Hello/ Bună!
Thank you so much for your prayers and support as we prepared for and then left for Romania. When we first arrived in Romania last week we were able to adjust to the jet lag while learning more about Heart 2 Heart (H2H) International and Romanian culture. We were all immediately encouraged by the incredible work H2H is doing with orphans here. Before communism fell in 1989, it was common for families to have five to ten children. Many children in Romanian orphanages today still have living parents, but their parents often feel unable to provide for or raise them. Children may choose to leave their homes or parents might send their kids to an orphanage as a permanent or temporary solution as they try to get on their feet. Some children even maintain relationships with their parents or extended family, yet they do not live together. Often, parents continue promising to return to get their children -- but that day never comes. This creates deep emotional challenges for many of the children.
In Romanian culture, orphans often face significant social stigma, making life during and after the orphanage incredibly difficult. At age 18, if they are not in school, they are required to leave with little to no support and must suddenly navigate adulthood without the guidance of a stable family. If they are in school when they turn 18, they are allowed to remain in the orphanage for the remainder of the school year. College is also extremely competitive. Students must take an exam after high school (similar to the SAT), and only those with the highest scores receive admission. Even then, they may not be able to study their desired field. One student H2H worked with dreamed of studying architecture and he worked hard and scored high enough to attend university. Although he secured university admission, the extreme competition meant he couldn't study architecture—there were only four spots available nationwide for all students.
This reality deeply impacted our students, as they are all seniors currently thinking about college applications and future careers. It reminded all of us how blessed we are to live in a country with so many educational opportunities. Jen, the director of H2H, shared that the last statistic she heard was that fewer than 2% of orphans go on to attend college. Finding employment is also incredibly difficult. Employers are often hesitant to hire orphans, and even when someone is willing, there are legal barriers. To get a job, they need an ID. To get an ID, they need proof of permanent residence—and renting doesn't count. Imagine trying to buy a home without parents, savings, or a job. It's an almost impossible cycle.
Recognizing these challenges, H2H created a nine-month transition program that helps young adults secure housing, obtain identification, find employment, and learn everyday life skills such as budgeting, cooking, laundry, and meal preparation. After that, participants continue receiving support through a two-year aftercare program.
One of the most encouraging things I've learned is that several H2H staff members actually grew up in these orphanages, completed the transition program, and now serve on staff. They are incredible role models for the younger students because they truly understand their experiences.
On our first Sunday (the 12th), we attended H2H's home church in Romania. It wasn't a typical Romanian service because they had a guest speaker from America, so the sermon was in English with a Romanian interpreter. The worship songs were sung in Romanian, although many were songs we knew in English. One of my favorite moments was hearing the same worship song being sung simultaneously in Romanian and English. It was a beautiful picture of believers from two continents, speaking two different languages, worshiping the same God.
After church, we spent time talking with another mission team from Florida and members of the local church before having lunch at the mall. That afternoon, we traveled to the village of Nenciulești. What should have been a two-hour drive turned into a three-hour adventure when the clutch failed in our car, which was carrying myself, one student, and two H2H staff members. After several unsuccessful attempts to get it working again—including pushing the car and then jumping back into it while moving—we waited for someone from a local church to come help. He eventually towed us the rest of the way to the house where we were staying. It was certainly an eventful day, but it was another reminder that God remains in control, even when our plans don't go as expected.
VBS began on Monday. Each day, the H2H staff drove 45 minutes each way to bring students from a nearby orphanage. Rather than a traditional orphanage, these students lived in apartments with other children and an adult caregiver to create more of a family environment.
When the students arrived on the first day, we greeted them with "Bună," and they immediately jumped into playing games with us. We had expected younger children, but the students ranged from ages 9 to 18. We quickly discovered that one of the best ways to overcome the language barrier was simply by spending time together. Soccer, volleyball, frisbee, bracelet making, and tie-dye became some of our favorite activities. Each day included worship, a skit, Bible lessons, memory verses, crafts, games, lunch, and plenty of free time. (Go Team Galben—Yellow Team!)
Some of our favorite conversations happened during free time, often with the help of Google Translate. Several students and leaders also spent time learning the daily memory verses in Romanian. The students were excellent teachers—although I suspect their enthusiasm had something to do with the fact that Americans earned double points for saying the verses correctly!
Every afternoon ended with hugs, goodbyes, and excitement to see each other again the next day. Throughout the week, we were continually encouraged by the relationships we built with both the Romanian students and the H2H staff.
This past weekend gave us an opportunity to rest and prepare for another week of ministry. Saturday morning was dedicated to work projects around the house. We cleaned, organized supplies, washed vehicles, burned trash, disassembled an old rock-climbing wall, and mowed the grass.
To make things more interesting, the house's well pump broke—only a month after it had been replaced. For almost 24 hours, 31 people had no running water. We adapted by using disposable dishes, buying drinking water from the store, and borrowing water from neighbors so we could occasionally flush toilets. Despite the inconvenience, everyone maintained a great attitude, and it became an unexpected team-building experience. Needless to say, everyone celebrated when the water was restored and we could finally shower after several hot, humid days!
Sunday morning, we held a house church service where three H2H staff members shared their testimonies. They spoke about growing up in orphanages, coming to know Christ, participating in the transition program, and eventually returning to serve the very ministry that had changed their lives. Hearing their stories was one of the most encouraging experiences of the trip. God has redeemed their stories in remarkable ways, and they are now using those experiences to invest in the next generation.
Sunday evening, we attended a Romanian church in nearby Alexandria. It was a very traditional service where everyone was asked to dress nicely. The local women all wore long skirts and head coverings, and the service followed very traditional practices. As Americans, we definitely stood out! Still, the congregation welcomed us warmly and invited Ryan Lunde to explain why we were in Romania and share a brief message from Scripture, which was translated into Romanian.
Before the service, we had been told we would likely sing a song in English. We prepared "Battle Belongs" by Phil Wickham and began singing a cappella before the keyboardist and violinist recognized the song and joined us. Afterward, the pastor smiled and announced that he had "negotiated" for us to sing a second song, so we sang "Glorious Day." One lyric stood out to us in a whole new way: “I was an orphan, but You call me a citizen of Heaven.” Considering everything we had learned throughout the week, those words carried even greater meaning.
Jen translated the Romanian sermon for us through an app, and afterward many members of the church came to speak with us. One woman simply told us that we had brought her so much joy. It was a sweet reminder that Christian fellowship transcends language and culture.
As I write this, we're preparing for our final week in Romania. Monday and Tuesday we are hosting another VBS with children from a nearby Roma (Gypsy) village. Tuesday evening we'll return to Bucharest, Wednesday we'll have a pool party with another orphanage, and later in the week we'll explore some of the city's historical and cultural sites before flying home to Escondido on Saturday.
As we finish our time here, we would appreciate your continued prayers for:
- Strength and endurance as our team grows physically and emotionally tired.
- Health, as several team members have been fighting some sickness.
- The hearts of the children we've met and those we'll meet this week.
- Continued unity within both our EFCC team and the H2H staff.
- Good weather on Wednesday for our pool party, or wisdom if we need to adjust our plans due to forecasted rain.
- Safe travels as we return to Bucharest and then fly back to San Diego.
Thank you again for your love, encouragement, and faithful prayers. It has been a privilege to witness what God is doing in Romania, and I'm continually reminded that He is at work in every culture, language, and circumstance.
Thank you for partnering with us in this ministry– we couldn't be here without your support!
In Him,
Jessica Johanson, Team Leader
Thank you so much for your prayers and support as we prepared for and then left for Romania. When we first arrived in Romania last week we were able to adjust to the jet lag while learning more about Heart 2 Heart (H2H) International and Romanian culture. We were all immediately encouraged by the incredible work H2H is doing with orphans here. Before communism fell in 1989, it was common for families to have five to ten children. Many children in Romanian orphanages today still have living parents, but their parents often feel unable to provide for or raise them. Children may choose to leave their homes or parents might send their kids to an orphanage as a permanent or temporary solution as they try to get on their feet. Some children even maintain relationships with their parents or extended family, yet they do not live together. Often, parents continue promising to return to get their children -- but that day never comes. This creates deep emotional challenges for many of the children.
In Romanian culture, orphans often face significant social stigma, making life during and after the orphanage incredibly difficult. At age 18, if they are not in school, they are required to leave with little to no support and must suddenly navigate adulthood without the guidance of a stable family. If they are in school when they turn 18, they are allowed to remain in the orphanage for the remainder of the school year. College is also extremely competitive. Students must take an exam after high school (similar to the SAT), and only those with the highest scores receive admission. Even then, they may not be able to study their desired field. One student H2H worked with dreamed of studying architecture and he worked hard and scored high enough to attend university. Although he secured university admission, the extreme competition meant he couldn't study architecture—there were only four spots available nationwide for all students.
This reality deeply impacted our students, as they are all seniors currently thinking about college applications and future careers. It reminded all of us how blessed we are to live in a country with so many educational opportunities. Jen, the director of H2H, shared that the last statistic she heard was that fewer than 2% of orphans go on to attend college. Finding employment is also incredibly difficult. Employers are often hesitant to hire orphans, and even when someone is willing, there are legal barriers. To get a job, they need an ID. To get an ID, they need proof of permanent residence—and renting doesn't count. Imagine trying to buy a home without parents, savings, or a job. It's an almost impossible cycle.
Recognizing these challenges, H2H created a nine-month transition program that helps young adults secure housing, obtain identification, find employment, and learn everyday life skills such as budgeting, cooking, laundry, and meal preparation. After that, participants continue receiving support through a two-year aftercare program.
One of the most encouraging things I've learned is that several H2H staff members actually grew up in these orphanages, completed the transition program, and now serve on staff. They are incredible role models for the younger students because they truly understand their experiences.
On our first Sunday (the 12th), we attended H2H's home church in Romania. It wasn't a typical Romanian service because they had a guest speaker from America, so the sermon was in English with a Romanian interpreter. The worship songs were sung in Romanian, although many were songs we knew in English. One of my favorite moments was hearing the same worship song being sung simultaneously in Romanian and English. It was a beautiful picture of believers from two continents, speaking two different languages, worshiping the same God.
After church, we spent time talking with another mission team from Florida and members of the local church before having lunch at the mall. That afternoon, we traveled to the village of Nenciulești. What should have been a two-hour drive turned into a three-hour adventure when the clutch failed in our car, which was carrying myself, one student, and two H2H staff members. After several unsuccessful attempts to get it working again—including pushing the car and then jumping back into it while moving—we waited for someone from a local church to come help. He eventually towed us the rest of the way to the house where we were staying. It was certainly an eventful day, but it was another reminder that God remains in control, even when our plans don't go as expected.
VBS began on Monday. Each day, the H2H staff drove 45 minutes each way to bring students from a nearby orphanage. Rather than a traditional orphanage, these students lived in apartments with other children and an adult caregiver to create more of a family environment.
When the students arrived on the first day, we greeted them with "Bună," and they immediately jumped into playing games with us. We had expected younger children, but the students ranged from ages 9 to 18. We quickly discovered that one of the best ways to overcome the language barrier was simply by spending time together. Soccer, volleyball, frisbee, bracelet making, and tie-dye became some of our favorite activities. Each day included worship, a skit, Bible lessons, memory verses, crafts, games, lunch, and plenty of free time. (Go Team Galben—Yellow Team!)
Some of our favorite conversations happened during free time, often with the help of Google Translate. Several students and leaders also spent time learning the daily memory verses in Romanian. The students were excellent teachers—although I suspect their enthusiasm had something to do with the fact that Americans earned double points for saying the verses correctly!
Every afternoon ended with hugs, goodbyes, and excitement to see each other again the next day. Throughout the week, we were continually encouraged by the relationships we built with both the Romanian students and the H2H staff.
This past weekend gave us an opportunity to rest and prepare for another week of ministry. Saturday morning was dedicated to work projects around the house. We cleaned, organized supplies, washed vehicles, burned trash, disassembled an old rock-climbing wall, and mowed the grass.
To make things more interesting, the house's well pump broke—only a month after it had been replaced. For almost 24 hours, 31 people had no running water. We adapted by using disposable dishes, buying drinking water from the store, and borrowing water from neighbors so we could occasionally flush toilets. Despite the inconvenience, everyone maintained a great attitude, and it became an unexpected team-building experience. Needless to say, everyone celebrated when the water was restored and we could finally shower after several hot, humid days!
Sunday morning, we held a house church service where three H2H staff members shared their testimonies. They spoke about growing up in orphanages, coming to know Christ, participating in the transition program, and eventually returning to serve the very ministry that had changed their lives. Hearing their stories was one of the most encouraging experiences of the trip. God has redeemed their stories in remarkable ways, and they are now using those experiences to invest in the next generation.
Sunday evening, we attended a Romanian church in nearby Alexandria. It was a very traditional service where everyone was asked to dress nicely. The local women all wore long skirts and head coverings, and the service followed very traditional practices. As Americans, we definitely stood out! Still, the congregation welcomed us warmly and invited Ryan Lunde to explain why we were in Romania and share a brief message from Scripture, which was translated into Romanian.
Before the service, we had been told we would likely sing a song in English. We prepared "Battle Belongs" by Phil Wickham and began singing a cappella before the keyboardist and violinist recognized the song and joined us. Afterward, the pastor smiled and announced that he had "negotiated" for us to sing a second song, so we sang "Glorious Day." One lyric stood out to us in a whole new way: “I was an orphan, but You call me a citizen of Heaven.” Considering everything we had learned throughout the week, those words carried even greater meaning.
Jen translated the Romanian sermon for us through an app, and afterward many members of the church came to speak with us. One woman simply told us that we had brought her so much joy. It was a sweet reminder that Christian fellowship transcends language and culture.
As I write this, we're preparing for our final week in Romania. Monday and Tuesday we are hosting another VBS with children from a nearby Roma (Gypsy) village. Tuesday evening we'll return to Bucharest, Wednesday we'll have a pool party with another orphanage, and later in the week we'll explore some of the city's historical and cultural sites before flying home to Escondido on Saturday.
As we finish our time here, we would appreciate your continued prayers for:
- Strength and endurance as our team grows physically and emotionally tired.
- Health, as several team members have been fighting some sickness.
- The hearts of the children we've met and those we'll meet this week.
- Continued unity within both our EFCC team and the H2H staff.
- Good weather on Wednesday for our pool party, or wisdom if we need to adjust our plans due to forecasted rain.
- Safe travels as we return to Bucharest and then fly back to San Diego.
Thank you again for your love, encouragement, and faithful prayers. It has been a privilege to witness what God is doing in Romania, and I'm continually reminded that He is at work in every culture, language, and circumstance.
Thank you for partnering with us in this ministry– we couldn't be here without your support!
In Him,
Jessica Johanson, Team Leader