Visiting the Gypsy Church

After many flights, and some unexpected delays, our team made it to Tarnaveni very early Sunday morning. They enjoyed a brief rest and then we attended the Gypsy Church in the community served by Point of Hope.  Two of our team members, Allie and Anthony Bruno, give you their impressions: 

Allie says,

Yesterday, my husband and I, along with 15 members of our missions team, attended the Gypsy church inside of the Point of Hope community. The passion flowed through the room, and I was amazed at the hearts these people have for Christ. While there is a language barrier, it was evident by their actions and emotions that their faith didn't need to be vocally understood to be felt and admired. I would love to see this kind of Christian reliance and devotion in our churches back home! Witnessing the love in this place will give your heart a whole new outlook on how you worship the Lord!

Anthony wrote, 

On sunday, my wife, Allie, and I, along with 15 other people went to a gypsy church for the first time. It was an experience that I will not soon forget. When we got there, I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew it would be hot, crowded, and in a language that I don't understand. However when we got there I began noticing things about the people I never would have guessed. The people were very enthusiastic, and it was apparent that they loved Jesus. However, it was church as I had never experienced before. Many people spoke, and many more sang. They had a testimony time, where someone could stand up and share if they wanted to. They sang songs and love to worship God. They are a people who are aware of their sin and are broken for it. They want to go out in their community and share Jesus and they are broken for their community. It was refreshing to see real brothers and sisters in Christ that are walking with Christ and have a thirst for knowledge of him. I am so thankful for the opportunity to go and worship with these people.

Please be in prayer for our team as we continue to work alongside this community and build their faith.  Also, stay tuned for more reflections from different team members!!

Illinois team picture

Hey everyone...here is a picture of the Illinois team right before they head to the airport. Please pray that as the 2 parts of the mission team (Illinois people & Louisiana people) come together  in Romania that they bond quickly. God has some great things planned for this team I am quite certain!!!

Jason, Steph, Katelin, Bailey, and Alyssa. Ready to go and serve!!!

The Next Team is Headed to Romania!!

By the time most of you read this post Another Child Foundation will be sending another team of 14 people to Romania for 11 days of service to the Point of Hope children and the community. 5 people from Illinois (Jason, Steph, Bailey, Alyssa, and Katelin), 8 from Lafayette, LA (John, Jacee, Victoria, Alexis, Rebekah, Bailey, Anthony, and Allie), and 1 more from Martin. TN (Joe) will be conducting a VBS for the children we serve, leading a men's Bible study, worship services, and other substantial evangelistic efforts.

Please keep this team in your prayers because many of the activities will be first time endeavors for Another Child Foundation mission trip participants and Fundatia Buckner.

We also want you to stay tunes as each of these mission trip participants will be posting their thoughts and reactions to the ministry going on during their trip.

Glimpses of a Great Trip!

Last week our team of 12 arrived in Romania from Texas, Illinois and Tennessee. We made plans for our time with the children and women, but didn't know exactly how our days would go. God, of course, was present and blew us away with his attention to detail in all things. We began the week doing two days of VBS with the children who attend school at the Point of Hope, as well as the students who come for the after school program. Our time with them was filled with Bible stories, games, crafts and music. The children are eager to learn and to be loved. Our main goal was to show them love that is lasting and found in God. Then we spent two days serving the women of the community. About 25-30 women (moms, grandmas, aunts, and sisters of the students) attended the ministry. We had a devotional time followed by crafts, beauty and health. We worked hard to impress upon the women that they are of value and that they are beautiful simply because they were created by God. It was a sweet blessing to continue to build relationships with the kids and the women. We are so thankful that they welcomed us in to share life with them! The pictures that follow are just a few glimpses of our time in Romania. You will see a bit of our activities and the beauty of the country. Our efforts would not have been as lasting had it not been for the assistance of the amazing volunteers and staff that minister to the community of Tarnaveni all year long. Please take a moment to pray over the school, staff, volunteers and community as you enjoy these photos!

Visiting the home of these students.

Our team!

The staff at the Point of Hope.

A few of our team members with our awesome translators!

Thank you for joining us on our journey! Please consider continuing to join the work that is going on in Romania. Lean more about how you can be a part of it all by visiting the Another Child Foundation website. The next mission team heads to Romania at the end of this week, so check back here for more stories about what God is doing in the lives of the team and those they're serving!

The Team has Completed Their Work!

Well it is hard to believe that 9 of the teams 11 days have come and past. I have been doing these trips for 8 years and I continue to be amazed at how fast the days go by. I could not be more proud of the team and the work they have done over the past 9 days. Many people do not understand the emotional and physical toll these trips have on people. The work being done with the children is so emotionally taxing because of 2 factors. When you see all the good being done for these children you can't helped but be overcome with emotion. The team learns throughout the week the hurdles these children have to overcome just to get to a normal life. The second reason these trips are so emotionally exhausting is when you see the environment these children come from. Your heart fills with compassion for these children which causes you to work even harder for the Lord to give these children the Hope they deserve and were created for. As the trip leader and Director of Another Child I could not be more proud of a team. Whenever something needed to be done one of the team would step in a make the situation better.

The team was also very impressed with the Fundatia Buckner staff and volunteers. Having brought over a dozen teams to Romania over the years I have seen the staff grow in their confidence in the work they are doing for the Tarneveni community. Volunteers come and go due to the nature of the job but the latest group they have recruited are simply fabulous. ACF appreciates their efforts very much.

With all this being said I want to let all of our followers/readers know how much we need them to act upon becoming a prayer and financial supporter of his ministry today!! All the work being done by these mission teams is great; but if we don't have the financial backing to continue the programs we have accomplished nothing for our Lord. We are depending on YOU to come along side of ACF to continue this god work. So, would you consider becoming a part of our $12 for 12 program. The $12 for 12 program is simply people like yourself giving a monthly gift of $12 , $24, $36, or $48 a month to support the ongoing programs. We need your help today! So CLICK HERE to help us alleviate poverty in this part of God's glorious world. Together WE ARE changing the world like no one else!

Tim Oloffson- Executive Director
Another Child Foundation

The Ones Serving the One

We began our morning devotion time with the topic:  The Ones Serving the One.  This redirected our focus to the women's ministry for today of the parable of the Lost Coin.  We are reminded that we are all here to serve God as one body, always pointing to the love God has for each of them as individuals.  

In the women's devotional time I read the parable and pointed out to the women that the 10 silver coins were a gift given to a bride at her wedding, so the loss of one of the silver coins had a greater impact on the woman since it held special significance.  The women were reminded that they are just as special to God as the silver coin was to the woman.  

Our second devotional time was given during the self-care time was based on Proverbs 31, emphasizing that beauty comes from within and from a relationship with the Lord.  We will be using Proverbs 31:25 for our opening devotional tomorrow and will be able to expand on the proverb more closely.  The women all seemed to enjoy the friendship and activities presented today.

Many of these women came last year to the women's ministry activities when I was here in June. Jessica, Amanda and I were thrilled to see many of the friends we made last year which helped to set the tone for the day.  God certainly called me back to this ministry again this year to reconnect with these ladies.  

My fourteen-year-old son, Ian, has returned this year as well to fulfill his ministry at Point of Hope.  He has helped with VBS and worked on preparing a classroom for redecorating.  The friendship he has made with the teen translators has made this an exciting opportunity for him as well.  

The staff at Point of Hope are an amazing group of dedicated believers.  My friendship with them grow deeper with each visit I have made over the past five years at Point of Hope.  My goal is to learn more Romanian before my next trip!  

Janet Larson

We Met Victoria!

Today was a very special day for me as I got to meet our sponsored child, Victoria, at the Point of Hope.  We have prayed for her each week as our children in our ministry gave their offerings for her.  To meet her, see her smiling face and give her hugs was an awesome privilege for me.  These children are all so simple, so uncluttered and not distracted by all the trappings of this world . . . it was actually refreshing.

We were able to share the Gospel with the children during our Bible Story time and they were so receptive.  I stressed the fact that God made them, God loves them and has provided a way for them to be with Him forever through Jesus Christ.  It was such a sweet time.

This week has broadened my little world to encompass the beautiful people of Romania and I understand in a deeper, more profound way His unconditional, deep, deep love for all humanity that He has made in His image.  I am just beginning to understand what Christ’s sacrificial love really means.

Blessings,

Laura Smith

Apa Plata Va Rog!

Today we went to visit the girl's group home where I had the opportunity to meet the four young ladies living there, their wonderful tutor, and the group home parents. I could immediately see that all the girls had their own personalities and their own God given talents. It was truly a beautiful environment that I was blessed to witness. While there I grew close to one of the girls very quickly. We had a very fun and interesting conversation with each other. She knows just a little English and I pretty much only know "apa plata va rog," (flat water please) so we obviously didn't get very far. It was so much fun trying to figure out what each other was talking about. At one point I asked her to teach me words and that was a blast for the both of us as well as anyone around because I was awful. To the both of us all of that did not matter though because we found a way to show each other kindness and a type of love. I went there being very nervous because I don't know near enough of their language, but I wanted to bond and get to know them. Of course, God solved that problem very quickly. It is just so beautiful witnessing God's work being done here in Romania. I have been overwhelmingly blessed to have the opportunity to meet these wonderful people and learn about their culture. It has truly helped my personal relationship with God to grow by understanding more about the size of this world and the different kinds of people He placed here. I have also started to understand more about God's love after being introduced to the some of the Gypsies at church this morning. The reason being that most seem to be so very happy, but only have very little, which is all because of their love for the Lord as well as the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. I would challenge us as Christians in America to trust in the Lord even through our pain and suffering and to hand it all over to Him. He will take care of us the way He has always done and the way he is caring for people all across this beautiful world.

Thank you for your prayers for our team and this country.

-Kristian Simpson

Day 2 update

For those of you expecting to hear from one of our mission trip people I am sorry to report that the entire team has turned in early leaving me to give you the update on today's activities.

Most of the team rested very nicely last night but we did have a couple people that struggled with the sound of a wedding party next door as well as the slightly harder than normal beds we get to use. It was very nice of Dennis Lofton to offer a bit of sarcastic sympathy as he told the team that he was forced to sleep in his queen sized pillow top bed at the apartment he and his wife rent here in Tarneveni. The team took his little jab with a smile as they know Dennis as a very kind man who would sleep on the floor if a team member truly needed his pillow top comfort.

Today we started the day at the local church where many members have children attend our Point of Hope Development Center. The church atmosphere reminds me of a Pentecostal church in the US. It was obvious from the moment we stepped into the room used for worship that the Holy Spirit has filled the room. Team member Daisy Christiansen said she got the goose bumps as soon as she entered the room. I am sure the others felt the same way. The worship lasted 2 full hours but the time seemed to pass very quickly as the team witnessed worship in a whole new way. Team member Laura Smith volunteered to sing a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace to the people in attendance. Once again it was a moment to remember as the presence of God was so very obvious. The Fundatia Buckner President Dacian Moldovan also had a chance to share with the congregation some Biblical thoughts that had moved him. The whole worship experience was awesome. As the team left the worship room they began meeting some of the children in the neighborhood. The team was amazed at how quickly the kids began interacting with them as they were also amazed on how quickly they be Mae attached to the kids. I told them that it only gets better as we move through the week.

After a great lunch the team headed to the Buckner Group home for an afternoon of building relationships with these beautiful girls. After a nice walk and some good pizza the team had to leave and hugs were plentiful as the team said their good-byes to these girls. Unfortunately the team will not get another chance on this trip to get to know these girls better. But the good news is that Another Child Foundation has some excellent group home parents and staff that work with these girls Oma daily basis. That is the strength of ACF. We never tell these kids good-bye we always tell them see you later as we know other mission trip participants will fill their shoes as we continue to bring hope to these beautiful girls.

I am really hoping to post some pictures to the blog tomorrow. Monday starts a week of ministry at the Point of Hope Center with up to 50 children and 30 mothers. The team is looking forward to the next round of building ongoing relationships with the children and moms. Keep the team in your prayers. Fortunately we have no specific prayer requests other than some good rest for the team and that the VBS activities go as planned and that the kids are open the the good news we bring to them.

Thanks for reading this blog post and look forward to hearing for a different person tomorrow.

Tim Oloffson- Executive Director
Another Child Foundation

Point of Hope mission team update #1

Well if you are arriving at this page to keep up with the activities of the mission team from Illinois, Tennessee, and Texas working at the Point of Hope Development Center in Tarneveni, Romania then you are in the right place. The team definitely had some travel issues to deal with that left half the team arriving in the early morning on Saturday to start the trip. But we preach flexibility and that if complications like this come up it means that God has something special planned for this team and Satan is working to keep that from happening.

Over the 7 days we will have different people posting their thought s and experiences on the days activities. Hopefully we will have some pictures for you to enjoy also. But for now just keep this team in prayer as they prepare the final details of the VBS we will be doing for the preschool and after school kids at the center.

I hope you enjoy reading their life changing experiences over the next few days, so I will catch you at the same time tomorrow with our first trip participants thoughts and reflections.

Tim Oloffson- Executive Director of Another Child Foundation

Project Respond 2014

Friends and Family,

It’s that time of year again! We are collecting humanitarian aid for the at-risk kids and families that we work with all year round in Romania. We work hard to educate children in one of the poorest regions of Romania by offering preschool, warm meals, showers, Bible teaching and more to encourage change in a positive way. These children are being given a new outlook on life with hope for a brighter future because they are being given a chance to learn and grow. I think we can all speak to the importance of an education. This year we are collecting 3 specific items, which will help the shipping container pass through customs a little easier. These 3 items are hard to come by for the families we serve and are often of lesser quality when available. As summer approaches and closets are cleaned out, I ask you to please save the following 3 items, so that they can bless children and families in need. These items are vital for health and safety in a community of soviet era apartment buildings that are open to the elements and broken roads.

We are collecting:

-       New, youth size shoes (for 14 year olds and younger)

-       New or gently used jeans, shorts and capris (for 14 year olds and younger are most needed, but we are collecting adult sizes as well)

-       New or gently used blankets of any size

Please let me know if you have items that you would like to donate or if you would like to be a collection site for Project Respond this year. It would be great if you could get your local church or organization involved! Feel free to pass this list along to others! Every item makes a difference! If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments section below.

Thanks so much for your help in passing along items to make life better for someone else!

International Roma Day

Tuesday, April 8 was the International Day of Roma throughout the world. I thought it would be good to post a couple articles that you all could look at to understand what Another Child Foundation is trying to do. It will also show you the difficulties ACF has and the time it will take to have our work bear fruit. Even with the challenges ACF faces we can already see the difference ACF and Fundatia Buckner are making to the individual children we help on a daily basis. I am sure that God

does not see these people as outsiders or people that should be on the fringe of our societies. So, as Another Child strives to be the hands and feet of Jesus, then us tending to the Roma's needs is imperative. Here is a couple articles that helped me understand the situation better.

Human Rights Europe

UN News Center

So, as Another Child Foundation and Fundatia Buckner continue to dedicate our ministries to assisting the Roma people keep the staff in Romania in your prayers as they overcome many obstacles with an unending devotion and Faith.