Serving turned into Blessings: A Summer Internship

It has been four years since I first visited Romania, and every year I grow and learn more than I could even imagine. When I first traveled to Romania and worked at ACF's Point of Hope educational center, I knew that ten day trips would not be long enough for me. So when the summer after my senior year of high school rolled around I knew exactly where I was going to be. I began to plan for a summer long internship filled with English lessons and mission team preparations. My excitement continually grew as my two month long trip approached, and when it finally arrived it was just as amazing as I thought it would be. 

As the summer began I had the chance to serve in so many different, yet amazing, ways. I was able to wash dishes, and then lead music for little ones. I shared Christ with Romanian teenagers, then clean out old rooms. Every day was a new adventure and opportunity to show the love of Christ in so many different ways.  I was so blessed to work closely alongside the staff at the Point of Hope, and as the weeks passed our bonds grew closer. When my final days started to approach we all sat down one afternoon to enjoy lunch as we always do, and they began to express their appreciation for me and my fellow interns' service over the summer. As they thanked us I was so incredibly humbled because I realized that through serving them, I had been more blessed than I could ever imagine or express. So, as planning begins for ACF's next summer of missions, I don't know what your plans are or where the Lord would lead you, but I sure hope you find yourself in Romania. My internship with ACF has radically changed my life, and I can only pray that you get the opportunity to let it change yours!

-Bailey Hebert-

Me with my sweet boys, Andre and Vali!

The wonderful girls from my English class, Cami and Otilia!

Sweet Simona!

They boys taking a break from afternoon games to take a quick group picture!

Victoria (fellow intern) and I with Libero (staff) and his wife Ale on a weekend adventure!

Victoria and I with the amazing Sorinel!

Sweet cousin love from Vali and Coco with Simona!

Vali and Simona!

Mr. Libero with little Libero and I!

2016 Mission Trip Dates Announced

Another Child Foundation has announced their 2016 mission trip dates along with the 2016 theme of

 

LOVE IS...

 

 

October Mission Team

Some final prep work by the team

The team headed to Romania is making their final travel plans. Please keep this team in your prayers as they deliver humanitarian aid to the children of Romania. Please keep the timely arrival of the Project Respond shipping container in your prayers also. The 40 ft. shipping container is due to arrive on the same day as the team (October 9). Any delays in the unloading or the clearing of customs will create a need for this team to adjust their schedule. This also means that some children might not get their shoes delivered by the team.





Team members Liz, Margo, Phil, Alice,
Robin, Sue and Katelin

Team members include:
Phil Gronbach, Enjole Powell, Liz Koster, Lisa Baltikauski, Marnie Swanson, Katelin Johnson, Sue Bohlin, Alice Barman, Robin Duling, and Margo Schindel. This team will be led by ACF Executive Director Tim Oloffson. The team has worked very hard in preparing for this trip and are looking forward to getting on the plane this Wednesday afternoon. The team will visit a number of schools and group homes with a VBS program and  delivering shoes, socks and other aid to the children. The team will then spend 2 full days at the Point of Hope Development Center where they will work with the Pre-school, middle school and after-school kids at the center.

If you are interested in joining a 2016 Mission trip you can get additional information HERE.

ACF Pig Roast a Big Success!

On Sunday, September 13 Another Child Foundation held our first summer Pig Roast. ACF served freshly roasted pork, apple sauce, baked beans and many other goodies. The highlight of the day for the children was the castle bounce house for them to play on. ACF also had some live praise music from members of the Walnut Community Bible Church along with door prizes. Between 75 and 100 people attended this event. But the big news was the announcement of the Breaking through Barriers campaign. The Breaking through Barriers campaign is a capital campaign to raise funds for the renovation of the 3rd floor of the Point of Hope Development Center. The supporters who were at the pig roast got the first look at what a totally remodeled life-skill teaching classroom night look like. These are exciting times at ACF and if you want to be a part of this ministry fell free to email me at director@anotherchild.org

Director Tim starting to cook the pig

 

Dacian and Ryan enjoying the
beautiful weather!

              

The Castle Bounce House

  

July mission team reunion picture

 

Looking over new ACF apparel

Everyone enjoying the food!

Mural

This year people all over America painted squares as part of ACF’s “Do Something Beautiful” events.  Each square was part of a much larger mural that was to be hung at Point of Hope.  Only one person knew what the final mural would look like.  The individual squares had lines on them and a key to tell you what colors to use to paint it.  Each person was able to color it any way they wanted.  The result was 108 unique squares!  Two members of our June 11^th mission trip carried the squares with them.  Gabi was so excited to put the puzzle together that she couldn’t wait and we had to lay out the mural on the floor.  The final piece was amazing!  We were awed at how all those unique squares came together to form such a beautiful picture!!  Now to just find a wall big enough to hang it, and figure out how to get it up there!!

It took some hard thinking, but Mr. Libero, director of Point of Hope, figured out the best way to hang it.  He recruited a friend of his to help and together they worked on hanging this masterpiece.  Since the only wall big enough was located on the stairs, they first had to figure out how to hang everything safely.  They brought in cinderblocks to place on certain stairs to make a large enough surface for the ladder to stand.  Then they screwed in particle board to the wall to create a surface strong enough to hold the squares.  Finally, they carefully glued the back of each square and placed it on the wall.  It took them two days to put up, but the end result is beautiful!

Final Blog post from the Summer Mission Teams

“Wow! What a privilege it has been to come and serve God and HIS children here in Romania.  To see the conditions some of the children live in day to day makes me so sad.  To hear different children tell me their story of a sibling taking their lives because they just can’t take it cuts me right through the heart.  I thank God each day for the life I live.  I pray that I never complain about anything I have.  For they have barely the necessities for each day, yet they still have a smile or a huge hug.  There may be a language barrier when an interpreter is not around, but we still can communicate.  No words necessary… Through Love.  Thank you God for your grace.” – Terri Molln

“This trip has really changed my perspective on what I have in my life.  It has shown me all the things I have I take for granted.  Phone, TV, internet, but the biggest one of all… family.  Working with the kids has shown me nothing but love for friends and family.  I can’t compare everything to these kids but what I can compare is the love they give and share.  They share it with everyone just as if everyone was family.  There is nothing in this world I want more as long as I see their smiles and receive their love.” - Bradley Davis