But recently she was in California where several of her Romanian cousins, all of whom left the country as babies in 1990-1991, spoke of returning this fall on a humanitarian mission.

The plan is to spend two and a half weeks providing service to the country's orphanages.

Something clicked inside Kristina. Now she wanted to go back. Now she wanted to see where she was born and reconnect with her homeland.

"I won't be going to visit and just look around," she says. "I'll be going back to help."

She speaks of the thousands of street kids who clog the sewer lines and alleys in the cities — refugees from orphanages that could not hold them.

"We're going to build a safe home for those kids, where they can shower and rest," says Kristina. "We can't do it for all of them, but we can do it for some."

She and 11 other 18- and 19-year-olds — six men and six women, former orphans all — will be returning to their roots and showering the same kind of kindness on others what was once showered on them. (Kristina's sister, Lisa, would like to go as well but has already enrolled in beauty college).

Call it the Give Back Tour.

Sponsoring the dozen Romanian-Americans is the Utah-based Natalia Foundation, a nonprofit charity that will be holding a tax-deductible fundraiser Friday, July 17, at the Eldred Senior Center, 270 W. 500 North, in Provo. There will be a silent auction, dinner will be served and recording artist David Osmond will perform. Call 435-669-8167 to make a reservation or a donation.

Kristina will be there, and so will Ginger — living proof of the good that can happen when people are passionate about people.

Lee Benson's column runs Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com