A Prodigal’s Story

My name is Ilie Tarca and I first came to Bread of Life Orphanage on May 10, 2008 at the age of 10. W hen I first arrived I did not know  that God was starting His plan with my life. I did not know much about God and all that I could feel at the time was how much I missed my family, even though I was aware that they did not have a way of taking care of me or offering me a proper education or the clothes and food that I needed. After only a few days I came to know the people at the Orphanage better, the children and staff, and I started getting over the mental block of being in an Orphanage. I realized things were far from what I had imagined an Orphanage to be like. As days went by I became involved in the Bible programs, taking part in the singing and praying, and I started to like being at the BOL Orphanage. Being here opened my heart and mind toward God.

With the help of the people here,I managed to complete the local high school, and with the desire to build a future, I left to find a job in a different town after high school. Seeking my own way in life in that town  slowly pulled  me away from God and the spiritual mentoring that I had at the Orphanage. One day after a couple of months I came to realize that I was missing God and His blessings on this personal pursuit so I decided to go  back to the Orphanage   I was embarrassed and felt like the prodigal son, but I faced the shame of asking to be received back into the Orphanage and was surprised that with open arms Uncle Adi and the staff at the Orphanage welcomed me back. They were quite happy to see me and offered me a job as a guard at the o|Orphanage.

I worked here for one year and then felt that I wanted to do more and went out again to a bigger town to search for a job. Things again did not work as planned or hoped. A few months down the road I was very disappointed

and discouraged. My faith was weak and I felt that I was losing my connection with God. I was sorry for this and decided to fast and seek God’s answer to my situation. I wanted God to show me where I could find a good job that He approved of. After only a few days Alin called me and told me about the Youth Transition Program and that they would help me find a job in Bucharest. I felt that this was God’s answer, as I really wanted to stay connected to BOL and wanted to have a place to work that I really liked. So on October 7, 2015 I entered the BOL Youth Transition Program.

I also started attending the local church and began to grow into knowing God and His plan for my life. Even though at the beginning I did not understand things and as I teenager I was a little reluctant to attend church, God touched me. I have recently committed my life to God and was baptized. Now, no one needs to tell me to go to church, I know the importance of this, and I happily attend. This year I will celebrate my nineteenth birthday I will always be thankful to the people God placed in my life that helped me and offered me a good education, even though I know I resented them at many times. They planted in my heart the word of God and always cared for me.

Ilie T.

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