Servus. . .I've been telling you about the street kids I've been working with for four months now. I've told you how I've dealt with them and I've tried to make them come alive for you. I now want to paint their personalities for you with words so that you will feel like you know them on a more personal level. I want you to realize that there's simply more to them than the small amount I've written about them.
I've watched in amazement as pint-sized, blonde Andrea struts her stuff seductively in a bar filled with drunk men encouraging her on. I could scarcely believe my eyes late one night as she clapped her hands and moved her tiny body in such a provocative fashion. Andrea is 13 and truly seems to enjoy the street life. She's a sweet girl, knows a little English but keeps her distance from us. While the other kids like to talk with us when we bring food, Andrea likes to eat and run. Actually it's more like grab her food and run.
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Marin and Marius are brothers and are quite small in stature. They are 14 and 15 years old but could pass for 11 or 12. They both possess good natures and being Gypsies are blessed with a natural rhythm. They know that I love to see them dance, so whenever they can, they give me a little show. Without any music, they'll start by slapping their knees, then move on up to the chest, then they'll slap their feet and back up to the knees, getting a fabulous rhythm going. All the Gypsies I've dealt with have this particular talent. Being so diminutive doesn't stop them from getting into confrontations with much larger boys. These brothers won't be backed down by anyone!
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I must tell you that much of the time I'm simply guessing at the ages of these kids. They will give me a certain age one day and the next day I'll be given yet another age for them.
Adi looks like the quintessential, soot covered, street urchin straight out of a Dickens novel. He must be around 14 or 15, has a mop of brown hair that sticks out in odd patches, small brown eyes, and his face seems to attract soot from staying too close to the fire. Adi is also another boy who is forever the victim. Recently, for seemingly no reason we could imagine, Adi smashed his bag of food to the ground. Radu had the trunk to the car open and was giving out coats. Adi wanted one of those coats. Radu put his arm around Adi's shoulders and gently told him, "Adi, we bring this food to you and clothing to you not because it's your right to have them, it is a privilege. Now, go pick up your food and come on over to the car and get your coat." Adi settled down and did exactly as Radu instructed. Adi is always asking for money from us so that he can purchase more food. I won't do it because I know the money will go to drugs. This causes him to become even more upset and so he threatens never to come back, or he says he will slash the tires on the car. The next time we see him though, he's settled down and can be a pleasure to be around.
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Silagy says he's 17, but he looks closer to 19 or 20. Silagy also has a job in one of the bars in the "pasaj." I understand the job is like that of a bouncer; he keeps peace in the bar. He's also "paid" in used clothing, sometimes food, sometimes money. I like this good-natured Gypsy, but when he shows up drunk, he can get a bit pushy and loud.
Nicu is a new kid on the block consequently he gets beaten on a regular basis. Nicu also has a kidney ailment. The Goodwins found him on the streets about two years ago, lying next to a fire, unable to move. They rushed him to a hospital and that's when they learned he has kidney problems. He's been in the Child Protection Center as well as another shelter, but he continually runs back to a life on the streets. Nicu is a gentle boy. He is alarmingly frail; his face is drawn and the skin under his eyes looks like someone is pulling it down which gives him a worn out appearance. He desires to get off the streets, but doesn't want to go to the Child Protection Center. So the beatings continue. Vasile gets upset when Nicu gets food and wants people to quit feeding him. I pray he'll be accepted into the gara group soon.
Florin, also 17 years old, went back to his hometown of Timisoara about three weeks ago. He is one of 14 children. It's quite obvious that Florin is physically challenged. His knees bend backwards so he gets around on all fours. Consequently his hands are always black from the road, dirt and mud. Before leaving for Timisoara, Florin was complaining that his jaw was hurting and he had an earache that was so painful he could scarcely eat. We took him, along with Vasile, up to the St. Pantelimon Clinic that's run by Christiana. After the doctor saw both boys, they fell asleep on the chairs in the waiting room as we spoke with the doctor about Florin's ear. She gave him some antibiotics and said he should be better soon. I then asked her how in the world were Florin's knees bending backwards. Was he born that way? Was there an accident?
She looked sad and angry at the same time and said, "His parents did this to him." She made a twisting motion with her hands as she told me this.
"All the better to beg?"
"Yes, of course," she said
When I first met Florin, I never thought I would come to like this kid, much less love him. One night we were trying to give out the packets of food but Florin made it impossible because he kept throwing firecrackers at us. When Florin gets high, he seems to like to harass us even more. I can't tell you the exact date or event that changed my heart, all I know is that he began to want the hugs and kisses I give out to these kids. Florin is an absolute delight to be around when he's not on drugs. A great sadness came over me when he told me he was going back to Timisoara for the winter.
Csaby is 22 years old. He's the young man with a degenerative muscle condition and has to be pushed around in a wheel chair. About a month into my stay here in Romania, we were able to get Csaby a brand new wheelchair. Guess what he's asking for now? An electric wheelchair! We told him to "get over it." Csaby is also gone for the winter, back to his hometown of Satu Mare.
Tibi is another boy who was quite abrasive to us at first. He's around 15 years old and is Csaby's cousin. Where this kid learned such filthy English words, I'll never know, but that's all that came out of his mouth during our first few encounters with him. I still can't figure out how he made the turn around, but one day he was annoying and the next day and from then on, he was lovable. He too went with Csaby to Satu Mare for the winter.
Gabi and Calin are brothers I've known since 1997. Gabi is 20 and Calin is now 16. Calin was released from Gherla Prison this past October and from then until now, I don't think he's come down from his drug induced high. Every time I see him, he has that plastic bag tucked under his shirt, bringing it to cover his nose and mouth to inhale deeply every few minutes. Calin is bright and in 1997, I thought for certain he could be one of the few to make it off the streets.
Recently Calin accused me of not showing him that I love him anymore. I asked, "Calin, who came to see you in Gherla Prison in April? Your mama? Your tata? Calin, when you're on drugs, you get distant and push me away. How am I supposed to show you how much I love you when you do that?" He smiled and turned his head away. I told him that of course I loved him and gave him a hug and kiss. He left still upset with me though.
Calin's brother Gabi has been in and out of Gherla Prison also. He is also able to hold down jobs here and there. He will disappear off the streets periodically and the other kids tell us that he's working. Then one day Gabi reappears, having lost his job and is back on the streets.
Marius "The Gypsy" Varga tells me he is 16 one day, 17 the next. He is still on the streets, having yet to be incarcerated in Gherla Prison as he told us he would be a couple of weeks ago. His brother Geocomin, is scheduled to be released from prison in a year. When I saw Geocomin in prison last spring, he told me that once he got out, he would be heading back to the streets.
More and more kids are showing up at 4:00 in the afternoon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for food. Some tell us they hang out in different parts of the city. Whatever the case, they've heard about the food and end up in the small parking lot across from the train station. I've heard estimates of anywhere from 60 to 75 or so homeless kids in the city of Cluj. I've only been able to tell you about the few I've been feeding for four months.
It's been my privilege to be allowed into the "inner circle" of these kids's lives. It thrills me to no end when they spot me walking down a street and they will scurry over to give me a hug and kiss. I know then that we are building not only trust but also love between us.
Please pray for the street kids of Cluj. Please pray for Romania.
Cu mult drag. . . (With much love. . .)
Zan