Joshua Project

The Joshua Project in Romania ministers to HIV/AIDS kids, bringing help both physically and spiritually. Here's a recent email from my friend Andy:


God is faithful, He is the Alfa and Omega, He is the beginning and the end, He is the Creator of the Universe, He is the Bread of Life, He is Living Water, He is El Shaddai more than enough, He is my Healer, He is my Strong Tower, He is my Shield and my Strength, He will never leave me nor forsake me, He is all of these and so much more.


God has been faithful during the summer months at the Joshua Project, He was with us through our camp season, and he revealed His love to so many that came our way.


We hadn't seen Gabi for many years, almost 8 years had past without a single word about the little girl that we met in the hospital, she had came in for tests and was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. She had been infected by a blood transfusion as a baby. Gabi was frightened in her new surroundings but we were able to comfort her some as we played games, sang songs and just loved those little ones for Jesus. Gabi drew close to us over those days and was the proud winner of a bandanna during one of our prize giving days.
Then she left the hospital and 8 years had passed when to our surprise while collecting the kids for our first camp we see Gabi. Hardly recognizable as the little girl from the hospital she had grown up and a hard life could be seen on her face but more so in her eyes.

During our time with her she began to soften once again and share the things that she had been through over the years from when we last saw her. She had be abused by those who should have protected her, she had been raped and sold as a prostitute, she had to have an abortion and so on. But God is faithful, He knew Gabi would be back with us even through all the pain of her past, God still was waiting for Gabi to reach out to Him and she did. He began to heal her heart of all the scars of the past and though this is a slow process, she is making steps in the right direction, reading the bible and coming to the Day Center for encouragement and help. Gabi is free of prostitution now and her life is getting better. The bandanna that she proudly won still hangs on the post of her bed, all through the hard years it was there all the time.

You just never know what impact you might have on someone else's life, make it count.


Florin is an orphan boy of gypsy decent, dark skinned with big brown eyes, his story is that of hundreds of orphans in Romania. Though we are not exactly sure, Florin most likely was one of those little ones that the world saw on TV when Communism fell. Living in pitiful conditions, tied to a cot, dirty, and malnourished, beating the odds to survive when so many died. He has a gentle spirit now, and with it a very child like personality.
Somewhere Florin stopped developing mentally, maybe to protect himself from the pain, maybe as a result of all the suffering, who can tell for sure.

His presence at camp always brings such joy, God has put His hand on Florin in a very special way. He has the ability to radiate joy in such a powerful way that anyone who spends time with him will see Jesus if they look close enough. Florin's tears at the end of each camp will never be forgotten. He just loves to be loved, to feel a part of a family, and it is always hard to leave Florin back in the slums after camp. He now lives in a run down apartment building, no windows or doors, drug addicts lying on the stairs, fights and stabbings are daily occurrences for his neighborhood.

Through it all Florin keeps going and his joy is abundant. God is faithful.


Ema who was born in a Christian, home, active at one time in the youth group at church, and a part of the missions team has long since lost her way and is backslidden from the Lord. Her brother died a few years ago in a car accident. They were very close and this along with all her other struggles caused her to blame God and turn away from Him.
She arrives at camp with her wrists bandaged from trying to cut them with a piece of broken mirror, although she was unsuccessful her cry for help was plain to see. Ema was able to pour out her heart as she built relationships with team members, and during the time at camp with much prayer she felt Gods peace upon her once again. After returning home she began to visit church again and we are praying that the Lord will use her again as He once did. God is faithful!

Just a few lives that God touched this year, He is still touching lives at the The Joshua Project, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is faithful!


As for the future . . .
Right now we are living month to month! We should have enough finances from this month to get through Christmas...and then once again...we will watch our precious Lord provide through His people.

We just received a shipment from the USA with things for Christmas, praise God that we will have a gift stocking for each kid that comes to our Christmas dinner.

We are praying that we can also provide a food parcel for 20 very poor and sick families, the package will be made up of beans, rice, oil, salami, sugar, salt etc. each package will cost $30 to put together. With this food package we will also be giving clothes, toiletries and toys for the children that we already have from shipments, it is so exciting to think that somewhere out in the poorest villages in our area that someone might be praying for God to do a miracle and provide for Christmas and that God could use us together with you to answer that prayer. God is faithful.

If you would like to bring a little Christmas blessing to a child or family please email joshua1_kids@yahoo.com


Thank you for making the Joshua Project possible, for changing lives that God has placed before us. Have a blessed Christmas!

Love and Prayers, Andy, Tresha, Josiah and Lili McKnight