At last an update!

Hi everyone

Further apologies for the lack of communication.  Its been a difficult 8 months of renovations in our new home. Wayne & I are a double act - he on the DIY whilst I do all the decorating and we are suddenly feeling our age!!!    Even though we are settled in we have still not completed all the work.   As our last newsletter went out in March we had to then change over our phone line in order to give our new contact details but then our office in Padest was not ready to transfer our equipment..  However works are now finally drawing to a close you should hear more from me.

Throughout the spring and summer in amongst the decorating I have been busy with Charity work - accepting invitations to talk to various groups/organizations who are offering support.  Our AGM was well supported at the end of May.  We did a fund raising Table Top Sale in July and organized "Little Lambs are Leaping" - a sponsored walk for our Pre-School children at "Little Lambs" Mother and Toddler Group which I lead at Ramoth Church.  Unfortunately the weather was not kind to us and so we held the event in the main Church Building followed by an indoor Teddy Bear's Picnic.  Money is still coming in but to date we have raised  nearly £300.

We had a summer break from "Little Lambs" but continued with "Almond Tree" throughout the holidays, taking the old people out on several outings. We have also been busy with all the preparations for our Christmas Appeal - over 300 shoeboxes have been filled in preparation for transportation to Romania in November.  This operation goes on throughout the year.  Further boxes are due in from various sources efore the end of October.  We have had to make new transportation arrangements this year which will cost us more than double previous years so please pray that funding will be provided. 

Our Annual Sponsored Walk takes place on 29th September.  This year we have changed the route - it will commence from The Dare Valley Country Park in Aberdare and we will walk to Cwmaman and back.  If the weather is good then we will enjoy a picnic in the Park otherwise we will return to the Church for our usual buffet.  We are looking forward to the day. 

Wayne will again run the Cardiff Half Marathon for "Reaching Romania" but sadly this year we have been unable to raise interest from any other runners.  Please pray for him because he suffers with emphysema and chronic bronchitis but God is keeping him strong and his doctor is happy for him to participate provided he takes it easy.    

We have just had a break - our first for almost 5 years and we so...o enjoyed.  We stayed at Nicholaston House, Christian Retreat Centre on the Gower coast.  For 4 days we recharged ourselves and balanced our stay with some rest, costal walking and most of all spiritual refreshment.  We were blessed to meet so many wonderful people  and  we spiritually encouraged each other.  We felt the benefit so much that we have booked another trip for end of January.

We are so happy living back at Sennybridge - it is such a blessing to be back among family and friends.  I support my elderly mum (now 87) and now I only have 6 miles to travel instead of 27 as previously.  Also our beautiful grandson, Morgan lives in the village so we get to see much more of him - he is such a treasure.     However, we still spend much time in Hirwaun serving voluntarily at our Church and also running the Charity.

Please pray for our friends, Peter and Christine who leave for a 10 day stay in Romania tomorrow.  We have been blessed by 2 supportive visits from them at Padest this summer. 

We are giving thanks for many things: our new home, our family and friends in Wales and Romania and our Churches in both countries.  We serve an Almighty God who provides for us in all aspects of our lives.  I can testify to His almighty healing of my body this summer.  I have been given a clean bill of health and I give Him all the thanks.

It is good to wake up each day and count our many blessings.