2023 Young Adult Summer Mission Trip
All young adults who will be at least 18 by July 20 are invited to join us on our summer mission trip to Tulcea, Romania this summer! Young adults will help lead a day camp for children who are a part of NOROC (New Opportunities for Romanian Orphaned Children). They will also have opportunities to learn more about Romanian culture and history. For more information, email Carlo or Grace.
Dates: July 20 – August 1, 2023
Cost: $1,000 for FCPC members, $1,500 for Palo Duro Presbytery members, $2,000 for Synod of the Sun members, and $2,500 for all others. A $500 deposit is due on January 31 to secure a spot.
We recommend you pay your deposit by check or your bank’s online bill pay. If you would like to pay through our online portal, you must pay a 2.5% processing fee. This means your total will be $1,025 for FCPC Members, $15,037.50 for PDP members, $2,050 for Synod of the Sun, and $2,562.50 for all others. When making a payment, please choose “one-time payment,” the fund titled “Trips, Camps, Teams, and Retreats,” and the Sub Fund titled “Romania 2023.”
What is NOROC?
NOROC (http://www.noroc.org/) is a Christ-based, Presbyterian non-profit ministry to Romanian and Roma infants, children, and youth living in government orphanages in Tulcea County, Romania. Local retired men and women along with local staff nurture and support these orphaned and abandoned children, serving as Big Hearted Grannies, Teachers, Professors, and Friends.
Through these workers NOROC provides a holistic Christian ministry from infancy to young adulthood. A PCUSA mission co-worker supports the local staff and programs while infusing a Reformed perspective into the organization. Weekly Christian worship and Christian Bible study opportunities are conducted for both younger and older youth.
The NOROC mission statement is: To share God’s blessings by providing New Opportunities for Romanian Orphaned Children spiritually, developmentally, socially and medically.
How funds will be used by NOROC:
100% of funds received will be used for general programmatic needs and scholarship assistance for advanced education including high school, post-high school vocational training, and university education. Each day:
- Big Hearted Grannies nurture babies abandoned in the maternity hospital, provide day care for young mothers in state Maternal Centers who want to work in order to keep their babies, and provide loving attention to preschoolers in the orphanage.
- Big Hearted Teachers help school age children with homework and academic skills.
- Big Hearted Professors tutor high school students including those preparing for the end of high school baccalaureate exams.
- Big Hearted Friends teach classes in painting, sewing, cooking and sports.
Small group programs for children and youth are organized on a weekly basis with extra summer and holiday activities. Other activities include hippo-therapy and excursions which offer cultural, educational, and fellowship opportunities.
NOROC pays for school supplies, textbooks, doctor visits, medications, and eye glasses and also owns and maintains two properties which provide emergency food and shelter as safe, temporary housing for young men and women over 18 years of age as they search for employment. Our goal is to prepare these orphaned and abandoned youth for a successful and safe life after leaving the state system and to teach them that the love of God is with them, wherever they go.
Funds will enable NOROC to meet the needs listed above and to continue to grow as the needs change in challenging directions.
For more information on N.O.R.O.C. call the Church Office, 325-677-3501 or email info@fcpc.net.
Greetings from Tulcea, Romania!
NOROC shares the love of Jesus Christ with orphaned, abandoned, abused or otherwise at-risk children in the state institutions of Tulcea County. Few who “rise out of” the orphanage system expect to become fully contributing members of their communities, or to escape cycles of poverty, abuse, corruption and trafficking. This is where NOROC’s ministry of critical presence comes in.
Thanks to NOROC, institutionalized children may relate to a safe adult (Granny program), and receive school supplies, nutritional supplements, medical attention, tutoring, psychological counseling, speech therapy, camps and other ongoing enrichment programs. NOROC advocates on behalf of all marginalized or stigmatized children and youth, including Roma (“Gypsies”).
Looking forward to continuing our relationship.