When I compare kids who grow up in families to kids who grow up in institutions, there are actually more similarities than you would think.  All kids want the attention of the adults in their lives. They want to show you a cool trick that they learned to do with the soccer ball. And as they get older, they want cell phones and facebook accounts.  Kids are kids.  But there are differences that set abandoned and institutionalized children apart, things that change the course of their entire lives.  Things that can damage them or prevent them from fulfilling their potential.  But there is hope.

If I'm honest I don't think I knew anything about Romania until I met Haley. I take that back. I knew one thing. Romania produced one of the most awkward yet endearing NBA players of all time. The 7'7" Gheorghe Muresan. My only real memory of him was a ridiculous mock cologne commercial he made for snickers.
At this point you probably have way more questions than answers and if you are still reading.... well I guess I'll try and give a few answers as to "what's the problem?"

At the turn of the 20th century Romania was a thriving country producing advancements in sciences, literature, architecture, and art. The capital of the country, Bucharest, was affectionately dubbed little Paris of the East.

At the heart of this development and advancement into the 20th century was a monarchy borrowed from one of Europe's most stable nations...Germany.

King Carol and his wife Elisabeth unified the Romanian territories in 1881 and endeared themselves to the new nation by adopting the language and bringing education to the masses. This was no hostile takeover. The leaders of the three major Romanian provinces lobbied Germany for a King and the nation obliged.

A STATUE OF KING CAROL ACROSS FROM HIS BUCHAREST PALACE.

While the monarchy brought stability, peace, development, and advancement to Romania, the German ties would eventually prove detrimental to their future as a nation.

King Carol II, the grandson of King Carol took the reigns of Romania in 1930. During the early days of World War II, Romania was naturally allied with Germany. As the war went on and Hitler's true colors begin to shine through, Romania withdrew their support and began to support the Allies.

Romanian history books will say this was a crucial turning point in the war, as important food stuffs and oil that was provided by Romania was now withheld from German troops.

As the war ended, Europe was left devastated and the reconstruction process began. Romania drew the proverbial short stick and was left to the Soviet Empire. At this point the little Paris of the East became a shadow of itself.

The communist regime forced the people into labor and destroyed the once thriving infrastructure of the country. All resources were being exported back to Russia and the Romanian people became frustrated and agitated with their foreign intruders.

As Russia entered into tensions with America during the Cold War, Romania became more of a nuisance than an asset. A Romanian communist took advantage of the people's unrest and Russia's preoccupation with bigger issues and negotiated a take over of the country.

Nicolae  Ceausescu took control of Romania in 1965 and after a brief period of improving the country's conditions engaged on a campaign of terror and oppression. He censored content, commandeered property, persecuted Christians, and imprisoned innocent people on a whim.

Everything became rationed. Food, water, lightbulbs, tv time.... everything. In a plot to create a new generation of perfect citizens, Ceausescu enacted a plan to promote child bearing. Awards were given to women who had more than 5 children. Extra rations were given to larger families. Couldn't take care of all of your children? No problem, give them to your loving leader and he will provide them with the nutrition and education they need to be the next generation of leaders.

Do you see where this is going?

Orphanages in Romania were bred out of one man's evil desires to create a subservient population who worshiped him as a deity.

In 1989 communism finally fell during a December revolution that took place throughout the country. For the next 14 years Romania continued to be led by an individual affiliated with the communist party. It wasn't until 2004 that Romania was finally freed from the yoke of communism. We are working with a country than is barely a decade removed from the devastation of communism.

The response to the orphaned population created by Ceaucescu? "It's a throw away generation." The orphan population was viewed as a waste of time and resources. Today we are seeing second even third generation orphans and the problem has not gone away.

But there is hope. We believe in a God who has not forgotten nor has he ever abandoned these children. We believe that together we can make a difference to impact the lives of these children both here and now on this earth and eternally in heaven.

We ask that you would consider getting involved. We need partners in prayer, we need donations, we need volunteers to spend time with these kids. If you are interested in any or all of these things, please don't hesitate to contact us.


Love and Blessings,
-s

When people ask you what you do, or what you used to do, you get some interesting looks when you say "missionary."  Their minds either go straight to images of Mother Teresa, or knocking on doors like a salesman.  Neither is accurate.  So I've stopped telling people my "title" and just tell them what I actually did.  Taught orphaned and abandoned children with special needs how to read.  Lead summer camps and youth group.  Stood by them, prayed for them, and loved them in every capacity I could.


So that's the what, but inevitably after the what, comes the why.  Why did you choose to work in Romania?  Why have you been going to Romania for the last 9 years, then live there for 3 of those years, and why do you keep going back?

The why is really simple, and dates back to when I was in middle school.  I used to watch 20/20 with my parents on Friday nights (super cool) and happened to see a special on the conditions in Eastern European orphanages.  This was back in the late 90's when many news outlets were investigating institutions in places like Russia and Romania.  I saw hurting kids and thought, I'd like to help them one day.  Fast forward to college, when I found an organization dedicated to ministering to orphaned and abandoned babies and children in Romania.  I signed up for a two week trip, packed a suitcase full of toys and games, and flew around the world.

My life was forever changed.  It was changed from the first moment I stepped into the abandoned baby hospital.  And it continued to change as I visited school-aged children living in the orphanages, and then met young adults who had grown up in institutions.

In truth, God has used Romania to change me daily, and, over time.  He has broken me, broken my heart for these kids who struggle in every way imaginable.  Being broken is painful.  But brokenness spurs on love.  And when people ask, "Why Romania?"  my only response is that I have to.  It's not that I have to go to Romania.  It's that I have to go to see my kids, who have rooted themselves in my heart and soul.

{haley}

We are going back.  We just got back, but we are going back, too.  Going back implies a homecoming.  Or home-going.  Whenever you leave somewhere, you say, "I'm going back."  The back home is implied.

When you have two homes, you are always going back.  Which is strange, because you can't go back when you just got back.  But going back is not just a verb, but a noun.

Back is really home.  And home is really being surrounded by love and joy.  And our kids are home to us, as much as any other place on the planet.

We have been back for about 9 months.  We never wrote a final blog post, or talked much about saying goodbye to the kids.  Because it was devastatingly hard.  And it is still hard to be away from them.

But the good news is, we are going back!  We will be in Romania for the month of July, helping with summer camps, just like old times. We will be working in the orphanages where we used to teach our reading classes, youth group, character education, and played a million hours of soccer.

People ask us all the time, "What was it like?  Did you like it there?"  Little questions can elicit big answers.  So normally, I give the standard two sentence answer, "It was an amazing experience.  Very challenging and rewarding at the same time."  But truthfully, it wasn't an experience at all, it was my whole life.  And it's really difficult to assault the questioner with, "It was the most devastating and beautiful time of my life.  I saw huge injustices and amazing triumphs.  I yelled at God and I cried a lot.  I got a million hugs from kids that call me mom.  I was powerless and powerful at the same time. I was blessed, and I was changed."

It gets awkward if I respond like that...

So,  for those who are still reading, and are interested in learning about the plight of abandoned children in Romania, we will be posting some new blogs as we prepare to go back.  We will share our hearts, and more adorable smiles!

{haley}