those who GO

Romania July 5-20
After the collapse of communism in Romania, many families were unable to provide for their children who were born under the oppressive rule of Ceausescu. Having no alternatives, parents often had to abandon children to the under-prepared, under-funded and under-staffed state orphanage system. The media unfolded the true story of the Romanian orphans after the 1989 revolution. Since 1997, Medical Teams International (MTI) has partnered with a local ministry in Romania called Heart of Hope Ministries International. Through Heart of Hope, MTI provides material and financial support, educational assistance, healthcare services, and foster parent training to benefit vulnerable Romanian children. Heart of Hope operates a Christian camp and retreat center in Lotrioara, Romania called Camp of the Good Shepherd.

The camp is now in its fourth year of operation, providing orphans and children in desperate need with a Christian camping experience to cherish for a lifetime. It offers a safe haven to explore God's creation and enjoy the simple joys of childhood. Children also experience a model of Christian compassion through the attentions of loving volunteers and staff.

Friends in Far Places

Chapel Hill has friends in many places. One of the places that means a lot to us is a summer camp near Sibiu, Romania. We’ve sent teams there for four summers now, and the friendships that have formed between Chapel Hill people and the Romanian orphans they serve makes a lasting difference to both groups.

This July we sent a team of seven to the camp. Jennifer Taylor was the team leader. It was her 4th trip to Romania, her 3rd with the summer camp program. She was thrilled to take the team, who were all new to Romania, to meet her friends there. Those she led were Dave Baumgardner, Dustin Harrison, Gabor Klade, Mark Johnston (founder of JH Ranch), Rachel Rippl, and Chapel Hill Director of Missions Sheila Mischke.

The team spent two weeks, with two groups of campers, doing all the things summer camp normally involves: orientation, meals, rest, crafts, games, conversation, laughter, and evening worship. They didn’t get much sleep, but the joy of being there with the kids and their Romanian co-workers carried them through. They made real connections with the children, and gained a deep sense of the strategic importance of our mission partner Debbie Marshall and her Heart of Hope ministry.

While still in country, Sheila wrote on behalf of the group, “We have shared our time, hearts, and love, and we hope that God will use it all for His glory. Each of us has invested significantly in relationships. It seems that not a minute has been wasted.” Indeed, God DID use their time for His glory. At the end of their time at camp, a group of campers were asked if they’d like to accept Christ into their hearts. Four of them stood and recited the prayer for salvation. That is wonderful. Even better, though, is that eighteen others declared that they didn’t want to go to hell. That is promising, but it leaves work to be done—which gives us good reason to return to Romania again next year!

back to newsletter