Romania

Being labeled an orphan on all legal documents so you would always be treated as a second-class citizen, no matter where you went. That's just a gnat’s eye view of life as a Romanian orphan in a beautiful country.  There are thousands of children suffering these atrocities and worse every day in Romania and they need our help.  There are missionaries in Romania who have rescued a handful of children from the orphanages, but they can’t take on anymore without some assistance.   

In July 2003, a the Glory Gates Quartet, along with a ragtag army of 12 other believers went to visit two missionaries in Romania, to see what their plight was and try to bring a little joy to the children if just for a few days.  They learned how to budget their food money to $7 a week so they can help pay for another rescued orphan’s medical school.  They saw where another missionary, who also has eight kids, is trying to raise money to add rooms to her home to be used as a halfway house for older rescued orphans, so she can take in more little ones.  (The cost of this venture is approximately $8,000.00, which includes adding forced-air heating to the existing home and new wing.)  They also saw how some of the children have accepted Christ as their Savior and how their faith continues to grow through the efforts of the missionaries and people here in the United States.

We were part of that group that went to Romania and we left a piece of our heart there!  We want to help them.  We want to make a difference in the lives of the Romanian children.  It takes approximately $50 per month to care for each child.  In Romania, that is a significant amount of money since a household earns between $100 and $200 per month.  Please contact us if you want to make a contribution, or have us to your church or facility to perform a concert, whereby all proceeds from the concert would go towards rescuing and showing God’s love to His precious Romanian children.  You may also make contributions to our projects in Romania by clicking on the “Donations” link within the “Romania” section of this website.

 What we saw in Romania was definitely not all totally negative.  It is a beautiful country with some of the nicest and most beautiful people that we have ever met.  In talking with them, they are really trying to make changes; however, it is such a long, uphill battle for them.  They are anxious for help from people like us and from what we saw, there are many organizations and churches that are starting to infiltrate Romania and help these people in so many ways.  The Romanians are so appreciative for this assistance and welcome our presence there.

 The people themselves are battling the problems of political and lifestyle transitions from socialism to a free, democratic, capitalistic society.  The bureaucracy and political system have made it very tough for the normal people to achieve anything; thus, poverty raises its ugly face and is a major problem in Romania.  Most families must attempt to live on $200.00 per month, which is almost impossible; thus leading to depression and alcoholism and a sense of hopelessness.

The Romanian people are truly trying.  We try and tell them that this all takes so much time, effort and education.  It has not even been 15 years since the fall of communism, which is not very long when you think of what is involved to manage a successful, free country.  It is hard for these folks to understand this, and it is very frustrating, but they do want to keep trying to make changes so that the younger people will have a better life.  Changes in the way the government thinks and does things take a significant amount of time because of past influences and lack of knowledge and experience, but as time passes and knowledge and experience increases, the wonderful people of Romania will benefit greatly! 

As you can see, Romania needs help of all types and kinds in order to bring success, prosperity and hope, not the least of which is knowing Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, and understanding that their hope really is in eternal life with God in heaven.  So, we need the help of others!!  If you were to meet these Romanian people, you would melt, like we did, and want nothing more than to help them to be a successful, Godly country! 

Please see Pictures of this beautiful country within our “Romania” section.       

As we rejoice in our terrific opportunity to help Romania, our ministry continues while we are back home, as several of us have developed an Internet ministry with the older kids there.  We speak together on Yahoo Messenger and work with them in their daily problems, arriving at Biblical resolutions; then advising on general life situations, and generally making sure that they are walking closely with the Lord and being a Godly example with whomever they come in contact.  It is truly an opportunity and blessing to serve the Lord in this way.  We are humbled to know that we are His vehicles!  

The Glory Gates Quartet returned to Romania this past summer, 2004, to perform concerts again (SEE Romania 2004 photos), witness, encourage and nurture those with whom we come in contact.  Please see other links within our website for an accounting of our blessed trip.  During this trip, we have connected with a children’s ministry in Bucharest called “Caring Place”.  It consists of ministering to and helping kids from very poor families in the neighborhoods of the Gurjului zone in Bucharest, which is connected with the Universitatea Biblica (Bible College) and Biserica Harul Bucuresti. (Grace church of Bucharest)  We will keep you up to date on this ministry and you can click on the link to Caring Place within the “Romania” section of this website.  

Won’t you help us make a difference!

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