Orphans Aren't Just Little Kids

My mom worked for years in the front office of the local high school. Her desk was strategically located right outside the Vice Principal's office where "certain" kids ominously waited to find out their disciplinary "consequences.". What I remember most is how much my mom loved on those "bad" kids. She insisted, "There are NO bad kids...just kids from really hard places." Maybe that planted the original seed in my heart for the older kids, the oh-so-not-even-TRYING-to-be-perfect kids. The kids in my life now who are not afraid to tell me they've screwed up. The kids who excitedly tell me they've been clean for 4 months. The kids who are so easy for me to love. The kids who flatter me, but really break my heart, when they say, "I wish you were my mom," because I know the painful reasons WHY.
Corey Burba, founder of Romanian Orphan Ministries, loves the "big"kids. He can relate. He's been in those hard places...and he wants them to know a better life...full of hope!

Everything about this ministry and these humble, once-broken vessels that God is using in loving ways is inspiring. What do they do?

"Orphan youth are turned out onto the streets with few life skills. Joblessness, homelessness, drug abuse, prostitution, jail, and becoming victims of human trafficking are just a few of the results.
Romanian Orphan Ministries assists these youths in the transition from institutionalized life to becoming a productive member of society.  Our strategy is holistic, encompassing spiritual, social, physical, and educational facets.
Our mission statement is, 'Bringing the forgotten orphan children in Romania to faith in Christ, discipling them, and equipping them to be productive citizens and Christians.' So, we have three main goals: to evangelize, to disciple, and to equip."

In their own words:

"Baking a cake. Doesn't sound like much, does it? Most everyone has done it at some point...unless you grew up in an orphanage. Then there are many things you've never done. You are scared to try. Scared to do anything different. You don't even have a comfort zone, because you're never comfortable.

Here at the Beauty from Ashes Center we create and then greatly expand comfort zones, helping orphans to dream up, and then to achieve, their goals. It starts with baking a cake. It ends when a girl leaves our Center ready to live as an adult in Romanian society."

Want to be AMAZED? Read about how September 11, 2001 played a close up and VERY scary, but powerful role at the very beginning of Romanian Orphan Ministries!
Read about it HERE: www.romanianorphanministries.com/the-history-of-our-ministry/

I could go on and on...but...you will find SO much more on their website: www.romanianorphanministries.com/
And, YES, you can blame me for your new, unquenchable desire to hop on the next plane to visit the beauty that is Romania...and the lovely people there! JOIN US in praying for them today.