Firm Foundations Romania - FFR

Christmas came to the Agape Center! We are excited to share that all 5 indoor and one outdoor Christmas trees have been sponsored! Here are some festive photos of our kids from preschool to 8th grade having a joyous time decorating their classroom trees! The outdoor tree will be coming soon so stay tuned! Thank you to all of the donors for answering this prayer request for trees! You made some little hearts joyful this Christmas season! Love, FFR

St. Nick came to our Agape Center today!!! Many shining eyes and beautiful smiles as our kids sang to St. Nick and received their gifts. Thank you Ron Kubek for being an amazing St. Nick once again! , ,

La multi ani, Romania! Happy Birthday, Romania from FFR!

So many reasons to be thankful this month! From our huge transport truck coming full of donations, to Thanksgiving meals together, to kids loving the Agape Center. Please check out the most recent newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/f5eecb12e509/june-16084132

From celebrating Thanksgiving with the FFR family to receiving our big truck of donations from Germany this past weekend, we have so many reasons to smile and be thankful this month. Not only did the donation truck get across the border and into Romania with no issue, but it was unpacked and over 1200 banana boxes securely stored in under 3 hours. For all the helpers, drivers, and especially donors in Germany, thank you for changing the lives of so many here!
, , ,

So many reasons to be thankful this Thanksgiving season! Representing 4 countries and enjoying plenty of yummy food, we're thankful for the found family we have in Brasov. Thanks be to God for allowing us to be his hands and feet in this beautiful country.

One last time enjoying the fall leaves before the winter arrives! We are thankful for our yard and the space we have to run, play and have fun! , ,

Thank you to everyone who donated towards our Christmas tree wish list for our FFR Agape Center! All indoor and outdoor trees have been sponsored! Stay tuned for some festive decorated Christmas tree photos to come! Happy Thanksgiving!

As fall is slowly coming to an end, even our little ones had a chance to get creative and learn about the different colors of the leaves. And what a bonus to receive warm home-made knitted socks too! , ,

We are so thankful to our prayer warriors around the globe as we are seeing prayers answered regularly! Not sure what to pray for? Here are a few of our most pressing needs:

--with 70 kids still on the waiting list to join our After School Program, we are praying for a new teacher to join us
--praying that we can dig deeper with our teens (both those that have already graduated from our program and the 30 kids that have joined our teen program this year)
--praying for a van so that we can easily transport kids and volunteers to/from Budila
--for continued good health for kids, teachers and volunteers as we get into the cold & flu season
--for our truck full of donations that comes next Saturday to have no problems at the Romanian border
--that we can match more kids with sponsors
--that God continues to protect His people in Romania and around the world

Last week, all of Romanian public schools were on fall break. A wonderful opportunity for our Agape Center kids to take a a break from school work and focus on creativity and fall themed crafts! , , ,

From volunteer Jen....I know they say you can't save them all. In my brain, I know that. That doesn't mean it hurts your heart any less when you see people who have literally fallen through the cracks of society, who are struggling to feed their kids and have no clue how they will get through another day. And so begins the story of Maria *name changed for privacy*.

I've been back in Brasov for just over a week. It's been good to get back in the rhythm of how life works here, but one thing that always shocks me is the poverty, especially in the Roma community. A few nights ago, there was a phone call about a young woman named Maria. At age 21, her 3 month old baby is sick and now she has to make the decision to either stay at the hospital with the baby, or head back to her village to care for her other 3 kids, all under 6. Thankfully we have our children's hospital program, and especially our super-volunteer Ann (in the hospital 7 days a week for 5-6 hours each day to care for kids who are left alone). The hospital will be the safest place for the baby for now, but we also found out that Maria's neighbors are hearing her children cry out for food at home. While Steffi took Maria to the store to buy food, Ann and I made each of her children a bundle of clothes and toiletries so she can bring it home with her. After driving Maria home and seeing where she and her kids live, the realization of her situation really sunk in. What if she had stayed in school longer and not gotten pregnant at 15? In reality, people do fall through the cracks and it's painful to watch. I sat in the backseat when we drove Maria to her village and periodically I would sneak a peek in the sideview mirror of this 21 year old girl. Realistically, she is still just a girl. A mother of 4, her eyes told a story all by themselves. They were tired, they were hurting, they were sad. For our team, this is sadly not the first nor will she be the last in this situation.

While I'm thankful that 2 of Maria's kids are already in our Agape Center program and so will get food when they come, I know that there are so many more that are in need. It's hard not to get drawn into feeling hopeless when I see situations like Maria's. I know God has a plan for her and each of her kids, and it's beyond my understanding. I know that no matter what, we can't stop loving our neighbors and helping them where we can. God doesn't want us to give up and we know He will keep giving us strength to love all the Marias out there....Please join us in prayer for Maria and her family, and for the empowerment of these kids to break the cycle of poverty

Most people may not know her name or what she does. But there are many being blessed by her on a daily basis. It has been a great week having Conny Muerle from Germany back for a visit with us in Brașov.
After Conny met FFR 11 years ago, she fell in love with our vision and started her own organisation in Germany to help FFR. She has organized numerous semi Trucks with donations over the past years, speaking and singing opportunities for FFR to tell our story in Germany, and most of all has become a very close friend to us all ❤️ , ,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR ONE AND ONLY SARAH VIENNA! We are so thankful for you, your heart, your talents, and how God uses you in so many wonderful ways to touch the hearts and lives of many! We love you and are so thankful for you and your life today! Enjoy your day and many blessings to many more years to come , , ,

Child sponsorship success in Canada, board members to Brasov and non-stop smiles while literally watching grass grow in Budila. Check out what's new, plus a link to the FFR leadership podcast episode, in our latest newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/902cfb4cdba1/june-15571428

What a fun and busy week in Brasov with close friends as well as FFR board members, Josh and Diane Frantz, from Portland Oregon! We shared so many memorable moments together that I will cherish forever. We had deep talks about FFR's goals over having delicious dinners; a horse and carriage buggy ride all around the beautiful parts of Budila; doing handyman teamwork at the Agape Center; and most importantly spending time with the FFR kids. We are so blessed to have the Frantz's as a part of our team and can't wait until they come back again for more memorable moments with the FFR Family!

Welcome with us Julia Schneider from the Black Forest in Germany!!! She is with us for 6 weeks and already loved our babies today and learned how to be flexible in Romania. ❤️ , ,

Have we mentioned lately that we love our teenagers? Even though they have moved up to high school and trade school, we love having them come visit! They helped us paint the Agape Center fence, have come to test out our new lawn, and now come regularly for math tutoring. Even though these kids have moved on from our program, we want to continue to be a safe place that encourages and loves them. Please keep praying for our teens. , , ,

Sometimes you have to travel half around the world to have some doctors check you out!! This includes heart, ears, temperature and a shot, just to be safe. Once you are approved you get to check out the doctors baby as well ❤️❤️
It doesnt matter what language you speak or how old you are. Come and volunteer with our kids! , ,

‘Love and kindness are never waisted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who received them and the one who gives.’
, , ,

This past weekend was ‘history afternoon’ for our volunteers, and close friend who has helped FFR even before we became FFR.
Visiting 2 fortified churches outside of Brașov City, which have been first mentioned hundreds of years ago was a wonderful and fun learning ‘walk and hike up stairs’ history adventure in one of the last warm days in Romania.
If you come, you do not want to miss this! Here is a link to many more churches. We visited Prejmer and Harman. https://www.uncover-romania.com/visit-romania/travel-ideas/fortified-churches-from-transylvania/

, , , ,

We are so excited to share about our newly landscaped backyard at FFR's Agape Center! The kids now have a a large area of green grass to play soccer on and do daily exercises. We also have a special fenced off garden to teach the children how to plant! We are so thankful to the Lord for the funds to be able to make our Agape Center a bit more "heavenly" for the kids to enjoy. Thank you once again for all who have donated to make this project happen! Enjoy the photos of the before and after! https://www.firmfoundationsromania.com/donate

Meet Anais. This spunky first grader has been in our programs since she was a baby. FFR actually knows her Mom from the time she was a 10 year old, and has been involved in her life ever since.
Anais is the oldest of 3 girls, with a new baby due any time now. Please keep this family in your prayers, and for Anais to continue to thrive. We cannot wait to have her little siblings in our programs too!
Thankfully, Anais' story has touched people in Canada and she is now able to be sponsored. If you are interested in becoming a child sponsor in our sponsorship program, please contact us! , , ,

Happy Thanksgiving Canada! Steffi and Jen were able to head to beautiful BC last week to bring the FFR story to many who have never heard it before, and were overwhelmed by the incredible support particularly with child sponsorship. Canada, we are so thankful for you!

Aaand, she is finally back again! We have lost count of how many times our dear sweet Ann from England has been to Braşov, but the nurses, FFR and especially the kids are so excited to have our Anna back! , , ,

Tonight marks the first evening of the FFR mini-tour in Canada. If you're in the Vernon BC area, please join us tonight at the Canadian Reformed Church at 7 pm (5600 Macdonald Rd in Vernon). We look forward to seeing you there as we share the great things God is doing in Romania!

What a busy month! Kids are filling up the rooms of the Agape Center and the FFR team has just finished the big California event. Check out what's new in our newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/920dd643a79e/june-15567016

What an amazing event we had last night at the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach! Thank you to everyone who attended the event, prayed, and donated. It was an evening of laughter, tears, music, and inspiration.

We are so thankful for our big FFR family in Southern California and can't wait to be back next year!

A big thank you to our sponsors Deaver Vineyards and Zumasys Company and our FFR board. We love you!

She is back! Our sweet Kathie from Southern California has arrived back in Romania to serve our children in the hospital, helping with donations and sharing her cheerful spirit and loving heart with us all! , , ,

What a busy registration week at the Agape Center! We are at capacity (232 kids registered) and with over 30 on the waiting list. It's bittersweet to think that there is such a need in the Budila Roma community that we can't register everyone that wants to be involved. Please continue to pray with us for our Agape Center teachers and staff, and for each and every one of the kids that steps through the door that their lives will be transformed.

Between September 8 and 17, the Citadel of Braşov, which oversees Brasov from every side has finally opened for the first time in 8 years!!!
We couldn’t help, but go and see it with our own eyes, and hope it will open up for good again very soon! ❤️ The view of Brașov is for sure breath taking! , , ,

With the back-to-school season's arrival comes requests for prayer from FFR:

--pray for a big turnout during After-School and Kids Club registration in the next 2 weeks
--pray that you bring new families into the Agape Center, who will see and feel your transforming spirit
--pray for our recent graduates, as they begin their new schooling outside of Budila
--pray for our Agape Center teachers and helpers
--pray for safe travels and good health for our incoming volunteers and FFR staff
--pray for the babies in the hospital, especially those who have been there for awhile

With the new school year only a couple of weeks away, you do not want to miss meeting Mr. E!!

E. is 11 years old and will join 6th grade this fall. He comes from a family with 8 children and with his father being the only income earner, they have a rather difficult financial situation. He has been part of the FFR program since preschool. (Kids club)
‘When I started working in Budila, E. was already in the 1st grade. At public school he was always marginalized by the teachers, he didn't even receive textbooks, but I worked with him with extra materials and E. managed to read and write here, at after school. In terms of behavior, at first he was very volatile, always trying to attract attention. He probably did this because no one at home gave him the necessary attention. Now he is much more attentive, respects his colleagues and accepts that the needs of other colleagues are also important.
E. is a very energetic boy, he always laughs and always conveys a good mood. Every morning when my colleagues and I arrive at the door of the After School, he greets us smiling and wishes us very cheerfully, "Good morning!".
E. likes music very much, he dances whenever he has the opportunity. I'm glad that the FRR program made a change in E.’s life and that I am able to help with this!’ (Miss Andreea, FFR teacher) , ,