The Reason for Mission!

As many of the readers of this blog know the tag line mission statement of Another Child Foundation is reaching, teaching, and transforming. Another Child Foundation (ACF) uses these words because it is the foundation of what missions is all about. Jesus called ACF and Fundatia Buckner in the Great Commission to  "go therefore and make disciples of all nations...". Many mission organizations might slightly or totally miss the mark when they 'visit' the very people that God called them to serve and 'make disciples'. ACF takes the Great Commission very seriously in our call to reach, teach, and transform lives. Another piece of scripture that ACF uses to set our course is John 3:16 & 17 which says "for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

        Transforming lives is what God's church is called to do. However, it is only through the Holy Spirit, which intercedes on our behalf when we call on God, can do that transformational work. The way ACF describes the task of the church is to show people the full glory of Jesus Christ. So when people look at the church (the people of God not our buildings) they see the very embodiment of Jesus. They should see the One who in Word and deed is bringing healing to every part of the universe. I pray everyday that this is how the people who receive the gift of the Good News and the people ACF partners with see our organization. Pastor Arthur Bergren from First Lutheran in

Reconciled Children of God

Geneseo, Illinois has taught me very well that ministry, and the missions we are called to, is ALL about relationships. I titled this post "The Reason for Mission" because ACF feels it is important that people know exactly what and how ACF intends on being a vital and active part of God reconciling the world to His Son Jesus. God loves Romania and the all the people there who have fallen victim to the injustice the world likes to hand to people. God has called ACF to take the Great Commission to heart and to reach, teach, and transform the people God has called ACF to serve. ACF has never worried about the width of our organization but has focused on the depth of true relationship building. It is then and only then when transformation can happen. ACF realizes that doing ministry in this manner takes a lot of time but the benefits will have an eternal effect on the  Romanian people.

by Tim Oloffson- Executive Director
Another Child Foundation

March Madness Begins!

Well March Madness has begun throughout the country. Each March brings many of us the thrill of the NCAA basketball tournament. It draws us in because of its unpredictability and the thrill of the so-called underdog going deep into the tournament. For years March Madness in both the high school and college levels drew a lot of my attention. One of the most thrilling times I have ever experienced was seeing our local high school (Bureau Valley) make its push to be state champions. While the team came up short of its desired state championship the ride was a fun one. This year there will be many other people experiencing March Madness as their brackets come out on top.

For us here at Another Child we too are experiencing March Madness. This is the time of year when two of our big community development projects are getting ready to kick-off. First we have the organization of our SPEAK LIFE mission trips. These 4 mission trips take place in June and July in Romania. This year it looks like ACF will be sending upwards of 60 people to Romania to reach, teach, and transform lives as we build relationships with some beautiful children and their families. While the trips won't happen for another 3 months their is lots of planning going on behind the scenes. Fundatia Buckner does a great job of identifying the needs that ACF mission teams can fill. You see ACF and Fundatia Buckner do missions differently than some other groups. It is, and will always be, ACF's mission to compliment the ministry going on in Romania on a daily basis rather than trying to serve others with what we want to do. So ACF's mission trips participants go over to compliment the good work already being done by Fundatia Buckner by serving with an open mind and heart. ACF also strives to educate the mission trip participant on why things are as they are in Romania and what can we do to advocate for those in need.

The second project ACF is preparing for is the Project Respond humanitarian aid drives going on throughout the spring and summer. Last year, with the help of 30 churches and businesses, ACF collected over 9000 items that we distributed to the orphans and at-risk children in Romania. This year it is ACF's goal to get 60 churches and businesses involved. This year ACF will be collecting new pairs of shoes for children 3 to 14 as well as jeans and blankets. If you would like to help the Project Respond drive feel free to call our Mission's office at (815) 303-1725 to get involved.

So, as March Madness takes hold please pray for Another Child Foundation as we work diligently to provide life-changing ways for people to get involved in making a difference. You can also pray for my bracket which has Arizona, Michigan, Michigan State, and Syracuse in the Final Four with Michigan State cutting down the nets.

by Tim Oloffson- Executive Director (Another Child Foundation)

The Ongoing Challenge

It has been a while since me your humble Director has made a post on our blog. We have other very capable people doing this. However, I feel I have something of value to share with you today; and that is sharing with you the ongoing challenge Another Child Foundation and our ministry partner Fundatia Buckner struggles with on a regular basis.

Over the past 12 months the school we support in Romania (Point of Hope Development Center) has been given additional regulations to follow. While many of these regulations make perfect sense on paper they do bring some challenges that have the potential to do harm. The one regulation that I want to share with you is the rule that now says that anytime children are brought together in a community place, like our school, all the children must have papers saying that they have had the required medical checks/physicals and vaccinations up to date. To me this makes total sense. We don't want to infect others with any viruses or issues another child might have. This brings us to the problem. In February we shared with the parents the need to conform to these regulations and that their help was needed. These medical checks or physicals do have a cost associated with them. The cost is not high for an employed person, about 7 USD, it does cause a problem for some of the families that ACF supports at the Point of Hope. Many of these families live on a very small monthly stipend from the Romanian government. So choices have to be made by the parents. Where will they spend their monthly support? The daily attendance dropped sharply at the Point of Hope due to many of the children not having the medical tests completed. Sadly, most of the parents have some type of addiction to nicotine or alcohol so a portion of the money goes to support this habit along with a little bit of food and other material needs the family has. So, where does the money to have their children checked out by a physician and immunized come from? This is the CHALLENGE for ACF and Fundatia Buckner. ACF and Fundatia Buckner could easily pay for these physicals to keep the children in school since the cost is manageable. But, at what point do we turn over some of the simple but very important responsibilities over to the parents. Fundatia Buckner is already giving their children up to 8 years of education with no cost at all.

Lack of accountability is something in which people in all cultures are really failing to understand the impact. This is becoming more and more of a problem throughout the world. ACF and Fundatia Buckner are standing up against this problem. Fundatia Buckner has a social worker who has the responsibility of visiting each of the homes, who have children in our program, to speak to them about the need to provide for their children. This visit was very well received by most of the families and they now understand at a new level the need for them to provide these medical tests for their children. However, one family still does not see the need and now have their child begging in the streets of Tarneveni instead of attending the Point of Hope. This is so sad but clearly shows the challenges we have as ministry leaders as well as the people we are serving. Fundatia Buckner President said it best when he made the comment that "it is not our goal to simply educate the children, but to guide the parents to learn to provide, value, and love their children and give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to transform lives." Setting higher expectations for the parents proved to work. I realize that people will step up if we let them know what is expected from them. If we set no standard of expectations or accountability people will live up to them as well. Beginning next week we expect the attendance to be back to normal and a lesson learned by the parents that THEY need to provide for their children if they expect the children to prosper to a higher level.

So as we continue to move forward in reaching, teaching, and transforming lives please keep ACF, Fundatia Buckner, and all the people we serve in your prayers. It is the power of prayer and faithful action that is doing God's work in Romania and to all the ends of the earth. AMIN!

Sharing Smiles. Sharing Love. Sharing Jesus.

Another Child Foundation's February Newsletter is live! We are excited to share about upcoming mission trips, the arrival of the container holding the humanitarian aid collected during Project Respond last year and a story from a previous mission trip participant. Kayla shares about her time in Romania last summer. You won't want to miss it!

To read the February Newsletter CLICK HERE!!

January Newsletter

Our January Newsletter went live last week. We love to send out updates about all of the wonderful things God is doing through Another Child Foundation both in Romania and Stateside. Do you receive our newsletter? If not, we would love to share these wonderful things with you. Let us know if you would like to receive our newsletter in the comments!

If you missed January's Newsletter, you can catch up by CLICKING HERE!

You'll be able to learn about a young girl's story to make a difference in the lives of those with less and find out more information about this summer's mission trip opportunities. Yes! We are beyond excited about summer and all that God will do in Romania through mission trip participants. Now is the time to start praying about joining us this summer!

Best of 2013

As we begin a new year serving the people of Romania, we wanted to take a little time to look back at all that God has done this past year. Here are the top 10 visited blog posts of last year! Please take some time to check out the posts that you might have missed because God is truly working through Another Child Foundation! And we are so grateful that you are a part of what God is doing here!

Human Trafficking in Romania

We Know Who Goes Before Us

Hard Stories & Sweet Smiles

The Point of Hope Staff

7th Year of Camp BEGINS TODAY!

Day #2 of "The Incredibles" VBS

Unimaginable Circumstances

Day 4… The Journey Continues

Pictures Galore

Christmas is Coming! Do Something BIG!

Share your favorite memories of Another Child Foundation and Romania in the comments section below! We would love to read your stories!

Merry Christmas!

We want to wish you all a Christmas day full of joy and blessings!

We are thankful for you and all that God has done for and through Another Child Foundation this year!

Read the December Newsletter by CLICKING HERE to find out what Christmas is like in Romania!

A Great Idea

Kayla Theriot wanted her 8th birthday to mean more, so she decided to ask everyone to give a donation to Another Child Foundation instead of giving her presents. It's amazing when young children see a need and give up their gifts to bless others. Read the whole article about Kayla's birthday by CLICKING HERE!

Christmas is Coming! Do Something BIG!

Hey Friends and Family!

I usually put some elaborate Christmas campaign together on my blog, but this year has been a little different and I haven't gotten a chance to get all of that together. I would still love to ask for your support in blessing an organization that is doing big things in the lives of orphans, at-risk children and families in Romania this Christmas season. I have had the opportunity to spend two summers working alongside Another Child Foundation and am currently on the Board of Directors. I believe in their programs and have seen the transformations being made in the community of Tarnaveni. Hope is being restored and the Lord is moving in mighty ways in the lives of all touched by the Point of Hope Development Center despite unimaginable circumstances. Please read the following paragraph about one of the students who attends the Point of Hope Development Center. Then please consider giving to Another Child Foundation, so that the children can continue to be served. 

I am asking that anyone who would normally give me a gift for Christmas would pass it along to kids like Georgiana. I do not need anything and it would bless me to know that my gift is going to the sweet children in need who have stolen my heart in the short time that I was able to spend with them. If you and I don't exchange gifts, I am asking that you would consider donating to this worthwhile cause anyway. $10 will feed one child for a week. Where else can $10 make that much of an impact? Please make a big difference with a generous donation by going to the Another Child Foundation website.

Thanks so much for reading about Georgiana and for considering donating to a great organization. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me! I would love to share more about what Another Child is doing! Also, please feel free to pass this along to others! Thanks!

November Newsletter

The November Newsletter is online! You can check it out to learn more about the October mission teams' journey, about how to be a part of the 10K Bushel Project and about Back to School at the Point of Hope!

CLICK HERE to read "We are thankful for all God is doing"!!

October Teams Final Post

I first want to thank each of you for reading this blog during the last 10 days. I hope it inspired each of you while bringing those of you who have loved ones in Romania comfort. The last full day of ministry went very well. The team spent time with the little ones at the Point of Hope Center in the morning while finishing up the painting project and the floor in the classroom. The team then enjoyed a great lunch of sarmale (cabbage rolls) followed by visiting 2 homes of children in the Center. This was a very moving experience for the team members. The first home was a family of nine children and two parents living in a 1 room 7' x 12' apartment. The family was cracking walnuts for a local company for 20 lei (lei is the Romanian currency which has the value of 3 lei equaling 1 US dollar) for 7 dollars per bushel. The entire family was doing this and walnut shells littered the floor. The conditions were a very sad sight but it was nice seeing the family earning some money.

The team then went to the Buckner Group home to do some "girly" things followed by a trip to an Emergency Center where children are left for emergency care. The team ministered to the 13 children ranging from 2 to 14 years of age by playing games with them. The team finished the night by enjoying a dinner attended by the entire Fundatia Buckner staff and team.

The final two days of the trip will include sightseeing and driving back to southern Romania to get ready to depart on Sunday morning. I am hoping to make one more picture posting tonight to recap the final three days of ministry.

The biggest thing the team would like to communicate to you is the need for Another Child Foundation to gain sponsors for these precious children. Currently, we have eight children in need of sponsorship. The process of becoming a sponsor is very quick and easy. Just let our Missions office know that you have interest in becoming an answered prayer for one of our children. The phone # for the Missions office is (815) 303-1725 and the email address is director@anotherchild.org

Thanks for your support!

Pictures Galore!

Here are some pictures from the last 2 days of ministry in Romania...enjoy!

The Bike Rally



Tim & Debi

Dennis & Kaitlyn at the Group Home

 The kids at the TM airport

 Getting ready for snacks at the picnic on Tuesday

The mural getting started

 Dawn and 2 young girls. Pictures at the zoo! 

 The monkey cage was great!

 Grill master Dennis?

 The slides were popular for all the kids

 The mural taking shape

 Crafts during the VBS

 Tricia and Iacob!

 Kaitlyn the artist!

 Dennis and Rita

 The final touches on the mural

 The finished product!

Dawn Cook, Tricia Danley. Kaitlyn Danley, and Dennis Huston. Team CUMC