A gift of joy and hope for Florin's family

Her Absence a Burden: The Loss of a Mother

In a small house on the outskirts of a Romanian village, Florin, 31, is a single father doing his best to raise his three children, ten-year-old Adrian, seven-year-old Anais, and five-year-old Raisa. Two years ago, his wife walked out on the family, leaving them devastated.

“At first, the children were confused,” Florin said. “They didn’t know where she had gone or what to expect. Now Anais refuses to talk about her at all, and Raisa hardly remembers her. But Adrian still carries her absence like a burden he can’t put down. He cried a lot in the beginning and still gets emotional every time his mother is mentioned.”

Life on the fringe of their community is difficult, with limited resources and few opportunities. Despite the challenges around them, from unemployment to widespread alcoholism, Florin remains quiet, responsible, and steadfast in creating a stable, loving environment for his children.

Every Day a Battle

The family lives together in a single room that serves as bedroom, kitchen, dining, and living space. They have no running water or indoor toilet, fetching water from a nearby well using large plastic containers.

Florin works long hours to provide for his children, while his parents—especially the children’s grandmother—care for them when he’s away.

“Being a single father without a stable job, every day feels like a battle just to keep food on the table,” Florin said. “Prices at the store seem to rise every time I walk in. I’m constantly forced to make choices no parent should have to make, whether to pay a bill or buy clothes, whether to purchase medicines or enough groceries to last a few days.”

A Gift That Changes Everything

As Christmas approached, Mission Without Borders began distributing boxes of food and treats to families across Eastern Europe—including Florin’s. Each box also contained literature explaining the meaning of Christmas and the birth of Jesus.

“Thank you for your kindness, for thinking of us, and for bringing much-needed hope and joy,” Florin told Cristina, the Mission coordinator who delivered the boxes.

“Cabbage rolls, soups, salads, cakes, doughnuts, or crepes; these are the Romanian traditional dishes we get to eat at Christmas, and I’m sure my mother will now cook all of these for us.”

Cristina shared, “Our Christmas boxes provide families with more than just food, they restore dignity and self-worth. Being able to sit together and have proper meals, just like any other family, means so much. For a while, they don’t have to feel different or less than others because of what they can’t afford.

“I want Florin and his children to know that we care, and that God keeps His promise never to forsake them. I also want to give them a message of hope, that better days are possible.”

This Christmas, you can change a story. Give through Operation Christmas Love and bring hope, food, and joy to struggling families.