Mocrea Christmas Programme and time to say goodbye

I can't believe it is my last day here - it's only been a 3 week trip but we have done so much in the name of Jesus and it has flown.  I give thanks that I have had strength despite lack of sleep.The Pre-Christmas visit is always so busy - I am hoping to come back in the spring/summer to be able to devote more time to each Project.

A little chaos this morning as we packed Adina's Peugeot full of all the items for the Mocrea Christmas Programme and realised that Traian would not fit in.   There were 170 packages of gifts, plus coffee, pop, biscuits,oranges and gifts for the staff and the transport problems were overcome.  There are many people who have contributed to the day and I give thanks for them.  Kay Grover, the founder of RR who joined us today and who makes all the gift bags in Devon with the help of her friends; Adina for helping me with all the shopping in Romania and together with her niece, Patri, friend, Rebecca and mam, Maria stayed up until 2 am  making up the bags ready for loading.They insisted I catch up with my blogging!!!We also give thanks for Peter for his Father Christmas duties, to Marius and his team of musicians who led all the carols etc and to Cerbu and his team for returning to do another programme after yesterday's success.

3 vehicles set out on the 1 and a half journey along bumpy roads and there was much excitement as we all arrived to set up for the programme which was a terrific success.  They absolutely loved the variety  which started off with the puppet show.  They were soon joining in with responses, clapping  and singing.  I toured the  secure wards with the musicians singing carols and distributing gifts.  At the end of the programme  the other  gifts were distributed and the earings for the ladies were a huge hit.   We were almost reluctant to say goodbye - we all felt truly blessed by their response to whole programme - the love of Jesus was there.  I shall miss them all.  On way home the whole team - 15 of us stopped off for a simple Romanian meal and a time of fellowship.  It was a lovely way to end the day and my trip.

After arriving back in the apartment I took a quick nap before finalising the accounts.  Then a lovely girl, called Alexandra arrived with her adoptive mother of 9 years, Carla and sister, Dafina.  Alexandra is aged 10,  has been diagnosed with Glaucoma and is in danger of losing her sight unless she has an urgent operation.   Adina in her capacity of social worker has been supportive of the family and  arranged for Alexandra to see an eye specialist at Timisoara.  720 Euros (592 pounds) is required for an operation.  Carla has worked extremely hard at raising support for her daughter but even with a donation from our Charity and a private one  she is still approximately 100 pounds short of the target.  The operation is scheduled for 9th January and the money must be raised by then.  If there is anyone out there with a heart to help this beautiful little girl then please please contact me with your pledge.  Every little helps.


I give a huge thank you to my hosts, the Luca family, including Adina and her brother, Danny and his family.  They pull out all the stops to support God's work here and have their own ministry.


Well my blogging is over for this trip.  It is now 10.30 pm and I leave for Timisoara at 3 am in the morning and I have packing to do yet.

My final word is "Thank You God for a blessed trip".  May each and every person we have touched feel the love of light of Jesus this Christmas.
On behalf of Wayne and I and the Trustees of Reaching Romania we wish you a Happy Christmas and a Blessed New Year full of his love, peace and joy.    I am looking forward to spending a quiet Christmas with all the family.

The Works of His Mighty Hand

The work of the hands of our Almighty God is awesome.  He is good, He is faithful and His love endures for ever.   This is His work and we give Him all the Glory.

Iasmina with one of her
Christmas presents

Julie and Rebecca with Pastor Jackie

Whilst in Vinga Community Hall Pastor Jackie & I were emotional when we saw T(formerly of Mocrea Mental Hospital) along with us as part of the Team serving sweets and oranges.  Then there was Julie and Rebecca - on the stage taking part in sketches and singing -  having had the most horrendous life prior to entering the Osana Children's Home in January.  Pastor Jackie had rescued them from the street and placed them with Cerbu and his family.   They are not only safe, but full of joy because they gave their lives to Jesus at Easter.  Now they not only have hope, they are so....o happy and content.

Then last night we see the  miracle in Yasmina, expected to be a cabbage all her life - now despite many visits to hospitals she is a miracle girl who lives life to the full.  She is enrolled in a Christian Gradinita and Metanoie's Sunday School while her mother studies and makes new friends at Church.  Her mother is continually giving thanks and has made a commitment to be baptised.  Vinga Youth Group is growing and many of the children have been baptized.

This is your work Oh Lord and we give you all the glory.  Thank you for your Grace and Mercy which is renewed every day.

Sabboth activities

atI thank God for a good night's sleep enabling to rise early.  This was my last sabboth in Romania and I will rejoice and be glad in it.  Up early but the internet is still down so I caught   up on my accounts instead.  Quick phone call to my hubby to send best wishes to our Church in Wales today it it is their Christmas Family Service too and my "Little Lambs" are taking part.


Then Danny arrives - he has already been out to Sofronea to pick up Pastor Jackie and the girls.  This is the first time Jackie has been out since she returned from hospital a week ago.  After loading the minibus we were on the road to Vinga Church where we had a morning service and a Christmas programme which included lighting the "Love" candle, the Children's, Youth and Adult programme.   It was indeed a real blessing.  This was followed by shoe box distribution a delicious meal prepared by Leontin and Maria who live next door.  Leontin is one of the Church deacons.



You will recall that during the first few days of my trip we visited the "Osana" Children's Home in Timisoara where Cerbu and his wife Nadine care for 6 girls in addition to their own 2 daughters.  Well Cerbu has a band   and together with his older girls they spread the gospel by going on the road with their shows. Pastor Jackie hired the Community Hall in Vinga and they offered to come along and do a Christmas Show so after lunch we all went along to this evangelistic event after chugging along in the truck with children in the open air back. It was an awesome show which lasted 1 and a half hours.  After performances by the various Vinga Church groups, the team performed sketches, the  Scrooge Story, a Puppet Show followed by some modern carols.  The whole hall came alive as the audience joined in with everything.  As they left we gave out sweets and oranges.  Everyone commented on how much they loved the event.   Praise God for a blessed afternoon.

On arriving back at Arad I attended with Adina and Rebecca a Ladies Night at the Metanoie Church.  It was awesome with quizes, games, carols & powerful testimonies.  To me it was the icing on the cake.  Little Yasmina and her mother (whom I wrote about 2 weeks ago) had last night arrived back from medical treatment at Cluj and they joined us at Metanoie.  They were both happy in the midst of much adversity.  Praise God Adreana made a decision tonight to be baptised.  God is really working in her heart.  In addition to Yasmina's many health problems, her mother, Adreana also needs a knee operation in January otherwise she is at risk of loosing her leg.  As she has no family in the area, Adina and her mother have agreed to accommodate Iasmina.  She loves Adina and she will certainly be in a loving home.

It got late and I had a lot of blogging to do and so Adina, Rebecca, Maria and Patricia kindly offered to pack all the Mocrea Gift bags ready for distribution tomorrow.   Praise God I have such loyal people who help me out here.    It is 1.30 am here and I am just calling it a day.

Loaves and fishes provision!

I apologise for missing a day's blogging due to the internet being down.  Because we are so busy I am having to put on my thinking cap as I try and recap yesterday's activities.

Still surprising mild - I am down to my last few days and we are so....busy.  I could not get it all done without the Luca family.  I am not getting much sleep but am keeping up my strength due to their help and support. Mama Maria feeds me extremely well and Adina always goes the extra mile with regard to supporting the ministry work.

Saturday morning began as always with a list of everything I have to cram in during the day.    Danny's wife, Lavi arrived at 8.30 am to take me in the minibus to Sofronea - home of Jackie, where we went to pick up the last of the shoe boxes for distribution.  Lavi and I loaded everything in the back of the minibus in pouring rain.  Would you believe after all the distributions we will have around 180 boxes left - it has been loaves and fishes provision again.  With the boxes left over, we have been able to help 4 other worthy ministries that we are associated with.  

Then it was off to the city to meet Adina - lots of errands from ordering pizzas,  buying drinks, paper tissues and  cups, serviettes etc etc for the whole of the weekend programmes. Poor Adina was unwell due to lack of sleep to.   I also popped into a local Christian Bookstore and bought some 15 beautiful posters with bible verses for the Vinga Sunday School.  Alas they had no tracts which I wanted for Mocrea.  For the past few years they have supplied me with hundreds of tracts which I use around the various ministries and I always put them in the Vinga Christmas gift bags.  This year we have a Christian Show for them so they will have the gospel first hand - Praise God.

These pizzas are yummie!!

After loading up Adina and I were off to the San Nicolau Mic Kid's Club Programme.  This programme was a real joy as the children laid on a beautiful performance including carols.  During the year the children earn smiley faces for attendance and performance and so they were rewarded with a huge stall of gifts to choose from.  The highest pointed ones got first choice of what they wanted  from edible gifts to knitwear to stationery, toys, christian books, soft toys, book marks.    It was a brilliant idea and there was much excitement.  The team had purchased all the items and RR was able to give them a donation towards them.  I explained that as a Charity we would be happy to supply all the items next year.

Thank you June for our
stockings and chocolate bars

Then there was much excitement as the Pizza arrived.  We also served pop and gave out beautiful little hand knitted Christmas Stockings with chocolate bars inside, donated from a lovely lady called June from Aberdare.  They also received tangerines. Boxes of Belgium chocolates were also given to the team.  I love this ministry and shall miss them when I leave.  I hope to return in the summer and give them a treat like an outing.  We also contribute towards a summer camp for them.

My good friend Nina - mother to 9

After leaving the Club we popped over to see my friend Nina, whom I worked closely with during my time in Romania.  Nina has had a hard life bringing up 9 children and has not been in good health.  However, her condition is stable at present and her financial situation will soon change as she is claiming back some land from the State which was taken from her late father by the Communist Government.

 Then it was back to Kaufland for some more shopping for the Mocrea Christmas gifts. You would not believe just how much lifting and carrying there in to our first floor apartment which has been taken over with my stuff since I arrived.   As usual we came in late ready to crash out.

Boxes at Circir

Our last visit of the night was to "Circir", home of Rebecca out in the village of Vladimirescu.  It is an amazing home where Elena and her late husband together made a loving environment  for 6 orphaned children - they also have a daughter of their own.    We were so touched by the love in this home when we visited last year that we decided we  would  return with Christmas gifts this year.

Sadly and tragically "dad" died very suddenly just a few months of a heart attack and the whole family are heartbroken.  We all shared the weight of the sadness and grief as we entered and our hearts just bled for the entire family.    No pictures were taken  on this occasion and I wept on returning to the car.  Lord - I know we are not here to fathom out God's ways but sometimes it is hard not to ask why.

It's late and I am so weary but committed to keeping everyone updated on my activities.  

More Town Widows

This morning before leaving for Hunedoara, I sprinted to the optician to repair my glasses yet again (one of the lenses and the screw fell out whilst I was cleaning them!!! ) Praise God I can focus properly again.  I also ran up to the top floor of a building to a Christian Book Store to hopefully purchase a book of Bible Stories for the Vinga Sunday School whilst collecting a pile of tracts to include in the Mocrea Christmas bags - yet to be made up I add - much to do but with God's strength we will get there before I leave!!!!  Arriving at the book shop a bit breathless I found it was not open until 10 am - not to worry I need the exercise.  

Rebecca and Vacuta with her
Christmas Box

After the book store, and with a careful eye for moving trams Rebecca and I took a short cut across the tram line and crossed a main road to visit another 2 elderly ladies on the Widows Mite Project.  We took along their Christmas Boxes and slippers.  Sadly I caught them both in bed and I felt really guilty.  However we were warmly welcomed.    Don't know why but my Romanian is always at its best with Vacuta who is crippled with arthritis and lives in a lot of pain.  However she never complains and out came the cakes she had been baking whilst leaning against a wall for support.  Vacuta has not left her apartment on the 6th floor for many years.  Even though they are both in poor health we give thanks that Vacuta and Ecaterina are neighbours and support each other.   

Maranata Children's Home in Hunedoara

For the past 2 years we have done our Christmas visit to the above Children's Home on icy roads in heavy snow.  The journey takes around 2 and a half hours. During this visit it has almost been like spring some days and I packed all the wrong clothes!!!.I think it has been colder in Wales!!!

Our team today consisted of myself, Adina, Danny,  our driver and Rebecca, Adina's friend who has also accompanied us to ministry visits at Mocrea.  With the car loaded with gifts and food items we set out early making various other visits along the route.

We arrived in Hunedoara, a town of around 100,00 people, which is a deprived area of Romania.  We were greeted by Pastor Hada  and his team plus the 22 children, many of whom are very young.   Pastor Hada has a Pentecostal Church in the town and he and his family run the home with a team of staff that have been with them for many years.    With the support of Jackie's Foundation they also run a soup kitchen in the compound which feeds around 50 poor children per day.


Their full Christmas concert is not until next week but the children laid on a lovely show of carols and recitations for us before Father Christmas (our lovely driver, Danny) arrived with his assistant, Rebecca to distribute the gifts.  The laughter and excitement continued as we all later joined the children downstairs for present opening.  What a joy it was to spend some value time with these children.  


RR via  sponsors provides financial support for 3 of the children at this home but we have respected the wishes of the Pastor in not including any pictures.  

The temperature had suddenly dropped as we left for the long journey home.

Leontina and family

Whilst in Romania last year I wrote about Leontina and her family after visiting them in their home.  L has dwarf syndrome and she and her shepherd husband desperately wanted a child.  After some failed miscarriages and spending time in the hospital eventually little Rebecca was born. However she is severely physically and mentally disabled and they both spend a considerable amount of time in hospital with her.  Leontina is unable to lift her daughter out of the hospital crib so her husband has to stay also.    They returned home just 3 days ago after a 2 month stay at the hospital.    The family live in one room in poor conditions in Vladimirescu, a village just outside Arad.    Dad now has 4 sheep so he is slowly building his herd.


Today on route to Hunedoara we called in with  Christmas food parcel for the family and also a Christmas shoe box for little Rebecca.  

Visiting the Triplet family

Six months ago Adina met a lady at the baby hospital who had just given birth to triplets.  She thought she was expecting twins and so received a real surprise.  Adina supported A whilst she was in hospital and later visited her and her family at home -  a village about an hour and a half drive  from Arad.  In addition to the triplets they have 4 other daughters aged 13, 12, 7 and 2.   Their home consists of just 2 rooms with the other 2 rooms in the house being occupied by her brother in law, his wife and 4 children, one being just 3 weeks old and premature.  The mother is also very week following the birth.  

When Adina visited there was no running water in the house and the older children were walking a considerable distance on a very busy main road carrying enough water for the 2 families.  Adina works closely with other missionaries and funds were made available for digging a well and for supplying a washing machine and a fridge freezer thus considerably improving the lives of both families.   Shortly after they were born one of the triplets, Samuel  developed a testicular hernia and needed surgery which was predictably delayed until funds were made available for the surgeon.

Today we visited the Maranata Children's Home in Hunedoara and were passing the village in which this family live and so we called and spent some value time with both families and brought much joy to the 11 children with Christmas Boxes.

 We hope you enjoy the pictures.

It's a hard life!!

I wrote briefly about the homeless yesterday.  This was a picture of one man and I assume his wife this morning going through the garbage bins outside an apartment block on a main road  in this area.  If you look closely you can see the woman is actually inside the large bin searching for scraps.  Lots of people think that since Romania joined the European Union in 2007 that life has greatly improved here - sadly this is far from the truth.  Many live in extreme poverty.

Christmas Boxes for widows in Arad

 Yesterday in between the various programmes we dropped in with a few widows to deliver their Christmas gifts from Wales.  Everyone is asking about Wayne - they really miss his joy!!!Thank you to our friend, Jen from our Church  who made up all the boxes and also to everyone who kindly donated slippers. They are such a hit this year and we will keep this provision in our Annual Appeal.  We also bought them bars of chocolate and biscuits.

One widow, Ecaterina had been admitted to hospital and so we left her gift with a kind neighbour.    I spent an hour and a half with Ileana whilst Adina was rushing around doing additional work.  Being in the heat and after chatting in Romanian for an hour my eyes got really weary - I was just so...o tired - having been up since 4 am -  by the time Adina returned I had dropped off to sleep in the chair!!!!!  Ileana was so lovely and remarked that she will try and get another bed settee by my next visit!!!!  Humour in such adversity and suffering.   Oh how I love these ladies.

Maria is in very poor health but
she loved her box - especially her
new head scarf and slippers

Ileana has been in bed for several
days with the flu but is excited to
open her box.  Her new scarf is
around her shoulders.

Christmas at the Felice Children's Home

This is a sister home to "Tabita" which we visited on Wednesday night run by the "Debra"  Christian Foundation.  Both are attached to local Pentecostal Churches.  Each home is extremely well run and employ committed and loyal staff who truly love the children.   We had such a warm evening sitting around chatting with the children and singing Christmas carols before distributing their gifts and later enjoying refreshments.  The amazing way staff and children have decorated this house really touched me.  I ensure that all staff at the Children's Homes get a gift too for their love and care.  They earn little and it is important that they are rewarded for the devoted way in which they care for the children.

I hope you enjoy these pictures.

Look at the beautiful
decorations they have made!!

This devoted member of
staff has worked in the home
since it was founded in 1996

Supporting the Homeless

A familar site of someone
checking the bins for food

I am aware that I have written very little about the Homeless since being here in Arad.  Our friend, Cipri is having a well earned break from this very challenging  ministry following some difficult experiences earlier in the year where he was wrongly arrested along with many of the homeless that he has supported on the street for many years.  Sadly there is a lot of prejudice against the homeless and they are an embarassment to the police who regularly round them up and take them into custody.  Sure there is crime on the street but I doubt very much whether they are guilty of everything they are being charged with.  We pray that God will plant some-one else on the streets to provide another ministry.  In the meantime when we are out and come across a beggar or someone homeless we take the time to show them love and care.

This young girl was found outside
Danny's apartment.  She was given a
toilet bag which we brought over from
Wales and some food supplied by
Danny and Adina.

I am seen here talking to
2 homeless girls begging
outside one of the city
supermarkets late last night

Christmas Programme at the Detention Centre

Yesterday afternoon Adina and I were invited to the Detention Centre to share in their Christmas Programme. Sadly Bogdan was sick and indisposed.  There were many guests including the Director of the Child Protection in Arad and there were TV cameras present.  It was a varied and  incredible programme which made me very emotional when I saw the children perform.  Firstly it was the turn of the children from the centre itself to perform their Christian poems and carols - they were a delight.  Thank you God for bringing them out of their difficult environments and for having your hand on their lives.  Many of these children have  ended up at the centre via the courts and/or the Child Protection Department.  I have so enjoyed building a relationship with them - they are all beautiful gifts and I shall miss them.  I am hoping to pop over again the night before I leave.

The programme also consisted of other local schools coming in to perform additional items eg. there was a local music and drama school which including some Romanian dancing.  What a varied programme - we loved every minute of it and were invited to stay for refreshments but had to move on due to lack of time.  We respect the privacy of these children and abide by the rules of no cameras.

Thursday's Schedule - and a Thank You to Peter and Christine

Firstly it was out to San Nicolau Mic to Peter's House where further sorting was done on shoe boxes and items to fill them.  Peter's sister Kay Grover had arrived from Devon.  Kay is the founder of RR before retiring in 2009 when the Charity was transferred to Wales.  Kay has come over to Romania to join her brother, Peter for Christmas and is supporting a school in the heart of a gipsy community.

Peter and Christine kindly store many of our shoe box fillers - it is essential that we have a stock here in Romania too so we if necessary top up any boxes and make up any further age groups if we have to.  This year I brought over many items in my suitcase.    We will be back at Peter's House later in the weekend making up the gifts for 155 patients and also staff at Mocrea Mental Hospital.

Little time to sleep!!!

I am writing this at 5.30 am because we came in so late last night that I just crashed.   Yesterday was such a busy day - the schedule is tight and I have many lists for all the projects but we will make it.  This would have been impossible without the Luca family who have helped me to so much. My meals are prepared, Adina goes the extra mile to support me practically and spiritually  driving me from one place to another and nothing is too much trouble for Danny, who also does some of the driving.

The Lucas live on the second floor of an apartment block and so everything has to be carried upstairs  There is so much to buy for each programme - refreshments, gifts for the workers, sweets, fruit, pop, items to make up Mocrea gifts etc.    Last night we came in at 11 pm having been the last shoppers on one of the city supermarkets.  This is Adina with one load of items we had to purchase for the various programmes over the weekend.  As I am not returning home until the afternoon of the 20th I am having to buy some Christmas gifts here and Wayne will be helping me to wrap on my return!!!!

We are both tired but I give thanks that we have a mighty God who strengthens us each day.  

Comlosul Mare Widows

I woke very early this morning and after doing my blog I was reflecting on my trip and it hit me that I am leaving in 7 days time and felt choked at what I am leaving behind.  I know that my life is now back in Wales and I have a family there that I love dearly and commitments that are also dear to my heart but this place and its needs are such a part of my life.  I have made a commitment in my heart that I will spend more time in Romania next year.    Then it was"God - what do you have in store for me today?".


Nothing could have prepared me for the  day that I had among the widows of Comlosul Mare, a village in the Judet of Timisoara.  The day started with Danny Luca, the son of my hosts and Adina's brother taking me to the city (an hour's drive).  The car was fully loaded with Christmas boxes, blankets and slippers.  On the outstkirts of the city everything was transferred to  Pastor Vlad's car and he and I set out for the village of Comlosul Mare, about a 45 minute drive away.  I have been blessed to know Vlad since 2005 and Wayne and I were at his wedding in 2007.   Pastor Jackie has been mentoring Vlad for many years and he runs the Widows Mite Project in Timisoara for Jackie.  The Judet (State) of Timisoara is large and the widows are spread out in many remote villages, many of which are a considerable distance apart, some along very bumpy roads and even tracks.    To get around all 22 widows would have been impossible in 1 day and so we decided to concentrate on one village, Comlosul Mare and to spend value time with the 7 widows who lived there and to pray for them.


I cannot describe the mixture of emotions I felt today during my time with these ladies and hearing more about their individual lives. The difficulties they face daily are quite overwhelming and I could write a complete blog on each lady and it would certain challenge your heart.    Every one of them has health problems due to lack of a proper diet over the years and  being unable to access proper health or dental care due to lack of funds.  The only way they keep warm is by wearing layers of clothes serve many vegetables and fruit for the winter months.  Some have chickens and one today had 3 small pigs.    One of the biggest things for them is loneliness, coping with ill-health and not having enough money to buy their medication.  But when you ask them what their biggest need is they all say - wood for the winter because everyone is fearful of the cold.   We give thanks that sufficient funds arrived from the States again this year to buy a supply of wood for each widow.     I was giving thanks today that the weather is unbelievable mild for the time of year here but we know there is January and February to get through.yet.

Today we delivered their Christmas boxes, blankets and slippers.  Vlad will buy and deliver their Christmas food parcels next week.  You should have seen their faces when they saw the gifts, especially when the bag of slippers came out!!!!  Praise God there was a suitable size pair for everyone.  We were still visiting in the dark and even then I was reluctant.to leave.  These people have so little but they  are so humble, hospitable and thankful.

One of them, who belonged to the Pentecostal Church sobbed and said that she was so ashamed that her 2 living sons did not even visit her yet foreigners did so much to help her with food, wood and Christmas gifts.   The pain that she felt about her sons not caring  touched my soul.  I told her that what she received was God's provision - we were simply being used and were blessed to serve.    Another beautiful Christian widow on the project whom we did not visit today has 10 children and none of them help her - one even took her garden and part of her house.

All the houses are made of mud bricks and all are in need of repairs.  I feel a huge desire to bring out a Christian team of builders to carry out some essential work and will discuss with Pastor Jackie.  This is a massive project which desperately needs extra funds to provide the essentials but also to help with medical needs.   Some of the ladies I met today had a pension  equivalent to 80 pounds a month out of which  their medication cost around 20 pounds!!  Thank you Lord for your provision in our own lives making it possible for us to help with some essential medical needs during our visits.

Bless  you to Vlad for your heart  and for doing the driving today.  I had such a blessed day.

Anyone with a heart for old people would have their lives changed forever if they saw how these precious people live.  Please contact me if you can help in any way.  A lot of people giving just 5 pounds per month could make a huge difference to lives.  Please please contact me if you can help with funding or if you would like to arrange a fund raising event.  I will give you all the support you need with advertising etc.  Please also contact me with any fund raising ideas you may have.  

A new family that God planted in our path

Last Saturday the Lucas had some good friends for an evening meal and we were discussing the work of the Charity.  They mentioned that they had an extremely poor family living opposite them in the Street of my former home.  It was late last night when we visited after purchasing a supply of food from a local store.

Her name was Vali and she is very depressed with her home situation.  The father was violent and left, leaving her with 2 daughters to bring up alone.  The older daughter who is 20 has mental health problems and the 10 year old daughter was knocked over by a car several years ago leaving her with physical health problems.  They live in really small accommodation on just the equivalent of 86 pounds a month - such a hard life!!!

Vali was overwhelmed to receive a food parcel and gifts for both her daughters.    Pictures to follow on this one as I am leaving shortly for another full day.

Andrea , Denisa and family

This family live in difficult circumstances and the mum has had a hard life with a former husband who had mental health problems and was violent.  There are 4 generations living in the same house.  Mum works at a local lighting factory.  However,also living the house is her 63 year old mother who has just had a heart attack and is now suffering some mental health problems and is very confused.  Her grandmother is 81 and also needs care.  The dillema that she has is that she has to go to work, being the only bread winner in the family and the daughters have to go to school and they have to close the door on 2 sick elderly people until they return.  I am thankful that they are a Christian family and so can entrust the situation to Him.

Last night we delivered a food parcel and Christmas boxes.  They were giving thanks for God's provision.

Blessings from the Past

Praising God with carols

 When I lived in Romania I regularly visited the Tabita Children's Home where I gave extra English Tuition, did Bible Studies,  Crafts and Cooking etc.  We also took the children out.  They were a joy and Wayne and I have a special bond with both the children and staff at this Pentecostal Children's Home.  Some of the older children have moved on - a few are now married and others are living more independently with support.  This home always touched me in the way they loved the children and gave them such a start in teaching them  life skills as well as giving  spiritual and practical support.    I was thrilled to meet a new little family of 5 siblings last night and to spend value time with all the children and staff catching up on old times.

Christmas Joy in a Shoe box

Adina and I gave them their shoe box gifts and I bought boxes of Belgian chocolates for all the Romanian staff who do an incredible job.

Baby Argentina and her family

Praise God for this family

This case has really touched Adina's heart.  Adina first encountered this little beauty during her regular hospital visits caring for the abandoned babies.  Initially Adina met the mother who was supported in caring for her daughter and was helped with a discharge package of essential needs.  However shortly after leaving she was returned to the hospital and abandoned by her mum.  He had a problem with her eye which kept swelling and running.  Well Adina with her enthusiasm and contacts soon found a doctor who could help the little beauty who is now 10 months old.

Adina adores little Argentina

God is so....o good and answers prayers and we are giving thanks.  A few months ago a beautiful foster family came forward from a village around one and a half hour's drive from Arad.  They are an incredibly loving and humble family and dad recently hurt his back when a tree he was cutting fell on him.  They have a 9 year old daughter of their own, plus another 4 and a half old boy who is also fostered in addition to baby Argentina.  They live in a small 2 roomed apartment and truly love all the children.  They are helped by the State with the equivalent of just 130 pounds a month for the 2 foster children.    You can see the love flow in this family.   Yesterday they came to Arad as Baby Argentina had an eye appointment and so they joined the Lucas for a meal.  Afterwards we were able to give them Christmas boxes plus a donation  to cover travelling costs to and from the hospital.

More preparations for Mocrea Christmas

Out on the road early this morning on route to Mocrea after briefly calling at the city hospital about Jackie's health insurance.   We all loaded into Jackie's Dacia truck.  Our team consisted today of Bogdan (at the wheel), Adina, myself and Traian.  It was an hour's run along very bumpy roads - not good for the suspension and every one drives too fast in Romania.  Lots of rural life to see en route - horses and carts with hay and huge tree trunks of winter wood.

Traian and Bogdan took  care of the refreshments whilst Adina and I organized the crafts. Staff informed us that some of the patients from the secure wards were agitated and so they would not allowed to join us.  However, we had a good crowd and mixture of men and women who soon got involved in making colourful paper chains - I was up at the crack of dawn cutting all the paper strips. Praise God was able to bring over a lot of crafts from Wales.  They sang some carols, we displayed all their work and we ended in prayer.

Widow's Mite Project - visiting Dude

Lena with her new slippers,
blanket & food parcels.

Dude it a very remote village in the County of Arad.  After detouring from Mocrea along some really bumpy roads with horses and carts on route we finally arrived.   It was great to see Lena again but she is still having trouble with her leg - following a break last year it was not set properly.  She was sad today and mentioned that a lady from the village died last night leaving a 1 year old child.  However, she was really thrilled to see me and asked about my husband.  We dropped off her monthly food parcels and medicine together with her Christmas Box, a pair of slippers and a blanket.

Lena's yard with her
supply of winter wood

George with his new slippers
from Wales

Then it was over to visit George opposite end of the village who had his neighbour round - he was also called George - was 71 and is suffering with a hernia.  After making further enquiries we established he had no family to support him and so we took his details with a view to including him on the programme.  Conditions at George's house are very poor and I have suffered several bites since leaving.   He also has no lights due an electrical fault.Please pray for George and Lena - their lives are so hard.

They all loved their Christmas presents and  were grateful for their food baskets and winter wood.  Thank you to everyone back home who supports this project in any way either through fund raising events, regular funding or donations and to all who supplied slippers, blankets and items to fill shoe boxes. I also purchased chocolate bars and biscuits as an extra treat for them for Christmas.    It costs so much to run this project and Pastor Jackie is desperately in need 
of extra funds.    If you feel on your heart to help then please 
contact me.

George lives in 1 room.  This
is his cooker and room heater

George's refrigerator - an
outside window sill

Georges' yard with winter wood
and his dogs