Romania Day 3!

Goodness we've been busy!

We left camp yesterday and met back at the foundation and had a quick meeting about everyone's thoughts on camp. We had a productive meeting and got a lot of great ideas about camp in the future. Then we loaded up the Bridge of Love-mobile (Sorin's car) and headed out to Child Protection Services. They house all of the abused children and work a lot with the abandoned children in Elena Farago. They have an artist named Costica who teaches his skills to the children in that center and Elena Farago. He has done some amazing things and if he sees a child with some art talent he will give them private lessons and access to his supplies. (Oana, who was in the Bridge to Success program a few years back was one of his artists.) He showed us around his studio and took us into the rooms where the children live where they have painted great Disney scenes on the wall. He does amazing things with those children.

After that we drove over to the Elena Farago placement center which is where the orphans who are teenagers live. Last year they hired a new director and it has made a world of difference. The teens there are doing more chores and work with cooks to make their own food. Its definitely a happier atmosphere and the Director is a good man. They have a separate apartment on the property where a few of our Bridge to Success teens live. This apartment gives them a little more freedom and is really good for teaching these boys to take care of themselves. We also went into a conference room where they set up exibitions for these artists that work with Costica. The last time they set up an exibition the television stations and newspapers didn't come because they didn't think anyone in the center would make anything worth while but apparently word got around because they are planning a second one and hope it will be a great success!

Thursday night was our dinner with the staff. We met at Alona's and everyone was dressed up and spouses were invited. We had a great time sitting together and laughing and getting to know each other without having to chase down children every few seconds. This staff truly is amazing. They are intelligent and personable and are taking incredible care of these children. They understand our vision and are the people who are making it happen. I can't even express my love for that group of people.

This morning we had our last day of camp. The children rehearsed their plays for the last time and we talked about having Courage to be yourself and stay true to yourself and make good decisions. They also made gifts for their mothers. We had lunch together and I think those children ingested half of the pizza in Barlad. Then it was time for their performances!! The older children performed a play about a kingdom that had problems that needed solving. The middle group performed about a lion who went into the forest and needed courage to get out. The youngest children performed Snow White, complete with seven dwarfs singing Hi Ho! and marching around the stage. It was incredible. They were so thrilled to be up on stage and show their parents what they've been doing and it turned out great. After the performances all of the children got on stage and held up letters that spelled "WE LOVE YOU BRIDGE OF LOVE!" (Which, of course, made us all cry) and we snapped pictures like crazy. We handed them their brand new backpacks filled with school supplies and said goodbye! They are the sweetest children and kissed and hugged us all as they went out.

This week was all about those wonderful children and I truly hope we showed them a good time. They are incredible spirits and I am so happy we can all come together to make this happen. I truly feel blessed to have this experience (4 years in a row!). These children are very resilient to what they have gone through and with all of our help and their own naturally amazing spirits, they will grow into wonderful adults. I love these children and I am so happy we had a great success this year.