Bright Beginnings, one of our first programs in Romania, offers a solution to the much publicized problems of the thousands of abandoned babies and children living in Romanian orphanages. Their problems include being left in their cribs because there are too few staff to care for them, never being held or touched, and having little or no daily stimulation. The results of these problems include being behind in school, a lack of motor coordination, the virtual lack of speech and language, little or no ability to form attachments with others, and a lifetime of endless difficulties that serve to separate them from their peers, their community, their world, and their Lord and Savior.

The Bright Beginnings solution hires and trains young Romanian women (whom we call educators). Each educator is a Christian woman dedicated to the physical, emotional and mental development of children in the state orphanage in Hunedoara. They spend time with each child assigned to them every day, developing relationships and working to develop their physical skills using techniques taught them by occupational and physical therapists who have gone on our mission trips.

We have seen remarkable changes in the state orphanages in Romania over the past few years, but with these changes comes an even greater need for educators. Most of the younger children are being placed in foster care if they’re development is considered “normal”. We’re striving to make sure every child reaches that goal by devoting attention to their early development, so they can leave the state orphanage.

 Bright Beginnings is energized through prayer and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and it is dedicated to the glory of God. The children that Bright Beginnings serves are our brothers and sisters through Christ. If you have the love of the Lord in your heart that impels you to reach out to abandoned children, if you are experienced working with special needs children, if you have experience teaching preschool, or if you feel called to work with what many consider to be “the least of them”, then come with Bright Beginnings on its next mission trip.