History
Debbie Marshall (left) is co-founder and President of Heart of Hope Ministries International based in Vancouver, WA. She frequently visits children in placement centers to distribute humanitarian aid and embrace them with the love of Christ. Debbie has been serving those in need in Romania since 1991.
HHMI started in January of 1991. Debbie Marshall and Chuck Fox, her father, went to Romania to adopt a child for Debbie and her husband Dan. They immediately recognized there was far more to do than the adoption of one child. The dire needs of the children and entire families tore their hearts open. Debbie was successful in adopting, but that was only the beginning of what now has been a eighteen-year journey. HHMI is a registered in Romania as the non-profit corporate Fundatia, "Heart of Hope" and fully registered in the United States as a 501(C)3 non-profit as "Heart of Hope Ministries International".
In the early years, HHMI co-founded a private Christian Children's Home in Talmaciu , Romania working alongside a Christian man from Germany . We started with 4 children and the home currently has 22 children. Although this was the first of many large projects for HHMI, it is currently under the sponsorship and leadership of Romanian Nationals. HHMI helped form a Christian Dental Clinic in Cisnadie and partnered with a mission from Spain to start a Christian Transition Home for girls coming out of the State Orphanages at age 18. Bethany Home cares for 8 young women who have recently left the State Orphanage System. The mission from Spain continues to operate the Bethany Home . HHMI funded the first Evangelical Church in the village of Turnu Rosu providing a place of worship for the local community and a large girl's orphanage located in Turnu Rosu.
Currently, Heart of Hope Minsitries International operates the Camp of the Good Shepherd, two transitions homes for young people leaving the state placement centers and living below the poverty level, and the Heart of Hope Ministry Center. In addition, HHMI facilitates, dental, medical, eye, pediatric therapy, renovation and construction teams. HHMI facilitates weekly Bible Clubs and distributes humanitarian aid to state placement centers and families in poor villages.