BUCHAREST, Romania—Art was the medium five Virginia college students used this spring to share their faith with Roma (Gypsy) children in Romania—leaving behind an 83-foot-wide mural at the Baptist-affiliated Ruth School, which provides education to the marginalized and disadvantaged.
For 10 days in March, Erin Darnell, Melissa Hubert, Celia Jones, Pip Pattison and Emily Sears—all art students at Bluefield (Va.) College—worked on art projects in morning classroom sessions with Roma children.
Bluefield’s art mission team included (front, from left) Pip Pattison, Melissa Hubert, (back) Walter Shroyer, Celia Jones, Erin Darnell, Emily Sears, and Amanda Parks. (Bluefield College photo)
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In the afternoons, they painted a mural on the school’s wall, depicting scenes of city and country life, including a starry sky, trees, a schoolhouse, a downtown city street, a church with stained glass window, mountains and a river.
Joining them were Walter Shroyer, head of Bluefield’s art department, and BC registrar Amanda Parks, who studied art as a student at the Baptist-affiliated school in southwest Virginia.
“Everyone worked very hard on the mural,” said Shroyer. “They all knew why we were there: to paint something beautiful for the kids in the Ruth School. It was one of the best weeks of my life. It was so gratifying to see the immediate impact you can have on people who are less fortunate.”
“I had prayed for a long time that I could use the talents God has given me in a way that is good for others,” said Jones, a graphic communication and art major from Brookneal, Va. “I feel like this was an opportunity to do that.”
The Ruth School was founded in 1992 as a collaboration between Bucharest’s Providence Baptist Church and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to provide schooling, literacy training, educational recovery, humanitarian aid and wellness to the city’s impoverished children, especially those in the Roma community. Eventually Project Ruth emerged as a vehicle to support a foundation to operate the school. In the past two decades more than 2,000 children have attended classes there.
The Virginia students also led singing and games in the Ruth School’s chapel service, played soccer with children and participated in youth activities at a local church.
Erin Darnell enjoys a Ruth School student’s painting. (Bluefield College photo)
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“I was really grateful we got the opportunity to speak at chapel, because it gave us a chance to say that we came there for a reason,” said Jones. “And that reason was for the students to be inspired and to not give up on what God can do in their lives.”
Providence Baptist Church hosted the Bluefield students, along with Brittany Garton, a Bluefield graduate serving at the Ruth School through the Virginia Baptist Mission Board’s Venturers program. Venturers are individuals at least 18 years of age who serve in hands-on mission roles for a period of six months to two years.
Garton not only assisted the team in its mission, but cooked for them most nights.
“Brittany is a great example for Bluefield College,” said Shroyer. “She is really making a difference in people’s lives, and she has such a love and passion for it. Knowing she graduated from BC makes me proud of our students, and her success in Romania makes me see great hope for the future.”
Team members said one of the lasting impressions they took with them was the strength Romanians exhibit in their daily lives.
“Our driver told us several times, ‘My country is poor, but we are rich because we have God,’” said Jones. “I can’t think of a better lesson to take away from this experience. This one week we spent covered in paint and surrounded by Roma children has been a richer experience than anything dollars, euros or RON [Romanian currency] could buy. It’s my prayer that I helped the Ruth School just a little, because this people, this place and this country have a place in my heart forever.”
Project Ruth’s 20th anniversary was celebrated at a missions picnic during the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s June 21-22 General Assembly in Fort Worth, Texas.
“Many of you have been part of the story,” said Oti Bunaciu, pastor of Providence Baptist Church who attended the celebration. “CBF has been the hub of these stories. I came here today to say ‘Thank you.’”
Chris Shoemaker ([email protected]) is director of marketing and public relations at Bluefield College. Robert Dilday ([email protected]), managing editor of the Religious Herald, contributed to this story.