Mocrea Day

Tuesday is always an exciting day as we set off on the hour long journey to Mocrea Hospital for the mentally disabled. The hospital is set in large woodland grounds in beautiful open countryside. It houses approx 150 patients of mixed gender, most of whom are long term patients. During the past 2 years the almost derelict building has been renovated to a high standard through the vision of the manager who made a successful bid for European funding. The quality of life of the patients has been much improved and the new ladies block is now completed and occupied.

Today we are a team of 7 volunteers and arrive in the large dining room to hugs and excitement. En route we are greeted with little waves from the reluctant and withdrawn patients who find it hard to communicate. We ensure that on-one is left out and aim always to spend private time with the quiet and bedridden people - they all need prayer and God's love. Come back Wayne - you are missed!!!

Soon patients are queuing up for the snacks, dancing to the music and praising God in the action songs. Others are colouring pictures and doing mosaics. Today I am also making colourful bookmarks and cards with them. Our Romanian friend, Vio, who is still eager to serve despite being about to give birth is busy styling hair and giving the ladies a beauty makeover. The hours just fly by and before leaving we have a time of Praise and Worship before joining hands in a circle for prayer. We also gave out a supply of tracts which I obtained from a Christian book store in the city.

Journeying back in the intense heat, we stopped off to buy some fresh garden produce from a lady with her little stall set up on the roadside. I bought some yummy tomatoes, aubergines and nectorines. As we travelled back we passed fields of sunflowers starting to dry out before being harvested and also shepherds with their little flocks in open fields. God's creation never ceases to amaze me.