Heaven
12:51 PM Happy New Year! La Multiani! Yesterday was a long day! We got to go to the orphanage, and then had a new years party with 40 Transition Program Graduates. So many blessings in one day.
We played many games at the orphanage; ameoba tag, capture the flag, futbol, and made bracelets. We even brought a trash bag full of popcorn, and a projector to watch a movie (The Tale of Desperaux) inside! I was in heaven with Vic leaning his head on my shoulder and Marius on my lap. Marius would reach his hand up every so often and rub my cheek, almost like he was checking if I was still there. I felt like a mom just hanging out with my kids. Then they each got a gift bag filled with New Years goodies; a crown, candy, glow sticks and noise makers! Needless to say they loved the glow sticks and noisemakers, I am sure the Romanian orphanage staff will appreciate that over the next few days!
Steven and I also spoke with Costel, a Transition Program graduate who we have seen over the past few years. This year, he wanted to share with us that he is getting baptized, and his life up to that point. He was kicked out by his mother when he was about 6, she didn’t even take him to an orphanage. He slept in forests and ditches on his own, and he doesn’t know exactly how long that was. Somehow he was eventually taken to an orphanage. He said they were beaten and didn’t always have food to eat. Eventually, he went to the H2H Transition Program, where he learned a lot about God, and came to believe in Jesus. He said he is not angry about his life, and that God always protected him. He now works at a Bakery, and is able to make money and have a place to live. It is very hard in Romania to make enough money on your own, and if you are an orphan, it is extremely hard to get a job. Every Romanian has a “work card” that they take to a potential employer. These kids have the word “ORPHAN” stamped on theirs; which is looked down upon, because it means they are unintelligent and thieves. Costel was proud of his work, and talked about inviting some of his co-workers to his baptism so that they could hear about Jesus. He said he was very happy Steven works with kids at a church, and asked him to tell them his story. He “wants that they know about others in the world, and not forget them.” I think that should be a goal for each of us; to remember that there are people who need love all over the place. I was inspired by this young man, who comes from a totally different world than I do, but yet we love the same God, who created each of us for a purpose...
I pray that our new year’s resolutions involve stepping away from ourselves. May you have a blessed and inspired year.
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