New Beginnings is the Romanian outreach ministry of Calvary Chapel Boise. In the last 6 years, several family centers have been opened to help the countless abandoned children of Romania. One of the family centers is located in Brasov. George` Magher-Holmes, President of New Beginnings Brasov, along with his wife, Rebekah, started and currently run this center. The staff includes a full-time social worker, two 24-hour workers, a cook, and an afternoon caretaker. A humanitarian organization called “Teaching and Projects Abroad” sends volunteers who come to the family center and play with the children.
The family center currently has eight children from the ages of 6-16. These children come from horrific backgrounds and it has truly been our joy to be able to provide a loving stable home for them.
Niko is 16 years old, and is in the 9th grade. She has been with us from the 4th of July 2007. She was institutionalized when she was 8 years old. Between 1999-2002 she lived in two different state orphanages, where she was neglected and even abused verbally, physically and phsychologically.
In 2002 an American family took her in foster care. She was with them for 4 years. There she had several problems with stealing, not telling the truth, being aggressive. There she became a Christian and was baptized in the Baptist Church. In October, 2006, she moved to an English girl, who teaches English in Romania. She was there for 8 months. There she started to have the very same problems and her school situation got worse than ever.
She has many sisters and brothers ( nobody knows exactly how many), but all of them were abandoned. In the present we have no information about her parents . Nobody visits her from her natural family. Niko is a girl with a strong personality and will power. She is also pretty with a great sense of humor. She is always very curious and
courageous. She needs affection, protection and love every hour of the day, and she needs desperately a friend, to love her the way she is.
Niko likes being in center of attention, she is the leader type and her dream is to became a designer. She likes kitchen activities , and her hobbies are: singing, drawing and traveling. She is really talented in drawing.
Dani is 15 years old. He was born on Nov. 21, 1992. Dani grew up in a state-run orphanage near Brasov. He has suffered the sad results of being institionalized and struggles with anger and frustration. His father refuses to recognize him as his son and he longs to have a relationship with his mother and two sisters. Dani has had the opportunity to visit them a few times and hopes to get to know them better.
Dani is smart and likes to ride his bike, play ping-pong, listen to music, and watch T.V. He is active and curious about many things. He wants to be good and enjoys going to church. Someday, Dani wants to be a waiter or have a career in the army.
Seby is 12 years old. He was born on Feb.28, 1995. Until the age of 10, his grandmother raised him. Then he was sent to an orphanage until he came to our center in Sept., 2006. It has been hard to adjust to his new environment and he struggles with resentment and frustration for being abandoned and not being able to live with his grandma. Seby’s parents are alcoholics and he is embarrassed of them.
Seby is in the 6th grade and is very good at school. He is also creative and loves new and interesting things. He likes to ride his bike, play ping-pong, listen to hip-hop music, and play soccer. Someday he wants to be an architect.
Andrada is 11 years old. She was born on April 14, 1996. She was sent to an orphanage after being abused and neglected by her alcoholic parents.
When she first came to our center, Andrada was very emotional. She tried to cut herself with a piece of glass and threatened to jump out of the balcony window. She was afraid to go to the bathroom by herself and had many bad dreams.
Now she is a model child! Andrada is sweet, very friendly, and kind. Her teacher only has good things to say about her and she loves to talk and interact with people. Andrada likes to sing, pray, and go to church. She loves her brother and sister and takes good care of the little ones at the center.
Bianca is 8 years old. She was born on Jan. 21, 1999. She was sent to an orphanage after being abused and neglected by her alcoholic parents.
Bianca is a child who has deeply suffered and struggles with behavioral problems due to past trauma. She has a lot of energy and is hyperactive. Bianca is very attached to her brother and sister, Seby and Andrada. She shares everything with them. Her teacher at school says she is very good and helpful.
Bianca craves love and attention. Sometimes she acts younger than she is, like a baby. She likes to play with Emma and is very nice to her.
Nicu is 11 years old. He was born on August 4, 1996. He was taken to an orphanage when he was about 6 years old.
In the first few months of coming to the family center, Nicu was very defensive and angry. He tried to intimidate the caretakers and used bad language. He was very resistant to rules and his new environment. As Nicu’s defenses have dropped, he has become more calm, open to affection and more responsive to authority.
Nicu enjoys sports, especially soccer and basketball. He loves to play ping-pong, ride his bike, and watch T.V.
Remus is 9 years old. He was born on July 11, 1998. Remus, along with his brother, Nicu, was sent to an orphanage when he was just four years old. There, he was constantly picked on because of his small size. When he first came to the family center, Remus was very agressive and scared. He chased the other kids and caretakers with knives, threatened to jump out of a balcony window, and refused to take showers or clean his room. He also had many problems at school with the other kids and his teacher.
Over time, he has really calmed down and a very sweet and gentle spirit has replaced the fear and aggression. He loves the outdoors and animals, especially the center’s dog, Bursuc. He also likes to play soccer and basketball.
Emma is 6 years old. She was born on May 25, 2001. Emma is the fourth child in a family of five. Her father is an epilectic and is separated from her mother who lives with 14 people in a one-room house. Emma was abandoned several times in the hospital for long periods, 3 months or more. Her baby sister is currently in a hospital. Emma was found on the streets, then again in the hospital by a social worker who took her to an orphanage. Emma came to our center in January, 2007.
Emma is a very sweet and affectionate little girl. At the beginning, she called everyone ‘mami’ and craved lots of attention and love.
Emma smiles all the time and loves to be pretty. She likes to wear lipstick for fun and stand in front of the mirror admiring herself. She is tidy and full of energy and fun.
New Beginnings Goals
New Beginnings seeks to meet the needs of the many abandoned children by establishing Christian “Family Centers.” Our aim is to provide a nurturing environment which enbables the children to grow and develop, surrounded by the love they have been deprived of.
Contact Information:
George and Rebekah Magher-Holmes
Strada Dealul de Jos. nr. 18A
Brasov, BV 500080
Romania
landline: 011 40268-418-034
cell: 011 40723-030-278
email: rebekahgeorge@gmail.com
