By Janine Bending
When the shocking conditions inside Romania’s orphanages were revealed following the fall of Communism in the early 1990s, Christians responded with a different vision. Rather than building another institution, they founded Caminul Felix to create loving Christian family homes where orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children could be known, loved and given hope for the future.
This July, 16 young people from All Saints Church, Lindfield travelled to Romania to experience this incredible ministry first-hand. Before they even packed their bags, they worked tirelessly to raise the money needed to buy the building materials for a new family home, demonstrating a wonderful commitment to serving others.
The week was about far more than construction. While helping to construct the wooden frame, and learning practical building skills, they heard inspiring stories of lives transformed through Caminul Felix. They shared meals with host families, spent time playing with the children, and saw for themselves the difference a loving family can make. It was a week full of hard work, new friendships and unforgettable memories that left everyone inspired.
The vision of Caminul Felix continues to grow. Alongside their work in Romania, they have begun developing a new family village in western Ukraine to provide loving homes for orphaned and vulnerable children whose lives have been devastated by war.
We are so proud of our young people and know this experience will last a lifetime. If you’re in Year 6 to Year 13 and would love to be part of adventures like this, why not come along to one of the youth groups at All Saints? We’d love to welcome you as we explore the Bible, have fun together, serve others and discover what it means to follow Jesus.