Ovidiu's Story
My name is Ovidiu, and I am a nurse and therapist at Herghelia. After nearly 22 years of repeating that introduction to patients, it feels completely natural — but the road that brought me here was one I never could have planned on my own.
I grew up in the flatlands of southeastern Romania, in a large and beautiful village, the way all the places of our childhood seem beautiful. My family was traditional, and like most people in our area, we were Orthodox. My grandmother had a deep spiritual side and passed that on to me from an early age. We even had a relative who served in the local church, and my grandmother dreamed that her grandson would one day become a priest.
From the time I was young, I had a burning question that I kept bringing up in conversations with my grandmother: what would happen in the final events of this world before the return of Jesus? That curiosity grew even stronger when, at thirteen, I witnessed the political upheaval of Romania’s 1989 revolution. Around the same time, religion classes were introduced at school, taught by an Orthodox priest. I never asked him about the end times, but I was disappointed to find that we were not studying the Bible — we were studying tradition and rituals.
A few months into my first year of high school, God began to answer my questions. I met a fellow student who was reading a book with a title that seemed to speak directly to the very things I had been wondering about. I knew this student because we lived in the same school dormitory. He was a Seventh-day Adventist. We became good friends, and through him I also got to know another classmate of his who was also Adventist. Together we worked through some of the first studies on Revelation printed in Romanian after 1989 — typed out on a basic typewriter — and I was thrilled because they answered the questions I had been carrying for years.
That was in my second year of high school. In my first year, my friend had already given me several booklets, a Bible, the book Steps to Christ, and The Great Controversy. That last book made a particularly deep impression on me. Reading it in detail, I discovered that God has a people whom He will bring through the final crisis. And what I was reading seemed to line up with what I was learning in history class — that year we were studying ancient and medieval history, and my history teacher was describing the very events I was reading about in The Great Controversy.
From the moment I began studying the Bible and that book, my thinking changed. Although I was not baptized until seven years later, at the age of 22, nothing could shake my Adventist convictions about life and the world. I decided I wanted to become a history teacher, believing that from that position I could share God’s truth most effectively. So, three years after my baptism, I set out for Valahia University in Târgoviște to enroll in the history major.
Some young people from my church had encouraged me to consider the medical field instead, but I paid little attention to that — I was convinced history was my path. When I arrived at the university, however, I found that every door seemed to be closing. I was standing right at the registration desk, and when my turn came to sign up, I suddenly felt with clarity that I was fighting against God. So I stepped away without enrolling — which left the registrar completely puzzled. But I knew that Someone greater was blocking that door because He had a different plan for me.
The idea of becoming a nurse did not fit easily in my mind at first, but I watched as God opened that door clearly. While I was in nursing school, a group of students from all three years was invited to spend a few days at Herghelia as professional observers, hosted by the Health Center. One of my roommates was part of that group. He came back so impacted that he immediately changed his diet — soybeans became a staple in his meals from that point on. Another classmate who had also visited Herghelia, a guitarist, told me with great enthusiasm about the conversations it opened with patients and the spiritual impact it had. Even though I did not fully understand the concept of a sanitarium at the time, something stuck with me — this place was clearly different from the conventional hospital environment I had been trained for.
As I approached the end of my studies, I had to decide what came next. Just as before, I was sure I already knew the answer: home-based nursing care, a new concept at the time that was being promoted to ease the burden on overcrowded hospitals. I received an offer to go in that direction, but my thoughts kept returning to Herghelia. Once again I gave God room to work through the principle of closed and open doors. The former classmate who had invited me to collaborate on that home-care project ended up abandoning it — and right at that moment, I received an invitation to interview at Herghelia. I loved the atmosphere, the staff, and the mission of the place. A few months later I joined the team.
Since then, 24 times a year — once for every new group of patients — I introduce myself as Ovidiu, nurse and therapist at Herghelia. It was also here that I met my wife, Grațiela. And God’s blessings did not stop there: He gave us two healthy, wonderful children, Ianis Marc and Iosua Matia.
As for my passion for sacred history and prophecy — God did not leave that unfulfilled either. I have had many opportunities to share the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation with our patients. I may not have a history degree, but I like to think of our patients as my students — many of them hearing for the first time the same thing that captivated me as a teenager: the story of an extraordinary God walking alongside His faithful people throughout history, all the way to the close of this earth’s story, and remaining with them forever.
Grațiela's Story
My name is Grațiela. I grew up in a small town at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains, raised mostly by my Orthodox grandparents, who gave me a simple faith in God, a love for nature, and an appreciation for everything it offers. As I got older I began reading the Bible and other Christian books, trying to understand the meaning and purpose of life. I thought about entering a monastery after high school, but it seems God had a different plan — one where I could be useful to people rather than living in isolation. At my aunt’s encouragement, I enrolled in nursing school.
In my second year, a former high school classmate who knew about my spiritual interests invited me to a program called “The Galilean,” led by Adventist pastor Lucian Cristescu. I assumed it would be held in a community center, but to my surprise, the venue was a Seventh-day Adventist church. I had my reservations about other churches at the time, but out of respect for my friend I agreed to go. I was genuinely impressed — by the atmosphere, the music, and above all by the fact that as the evangelistic series went on, I kept finding answers to questions that had long been on my mind.
I continued attending, and that summer I was invited to help with literature ministry and various health outreach activities — exhibitions, health clubs, and similar events. Through this work I came into contact with students from the Herghelia Missionary School, which made a real impression on me. What they were doing went beyond what I was learning in nursing school. A local church family encouraged me to apply, and in 2004, with God’s help, I completed the Missionary School program at Herghelia.
It was one of the most beautiful years of my life. I built lasting friendships, was inspired by teachers who modeled genuine faith, and received life lessons that have stayed with me. I will never forget the Sundays when we went out on mission to nearby villages, visiting the elderly, the sick, and those in need. I came to understand that Jesus spent more time healing than preaching, and that medical missionary work is the right arm of the Gospel.
I was 22 when I finished the program, and I made a promise to God that I wanted to give Him the best years of my youth. I was not sure exactly what that would look like — there was even a possibility of going to Iceland to work there. But then I had a conversation with Dr. Moroșan, the head physician at the Health Center, who told me they could use my help for two years if I was willing to stay and work at Herghelia. I said yes. Those two years became twenty.
I praise God that beyond giving me a sense of purpose here, He also gave me a beautiful family. My husband Ovidiu and I continue to work side by side at Herghelia as nurses and therapists. We still feel God directing our lives, and we hold on to the promise of Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
By the Erbeluță Family (Grațiela and Ovidiu) — Nurses and Therapists at Herghelia
Editor’s note: Grațiela and Ovidiu are dedicated, highly skilled professionals committed to personal growth, passionate about mission, strong supporters of the Spirit of Prophecy, and deeply loving toward both people and God.
Newsletter XXII Summary
The patient program at Herghelia continues to function well, though due to economic hardship in Romania, the average number of patients per session in 2025 declined from 51 to 48.
Following the cancellation of the presidential elections in December 2024, social trust declined and social anxiety increased, compounded by economic downturn and the broader global crisis.
My name is Ovidiu, and I am a nurse and therapist at Herghelia. After nearly 22 years of repeating that introduction to patients, it feels completely natural — but the road that brought me here was one I never could have planned on my own.
I grew up in the flatlands of southeastern Romania, in a large and beautiful village, the way all the places of our childhood seem beautiful. My family was traditional, and like most people in our area, we were Orthodox. My grandmother had a deep spiritual side and passed that on to me from an early age. We even had a relative who served in the local church, and my grandmother dreamed that her grandson would one day become a priest.
As the chaplain of the institution, I spend one hour with our guests each session during the first week, meeting as a group on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. I usually teach them a couple of Scripture songs and deliver a short spiritual message.
This session, two gentlemen are joining us at Herghelia for the first time, one of whom is a magistrate. At our first meeting, they both arrived a little after my presentation had begun. I was speaking about the importance of a positive attitude in life and how we can develop one. Basing my message on Psalm 42, I highlighted three main ideas, supporting each with illustrations
I am grateful to God for what He continues to do at Herghelia. I come here every year in my role as auditor for the institution, but I always look forward to the spiritual experiences God has in store for me beyond my professional duties.
Some of you may remember Isaiah, my Pentecostal friend whom I first met at Herghelia four years ago — I shared that story in a previous newsletter. Last autumn we were here together again, and we made plans to return this spring for a fourth visit. In September I stopped by to see him and his family in their hometown. We spent a wonderful few days together — enjoying the scenery, visiting local sights, and hiking in the Jiu Valley. We paused now and then to pray and thank God for the beauty of nature. When we said goodbye, we were looking forward to meeting again at Herghelia in the spring. But then something unexpected happened.
When her turn came to introduce herself at the welcome gathering that session, Mrs. M — one of our guests — openly admitted that she had been afraid to come to Herghelia. I was eager to learn more, and later that evening we had a chance to talk. She shared with me that she had been planning to come for a long time and genuinely needed our services but had hesitated. Although all of her friends who knew us had exceptionally good things to say about our medical care, when it came to the fact that we are Adventists, everyone had advised her to be cautious. I appreciated her honesty and assured her that Herghelia is the safest place on earth as far as her soul is concerned — her personal relationship with God.
Five years since a bold idea took root at Herghelia — and today we can say with gratitude: every step has been worth it.
Two graduating classes. A generation of character.
Before we tell you about the new school year, we want to celebrate with you the second graduating class of the “Vasile Dan” Herghelia Nursing School.
HERGHELIA – URGENT NEEDS
- Scholarship Ethiopia: 7500 USD
- Scholarship Uganda: 6000 USD
- New Wing Project: 160.000 USD
- Medical Missionary Nursing School – Online/On-site Pilot Program – $15,000
2 ways to donate via OCI tax deductible:
A. Donate ONLINE:
Go to OCI website: https://outpostcenters.org/en/oci-website/donate
Choose Herghelia Institute as the recipient, choose or write the amount of donation and in the cassette where is written “Leave them a note” please write “For Ethiopians training” or “For dr. Ivan’s training” or “Scholarship Ethiopia and Uganda” or “ New wing” or “ Nursing School”
B. Write a check to:
OCI International
5132 Layton Lane, Apison, TN
37302 United StatesIn the MEMO please write: For Herghelia Institute – Scholarship Ethiopia and/or Uganda or, For Herghelia Insitute New wing or, For Herghelia Institute Nursing School
- Contact person: Valentina Dan
Phone: +40-748-118-084
E-mail: valentinadan1964@yahoo.com