Homeschoolers have a unique perspective when it comes to evangelizing the rest of the world. On today’s Home School Heartbeat, Mike Farris continues his conversation with his daughter Jayme Metzgar about her own international experience.
Mike Farris:
Jayme, after your work in Romania, you came back and started an organization to provide practical financial existence to the orphanage that you supported there. How did homeschooling give you the philosophical preparation for this work in Romania?
Jayme:
Well, what homeschooling gave me were eyes to see the extreme importance of families. As a homeschooler, I grew up with the mentality that children inextricably a part of a family unit. And this may not sound revolutionary, but many “experts” today, especially in Europe, are treating children more as autonomous individuals whose rights are protected primarily by the government. And they’re de-emphasizing the importance of abandoned children being placed quickly into permanent families. One example is that the European Union recently pressured Romania into banning international adoption altogether.
By contrast, the philosophy that children belong in families has really charted the course for my organization, Romania Reborn. We’re working to remove children from the government system and place them into permanent families. And we’re also fighting for better laws to encourage adoption, because we want to see each one of these babies with a real mom and dad.
Mike:
Jayme, thanks so much. It’s encouraging to hear about your work. I’m Mike Farris.
