Encouraging news from ARFO Romania! These are stories not easily forgotten. This summer, the Refresh Camps brought together open hearts, volunteers, professional foster parents, and adoptive and foster families, for a week where abandonment met resilience, and exhaustion met rest. What remained afterward wasn't just memories, but living relationships that continue even now. Here are a few of their voices.

The Volunteers
For many of them, camp wasn't just a form of involvement. It was the moment their lives changed. They came intending to give, and left forever changed, their hearts bound to children they will never forget.

"It was a deeply moving experience. I would describe it to someone who knows nothing about this work as full of joy and emotional moments you get to help people who have been ignored and rejected their whole lives, come join too! One challenge was that they attach to you quite quickly and easily, which is normal, but can be a challenge. What I learned about myself is that I live in my own bubble, where mostly everything is fine, and that I need to get involved in camps like this more, and more often, to help those who don't have a life like mine and I want to adopt children. The good things were being on the same level as the little kids, watching them open up more and more, the close relationships between the volunteers, and serving the Lord through this work with these little ones. I had everything I needed. I absolutely want to take part again next year in the Refresh Camps 2027."
— Volunteer

Professional Foster Parents
They give, day after day, without pause, without applause. At Refresh, for one week, the roles reversed: someone took care of them too. For many, it was the first time in a long while that they felt seen and valued.

"I need to have more patience and think more about my own past, so I can know myself better. That's why I want to dedicate myself with more patience and understanding. I don't know exactly what to say; everything was intense and very well thought out. We have a lot to learn, but it's wonderful when you have people who teach you with love. What I appreciated most was your dedication, love, and experience. It was so wonderful that I wish it could happen more often. You are a wonderful team, and I thank you from my heart for what you do."
— Professional foster parent

Adoptive and Foster Families
Beyond the theory, beyond the sessions and explanations, camp gave families something more precious: the certainty that they are not alone. That their daily pain, questions, and struggles have a name — and an answer.

"What stayed with me were the insights into better understanding children's needs and their traumas, methods for correcting children's misbehavior, and managing phone use. As a result, I want to go to therapy sessions with a psychologist together with my children. I believe that if I truly want to, I can apply everything I learned at this camp. I really appreciated how we interacted with the specialists and organizers, from whom I learned a great deal, how everything was prepared down to the smallest detail; and the beautiful behavior of both the parents and the children. I'm so glad you exist and do such beautiful things! You help children, you stay close, you form a tight-knit team, and you organize educational events. 

 — Adoptive/foster parent