Canada travels

When I started this blog, I vowed to write once a week. I am sure I have enough travel experience/stories to share with you to do at least that!!

This week has been a little crazy though, my parents flew in from Romania on Tuesday and every day since has been a whirlwind of activity. They were in Romania for a long-time family friend’s wedding and for over a week leading up to that… they were traveling, by train, through Poland and Ukraine. What an awesome trip they had! So I thought today I’d share with you some of their travels.

I could post all the pictures from the castles they went into and all the beautiful scenery they drove by but I’ll dedicate this post to one particular event. The day they visited “Haven for Children” an orphanage run by a couple in their 30’s (he a Romanian and she a Bulgarian by birth) with 8 children of their own.  He runs a maintenance landscaping business in Glendale, Arizona – travelling back and forth.  From this business he supports the orphanage along with whatever other private assistance comes in, a little comes in from select groups but not a single dime from government agencies.

The following is written by my Dad.

“They presently have 45 children between the ages of 6 and 18 (school age).  The orphanage sits on several acres of land allowing them to plant fruit trees, have a garden, a grass area, a soccer field and beyond a field that could accommodate a few cows (which they don’t have yet).  While we were there they were in the last pour of concrete for footings of a future basketball court.

Sergius (who runs the orphanage) said you either provide sports activities for them to release their energy in a healthy way or pay the price of them taking it out on their own housing facility.

The children gathered as we came into the assembly area, all interested in who we were.  It wasn’t long before they were sitting across from us singing in both english and their native language – beautiful songs.  One wanted to show us how he could walk on his hands and that he did across the room turn and cross back without hesitation or losing his balance.  He is one of 6 children from one family that had been taken into the orphanage recently after being found abandoned in a field.  When found, they were undernourished and eating grass and drinking the milk from a lactating dog.  That’s right – a dog!  They are all of small stature for their age.  It is hoped that with proper food and loving care they will develop well.

Out back is a shed of about 8 feet by 6 feet that was hastily assembled earlier in the spring to temporarily house 8 teenagers who had been living on the streets.  They stayed in the shed until the last addition was completed and able to house them.  It is the hope some will go onto secondary education which is rare for orphans.

There was an old lady there as well.  Her property is 4 lots away and a week ago her house burned down, her nephew, who was living with her beat her up, blaming her for the fire.  She spent 4 days sleeping outside before someone found her.  With no place to go this Orphanage brought her in.  She just sits and watches the children with little expression on her face.

Volunteers – they welcome volunteers.  They can house and feed them but without pay.  Presently they have a young lady from France.

I have seen several orphanages in Romania since first visiting in 1992 and view this one as one of the best run ones.” ~ Dwayne & Sharon

Tomorrow my parents will leave here and head to their home in British Columbia, but they leave behind many wonderful stories of hope and love and inspire us to do more.  We are making plans to go to Romania next summer on a humanitarian aid trip. I can’t wait to post about that trip!