The spiritual heart of Romania is very hard. Abused orphans, children digging in dumpsters for food, and families living on the streets are so common that the government and wealthy citizens have become insensitive to their needs. Abortion is the country’s solution to unwanted pregnancies, reducing the orphan population, poverty, and homelessness. Romania has the highest abortion rate in the world, with 75% of all pregnancies ending in abortion.
Because of the large number of children in government facilities there is little supervision, and physical and sexual abuse is common from workers and from other kids in the facilities. Every child we work with has a story of some type of abuse, and much of it is ongoing. Our answer is God’s answer—changed lives through relationships with Jesus.
We have been blessed to minister in Topa de Sus and Mierlau (Romanian villages with many impoverished, elderly, and shut-ins), Chereciu (a Hungarian gypsy village), the Minor Center (a youth detention center), the Transition Center (a center for older orphans and the homeless), the Maternity Center (a shelter for moms & children in crisis situations), Government Housing, and the Orphans in the facility, with small groups and weekly Orphan Church at the Bruski’s. Pat also does construction with Aaron three or four days a week. We also teach English in the orphanage and take the Minor Center kids on outings.
God has opened so many doors for us to share the hope of Jesus with these broken people. We are so blessed to be part of His work in Romania.
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