The Blessing of Betty

On Tuesdays Wayne & I serve as part of a team called "Almond Tree", which is a Ramoth ministry for elderly people. This Ministry in turn blesses a sister outreach in Romania called the Widow's Mite Project. A bus collects everyone and we share a fellowship meal together before enjoying a weekly service.

Today is a special day because Betty, our oldest Member is celebrating her 90th birthday. She is a delight and blessing to us all with her love and warmth. The day was a commemorated with balloons, a birthday cake, a gift and a "This is Your Life" Red Book beautifully presented by our leader, Jenny. A big thank you also to Irene James, our former leader who gave us such an encouraging message.

Betty we all love you and hope to celebrate many more birthdays with you!

Little Lambs

Our friends in Romania often ask us about our lives back home in Wales.

On Monday mornings Wayne and I serve as part of a team at our Church "Little Lambs" Mother and Toddler Group. Here he is in action sorting out a brew for everyone!

Our beautiful little grandson Morgan (pictured here) often joins us and loves every minute of it. The excited little children love each other's company and enjoy all the play activities, which includes simple crafts, a story and Activity Songs with musical instruments. The Mothers also enjoy a good chat over a cuppa.

What better way to spend a Monday morning than surrounded by God's little beauties!!

Early Christmas preparations

Christmas preparations begin early for Reaching Romania. It all begins in January when I snap up all the sale price wrapping paper and bargain items for our Christmas gifts. Shoeboxes are collected throughout the year from our local Stead and Simpson store. Our good friend Sheila not only covers the boxes but also knits hats and scarves. This year we have over 400 shoebox gifts ready for transportation to Romania. Our Church helps us to pack 200 of them and I shop throughout the year for bargains to fill them.

I am known as the Romanian lady - because my car is either full of filled shoeboxes, empty shoeboxes or items to go into shoeboxes!! We are blessed that the other 200 boxes are donated by kind and generous people with a heart for those in need in Romania.

In addition to shoeboxes we also supply Christmas gifts to 150 people in a hospital for the mentally disabled and also 33 gifts to elderly people on the Widow's Mite Project. Thank you to everyone who supports our Christmas Appeals in any way - we love you all.

Planning a route....

If you are in doubt about joining us on our Sponsored Walk on 26th September, then take a look at these views!! Soak up the beauty and breathe in the fresh Welsh air as you support those in need in Romania.

Yesterday our good friends, Alun and Sally led us on an alternative route for the walk, which we will adopt. It was a day full of sunshine and blue skies - we even saw 4 Red Kites hovering over the mountains! The route through open countryside and up the Foel hill was so beautiful and picturesque. The views from the Trig point were breathtaking. We give daily thanks for His beautiful creation. We met some warm and friendly folk as we ambled through the beautiful Welsh countryside.

Each walker needs only bring suitable footwear, a little rucksack and rain coat. We will supply mineral water and a chocolate bar for energy. A buffet will await us on our return to the Church. We would love you to join us - you may contact me for further details.

Thank you to The Havens

The Havens is a Sheltered Housing Complex in Hirwaun run by an incredible lady called Annette who works tirelessly for local charities. We are blessed that they have come alongside RR in their support of our Shoebox Appeal. Yesterday I was invited to collect 30 shoebox gifts including 8 "Granny" boxes. Here they are stacked up in the dining room before being loaded into my car.

We give thanks for everyone who has supported in any way with our Christmas Appeals this year. Your efforts make such a difference to the lives of many in need in Romania.

Our RR fellas in action

It was my birthday on the 10th and after opening my cards and pressies out came the griddles, rolling pin etc to make fresh Welsh cakes for the day's table top sale. I was out the door by 7.30 am complete with warm cakes ready to set up the stall! We always love going to Glynneath Town Hall, where we have a free Charity stall and where we have made many friends who support us in the Lord's work. Wayne arrived by 9.00 complete with fresh french beans and cabbage from our garden! A big thank you to our friend Ray who faithfully turns up to help Wayne while I dash off to the Heart Ministry at our Church. Ray and his wife Kay are invaluable in their support. At Heart under the guidance of our good friend, Jan I am making Christmas cards for sale to raise funds. I am so enjoying the challenge.

It never ceases to amaze us who God plants in our path. We are so blessed in our daily encounters.

Back into RR "Wales" mode

People often ask me if it is difficult to adjust when I come home from Romania. If they had asked me that question when I left after living there for 2 and half years, I would have described it as being like a grieving process. But God is good - He shows us why he points us in certain directions and equips us to make the necessary adjustments. In our new role He uses us to create awareness of the continuing problems in Romania and shows us ways in which we can support His work.

We now have our RR Wales coats back on and we have been busy fund raising and catching up on administration work. Here we are at a successful coffee morning at Providence Baptist Church in Mountain Ash. Thank you to Pastor Hilary for hosting us and for all the Church Members who came out on a wet morning to buy ourcakes and bric a brac to support people in need in Romania. We give thanks also to our helpers, Teresa, Becky, Philip, Ray and Kay and to absent church members who gave donations.