Almond Tree and the story of Fanny Crosby

Our Tuesday's are devoted to helping out with the Almond Tree Ministry at our Church. A bus is laid on to collect everyone and we assemble for a 2 course meal (provided by Rhondda Cynon Taff Meals on Wheels service) before enjoying a time of worship. This week our retired Pastor friend, Billy Stewart, ably assisted by his talented wife Jen took us on a musical journey through the life of the legendary American Methodist hymn writer Fanny Crosby. During her 95 years Fanny, although blinded by an incompetent doctor at the age of 6 weeks, wrote over 8,000 hymns. What an inspiration she was! She composed poems and hymns in her mind and then dictated them. She was also renowned as a preacher and was never bitter about her disability stating that "When I get to heaven, the first face that shall every gladden my sight will be that of my Saviour."

We were waving flags in praise as we all sang along with Billy and Jen some of the famous Crosby hymns including my favourite "Blessed Assurance". Sadly I forgot to take my camera along but here is a picture of some of our dear Almond Tree friends at an earlier meeting. We love them all dearly and give thanks for the various ways that they support the Widow's Mite Project in Romania.

A blessed evening with "The Mother's Union"

Last night Wayne and I were blessed to spend an evening with the enthusiastic members of the Dulais Valley Mother's Union based at St. Margaret's Church in Seven Sisters. It was especially precious because Wayne was reunited with many friends from his first Church. We were touched by the warmth of the welcome from the large gathering of ladies committed to the movement and who had invited us to speak about the Lord's work that the Charity supports in Romania. After a lovely service it was a joy to share details of how God uses us in a country that is so precious to our hearts.

We give thanks for all those that we met and their enthusiasm to support the Charity in a variety of ways. May God Bless them all and their work. We look forward to meeting up with them again soon.

Our hero Chris!

Today was Chris' day as he successfully ran the Cardiff half marathon of 13.1 miles for Reaching Romania. The skies were blue and the weather perfect as he set off with around 10,000 other runners who had invaded the city for the big day.

Wow - in just 2 hours Chris crossed the finishing line to a hero's welcome. His hard training had certainly paid off because he was as fresh as a daisy! He commented on just how much he had enjoyed it and couldn't wait to do it again.

We so enjoyed the day with his wife Tracey, daughter Kezra and dad, Leighton. Well done Chris - God is smiling up there for your love of his vulnerable people in Romania.

Cakes and more cakes!!

It's been a busy week, as well as Church ministries which we love, my food mixer was in use for several days and parts of 2 nights!The Manager of our local sheltered housing complex invited me to make a supply of cakes for sale at their coffee morning yesterday. First the shopping for extra ingredients, then out came the cook books, mixers, various sized tins, greaseproof paper, rolling pin and board, cling film, labels and large plastic containers! However the whole operation moved to my Mum's small kitchen for one day as I needed to take her for a hospital appointment. Thank you mum for the use of your electric cooker - I can control the temperature much easier than our home coal Rayburn!

I dropped the cakes off on my way to the Church "HeArt" ministry and on my return 72 pounds worth had been sold - a friend bought the remaining cakes and a total of 87 pounds was raised for the charity. Thank you to Pam, the Manager and all who purchased cakes, including our good friend, Sandra who seems to love my home baking. Please join us in prayer for Sandra who faces another knee replacement operation.

Support our Chris in the Cardiff Half Marathon

Our friend Chris Rees is kindly supporting the Charity by running the Cardiff half marathon on 18th October, a gruelling run of 13.1 miles. Locals may have spotted landscape gardener Chris in his Reaching Romania t-shirt out training in preparation for the big event. He and his family have lived in Hirwaun for the past 9 years and worship with us at the Ramoth Christian Centre.

Chris recently resurrected his passion for marathon running, having been a regular on the circuit in his younger days. He commented that his motivation for the event came from a desire to support a worthwhile cause whilst generating interest in his local church and community.

You can pledge support for the event by either ringing Chris direct on 07957 555567 or alternatively by contacting myself on 01639-701458 or my mobile 07910 930716

Bless you Chris, we will be there to support you.

Up:side - Jesus loves you and so do we

Whenever possible on a Friday night Wayne and I go along to support the leaders of the Up:side Youth Club at Ramoth. James and Debbie do an incredible job in organizing activities and introducing the gospel to around 30 youth aged from 11 to 18. What a wonderful bunch they are! As we are at the church 6 days of the week we always seem to bump into members and are blessed in being part of their lives.


They love supporting Reaching Romania and came along to one of our shoebox packing nights. Their enthusiasm spilled over and they asked if they could help again next year. Several came on the sponsored walk and they raised 215 pounds to help children in need in Romania.







Up:side you are loved and valued.

Thank you - the shoeboxes are on route!

It's been an busy week preparing Christmas items to be dispatched to Romania. Many thanks to my friends Kay and Debbie who spent many hours with me at the church checking and sorting the last batch of shoeboxes to arrive. A further 350 shoebox gifts had to be brought down 2 floors from the Church attic in readiness for loading. I also packed many other much needed items at home.

Thank you to our friend James Richards, the local undertaker and builder who so kindly gave us the loan of his van complete with a full tank of diesel. The 450 boxes were loaded on Wednesday night and at 7.30am our 3 vehicles left for Talbot Green where we were met by Alan Penrose, the founder of the "Support for Romania" Christian Charity. Alan and his team have been travelling with their convoy of lorries to Romania for the past 20 years. God Bless them - they deliver aid, medical supplies, food, appliances and other much needed items to many parts of the country. We value them - transportation costs are cheaper than if we were to drive them out ourselves and we give thanks for the generosity of friends who covered the cost.

A big thank you also to our friends, Ken, Ray and Kay who spent 4 hours helping us repack, seal and label all the big boxes ready for loading into the trucks. Bless you Ray and Kay for treating us to a delicious lunch on the way home. We will next meet up with the boxes when we arrive in Arad at the end of November for 3 weeks.

Finally none of this would be possible without the love and support of so many people who respond to our Christmas Appeals - Thank you from the bottom of our hearts - you will put a smile on the faces of many people this Christmas.

Our hearts delight!

We love serving the Lord both in Wales and Romania but alongside this we try not to miss out on precious time with our family, especially our grandsons. They really are gifts from God and we love them both.

Over the weekend we travelled to Burton on Trent to help Dean and Collette move to their new home and snatched some precious time with little Dylan. Yesterday little Morgan spent the day with us at the Church - here he is with his friend, Elijah at Little Lambs.

Thank you Dulais Valley

What a bunch of enthusiastic managers and senior citizens we have in 3 sheltered housing complexes in our own Dulais Valley - we give thanks for each of them who choose not to be identified. Earlier in the year we were invited to do a coffee morning at our local complex which the other 2 supported. What a precious day it was for us in meeting so many interesting people who also snapped up my cakes from the stall. We have been touched by their continued support of the Charity's work in gathering items for people in need in Romania. Last week I collected a huge quantity of shoeboxes which they had prepared for children in need this Christmas.

We give thanks for everyone who supports the work in any way.

Our precious Devon ladies

During the past week we have travelled around 1000 miles! Firstly it was down to Paignton to spend the night with our good friend and founder of Reaching Romania, Kay Grover. We give thanks that Kay is recovering from a period of illhealth and hospitalisation but further prayers are required as she faces additional surgery this autumn. She has a desire in her heart to spend around 2 weeks in Romania this Christmas and we pray that will be realised.

Here is Kay on the left with her friends, Sybil and Jo who work tirelessly in her summer house making gift bags,crocheted/knitted blankets and toys and many other items for the Charity. Unfortunately one member of the team, Veronica was unwell on the morning I took this photo and we pray for her speedy recovery. Thank you ladies - we value your hard work - you make a difference to many lives in Romania - be blessed.

The Sponsored Walk

Whow! what a blessed day - our prayers were answered - weather conditions were perfect as 36 of us plus 4 dogs stepped out on our Sponsored Walk on 26th September. Ages ranged from 11 to 76 but everyone had much excitement in their hearts as we strolled through Hirwaun and along a picturesque country lane to Penderyn and eventually up the Foel mountain. The views were breathtaking as we inhaled the fresh air and had a snack. It was a great day of fun and fellowship and we returned to a welcome buffet at the church. Everyone agreed we should make it an annual event.

A big thank you to Sally and Alun Williams, who planned the route and led the walk, John Howells and his colleague from the St. John's Ambulance Service, Ray and Kay Jones, our floating stewards, our Church ladies who so kindly prepared the buffet and of course not forgetting all those who took part in the walk itself and the sponsors of the event. The money is still being collated but to date we have received over a 1000 pounds towards the Lord's work in Romania. My heart is touched when I think of how many vulnerable people will be helped with these funds.