The Disconnect & My Voice

The building where many students from the Point of Hope Development Center live.

I've done my fair share of traveling around the world. Honestly, I have been blessed and had the opportunity to do more than my fair share. I have met amazing people and the Lord has given me sweet relationships that continue to this day. With every touch down of airplane wheels to foreign tarmac, I am so excited to see what I can do to love on and bless those that I come in contact with, but often times I am so overwhelmed by the love that I receive that it's a mutual offering given from both sides. I have shared before about how I will never be the same after these experiences. It is impossible for me to return to U.S. soil and pretend that I didn't see the things that I saw or experience the things that I experienced. I can't pretend that people are not living all around the world without the vital necessities of life. I have found that there is a huge disconnect between the way I am able to live here and the life that many are subjected to around the world. How can I go on living as if this isn't true? And the answer is that I cannot. It is impossible.

I could easily go in to how life isn't fair. We all learned that lesson when we were small children and someone else took our toy or a piece of candy away from us. In this life we are no longer talking about such petty things, we are talking about big things- life altering things. It isn't fair that I was born in the United States. It isn't fair that my parents are both still alive and active in my life. It isn't fair that I know that every time I am hungry, I will be able to eat. So many people are not guaranteed these luxuries. With these unfair advantages, I am also given a voice and I have a choice about how I will use it.

When God brought me to each of the amazing places that I have been, it wasn't just so I could meet the people, see the sights and experience the culture. He wanted to do a work in me. He wanted to open my eyes to the unimaginable. He wanted to show me people groups who have love and joy despite their lack of material possessions. He wanted me to learn from these people and from Him. I am so thankful for His teaching and His constant working in my soul. I am thankful for the uncomfortable reminders of the disconnect between our lives. He keeps me accountable for the life that I lead and the steps that I take to make that disconnect a little smaller. Step by step, I will do what I can through His leading to make changes in the lives of those who are struggling. After all, He stirs my spirit and I will not look away. I will not stand in silence. I will follow His lead and use my voice to bring about change.

What do you use your voice for?

Embodying the Gospel

Another Child Foundation is committed to "embodying" the Gospel in everything we do. Our mission statement of reaching, teaching, and transforming indicates to others who we are and what we do. The definition of embody is..."be an expression of or give a tangible or visible form to (an idea, quality, or feeling)." So, for ACF to "embody" the Gospel this means that we are required to be God's expression of God's love in a tangible way. Ultimately it is God who does the transformational work of ACF in Romania but God calls on us to habitually plant seeds, water the seeds, and cultivate the soil so that a good harvest can be had.

ACF is committed to "embodying" the Gospel through the building of relationships with the people we partner with. This means our supporters, our ministry partner Buckner Romania, and the people we provide programs to in Romania. The building of a person's faith rarely happens in a moment's notice. For me it has been a long process of gaining wisdom, making mistakes and repeating that cycle over and over again. Luckily for me God is faithful in his commitment to me. Because I question the depth of my faith all the time. When struggles come up within my life I routinely depend on my strength and ability to overcome instead of laying those issues at His feet immediately. Without relationships with my family, friends, and Lord I would quickly spiral into the depths of sadness and depression. If that is true with me then I am others deal with the same issue. So, God lead relationships are vitally important for all people.

ACF and Buckner Romania have worked tirelessly in building relationships. It takes a lot of hard work to build relationships with the Gypsy community in Tarneveni, Romania. We live in a world of instant gratification and want things quickly and without hassle. This developing a relationships with the Gypsy community will be the hardest thing we will ever do. But, when you truly understand what "embodying" the Gospel means and how God will work within this mission I am convinced it will happen in His time and not ours. At times long-term missionaries will work for years without seeing the "fruit" of their labor only to find that years later a great harvest was produced. Jesus calls us to do the same things for others as He did for us. Jesus first cared about a persons health followed by family, work, their values, their relationships, and finally their behavior and we need to do the same.

In my last blog I wrote about the mission statement of Jesus. In my opinion it was 3 items. Proclaiming the Gospel, show compassion, and commitment to justice. Proclaiming the Gospel does not necessarily mean using words. I have seen mission teams make great strides in proclaiming the Gospel when not one word was spoken; this is "embodying" the Gospel. ACF teams and representatives always have a compassionate heart and are committed to providing justice to all people. I will write more about providing justice in future posts because to provide justice to a community of people who have been living in oppression for such a long time is not a "snap of the fingers" plan. However, the holy scriptures are very clear on what is expected of ACF if we are truly going to be the hands and feet of Jesus. This means that ACF has to be a tangible expression of God's love to ALL people!

The Hole in Our Gospel reflections

Tim & Theresa Oloffson in 2007

About a year ago my world and perceptions were rocked when I read the book "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns. Mr. Stearns is the President of World Vision US and tells his life-altering encounter with God and how he responded to this "calling" God put on his life. I had a similar experience when I first traveled to Romania 6 years ago this month. Before my trip my life was a pretty hum-drum life that consisted of playing golf, watching sports on TV, involvement in my church, and other family activities. Unfortunately, that list might have been in the order of my priorities. However, God touched my heart in way I could never imagine. Through the smiles of beautiful orphan children my life was forever changed on a day in October 6 years ago. Thank goodness for God's faithfulness to me. Without his continuous grace in my life I would have not ever been able to see life through his eyes. My eyes were clouded with selfishness, greed, and many other of those deadly sins.

But the Hole in Our Gospel book made me realize even more how other people in our lives wear that same pair of glasses that I once wore (and still do at times). I look at these people as good people with solid Christian behaviors but am amazed on how they don't see what others who have traveled overseas on mission trips on into the underdeveloped places in their communities the overwhelming needs that people have. The injustice issues that strangle the life out of families who try to shrug off that yoke on injustice so they can provide a better life for their families.

2007 Mission team

ACF's role in "doing" ministry work here in the U.S. is to WAKE people up to the true meaning of faith and how we are to respond to God's love in which he gave to us through his crucified son. A son who gave up everything so that we can live with Him in peace and harmony. For years I thought being a Christian was going to church on Sunday's and by being a good guy the rest of the week. Unfortunately, I probably meet MY goal of being a Christian. But our gracious God demands so much more of us than the Sunday morning experience. Living the Gospel message means more than salvation and forgiveness of sin. The Gospel also means to prepare His kingdom here on earth for his return. The Beatitudes tell us of a world where the order will be turned upside down. I believe this might be God's mission statement.

Matthew 5:3-10

New Living Translation (NLT)

The Beatitudes

³ “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
⁴ God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
⁵ God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
⁶ God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice
    for they will be satisfied.
⁷ God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
⁹ God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
¹⁰ God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

 

I hope you will come back often to the ACF Blog as I continued to share how God has altered my life in amazing ways and how ACF is positioned to alter the lives of children in Romania as well as people throughout the U.S. as we learn what it is to be a follower of Jesus.

Did you know?

Did you know that 44% of Roma children ages 7-11 and 65% of children ages 12-16 are currently not going to school?

Did you know that the Roma people have their origins in India? It is unclear when and why they began to migrate.

Did you know that the 10 countries with the highest Roma populations are Turkey, Romania, Russia, Bulgaria, Spain, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia, France and Greece?

Did you know that beginning in the 14th century and continuing for over 500 years, the Roma people were slaves in areas of Eastern Europe? They were used for agricultural labor and treated as property.

Did you know that the Roma people lack access to government services and health care, good-quality housing and schools, and suffer from high rates of unemployment and discrimination on the labor market?

These statements are all true.

When I went to Romania and began learning about the Roma people there was so much about them that I didn't know and didn't understand. I learned some about the people I was serving while I was in Romania, but since I've been back, I've been doing a lot of searching. Oddly enough, there is not a lot of solid information. It is clear though that the Roma people seem to be kept in a cycle of poverty. 

After meeting so many precious children in Romania, it's tough to sit back and see that cycle continue without doing anything to change it. The children that grow up in Roma communities do not deserve the low expectations set before them just because they are Roma. No child, no human should be discriminated against because of their culture. They had no option to choose Roma or any other culture. It is who they are. As in any country, the first step towards change and success for these children is to get an education. Another Child Foundation is doing great things in Tarnaveni to step in the gap for Roma children in that community by offering many children just that-- an education. For us to bring change to anything, there has to be an awareness of what is going on. Check out the sources listed below and do your own research to learn more about the Roma people and their plight.

Sources:

Who The Roma People Are

Unicef- Romania

The Roma of Eastern Europe: Still Searching for Inclusion

Articles & Opinions on Roma History

Back to School

I don't know what Back to School looked like for you and your family, but it probably included going out to your local Target or Wal-Mart and gathering backpacks, lunch boxes and school supplies. You and your child probably decided what he or she would wear on the first day of school the night before and laid it out for the morning. Backpacks and lunch boxes were packed with great care to make sure that the first day went smoothly. The first day of school is a big deal!

Source: Buckner Romania

In Tarnaveni, Romania, Back to School was just last Monday, September 17th. Sixty students and their parents began filling up the second floor of the Point of Hope around 10 am. They were able to meet their teachers, see their classrooms and parents filled out some paper work. Of course, the students displayed a range of emotions. Some were excited, others were nervous. Thirty new students were added in the 2-4 age group. Fifteen returning students moved up to the 4-5 group and another fifteen to the 5-6 age group. About an hour or so later the last students and parents filed down the stairs and out the front door. On Tuesday the students returned for their first full day of school activities. At the Point of Hope, children have a special opportunity. They are able to go to a preschool that will prepare them for grade school.

In this community parents would have no way to send their children to preschool if the Point of Hope wasn't there welcoming these kids with open arms. These families cannot afford the cost of preschool. They did not go out and buy new back packs or lunch boxes for Back to School. Any money that can be earned must be spent on food to sustain their families. Luckily, the children at the Point of Hope are sponsored by generous givers. At this time though not all students have sponsors. Would you consider sponsoring a precious child, so that he or she can receive an education, food, and clean clothes in a loving, Christian environment? Maybe you could talk to your children about the children in Romania and sponsor a child at the Point of Hope as a family. Wouldn't that be neat for your children to get to know another child across the globe and to learn to care for them? What a blessing and learning opportunity! As your children go to school daily, please be praying for the children at the Point of Hope and consider changing one of their lives forever!

To learn more about sponsoring a child at the Point of Hope click HERE!

Great stories from Romania!

I wanted to share with you a post from our long term missionaries from their Blog "Winning Roma". Some great insight from Romania!

http://www.winningroma.blogspot.ro/

A Building

The Point of Hope Development Center

 

According to dictionary.com, the definition of a building is as follows:

build·ing

[bil-ding] 

noun
a relatively permanent enclosed construction over a plot of land, having a roof and usually windows and often more than one level, used for any of a wide variety of activities, as living, entertaining, or manufacturing.

But if you know about the Point of Hope Development Center in Tarnaveni, you would say that it is so much more than just a building. The building that is the Point of Hope is a place of refuge, a light in the darkness, an image of redemption, an out stretched hand. You might be wondering how a building can be so much. When I returned from Romania, I began telling friends and family about my trip. I would tell them about the Point of Hope and how the building was rebuilt to be a school with several rooms still under construction. Almost instantaneously it dawned on me that the building is so much more than "a relatively permanent enclosed construction," instead it is an example of how Christ is making all things new.

The unfinished area on the 3rd floor. Also known as the dungeon.

The Point of Hope used to be a hospital. In fact, it even had a padded door in one room. Yikes! While working there this summer, we labeled the area of the third floor that is unfinished, the dungeon. I'm sure we weren't the first ones to call it that, but the area is quite rough around the edges, literally. The concrete walls boast thick chipped paint in mint green hues and the doorways have pieces of bricks sticking out of them. Little by little these rooms are being redeemed and renewed. They are being given new life. Christ is making them new. He is turning a building that was a place of sadness and sickness in to a place that is filled with light and life. The children and families in the area know that there is something different about this building. They know that the building radiates joy and offers assistance to those in need.

Revelation 21:5 says, 'He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"' He isn't just working in the lives of people. He's using buildings to spread His message of hope too. There is no greater gift than to see Christ at work. In this case He's using a building. I've been blessed to witness the work going on in this building, both in the construction process and in the lives of the children and families who enter its doors. It gives me such hope! If He can use a building that has an area that we labelled the "dungeon," then surely He can use you and me! I am so thankful that He is constantly making all things new!

One of the renovated classrooms on the 2nd floor. What a big difference!

Did you know that the Another Child Foundation is currently raising money to further their work, both in Tarnaveni at the Point of Hope Center and in Targu Mures at the group home? Wouldn't it be awesome to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of all that are touched by ACF? Well the cooler part is that when you donate by September 7th, your donation will be matched! Yes, you heard that correctly! If you give $25, then it becomes $50. How awesome is that? I'm pretty darn pumped about it! Learn more about how your donation can be matched by clicking here! Then click the green band that says, "Click here to get matching funds!" to donate. Make sure that your donation is designated for the 2012 Golf Marathon, so that it will be matched!

Making A Difference

This is one of the precious little girls that I met while serving at the Point of Hope Development Center this summer. She is super sweet and full of smiles. In the picture below you can see her in her classroom, which is where she has the opportunity to grow mentally, socially and spiritually.

Now in this picture, you can see her outside of the Point of Hope. I took it right after she had ran in to my arms for a hug. Can you see any differences from the picture above? She is still all smiles, but life is different for her outside of the center. For many Gypsy families in this area meals are not guaranteed, personal hygiene is hard to come by due to the lack of running water, and clothing is not a necessity. Life is hard here.

I'm so incredibly glad that the Point of Hope Development Center is there to step in and help fulfill her needs. Another Child Foundation and all who support their work are making a difference in her life. They're making a difference in the lives of a hundred other precious children and are working to increase that number, so that these children will be given the opportunity to grow mentally, socially and spiritually. Doesn't every child deserve that chance? I sure think so!

Would you like to help ACF continue to make a difference in the lives of these children?

Please consider donating to the 2012 ACF Golf Marathon Campaign.

Click the link above to learn more about the campaign and how you can help.

I will never be the same...

Taylor & I, ACF Summer Interns, standing in front of the Point of Hope Development Center

Let me start this post by introducing myself. 

My name is Jessica. It's good to meet you! I'm glad you've chosen to visit here today! 

A little bit more about myself- I am 24 years old and I teach Kindergarten in the Houston area. I was blessed to be able to travel to Romania with Another Child Foundation this summer and spend a month loving on everyone I met. I will be sharing my experiences with you here on the ACF blog every now and again. I hope you enjoy my stories and that they encourage you!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

The Point of Hope Development Center resides in the Gypsy community of Tarnaveni. It's an area that's usually pretty lively because of all of the people hanging out on the "main" street. Some of them are coming, others going, but to where I don't know. There are people who take up a shaded piece of the sidewalk as their sitting post, while others carry buckets to and from the water well. Children hang out of the first floor windows on a condemned apartment building across the way and women scrub their household rugs on the side of the road. Occasionally, a horse drawn cart or bike and rider pass by, but children with ill fitting clothes and dirty faces are always roaming around.

I had always imagined that water wells were needed in really rural areas, but seeing the water well in this community sandwiched between a convenient store and a concrete apartment building blew my mind. Honestly, the conditions in which these people live blew my mind. I can't even imagine how difficult snowy winters are with very little to no electricity. The amazing thing is that the Gypsy people are strong and resourceful. They can take things that we were cleaning out of the Point of Hope to prepare the next room for construction and make use of it.

The Point of Hope is indeed just that for this community- a point of hope; a light shining in the darkness. Not only are the people who work there reaching out to the kids, but also to their parents. Teachers and staff support the children and have high expectations for them. They also encourage the parents and offer them assistance as well. I have travelled a good deal and have been on many mission trips around the world, but one of the big questions I always have is, "Why isn't anyone helping families stay families?" Finally, I have found an organization that is in the business of supporting families and helping them stay together. Yes, life is rough for all in Tarnaveni, but there is hope! God is using those at the center to bless all who enter it's gates and beyond. I was blessed to be a part of what He is doing there for just a few short weeks, but I will forever be changed.

I returned to the States from Romania just over three weeks ago. I returned to my "normal" life, but nothing will ever be the same. Most everything reminds me of the people I met or the things we did while I was there. The children's smiles are burned in to my memory and the sound of them calling my name from across the street rings in my ears. I miss them all and pray for them daily. I feel called to live differently- to be Kingdom focused. The things of this world will all fall away eventually, but the love of God will remain. I want to be a glimpse of the Kingdom that's coming. 

I tell you about what I experienced to show you that going out of your comfort zone to serve others in Jesus' name can have an everlasting impact on your life and of course, on the lives of those that you come in contact with. I believe that everyone should go on at least one international mission trip in their lifetime. Don't worry that you won't be able to do this or that because God will stand in the gap for you, as he has done for me, and equip you. I am not a public speaker and yet I taught many Bible lessons to large groups while I was in Romania. God can overcome anything, even my silly fears and feelings of inadequacy. He will do the same for you! Your eyes will be open to things that will blow your mind, things that are unexplainable and unimaginable, but you will return changed for the better! 

Isn't that worth taking a trip out of your comfort zone for?

Have you ever been on a mission trip?

Have you ever thought about going on one?

If not, you should! You will never be the same!

If you have any questions about mission trips, feel free to leave them in the comments section.

An awesome Experience!

Below is a post form the WinningRoma blog being kept by Swanna Lofton. Swanna and her husband Dennis are the first long-term missionaries Another Child Foundation has had in Romania.

What an awesome week with the moms/grandmothers of the children at Point of Hope!! Monday began with 21 ladies, who enjoyed morning coffee/tea, snacks and a Bible study of the virtuous woman. Afterwards, the ladies were divided into 3 groups. The groups were sent to crafts, the beauty salon, and health care.



Sandy doing some styling!

The beauty salon provided haircuts/styles, manicures/pedicures, facials and makeup. Most of the women were hesitant to get their hair cut, but after the 1^st lady took the chair, the rush was on. It was amazing to see the excitement on their faces as they left the chair with a new look. For some, it put a smile on a face that we hadn’t seen. For Margheurita, it was a whole new look at herself. We teased her about having to beat off the men as she walked home that afternoon J she told us that she wasn’t married and didn’t have a boyfriend, but she would today!!! What a joy to see her smile and hear her talk positively about herself. Leti got a new style. She shared with us that her husband had been out of town for a week working and would be coming home on Wednesday, and she was excited for him to see her (can’t wait to hear about his homecoming).

Health care class provided blood pressure testing, basic nutrition, vitamins, stress management, dental health care and a general Q&A session. All received new toothbrushes with a large tube of toothpaste. Each parent was also given toothbrushes for their children at the school.

Final touches on the Quilt!

The craft project for this week was to create a quilted wall hanging. I was quite surprised at how well the ladies sewed. Many of them apparently sew a lot. Monday, we appliquéd silhouettes of boys and girls. Since many of them finished their work before the class time was over, I let them go ahead and sew hearts onto the other blocks. Tuesday we began stitching all the blocks together, then the rows. Four ladies completed the quilt during the 1^st session on Wednesday. After pressing the seams open, I took the quilt (without the edges bound) and temporarily hung it on the wall in the entryway. Once hung, I asked all the ladies to come look at their handiwork. The look on Irina’s face was priceless. She was so proud of what she did to make complete the project – I was so proud of what they all did!!!

Trip Video

Its been a great trip so far here in Romania! Check out the video below!
-Noble

http://youtu.be/DmRZTNHKFg4

Transforming lives...

Our days here at the Point of Hope are coming to an end for this trip.  It has been a wonderful experience.  The youth and adults from First Baptist Lafayette have worked so hard ministering to the children and working on the third floor.  Although we were not able to finish the bathroom, we made good headway on the next class room and bought all the supplies for the bathroom.  The next team will be able to finish the project and the children will have more rooms available for their use.

As I am preparing to begin the journey home I can't help but look back at the past four or five years.  God has done wonderful things here through this ministry.  I realize that transformation takes time and hard work.  This community, although still very poor and in much need, is showing signs of transformation.  Children's lives are being transformed through spiritual food and physical food, and through education of just plain reading, writing, and arithmetic.  We hear reports that many of the children that have graduated from the Point of Hope program to public schools are doing exceptionally well.  Their are some that still need more help and therefore our after school program still needs more funding so we can continue to help these children.

Over the past five years many children have been given a chance to have a better life through proper education and through the power of God's spirit in their lives.  Please continue to pray for the Point of Hope Ministry.  Pray for the teachers, pray for the volunteers, pray for the administrative staff.  Pray that the Lord will continue to use each of them to point these children to Him.

I am so blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of this ministry.  I can't wait to see what the next five or ten years brings as we continue to point these children to the only true Hope...our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We provide for their physical needs, point them to God and then He transforms their life.  What a deal!