A Future and a Hope

Word of our After school Program has spread throughout the village of Budila. One of the ladies, Lidia, who works at Town hall met a boy from her daughters school who is a talented artist. Lidia asked him the question, "how do you see the After School Program for disadvantaged children?" So the boy thought and this is what he envisioned; an adult walking next to a child, taking him from a place where everything is grey, to a place of colour, with green grass and blue sky. It is amazing to see the power of God working in this village, giving children and families a future and a hope.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.   Romans 15:13

Celebrating St. Patrick!

Anyone who has been to Brasov over a holiday knows that we here at FFR love a good excuse for a get together, especially one with a theme! Here's a little taste of how we embraced our inner Leprechaun this year and years past!

The More Romanians the Merrier!

Ever since the Hospital Project began we have been praying for more Romanians to become involved in what God is doing through FFR. Today at the hospital came the realization that these prayers are being answered! God continues to bring more and more native Romanians to become a part of this mission, with hearts fixed on serving. Today the majority of volunteers in the hospital were from Brasov.

Roxana, Monica and Ramona

Also, we entered 2014 with four Romanian Project Co-ordinators. Juliana Timofte has been our Budila Teenage Co-ordinator for two years, Lidia Schade has been our Kids Club Co-ordinator since it began, Claudia Mihaiu stepped in last year as Project Co-ordinator of our Prejmer Teen Group and Madalina Ivan, a former tutor with FFR, has become Project Co-ordinator of our After School Program. 

We love Romania, and we love the people here. FFR's work would not be possible without the help of so many Romanians stepping in and guiding us through obstacles and over hurtles. We are more excited than ever about the number of Romanian's who want to partner with us! The simple act of saying "I will go" is helping to build a firm foundation that we hope will set a spark that spreads across this country and be a testimony of Gods loving plan for these people. 

The Budila School Bus Does a Drop Off at the Foundation Center

Gheorghita & Alisha Sidebottom

Thursdays at the Foundation Center are always an exciting day for me, its my day to be in the village and feel the connection between the kids and families that belong to many of the babies we see come and go out of the Children's Hospital. Today in Kids Club we learned a new song called "Father Abraham" some of you may recognize this song from growing up in Sunday school or attending vacation bible school. I remember learning this song as a child, and today it was such a delight watching it be sung in a different language, half way across the world by little boys and girls who live in a village called Budila! The thought came to me of how much we are all connected. Even though we all seem so different in many ways, we all have one thing in common, we all need to be loved, we were created for family. When singing the words "Father Abraham has many sons, I am one of them and so are you" reminds us we are all part of a much bigger family of God. Here's a peak at my day in Budila!

Is that the Lollipop Guild?

There are moments working in Romania that are difficult, tiring and serious, but it is important in all circumstances to remember that, the Joy of the Lord is our strength. (Neh 8:10)

In 1937 Larry Morey wrote the famous song "Whistle While You Work", well, we like to take that a step further. This little gem comes to us from the FFR archives, the year was 2010, and while stuffing easter goodie bags at the Brasov Children's Hospital...