For 10 years, my father, Charlie, has grown this COHI ministry, yet I never accompanied him on a mission trip. Often, I wondered, “Who is the mission for?” Who does it really benefit? Could the money to send missionaries on these trips be better used if sent directly to an orphanage? How many mouths could be fed for the price of a plane ticket? I often thought the mission was more for the person serving than those that it served.
One of my father’s last wishes before his passing was to send me on a COHI mission trip. So, I had to oblige and off I went…
Upon arrival to Romania, we were blessed to stay with a host family in Dr. Dinu and Gabi, who my father served with for 10 years. I LOVE being embedded into the culture. After a traditional meal, we sat in the living room along with Pica and Cora (mission leaders for the Vacation Bible School) and I bluntly (and possibly heard discouragingly), “How much can we really help being here?”. Dr. Dinu’s response put it all into perspective:
“As a dentist, a person’s first impression is their face, those that lead with a smile, have a greater chance in life.”
This deeply resonated with me, as I have crooked front teeth and have had to overcome my own insecurities growing up with my own crooked smile.
Dr. Dinu continued: “This is my way of giving back with the gift God has blessed me in dentistry. Your father and Christian Orphan Health has impacted thousands of orphans and have given them a greater chance in life. We have seen the positive growth of these children over the years through their teeth alone. In the beginning, many of these kids did not have basic oral hygiene, no toothbrushes nor regular routines. There were many teeth extractions and a lot of pain for these children. Over the years, we have been able to provide toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss and see so many less extractions today. Through annual visits to these orphanages, we have made a big difference, a great impact in these young lives. We see a lot more smiles :)”
In my professional life, I have been fortunate to be surrounded by much success and championships. When asked what makes a winning team, my response, “There is not one or two big impactful moments within a game or season that forms a foundation of success, but a number of little things done right OVER TIME that breeds successful programs. The realization that one mission trip may make a small impact, but it is a number of visits OVER TIME that breeds a successful program.
Charlie was a successful entrepreneur throughout his life. He owned many businesses and his final ‘business’ is Christian Orphan Health International. He has three sons, yet none of us wanted to take over any of his businesses. I spent my twenties in one of Charlie’s businesses, but that was his world and I found business to be selfish. How much money can one amass and buy ‘things’ for themselves. I moved away from the business world, into coaching volleyball and now athletic administration. I find it to be much more rewarding, selfless, by giving opportunities to youth to help them grow. As a leader, I am able to instill my Christian values and principles in the lives of these youths. This is ultimately my ministry.
Upon return from this mission in Romania, another seed (COHI) has been planted within me to help and serve youth, not just in the United States, but in my family homeland. My mother’s parents were taken from their homes at 16 years old during World War II. They met in a work concentration camp (Christians were taken by the Germans too). My grandmother was born and raised in a small farming town of Staryi Tarazh, Ukriane. I learned this traveling with a volleyball team to Poland and we visited Auschwitz where they had a research center. God has a way of working in and through us. Sometimes life goes full circle.
Fortunately, my wife, Lori, had been on a previous COHI mission trip and a seed was planted in her to carry on Charlie’s legacy through COHI. She was able to have deep conversations with Charlie during his final weeks in order to take over COHI. It took me a real-world mission trip to understand and recognize the impact and opportunity to make this world a better place through COHI – one child at a time.