Thanksgiving in Romania

When you visit the Bread of Life orphanage you notice something different about the children there. It is something more than just their Romanian culture and language. There is a simple unspoiled innocence in how they relate to you. There is a hunger for your company. They are not saturated with attention and so they appreciate what you can give. Another thing you notice is the unbridled enthusiasm they show in worship. When they sing they really sing. When they sit for meals they really pray, thankful for the simple foods they have. Visit at Christmas and you will see children excited to open a shoebox of small gifts which most American children would consider an appetizer before the big gifts came out.

The children might forget the poverty, neglect, and filth that was their life before they came to Bread of Life but they have reminders. Many of them visit their relatives and their home village at least once a year. When they return to the orphanage they must again be treated for lice. The Bible in several places and in several ways describes a basic fact of the human heart: The person who is given or forgiven much loves much in return. Thanksgiving in Romania is not a single day or a holiday tradition. Rather, it is everyday and spontaneous. It is the voice of the orphan calling out and giving thanks to God with a grateful heart.