From a Missionary Family Serving in Romania
Ever since we were kids, we both hoped and prayed for opportunities to work with orphans, to help them know the Lord as Father and Savior. Orphans are some of the most neglected and abused people in Romania.
In some ways, working with orphans might be one of the toughest ministries (at least in Romania), because the progress is very slow. You don’t see lives transformed every day with the choice to follow Jesus; you don’t have baptisms every month (often if they do get baptized it’s done for the wrong reasons). It can be very discouraging.
Last month, we started working more hours at the largest state orphanage in Oradea. This is the worst orphan “home” I’ve been to. Perhaps you have heard the horror stories coming from eastern European countries after the iron curtain fell (in 1989-1991). Many of those stories centered around kids that were abandoned or that lost their parents and were sent to a state orphanage.
These orphanages have improved, but not by much.
The Vicious Cycle of the Broken
I believe all the kids from this orphanage (and probably most in Romania that are run by the government) have experienced some sort of abuse from the workers and/or the kids living there. Lately, all the stories we hear are about sexual abuse (many boy on boy) and these are not just gossip, it’s real and it happens day and night. How do you respond to this? How do you help them or what do you do to make this stop? No one should experience these things.
They carry a burden that’s far too heavy for them; so, they turn to alcohol, tobacco, pornography, sex, drugs, prostitution, abuse of other kids, violence, crimes and so on. They are desperately trying to forget all the things that have been done to them.
In the process, they end up repeating the cycle and continuing what others have started with them.
The Hope of the Gospel
We feel very small in the face of such immense need. These kids need love, forgiveness, acceptance, encouragement, direction, clothes, food, etc, but most of all they need Jesus Christ. There is nothing else that they need more than the love and forgiveness of Jesus.
We lead a Bible study in the orphanage once a week for boys that are 14 years and older. From there, we connect with the kids who are more open to sharing their story or struggles and have questions about faith or a desire to know more about God. Then, we can meet with them one-on-one.
Every time we’re with them we share the Gospel and its power to change them, to give them a relationship with God, to offer them peace and joy, the things they long for and never find in any of the things I just mentioned. Some of the questions they’ve asked us in the last few weeks are:
- How can a Christian do these things? (because people that called themselves Christians have used them, abused them in some ways, etc.)
- How can I be sure I am saved?
- What happens after I am saved, can I still sin?
- What happens after I sin, will God still forgive me?
- Can God forgive me for the things I’ve done?
- I can find happiness in other places, why do I need God?
- Can you have fun if you’re a Christian?
A Need for Persistent Prayer
Some have a genuine desire to know God but are embarrassed and afraid to express it out loud because others will make fun of them. To be a Jesus follower in a state orphanage is difficult. The darkness is great in this place, but we know Jesus is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20)
As we go to this place and interact with these kids, we want to show them that Christ is real. He changed us. He gave us a purpose and the assurance of a future with Him, and that even though life is difficult at times, we have a God that will walk with us through it all.
The Gospel can save these kids from a vicious cycle of brokenness. It can restore them and give them a Heavenly Father that will never leave them or forsake them. Will you join us in praying that these kids will have open hearts to hear this hope and a spirit of boldness to respond?
