Unimaginable Circumstances

This summer I got to spend time with some of the moms of the students that attend the Point of Hope Development Center. Last summer I had learned quite a bit about the children's home lives, but this summer I learned a whole lot more directly from the mothers. As we got to know one another, the women began to share about their lives. I was blown away by all they have experienced and the strength that they display despite their circumstances.

In Tarnaveni and many other gypsy communities, there aren't any work opportunities, so this forces parents to travel and live elsewhere to support their families. There are many reasons why this happens, but one of them is that there is broad discrimination against gypsies. Most of the time the fathers are the ones to find work outside of Tarnaveni or even Romania, but sometimes it is the mothers. This can be a difficult situation as any single parent can attest to raising many children alone. It gets even more difficult when money isn't sent home. Many of the moms we worked with told us stories of raising their children alone while their husbands are away working. There isn't really a daycare solution in the area other than the Point of Hope Development Center, so most of the moms are unable to take on a job themselves. They do their best to live extremely frugally and to give their children their best in unimaginable circumstances.

I can't imagine what these women go through on a daily basis just to scrape by. But I do know that I am amazed by their strength, determination and their immense love for their children. I am so grateful that I was able to spend time with them and to learn more about their lives.

Join me today in praying for the families at the Point of Hope Development Center in Tarnaveni.
Also, join me in being so very grateful for what we have.