Understanding

The summer of 1995 I went on a Mission Trip to Romania to work in the orphanages
and with the children of this country.

It was such an eye opening experience for me, one that has stayed with me through the years. My heart has always been with the underprivileged, the abused, the neglected and the orphaned.


I was a clown as we entertained the children and shared Christ with them.




This orphanage was being built and we stayed in several of the rooms while we washed each and every window in this large beautiful orphanage.


In college I obtained my degree in Sociology and went to work in a Children's Shelter before my children came, all in an effort to make a difference in the lives of these children that so intimately pierced my heart. My time at the orphanage in Romania brought about many different emotions, some of which I can still feel today. I will always hold a desire to adopt a child...even if it is a dream that I will be unable to realize.



I attempted to share my experiences, my passion and my heart for these children with my family. Even their excited attention to the pictures and my stories could not truly relay the experience I had, the heartbreak I experienced and the image of the precious sad eyes of these children I held, that has stayed with me until this day.

But these past weeks that my parents have been in Thailand have given them a much closer picture of my emotions and feelings many years ago. I know that the time in the orphanage and on the island with these children have truly impacted my parents for ever...an impact I am very thankful for.

photo by: Judy Christian

Here they are at the orphanage in Bangkok. They gave each child a little Chick-fil-a cow and an ice cream sandwich. You can read more about this experience on this blog and see more pictures of their time with these children.