Can I adopt a Hope House child?

This is by far our most frequently-asked question. Unfortunately, the answer is no. In 2004 Romania outlawed international adoption, while also placing severe restrictions on domestic adoption. We are strongly opposed to this new law, and you can read more about our efforts to fight it on our "Adoption Advocacy" page. 

However, it should be understood that Romania Reborn is not now, nor have we ever been, an adoption agency. Our only interest in seeing international adoption re-established is the good of parentless Romanian children.

It should also be understood that Hope House has always been committed to placing as many children as it can in Romanian adoptive families, rather than placing them outside Romania. Sadly, for many children of Roma ethnicity and for children with special needs, domestic adoption is not always possible. We do pray that in the future, some of Romania's needy children may be adopted by families from other countries.

Are the babies in the orphanage actually orphans?

In reality, very few of the children living in Romanian orphanages are truly orphans; most have at least one living parent. These children come to live in orphanages and other institutions because they have been abandoned by their parent(s), many at a very early age.

Why are so many babies abandoned in Romania?

We can only answer this question based on our own personal experience and observations. We don't pretend to have completed a thorough sociological study of this problem; however, we do speak from our close relationship with Romanian workers who see the problem every day.

Child abandonment in Romania has been a problem for decades, although it only came to the world's (and the average Romanian's) attention after the fall of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. Ceausescu's brutal regime did much to create the conditions which have led to so many children being abandoned.

Most observers will mention that Ceausescu's regime, besides creating widespread poverty, fear, and ignorance, also outlawed birth control and abortion. And indeed, the illegality of birth control certainly contributed to the problem among the needy people of Romania, especially the impoverished Gypsy population. However, we believe that it is absolutely faulty to suggest that legalized abortion is the solution to child abandonment. Abortion and birth control have been legal in Romania for over a decade now (in fact, Romania has one of the highest abortion rates in Europe), and yet the epidemic of child abandonment continues unabated.

We believe that the problem of child abandonment is caused by a number of factors, chiefly poverty and ignorance. But the main cause, we feel, is the mentality that human life is disposable. Ceausescu certainly perpetuated this mentality, and it continues today. Abortion, far from being a solution, is merely a more brutal form of this same mentality. Our hope and prayer for Romania is not only that poverty and ignorance will be alleviated, but also that a newfound reverence for human life will prevail. Then, we believe, the situation of Romania's children will dramatically improve.

How much of my donation to Romania Reborn will really go to help needy kids?

We have deliberately kept Romania Reborn small so we can keep our administrative costs at an absolute minimum. Our "headquarters" are located in a private residence, so we pay no rent or utilities. We have one full-time staff worker and one part-time staffer, whose salary is fully sponsored by her local church. In every area, we seek to be fastidious stewards of the resources which our donors have given to the Lord.

It is our organizational policy to report our total spending to donors every year. In 2006, we spent a total of $178,172.51. Of that amount, 94.4% (168,273.71) went toward ministry and 5.6% (9,989.80) for managment expenses.  In other words, over 94 cents per dollar were spent on ministry.

How does Romania Reborn ensure financial accountability?

The Board of Directors determines our support levels for Hope House and other ministries. These goals are then carried out by both our president, Jayme Metzgar, and our treasurer, Jeanne Domenech. Mrs. Domenech is responsible for all accounting and book-keeping, while Mrs. Metzgar informs her of financial needs, both for RM and for the supported ministries.

Mrs. Metzgar and Mrs. Domenech are both accountable to the Board of Directors, which meets annually. At that time, Mrs. Domenech presents a comprehensive financial report, detailing all incoming and outgoing funds for the year. Mrs. Metzgar and Mrs. Domenech also report to the Board regularly throughout the year, whenever there is a need for funds that has not already been given advance Board approval. Of course, Romania Reborn also submits all required financial information to the Internal Revenue Service.

In addition, Romania Reborn requires periodic financial statements from its supported ministries in Romania. We also make personal visits to the ministries in Romania on a regular basis, to see the work (and the fruit of our donors' generosity) firsthand.

I'd like my donations to help just one specific ministry (i.e. Hope House or the Living Hope Center). Is this possible?

Can churches, companies, or foundations be involved in supporting this ministry?

Does the orphanage need clothing or other material supplies?

Can I travel to Romania and volunteer?

There are limited opportunities for volunteering at either Hope House or the Living Hope Center. It greatly depends on the current need, what you're interested in doing, and how long you'd like to stay. If you are seriously considering traveling to Romania as a short-term mission worker or volunteer, please contact us to find out about current needs. We reserve the right to select volunteers based on qualifications, spiritual maturity, and overall compatibility with our ministry.