This has been the history of the Roma people.  Living primarily in Eastern Europe, the Roma are more commonly known as Gypsies, (though not all Gypsies are Roma). Originally a nomadic people, they were feared as thieves and baby-stealers.  Laws were enacted against them. In 1885, the United States even barred their immigration. The Nazi’s exterminated roughly 600,000 Roma.

Today, many Roma are settled in the Carpath section of the Ukraine. Traditionally part of Hungary, this region is isolated by the Carpath Mountains which separate it from the rest of the Ukraine. Roma students learn in their native language until fourth grade, and then the law mandates schooling in Ukrainian. Most Roma students drop out after this fourth grade education. These persecuted, poor and generally uneducated people need special concern.  The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) sent Nadia Ayoub.

Nadia, a candidate for ordination as a minister of Word and Sacrament, recently started working with the Reformed Church in Carpath to develop and implement church-related early childhood education programs for the Roma children. Seeking to steadily improve the self-esteem and status of the Roma community within the larger Ukrainian society, Nadia observed,“There are so many needs, clean water, school supplies not to forget medicine and food.”

Our Presbytery’s Worldwide Ministry Care Team and partnerships with The Hungarian Reformed Church have influenced First Presbyterian’s interest in this region. The Peace, Justice and Missionary Committee is proud to announce that they have selected Nadia Ayoub as a special interest missionary.