Romania and Moldova
New Hope for Romania and Moldova
On a visit to Romania in 1990, just after the fall of communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, Philip saw thousands of children "warehoused" in Romania's orphanage system. The children Philip saw lived in conditions not fit to keep animals in.
They were malnourished, dirty, diseased, unloved and unwanted. Philip began by adopting one child, his son Andrew (pictured right). Then, in a sense, he adopted them all, by beginning a program to send vital life-saving supplies on a regular basis.
Over the years, Philip Cameron Ministries has helped thousands of children with: regular truckloads of food, medicines and other vital supplies, fuel to heat orphanages, sending medical professionals and providing vehicles for transportation of children and orphanage staff.
In 1995, the ministry's relief efforts were extended to Romania's neighbor, Moldova. Philip "adopted" yet another orphanage in the town of Hincesti. The year before Philip arrived, thirty children froze to death in their cribs during the brutally cold Moldovan winter, and sixteen more had already perished that year. We are thrilled to report that not one single child has suffered that awful fate since we began helping this orphanage.
Cupcui Orphanage and Stella's House
A forlorn little blue sign was the only indication that anyone lived in this desolate part of Moldova. We turned our vehicle down the seemingly endless muddy road and found a ramshackle orphanage in the tiny village of Cupcui.
We met the children and knew God had sent us into their tragic world... A WORLD WHERE FREEZING OR STARVING TO DEATH WERE CONSTANT FEARS.
The roof leaked in torrents. "When it rains outside for a day, it rains inside for a week," they said. Black mold covered the walls. No heat, no hot water. Their drinking water was tainted--the children were drinking poison. THESE KIDS WERE IN DESPERATE TROUBLE.
Since God sent us to them, their world has completely changed. FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES, THEY KNOW WHAT HOPE IS.
We continue to provide assistance to other orphanages as well. In Straseni, home to Moldova's largest orphanage, we replaced 391 broken, rotted-out windows, yet again staving off the dangers of sub-zero temperatures in the children's bedrooms.
While the work in Moldova's orphanages remains vital, one fateful day, we came face to face with the horrors awaiting thousands of young girls when they are forced to leave their orphanages at age 16.
WHICH BRINGS US TO STELLA...
Stella's heartbreaking story, and the wider tragedy of what happens to so many vulnerable young girls when they are thrust on to the streets of Moldova, led us to mount an all-out rescue effort. Today that ministry is known as Stella's House, in honor of a beautiful young girl who should never have faced such an awful fate.
For more on Stella and the Stella's House Ministry, click here!
