Two Weeks, Hundreds of Hearts Touched
Two Weeks of Joy, Friendship, and God’s Love in the Heart of Romania
We just finished two amazing weeks of Summer Camp in Romania in a small town tucked away in the mountains in the north of the country. Children came from towns all over to take part—kids from different backgrounds and walks of life—coming together for a week of joy and friendship. These two weeks were filled with laughter, fun, and meaningful moments. While our goal is to give these kids a wonderful time, our greater purpose is to show them God’s love and compassion. Kids these days deal with coming from broken homes, confusing times, and wondering what their purpose in this world is. We want them to know they are loved and that their lives have purpose.
During the first week, we welcomed nearly 200 children, ages 7–12. Each morning, they began arriving around 8:30 a.m. and stayed until about 2:00 p.m. Some walked, others were dropped off by parents, and many rode in the vehicles we sent to pick them up. On some days, we nearly ran out of vehicles to bring everyone in. Also, some local Romanians walked across town to help prepare food for 200 people, and their joyful expressions made it clear they were happy to serve.
Throughout the day, we offered activities such as singing, games, meals, prizes, skits, and opportunities to share about God’s love. We also gave them the chance to learn Bible verses to earn "Bible Bucks," which they could use to buy items in a store we had set up for them. They loved the American candy, but many of them chose to buy the small Bibles we had available. It was truly a blessing to see. The younger children loved the songs, singing with all their hearts. We also saw how deeply they responded to acts of kindness—a smile, a hug, or genuine interest in their lives. Some of our team members formed sweet connections and were often greeted by a wave from across the room or a little one running up for a hug. It was truly beautiful to witness. Despite some religious authorities in the local area who tried to put up obstacles in front of the camp, many kids wanted to come, and it proved fruitless – God worked so that camp continues to grow.
“I was able to interact with the kids and actually spend a little bit more time with them this year. Having that personal connection gives you more of a heart for each child individually and helps you understand what their day-to-day life is like.” – Daniel Koteles
Building Trust and Joy
The second week was for kids ages 13 and up, with close to 80 attending over the course of the week. Teens can be a bit more challenging to engage—they can quickly tell if you’re being genuine—but many seemed truly happy to be there. They responded warmly when we talked with them and took the time to get to know them. This week looked a little different from the first. We divided them into teams and enjoyed friendly competitions through games and activities. We would play games such as tug of war, dodgeball, capture the flag and more. Smiles and laughter filled the week. We also had songs, food, prizes, and messages about God’s love. Each of these teens has a future ahead of them and the potential to change the world with the right tools—such as knowing their value and knowing who God is. Sometimes all it takes is someone believing in them, reminding them they were created with a purpose, and most importantly, that God loves them.
We hope to continue this camp for many years to come and dream of seeing it grow, touching even more young lives. The local leaders in Romania see many of these kids throughout the year and we know the kindness shown here will not be forgotten.
“We moved back to Romania in 2022 because of the war in Ukraine. I never thought I would ever be involved in a Summer Camp, but every year brings so much blessing to actually be a part of it. Seeing all the people involved and pouring out their hearts for the kids—it's priceless, and I found myself wishing I also had a Summer Camp when I was young. It's a privilege to be able to impact someone's life just by serving the Lord!” - Liliana Duleac
Our prayer is that the seeds planted will make a lasting difference in their lives.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank our supporters who make this work possible!
Best Regards,
The IMSI Team