Reflection: 24 Years in Romania
Dear Friends,
As we enter our 25th year of living and serving in Romania, we invite you to take a few moments to read this letter — it is a reflection on what God has done in our midst. Many wonderful things have happened so far, yet we believe the best is yet to come!
We are truly grateful for all those who have helped us in this journey through prayer, encouragement, financial, and material support. May God continue to bless you abundantly!
We wish you and your loved ones abundant joy, hope, and peace as you celebrate Christmas. We are grateful to you and to all who have partnered with us since 2001. What started as a labor of love with a few children has grown into a movement — today becoming a beacon of hope and a lifeline for 800 children each week in some of Romania’s most impoverished communities.
As you plan your year-end giving, we invite you to consider a generous gift to Outstretched Hands of Romania. I’d like to share why your giving is so important, impactful, and needed.
When we first began, many of the children we served were the first in their families to learn to read or attend school. The impact was immediate and profound. Today, that first generation of children are now young adults, some of whom have returned to mentor the next generation. This creates a powerful, self-sustaining cycle of hope, leadership, and transformation within the community.
And the results speak for themselves. In one of our locations, children involved in our programs showed an 80% increase in school attendance and graduation rates. At a local honors ceremony this past spring, our students ranked at the top of their classes in every grade — an incredible testimony to what steady encouragement and support can do!
The impact continues far beyond early education. Many of our students have excelled not only locally but have also ranked among the top in county-wide competitions and even nationally in subjects such as mathematics and languages. We are now seeing more of them pursue higher education, studying in fields such as banking, education, and pre-med.
All of this — and so much more — happens because of partners like you.
By investing time, heart, and resources into these disadvantaged and often forgotten children, we see that, with consistent support, they can accomplish anything. Their lives are being transformed — and the culture around them is changing as well, hopefully shaping Romania’s future.
But most importantly, these children and their communities are discovering their God-given identity and destiny as they hear about, come to know, and believe in Jesus as Lord.
With gratitude, Brad & Nora Hayes & The Outstretched Hands of Romania Team
If you would like to give online, please click here.
If you would like to send a check in the mail, please send it to:
Outstretched Hands of Romania P.O. Box 510052 New Berlin, WI 53151