CROATIA — Just a few years ago, Goran and Valerija had no way of knowing that the rocky path life would take them on would eventually lead them to one another, thanks to friends like you. Both Goran and Valerija experienced more adversity than any child should face in a lifetime. Like so many who are vulnerable in Croatia, Goran endured both the trauma of being separated from his parents when they could no longer care for him and then mistreatment from his new parents.
“They attacked me for every little thing, like breathing too loud,” said Goran of his adoptive family. “I had to wash everything in the house and clean the floors.” The emotional and physical abuse he suffered at home and from his peers left him scarred and void of hope in humanity and life itself.
Although Valerija was born into a loving family, she has cerebral palsy, which led to insufferable torment when she reached grade school. To cope with the pain, Valerija resorted to self-harm. “By the age of 17, I had reached the edge,” said Valerija. “I cut myself, overdosed on pills, and attempted to hang myself on more than one occasion.”
Finding Hope for the Vulnerable in Croatia
After years of suffering, heartache, and pain, Goran and Valerija had each given up on life—and God. But then God brought them both to our Orphan’s Promise House of Opportunities. There, thanks to support from friends like you, they were given ample love and encouragement—something so desperately needed by those who are vulnerable in Croatia.
“I have never seen in my life, in all my youth, that kind of love towards me,” said Goran. “I received that love and I saw that I was really accepted from the people who didn’t know me, who saw me that day.” Because of the kindness of our generous partners, Goran and Valerija are living meaningful and fulfilling lives today.
“God gave me a good job where people are not rude, where people are like brothers,” said Goran. Despite the challenges of Valerija’s condition and her history in school, she recently graduated with her bachelor’s degree, which wouldn’t have been possible without supporters like you.
Through our Orphan’s Promise program, Goran and Valerija learned important life skills such as managing finances and being independent. They also found community and friends, renewed their love for the Lord, found love with each other as well—and got married! “We joke sometimes that we are two lame people,” said Valerija. “He says he’s lame in the head, and I’m lame in the legs. He is my legs; I am his brain.”
Our House of Opportunities director said, “No matter how many times I have listened to their testimony, I am still fascinated by what God did— out of something that was broken, without hope, without meaning, without purpose.”
The young couple is thankful that the program brought them together, and now their desire is to glorify God through their marriage and future children. Thank you for helping provide a beacon of hope to them when they needed it most. You are helping at-risk children and the vulnerable in Croatia to grow into thriving young adults.
