Romanian Travels: First Stop, Prilipet
ITMI Director, Steve Evers, returned home from traveling in Africa not long ago. Less than three weeks later, he has crossed the ocean again.
This time, he’s making the rounds to ITMI’s European partners, starting in Romania.
This week, Steve was in a tiny, rural village called Prilipet.
Why would he go there?
He is visiting a children’s home that is one of ITMI’s oldest ongoing partnerships.
Neglected, Abandoned Children Become Family at Casa Dorca
Casa Dorca Children’s Home is a family for the children who live there.
Steve says, “This place is truly ‘home’ for them, they love the care givers and they love and help each other, because they know that they were once helped by coming to this place and they want to help others.”
Many of the children have heart-wrenching stories about their lives before Casa Dorca.
One boy would eat and eat until he vomited when he first arrived at Casa Dorca, because he had never had so much good food. He was conditioned to get all he could, not knowing if or when he would eat again.
Two of the older children, a brother and sister duo, were found eating dog slop as their only means of nourishment.
A couple of them were abandoned in an apartment while the mom (no father) took off for work in another country.
They were left. Alone. To fend for themselves.
Alone.
A Creative Expression of Love
Steve delivered colorful knit hats for each of the orphans. The hats were lovingly knit by two elderly women who got creative about sharing Jesus with people in great need, even though they are oceans apart.
These friends of ITMI probably didn’t have much in the way of money to give. But they have love. And they gave it in the form of soft, colorful hats to warm cold heads during the Romanian winter.
You don’t have to give large gifts to make a big difference in someone’s life.
Especially when it’s a child who had nothing.
Love and creativity was all it took to tell these beautiful children that no matter what may have happened to you in the past: you are loved.
You are valued.
You are cared for.
Steve wouldn’t have been able to make these deliveries if it weren’t for your support.
Thank you!