"Is this a garbage dump site?" asked a young girl from a visiting team. I responded "No, these are neighborhood homes and this is where we are having our outreach." Some people in the car gasped and the mood became solemn as we pulled into an open courtyard where people were quickly tossing aside scraps of wood, metal and garbage to make room for us to set up our puppet stage.

AGWM Personnel in Romania, ministering on the team with Kidz Romania, continues to tell of this outreach. “Since it was our first time visiting this neighborhood, we were not sure what the response would be, especially since there was a storm threatening. But we were pleased to see a good number of children and before we even began the program, they were excited and laughing.

“While I know we were able to bring joy and laughter to these children, I in turn was so blessed. Children and their parents, living in extreme poverty, laughed and had such joy in their faces when they heard the message of how much Jesus loves them. As I looked over the crowd, I heard a still small voice ask ‘Am I enough for you to experience this pure joy?’ I responded, ‘Oh Lord let it be so.... forgive me if my joy is ever based upon circumstances in my life!’

“We barely got half way through our program when the storm came upon us - first a drizzle, then downpour, thunder and lightning. We quickly got out tarps and held them over the children with the parents' help. When it became obvious that the rain was not going to let up, we asked the parents if they wanted to let the kids go home. They gave us a resounding "NO!" We kept going but it became apparent that the storm was making things too difficult. We apologized and promised we would come back.

When we return we will not only minster to these children, but also partner with a local church which has a vision for ministering in this neighborhood and wants help from us in starting a children's ministry. Kidz Romania’s help to churches all over the country is making an impact.”