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:
1. Our Lord and Creator has blessed us with the capacity to be aware of our inner condition — our soul. It is vital that we know how we feel at every point in our lives.
2. We have also been equipped with the capacity to challenge and confront ourselves whenever we notice negative thoughts taking root.
3. The Lord has further blessed us with the capacity to choose the attitude we develop. This means it is truly possible — we can cultivate a positive attitude!
At our second evening meeting, I was pleased to notice that both gentlemen were present from the very beginning. My message this time was about forgiveness: how we can receive it, and what causes so many of us to miss out on this blessing and fail to rejoice in it. I closed my presentation with the verse from Isaiah that tells us our God never grows weary of forgiving us. As always, I ended the program with prayer — and as I was about to leave, one of those two gentlemen, the magistrate, stayed behind, wanting to speak with me.
I did not know at the time what his profession was; I only knew his name. With tears in his eyes, he said: “Pastor, I am ashamed of what I have to share with you right now. My profession requires that every morning, before I begin my daily work, I swear with my right hand over the Bible. But to my shame, I must confess — I have never actually read it. This Sunday I will be back home, and my plan is that by Monday morning I will begin reading it. I intend to study it the way I was taught at university: diligently, with a highlighter in hand, so I can always return to the most important passages. Yes — I will study the Bible that way!”
Moved by his honesty and determination, I could not help but step forward and give him a warm embrace. Before we parted that evening, we both agreed that there is a greater purpose behind every step we take in this life.
Reflecting on this experience, I believe that when someone comes to Herghelia — initially unaware of and uninterested in anything beyond their physical health — and then, through contact with God’s Word, opens their eyes to their spiritual needs and resolves to seriously study the Bible, that represents a profound success for our program. I am deeply grateful that many of our guests have had this kind of experience. The simple fact that a Bible is placed in every guest room leads some of them to use their limited free time to begin reading it — and for some, it is the very first time in their lives.
My prayer for each of them is that the Holy Spirit would guide them all to encounter the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
By Iulian Condrachi — Herghelia’s Chaplain
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