Go. Serve. Learn. Love.

Summer is only a few months away. Isn't that exciting?! Summertime is full of wonderful possibilities. Have you ever thought of going on a mission trip? If so, I'd love to share with you about the trips you can go on with Another Child Foundation. If not, you should keep reading anyway. 

About a year ago, I was searching for a place to serve during the summer. I was having some difficulty finding an organization with travel dates that didn't conflict with school dates. A friend mentioned Another Child Foundation, so I looked in to their trips. I hadn't really thought about serving in Romania, but God opened the door and I ran through it. If you're reading this post, then this is your personal invitation to serve in Romania this summer.

Another Child Foundation works directly with children and families in Roma communities to help change generational ideas of prejudice, to help keep families together in extreme poverty and to help educate and encourage orphans, so that they can be productive members of their society. While working with ACF this summer on a mission trip, you will be a part of these life changing initiatives. During a week long camp in the beautiful Carpathian Mountains, you will get to invest in the lives of beautiful and brave youth who have big dreams. Through Bible stories, songs, games, hugs and smiles, you can show these children that you care and that God cares about them. It's really that simple. The amazing thing about the way God works, is that your eyes will be opened and you will also be changed.

Mission Trip Truths:

You might feel like you're out of your comfort zone. --- It will be completely worth it.

You will travel to a country that you probably know little about. --- You will leave a piece of your heart there when you return home.

You will be nervous when the kids arrive at camp. --- You will be so sad when it's time for them and you to return home.

You might feel stumped by the language barrier. --- The awesome translators will stand in the gap and help you communicate. Plus, hugs and smiles transcend language.

God will move in and through you. --- Your week of service will be a testimony of His faithfulness.

You will be safe and well taken care of. --- The food is delicious and the water is abundant. 

A mission trip is not only about serving the people you come in contact with while in Romania, but it is also about learning about the people- their culture and way of life. While a mission trip is sharing the love of Christ with others, we want to go in to a new place with humility. God will use a willing heart no matter if you feel like you have the skills and talents for the task or not. 

Choose to go. Choose to serve. Choose to learn. Choose to love.

These are choices you will never regret.

ACF is offering four Mission Trips this summer!

June 6th - June16th

June 20th - June 30th

July 5th - July 15th

July 18th - July 28th

Click any of the links above to learn more about each trip!

Human Trafficking in Romania

Did you know slavery still exists? 

Up until recently human trafficking went widely unnoticed and unknown.

Dictionary.com defines human trafficking as "the illegal practice of procuring or trading in human beings for the purpose of prostitution, forced labor, or other forms of exploitation."

Romania and many other Eastern European countries continue to struggle economically after years of Communism. Poverty is rampant, jobs are hard to come by and human traffickers use these conditions to their advantage. Many young people who cannot find jobs will listen when someone offers them a job that sounds plausible. It is common for Romanians to work abroad in a restaurant or hotel, so this type of job offer would be welcomed. Many who don't see any options in their home town are willing to travel to find work, which usually includes promises of a better life. Unknowingly men, women and children will agree to go with people who offer these jobs and end up being trafficked in to prostitution, forced labor or begging.

According to eLiberare.com "Romania consistently ranks as one of the top source countries for those being exploited & trafficked throughout Europe."

Human trafficking is a billion dollar enterprise that is conducted through hundreds of different groups. When one group is found and dismantled, hundreds more exist. They operate in such a way that when a nightclub or brothel needs a new victim, they put in their request and a new victim is found and delivered. It is difficult to stop human trafficking when prostitution is legal in many European countries. Romanians can be trafficked and moved to these countries.

Please educate yourself and others about human trafficking in Romania and around the world. We must band together to stop human trafficking.

I would encourage you to watch the video below about trafficking in Romania. It tells about one woman's story to make a difference in the lives of young girls. She is doing big things in a country that can be corrupt and unjust. Be aware that some parts tell about the treatment of trafficked persons and can be difficult to watch.

Click the links below to learn more about human trafficking and to learn what you can do about it.

eLiberare

Not For Sale

End It Movement

CoatNet

**Please note that ACF is not affiliated with any of the organizations listed above.

I wanted to provide links for further information about trafficking, but I 

did not read all of the information on each site, so please be cautious.**

A New Blessing

With great joy, I have the honor to introduce you to a precious new blessing! Lumi and Paul, the group home parents, have welcomed a precious baby boy into their family! Isn't he amazing?!

Welcome baby David!

When I was in Romania this past summer, Lumi told us that she was pregnant. I of course, was thrilled for her and Paul! It has been awesome to watch God move in their lives and to see their prayers being answered! David is a testament of God's faithfulness!

"For this child I prayed and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him."

1 Samuel 1:27

Please join me in welcoming him, thanking God for him and praying for him!

Sponsorship Flyers

Over the past few weeks, I've been working on creating some fun sponsorship flyers for the students that attend the Point of Hope Development Center with the help of generous sponsors like you! These flyers give information about the student, about the conditions he/she lives in and how your sponsorship makes a difference in your sponsored child's life.

Here is a peak at one child's sponsorship flyer.

If you are interested in learning more about child sponsorship, please click here to head to the ACF website. If you would like to see some more sponsorship flyers, please send an email to director@anotherchild.org. We would LOVE to share more information with you!

MLK Jr. Day

Source

The Body

Source

I went to a discipleship training on Saturday morning. We had to complete a spiritual gifts test before we met and then we shared our results at the training. I had done spiritual gifts tests before and pretty much knew what my results would be. I know what brings me joy! We read 1 Corinthians 12 and discussed how we are all given different gifts by the Holy Spirit.

I had read this scripture several times before and understand that we all have our own special gifts and that we have a special role as part of the body of Christ, but I had never thought about how that also means that I don't have to be amazing at everything. That is quite a relief! It does however mean that we must work together as the body of Christ to function at our best. The leg cannot function at 100% without the foot. We all play a vital part even if we don't feel like our part is very important.

Sometimes I think we, as Christians, take on the world all on our own. We get stressed out and exhausted. We forget that we can't do it all on our own. We were built to rely on others. We must rely on God and the guiding of the Holy Spirit to empower the spiritual gifts that we have been blessed with. We must rely on others to be good at things we are not good at. It really is ok not to be good at everything. The Holy Spirit distributes gifts as He is led and our gifts might change depending on the season of our lives, but it is vital to be in community with others. It is vital to be an active part of the body of Christ and to fully live out the gifts you do have! The great part is that our gifts are things that bring us great joy. They are things we do without necessarily realizing it. They are a part of us and we can learn to use them better.

I am so thankful that God chose special gifts to give to me. I am thankful that I don't have to be great at everything. I am thankful that there are others that I can live this life with who are good at things that I am not good at. I am thankful that we can come together as one under the direction of the One who knows everything that is to come.

What are your spiritual gifts? What comes most easily for you? What brings you great joy?

I'm praying for you to realize your spiritual gifts, if you haven't already and for you to feel freedom in the fact that you don't have to be good at everything. I'm praying for all of us to learn to be better at relying on others who are a part of the body of Christ.

A Journal

I kept a journal while I was in Romania. I don't really keep a daily journal at home, but I have always kept a journal when I travel. I just don't want to forget a single aspect of my adventures. When I keep a journal, I basically just write down all of the things that happen each day. For example, "Went to group home and played Uno with the girls." My journal entries are devoid of emotion. It's pretty basic and quick. I've always thought they would be fun to read back over later on in life and they do help me figure out what monuments and cities I am in when looking through the hundreds of pictures that I took. When I return home, they usually get packed away in a neat box of mementos that I have from the trip. 

For some reason, unbeknownst to me, my Romania journal has floated around my room for the past 6 months since I returned home. It hasn't been packed away for the future. It has sat next to where I charge my phone each night. I don't even have to open its pages to remember the words written inside. Even though the words only recount the events of each day, the emotion floods back with them. Most of the time when I was recording things in my journal, I was either sitting on the bumpy bus or getting ready to go to sleep at night. I can remember trying to frantically write each word before it got too bumpy or my eye lids closed.

God has written my story and the time that I was in Romania was a gift. My recorded words stand as a testimony of the amazing things He is doing there and the work He is doing in me. I don't want to forget those things. My Romania journal has sat as a reminder to pray for the things God is doing there and for all of the sweet people I met. It reminds me that God is constantly moving, both in Romania and in me!

Do you keep a journal?
Can you look back through it and see God moving in your life?

Christmas in Romania trip Concludes

Well at this moment the team is sitting at the Bucharest airport preparing to board the flight to Paris and then onto US soil. The team is ready to return home but hearts have been broken and remolded. It is amazing to see how our Lord works in the lives of people. I have been bringing people to Romania for over 6 years now and it never ceases to amaze me how the Lord works. The trip was significantly different due to the make-up of the team. Typically, teams are dominated by women however this team was made up of 4 men and 1 women, making it "different". The focus had a construction flavor but the real transformation did not happen when sheet rock was applied to the walls of a classroom. The transformation happened when we were in the presence of children. The team took frequent breaks to see the children perform different activities and that is where the team fell in love with the ministry that Another Child Foundation does for the children and their families in Romania.

I am sure there will be many stories told by the team that I could not even attempt to tell within a blog posting. So, I will not even try to describe the difference I see in the team that came to Romania with open hearts to serve the children of Romania and our Lord and Savior. So, if you had a family member as a part of the "Christmas in Romania" trip be prepared for some awesome stories of how ACF is truly reaching, teaching, and transforming children, mission trip participants, and our donors.

ACF is committed to making a substantial long term difference in the lives of people by empowering them to be able to provide for themselves and their families. Early education plays a large part in what ACF does but to transform a community of people much help is needed. Sponsorship of children and ACF programs are a great investment into God's kingdom here on earth. If anyone reading this blog would like to be a part of the ACF experience go to our website www.anotherchild.org and see how you can be involved.

May God bless you and your family during this Christmas season! America....here we come!!!

Pictures to Enjoy!

Christmas in Romania Picture book!

 



 Point of Hope Children in the classroom

 



The joy of receiving a Christmas present 

 

 The children received a gift and a goodie bag full of fruit and treats

 

 The parents of the children enjoying the Christmas program

 

Little Valli dressed up as Santa

 

Children singing Christmas carols

 

Holding tight to the Christmas gifts!

 

All the children told part of the Christmas story- Jesus's birth!

 

Enjoying a home-made treat

Dennis decorating Christmas cookies in which they will take home

Day #6- Christmas in Romania continues!

Today the team really settled into the routine of the trip. The schedule is becoming a bit more predictable and the jet lag has passed. The team arrived at the Point of Hope Development Center first thing in the morning to continue the work project only to be side tracked by the Christmas program for the 60 preschool children at 11:00. Today the youngest children (3 yrs old) got to show off some of their educational skills to their parents. I am not 100% sure what the children spoke about in the beginning of the show but I think it was a Christmas poem. The children then sang some Christmas carols and received a gift from ACF/Fundatia Buckner along with a gift bag of a blanket, fruit, and other goodies.

After a lunch of soup & sarmale, which resemble cabbage rolls, the team was back to work finishing the sheet rock. Being a bunch of amateur carpenters, and using sharp and heavy objects, I am happy to report that no injuries occurred! The team did a great job of staying focused on the job at hand even though some of the after-school children were wandering by the room with construction.

One other thing that happened today was a live interview with WDLM radio out of the Quad Cities. Dennis Huston and myself shared with the listeners what was going on with our team and the difference the work we were doing was having on the children and families we serve. Dennis did a great job of conveying the feelings of the trip to the people of the Quad Cities. We even gt a plug in for Christ United Methodist Church in East Moline.

Tomorrow I am hoping to post a few more pictures of everything going on with the team, the activities, and the construction project. The big item for tomorrow is the home visits we will be doing. The team will get a chance to visit some homes of children who attend the Point of Hope and say thanks to the parents for letting us help them shape their child's spiritual nature as well as help with their physical and emotional sides. Please pray for the team as we continue to look for ways to make a difference in the lives of children. Thank you for your support!!

Day #5- Construction Begins

Today the team took their first step in the part of the trip that involved the renovation of a classroom in the Point of Hope Development Center in Tarneveni, Romania. But before the team got going hanging the sheet rock on the concrete walls of the center the team had to deliver some humanitarian aid to some children. The team arose at 7:00 am to get off to a good start for the day. After a hearty breakfast the team took a short bus ride to the Rose Marin preschool where the team was delivering 81 bags of goodies prepared the night before by the girls from the Buckner Group home. Each bag included a blanket which were collected in the ACF Project Respond humanitarian aid drives, 2 oranges, 2 bananas, a juice box, and some other candies. The team also had a large box of stuffed animals to distribute to the children. But before we handed out the Christmas bags we did a cute craft project. Using strips of construction paper each child created a Christmas ornament to decorate their classroom. Eventually those ornaments will be taken home for the children to enjoy there. Finally, it was time to play Santa Claus and bring the bags into the classroom. Their eyes lit up like a Christmas tree when they saw the bags and were told that each of them would be receiving one of the beautiful bags of goodies. The bags were then quickly given to the children and the smiles that followed were priceless. The room was a glow with happiness and joy. After the kids were told they could look into their bags the team was on the move to let the kids enjoy their presents with their friends and teachers.

The team had lunch at the local KFC (yes...Kentucky Fried Chicken) where the food was pretty much like what you would get in the States. Even though it was KFC the team enjoyed comparing the differences in fast food establishments. Most of the team then took off for Tarneveni where they would start hanging sheet rock. However, Dacian and I still had to visit a group home where 11 of the children ACF & Buckner has worked with for 6 years now reside. These children formerly lived in the Zau orphanage and have been attending our VBS camps since we started hosting camps in 2007. It was good to see these kids again and give them a nice gift and wish them a Merry Christmas. Each of the kids also received a video of the 2012 summer camp produced by an ACF volunteers Taylor Jenkins and Jessica Huettel. I think they watched that video 5 times in the hour I was with them. They loved reliving the memories of the past summer. Dacian and I then moved on to see the dance team from the Point of Hope Development Center at their first performance. The crowd absolutely loved the performance and 1 little guy named Alex stole the show as he performed with incredible energy and talent. I am hoping to link a video of the dancers in the next day or so.

The rest of the team got off to a great start hanging the sheet rock before the evening set in. When completed the room will be used to help educate the children in the after-school program. Currently, Buckner has 28 kids in one room trying to be tutored and teachers helping with homework. Once the team leaves the classroom will be ready and the teachers will be able to help the kids in a much more efficient manner. Thanks again to Christ United Methodist Church in East Moline, Illinois for the funds and 3 mission trip participants to complete this important part of the ministry. The goal for tomorrow is to complete the drywall and get it taped and mudded while also starting on the suspended ceiling.

I will plan on getting some additional pictures onto the blog tomorrow. Keep the team in your prayers and pray for health and general well-being. Your prayers are helping because as of now we have no big issues. Our long-term missionary and construction leader Dennis Lofton is fighting a bug so if you could pray for his quick return to health that would be appreciated. Thanks for your support!

Day #4 Picture blog

Today went really well. A beautiful church service at Libertati Baptist Church in the morning and an afternoon, dinner, and the evening at the Buckner Group home. The day was great and the team was very impressed with the Buckner and group home staff. The team also fell in love with the 7 beautiful young ladies who live at the home. The rest of this blog will be pictures...ENJOY!


The Ski resort and slopes we stayed at the first night

Some beautiful Romanian countryside

 

Sighisoara mainstreet

 

Libertati church

 

Texas snowman

 

More Romanian winter scenery

 

The team in Sighisoara

 

Point of Hope children Christmas caroling

 

The beauty of children dancing

 

Dennis enjoying a bread bowl soup...not exactly Panera...even better!

 

Dennis, Kevin, and Jim preparing Christmas gifts

 

The team and group home girls doing a craft project

 

 

I hope you enjoyed a few of the pictures and sites the team has enjoyed so far. I promised the team tomorrow will be even better!