Romania 1991 vs. Romania 2007

Last night we did something a little different for team worship. Currently on the team we have some people who were here at the very, very beginning of FCE/soon after Communism ended.
It was suggested that we have some of these people speak about what it was like back then - especially since most of 'us' have been here since 2000 and on.
I thought you all might be interested in hearing about some of the thens and nows. Keep in mind that this was after Communism - about 2 years after.

*Waiting in a line for days to receive gas
*Bread could hardly be found to be bought

The Popesti orphanage, considered one of the worst in the entire country, was horrible. It's still horrible today but some things have changed. Back then though there was limited cold water available to the kids. No hot water at all. When the kids were forced to take showers in the cold water it turned out worse than just that. There was something in the water that left sores all over their bodies. When a child had lice they shaved their head and then poured gasoline all over them. Beatings, torcher punishments (1 story last night of a teacher holding a child's finger to a cigarette ligher as punishment). The kids slept in the classrooms because the roof to their dormitory had fallen through. Dressing for winter weater indoors because of no heat.

What was cool though was to hear how open the orphanage was to accepting help. Construction teams from Sweden came and fixed the water. Some of the people last night told of the day the kids got to take their first shower in warm water... they'll never forget that. They were able to not only have hot water but clean water, without the sore causing parasite.
They fixed the dorms and now the kids actually have pretty decent living arrangements (material wise). And, the number of children has decreased big time. From about 150-200 at one time to appx. 50-60 children now.

The current workers on this team told of how the beating haven't stopped but have lessened. That hot water is only available to the kids 1 day/week (Saturdays). And I think heating the orphanage and its facilities is still not considered high priority. When I was there this winter I saw the teachers and students wearing winter clothes indoors during classes.

The kids though have changed. Although I don't work with this team I do hear reports back and one from this weekend was really incredible. A long term missionary here is leaving. Her years here have been spent at Popesti so all of the children came to our Club for a goodbye party. I wasn't there but at the end, I was told, they gathered all the kids around to pray. Apparently the kids were praying prayers of thankfulness for what God had given them through the resources and people of FCE. Cool huh?