Mission Trip to Tulcea, Romania

A message from Kristen Harris,
NOROC Mission Co-Worker

Three folks from Palo Duro Presbytery are headed to Tulcea, Romania in a few short weeks! They are participating in this summer’s adult service-learning trip through NOROC. The rest of the group of 15 hails from Shenandoah Presbytery and Grace Presbytery.

Photos are from last year.

I left for Romania on June 7  prepare for the group’s arrival on June 21. After 12 days of labor, leadership, and learning, they will head back to the states on July 2. I will remain in Romania into August assisting the Romanian staff of NOROC with their summer programming with the children we serve from the child protection system.

This year’s group will help prepare NOROC’s facilities and two group homes run by the state for summer activities. We will put together trampolines and a ping pong table, mend fences, organize and replenish craft supplies, install weather shields on outdoor meeting areas, organize storage units, reseal playground equipment. These labor projects are done in service of the Romanian staff. Taking these projects off their plates will allow our staff to give their time where it is needed most, in direct contact with the children. Once everything is prepared the group will lead ½ day camps for three groups of teens and tweens to kick off NOROC’s summer programming.

The work our service-learners will do this summer is challenging and meaningful. Would you pray for our travelers from Palo Duro, Grace, and Shenandoah as they head to Romania on June 20 and return on July 2? Pray for energy, focus, and travel mercies. Would you pray for NOROC’s staff as they host their American friends and serve the children? Pray for wisdom, strength, and stamina. Would you pray for the children of Tulcea County’s child protection group homes? Pray for them to know they are beloved by God and God’s servants, for opportunities to play like the children they are, and to direct them to people who are safe spaces of trustworthy love and support.

This trip is made possible in part by a generous grant from PDP! We are ever so grateful to our Palo Duro mission partners for the consistent support of this trip and the day-to-day work in Romania.

Noroc!  (“God bless you” in Romanian)