April in Romania has filled my heart as I’ve been loving on and playing with sweet gypsy children day in and day out.
I’m working with a church called Living Hope, that launched a ministry with the homeless population in Pitesti, Romania twenty years ago. While working with the extremely impoverished and homeless in Pitesti, Pastor Christi (the pastor at Living Hope) quickly realized that this population was greatly fed by gypsy children who were fleeing their homes at a very young age. After diving into this culture to investigate, Pastor Christi uncovered the truth. Most children living in the gypsy communities are physically and sexually abused daily. Abuse isn’t the exception; it’s the norm for these children and has become an accepted part of the gypsy culture. This sad reality causes them to leave their homes at a very young age to live on the street, because that alternative is better than what they’re leaving behind.
It’s difficult not to look at the above pictures in a new light after hearing this information. For me, my time with these children has been full of abundant joy alongside tremendous heartache as they cling to me so tightly, and I know it’s because they never receive this kind of love or affection at home. Our daily arrival in these communities is met by kids flocking from their apartments and immediately jumping all over us and demanding piggy-back rides. I braid hair, play games, and hold hands with these little ones all while carrying at least two children on my hips and shoulders. I love showering them with affection to show them that they are loved. Although they may not receive it anywhere apart from the volunteers at Living Hope Church, we desperately want them to know that they are loved. My prayer is that our time with these children will give them a glimpse into what a life outside their communities could look like and that they learn they do have a purpose and a place here on this earth.
As I look upon these faces, I fight back tears moment by moment. While my time in Romania with these kids has been some of my happiest moments on The World Race, I’ve experienced equivalent pain knowing the stories behind so many of their genuine and childlike smiles.
Last night we spent the final evening with our Romanian friends and the goodbyes were the hardest I’ve had. Some of the little ones we’re pushing my team and I away from the bus, with as much force as possible, so we couldn’t get in and leave. The following hours were full of tears from all groups, and I can only hope these kids benefitted half as much as I did throughout this experience.
I’m leaving a huge chunk of my heart in Pitesti, Romania and will always treasure the songs, laughs, piggy-back rides, hand holds, hair braids, cheek kisses and tears that were left here.
<3 Amy
“One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with the disciples. He said to them, Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it. Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.” Mark 10:13-16
