It's been almost a week since we arrived in Draganesti and I'm really enjoying my time here so far. Our ministry contact, Raul, is an incredible man of God. I'll tell you more about what exactly I've been doing here with my team and Team Radiant next time, but today I want to share some of the stories behind a few photos I've taken so far:
These two are brother and sister and come to our children's ministry in the town next to Draganesti. I learned from Dorothy, the children's missionary here, that their mother left their family years ago under the pretense of looking for a job, but never came back. They have one more sister and they live with their father and grandparents. Their grandmother had heart surgery during the spring because of the stress she was feeling trying to raise three young kids. How anyone could desert such beautiful children is incomprehensible to me.
This two year old girl was the youngest at the children's ministry and quite possibly the cutest. I didn't know much about her and Dorothy said she doesn't come too often, but she loved getting her photo taken and making faces with me.
This girl was one of the older kids at the ministry and very willing to speak a little English with us. Her sister was also there. The two sisters are very different; the one pictured here is outgoing and talkative while her sister seemed shy and embarrassed to speak with us. We found out later that the quiet sister had never been to school and doesn't know how to read and write.
Here's the whole gang! I was so impressed by the children's warmth and welcome to us newcomers. They were full of hugs, smiles and chatter. And the best part is that they LOVED to be photographed. I mean, why wouldn't they? They're pretty much gorgeous.
