God can bring help from anywhere 🙂

Allison Makker – volunteer from New Zealand at CE in Targu-Mures

Kia ora (hello), my name is Allison Makker and I have spent the past three months volunteering at CE in Târgu-Mures.  I decided to come to Romania after I resigned from my job as a social worker in New Zealand.  One of the reasons why I studied social work was because wanted to have the skills to work with people, and I had always dreamed of going overseas and using these skills in the nations.  Romania wasn’t somewhere I had considered before, but the work of HANNAH Hope and Nurture, stood out to me as it aligns with my heart and passion to work with children through a Christian social work model.  I was fortunate enough to meet Alice and Ken Winter (Founders/Directors of HANNAH) in NZ and they invited me to join them on their trip to Romania in September.  The last few months are a testament to God’s faithfulness, provision and how He brings all things together in His perfect timing.

Although the focus of my time here has been supporting the work of HANNAH Hope and Nurture, I have also helped out with the Granny Project, Omesimus, Philothea Club and Dorcas House.  I have learnt so much over the last few months, it’s hard to articulate it all into words!  The children HANNAH works with have filled my heart with joy and broken it all at the same time.  Working in abandonment prevention has opened my eyes to the many complex and conflicting challenges facing this work. It has been a rich cultural, professional and personal experience andI’m leaving with a deepened passion to work with those who are most impoverished, isolated and vulnerable.  The ones who desperately need to know they are loved, they have purpose and there is hope for their future.  This is something I will always carry with me, whether I am working in New Zealand or abroad.

I want to thank CE for their love, hospitality and for embracing me as part of the family.  It has been an honour to be surrounded by a group of professionals who truly care about the people they work with and who are committed to the Lord’s work in this city.  Through them, I have experienced God’s love and hope for the people of Romania.

Arohanui (with much love),

Allie