It’s Saturday night in Targu Jiu, Romania. My feet are absolutely caked with dust – a sign that it’s been a good day. After two days in Bucharest, we finally arrived in Targu Jiu this afternoon – home of the Living Hope Center (LHC), directed by Adi & Lavinia Dreana.
Without dwelling too much on our time in Bucharest, it was a good introduction to Romania: a lesson in expecting the unexpected. On Friday, Jeanne and I had a chance to meet with officials at the U.S. Embassy – a very instructive time for both of us. But the bulk of our time was an unplanned stay at the Ford car dealership, Bucharest branch. Adi & Lavinia’s car experienced a total transmission failure Thursday night (sadly, not the best advertisement for American cars!). Nearly two days later, the fine folks at Ford had finally gotten the car moving again – and we left for Targu Jiu this morning.
Around 2:00 p.m., we pulled up to the curb in front of LHC’s new building. It’s a huge, old house in one of Targu Jiu’s central neighborhoods, only partially renovated but bursting at the seams with activity, promise, and life. The very first thing to catch our eye was a handmade sign on the front door that read (in English) “Welcome!”.
Outside the front door of LHC: Emily, 3-year-old Becky Dreana, and Jayme (l-r).
Inside, a beaming group of women welcomed us, while a group of school-age children peeked shyly from around a nearby corner. The women were Carmen, Doina, and Dana – employees of LHC’s sewing business – along with Georgiana, tutor to the aforementioned children. They immediately presented us with a traditional Romanian gift of welcome: bread, braided to perfection, along with bowls of salt for dipping.
While we enjoyed the bread, we got a quick tour of the facility and a brief introduction to the children. Then Lavinia Dreana left for her nearby apartment, telling us: “Just play some games with the children, and we’ll be back later!”
We immediately swung into action as if we knew what we were doing. Jeanne and her daughter, Emily (here to help the Dreanas for a month), began brainstorming while I got the kids outside. Between Georgiana’s English and my limited Romanian, we led those 15 kids in three raucous games – and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves doing it. Jeanne and Emily, despite knowing no Romanian, did a fabulous job connecting with the kids, learning their names, and making them laugh.
All these children are participants in LHC’s tutoring program. Every day during the school year, they come to this big, old house after school and stay for approximately five hours. Georgiana helps them with their homework, giving them special assistance in the subjects where they’re struggling. They eat a full meal (for some the only real meal each day). Adi & Lavinia are here to alternately mentor, encourage and tease the kids. It’s clear how much this place means to each one of those 15 children, who mostly come from impoverished and broken families. The Living Hope Center is quite literally the best and brightest part of their lives.
In the schoolroom at Living Hope Center.
The results are obvious. One of the older girls was a real tomboy, boisterous and continually laughing. Over dinner, Adi & Lavinia told us that just a few months ago, she would hardly say a word. At home and school, she had been continually belittled and verbally abused. But when she started coming to LHC, she heard encouraging words daily – and learned skills in school that have amazed her teachers, further boosting her confidence. Each of those children had light in their eyes and a pure, simple joy in living that you don’t often see in American children that age.
The final activity with the children was an unofficial ping-pong tournament in the front hallway. LHC’s ping-pong table is quite the phenomenon in this community; it’s drawn many people in for games, which turn into conversations, which turn into relationships. Today the children simply enjoyed the fun, cheering each other on and keeping track of the score in Romanian and English. One of the younger boys, Daniel, emerged as the clear champion (that kid can play ping-pong!).
Jeanne challenges Emanuel at ping-pong.
The rest of our day consisted of visits to the village of Balesti (more on that tomorrow), and a quick tour of this small, southern Romanian city.
I can’t express how honored I am to be working with Adi, Lavinia, and their team here in Targu Jiu. In those kids today, I saw lives that will eternally be set on a different course because of this house, this work, and these people. Anything I can contribute to this ministry isn’t a sacrifice, it’s an honor – not something I have to do, but something I get to do.
I love how God brings together His people from different walks of life, cultures, and backgrounds – and uses all of us to mutually bless one another. Only He could do it. I’m looking forward to what tomorrow will bring.
Noapte buna.
Jayme