experienced a day off in their
entire lives was a foretaste of heaven for them. One of the mothers exclaimed, as she was leaving the retreat,
“I just came from Paradise!” We were blessed to have many single mothers from Romania, Chisinau, Moldova, as well
as husbands with their wives and some young adults who had a disability. The teaching was about forgiveness and rejection.
There were many among them whose lives and wounded souls were healed.
The country of Romania, more than 21 years after the revolution, is still averse to those having special needs, but what
saddens all of us the most is the ignorance that exists within the church. A young lady, Raluca, who is confined to a
wheelchair as a result of a vaccination that she received, told us, “No one among the church members, pastors, or leaders
cares enough to come and pray with us or even to ask about our spiritual need.”
Becky’s Hope raised funds and held retreats for special-needs people for whom are neither accepted, loved, or cared for.
Many of the attendants were awed to see our ministry living the Christian life and sharing sustenance
from Jesus’ words from Matthew 25:40: “If you did this for the least of these, my brothers, you did this for Me.”
Becky’s Hope was grateful to Chris, Alina and Ligia (see Group Singers below) for volunteering to come and lead us in worship
at the retreat. They are gifted by the Lord and lifted our spirits with their song.
Our thanks to them for being vessels of God to prepare our hearts for the message that followed.
Becky’s Hope was blessed to have Paulette and Dr. Alan Baribeau as a part of our team. You can listen to the excerpt
from what Dr. Baribeau shared in Romania at the retreat. We welcome all of you to get involved in helping us to continue
expanding Christ’s kingdom on earth. Thank you, and may God bless you all deeply from the riches of His grace!
|
|
| Click camera to see
photo slideshow. |
 | Click camcorder to see
Group Singers video. |
| Click camcorder to see
Dr. Alan Baribeau video. |
|
|
May 6, 2011 -- The 2011 fundraiser was held in San Antonio Texas at the Bright Shawl.
The MC, Bill Taylor started the night with: "A night of Hope will be a night that you will leave here,
so a little bit different." The keynote speaker was Ligia Luca, the leader of the support group for Becky's Hope outreach in Romania and also from
Romania was Michaela Paicua who herself is a mother of a special needs child who came to personally testify how this ministry
has impacted her family and the community in Romania. |
|
| Click camera to see photo slideshow. |
|
Feb 24 - April 6, 2011 --
We spent 7 Sundays speaking in 11 churches all over Australia, because "this land of kangaroos is pretty.... BIG".
We traveled from S.E. Melbourne, to Western Perth, to South Adelaide, to East Brisbane, and to East Sydney, and back to
S.E. Melbourne. At the church in Perth, Pastor Benny addressed the congregation.
"Beloved, many of you cannot understand the God from the Bible or from my sermons, but tonight you will be able to hear the
testimony from Lidia and Becky whose lives has been changed through the power of Jesus Christ."
Becky spoke to the youth in churches and to Christian High Schools. One of the highlights from this trip was when
we arrived in Adelaide at 1am. We only slept 4 hours to be
able to be in time at the School which was 2 hours away. Becky spoke to the students during their chapel time.
We stayed at the home of Dana and Mircea ILAS. Their only 18 year old son, Daniel, died last December in a car accident.
There strong faith honors God and they are a blessing to everyone around them.
Becky spoke to their son's former School, to the 11th and 12th graders.
Becky talked about depression and why do the youth have depression when they have
everything they need. Becky shared her personal life and her faith in God.
As a result of our speaking engagements, the relatives and neighbors of Australia,
that live in Romania will benefit from Becky's Hope retreat this summer. We are believing that
the youth who listened to Becky will be changed and some will become more Christ centered because of the
testimony from a young lady who traveled halfway across the world to bring the Good News of the Gospel.
|
|
| Click camera to see photo slideshow. |
|
|
April 2011 -- San Antonio's Morgan's Wonderland 2011 Fiesta Especial featured Becky's Hope making an impact on the San Antonio
community. Becky's Hope was able to setup a display table and fish pond as was able to communicate its mission to patrons of the event.
|
|
| Click camera to see photo slideshow. |
|
September 2010 -- Our 2010 Mission Trip to Romania was special for Lidia, because Paulette Baribeau a board member of Becky's Hope, came
with her. Paulette gave her testimony at Lidia's father's Baptist church in Romania. Paulette saw at one of the churches
in Cluj Napoca, Romania had 23 stairs, with no other access. Unfortunately this is the reality in Romania. Unlike America,
there is no Disibilities Act and many churches, apartment buildings, and schools do not have wheelchair accessibility.
The retreat was beneficial and unique for the parents of special needs. Here are comments from Corina Pirvu, the main speaker at
the retreat. "I have been extremely privileged to meet Lidia and Becky's Hope Ministries and be able to serve along with them
for one week at the village of Valea Draganului, Romania.
When it comes to special needs children or individuals, Romania is not educated as to what to do for them or how to encourage
and help them. Becky's Hope Ministries addressed not only the spiritual needs of these families, but also their social and psychological needs. Most of them have
never ever been out of their house (especially the mothers). It was so amazing to me to see the mothers smiling and
enjoying their fellowship and time of rest.
I was amazed at the hunger and thirst after the word of God from all of the parents who took part at the retreat. They were
like a dry sponge ready to absorb every drop of living water and fresh bread from the Word of God. I was very impressed with
their eagerness to learn more about how they can please God and how they could better fulfill His plan for their families and
children.
There would be so much more to tell about how God edified me through their testimonies and their courage and strength to fight.
I can not wait to see how God continues and extends His work through Becky's Hope Ministries to these wonderful people."
Corina Pirvu, Cluj Napoca, Romania
|
|
| Click camera to see photo slideshow. |
|
|
July 2010 -- Becky's dream came true on July 11th through the 18th, 2010 on a Alaskan Cruise with her favorite singer,
Michael W. Smith, pastor, Max Lucado and former San Antonio Spurs player, David Robinson.
The highlight of the cruise was when Becky was on stage with Michael W. Smith and was able to recite
her favorite verses from the Bible, Psalm 139:13-14 "I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made"
|
|
| Click camera to see photo slideshow. |
|
January 2009 -- One of the most special days for the Oprean family was on January 6, 2009, when we were invited by President George W. Bush
to the White House. Becky and Lidia previously met President Bush in Waco, Texas to receive the
Presidential's Volunteer Service Award. At the time, Becky inquiried about the possibility of a visit to the White House.
We had a meaningful experience right at the door of the Oval Office, where President Bush waited to greet us with
warmth and esteem where we were encouraged to continue our ministry in the same manner. President Bush addressed Becky and said,
"Welcome Becky Boo, you made it!" Becky, her mother Lidia and dad Mircea and brother Mike and his wife Dori spent an
unforgettable 18 minutes together with President Bush and his wife Laura.
As one of the most prominent personalities, our president took time for common people like the Opreans and showed
compassion for people with special needs, for their ministry, and shared with them about his trip to Romania, and
about the history of the Oval Office.
|
|
| Click camera to see photo slideshow. |
|
|
Summer 2008 -- 20 years after the Revolution in Romania in 2008, Franklin Graham and his team came for a Spiritual Revolution during a weekend
crusade. Becky's Hope was asked to help with the distribution of wheelchairs which were sent by the Billy Graham Association,
so that many people with disabilities could attend the crusade. The same year, Becky's Hope had their second camp with just the
siblings from families with special needs children. These children like their parents need spiritual healing to accept their
special needs sibling. The camp helped many children get a better understanding of their role in the family
especially to help their parents cope with the special needs of their brother or sister. |
|
| Click camera to see photo slideshow. |
|
|
March 2007 -- Blake Coffee, the President of Christian Unity Ministry came to Romania with Ann Farris to teach the the leaders of
Becky's Hope in Romania, the principals from his book he has written "Trusting God's People Again".
Among the participants was a pastor with his wife from Poland. They have a daughter with Down Syndrome and they
wanted to implement in their country the vision of Becky's Hope.
|
|
| Click camera to see photo slideshow. |
|
Summer 2006 -- In 2006 Becky's Hope sponsored a retreat in the village of Valea Draganului, Romania where over 150 mothers and their
families from Romania and Moldova attended. We expressed teachings from the Bible and showed that God's love extends to
all people and all their needs. At the retreat, we broke into small groups, so that every mother could participate and
could open their hearts to the healing process. Mothers of special needs children who feel
rejected and alone were able to express their feelings, cry and receive prayer and comforting.
Cornelia (board member and Lidia's sister) and Ligia Luca (board member) are leaders of Becky's Hope in Romania.
Cristi Tepes (responsible for producing Becky's Hope media in Romania) is shown with his wife and 6 children. The
mothers of Raluca and Violeta (special needs children) gave their testimony that because they had support from
their mothers that Raluca was able to finish high school and attend college and Violeta was able to get a job that
works with computers.
|
|
| Click camera to see photo slideshow. |
|
|
September 2005 -- Becky's Hope was incorporated on September 28, 2005. The first fundraiser was held in San Antonio Texas at Bright Shawl.
The keynote speaker was Marvin Olasky, the editor-in-chief of World Magazine and a former provost (senior academic administrator) at The King’s College in New York.
A special guest speaker, was Cristi Tepes from Romania. He is the only Evangelical Producer who works for the Romanian
National Television. He talked about special needs families and how they are a important
part of the Romania community. |
|
| Click camera to see photo slideshow. |
|
Summer 2005 -- 2005 Retreat in Chisinau, Moldova and also Franklin Graham in Chisinau, Moldova "Festival of Hope Crusade".
Mothers of special needs children retreat in Chisinau, Moldova.
I was shocked to learn that one of the mothers that attended the retreat. This was her first time in 36 years away from her child (now an adult with a disability).
|
|
| Click camera to see photo slideshow. |
|
|
