Around the ministries with Adina

From Wayne's diary - 12th December.

"Chris &
 I spent a full day with our good friend Adina around her ministries.  First stop Sofronea to pick up and label appropriate shoe box gifts.  Adina's car is more than overloaded - not sure how Chris and I managed to get in but God made a way!!  More shopping for food parcels for some of the families we are visiting.

First stop the village of Vladimirescu to visit Leontina (who has dwarf syndrome) and her husband, who is a shepherd to just 5 sheep.  18 months ago they sadly lost their 2 year old disabled daughter, Rebecca  They are very poor and we love them dearly.  We give thanks that they know the Lord.    The couple live in one room attached to Leontina's mam's house.  The yard was covered in blood following the slaughter of a pig - a practice you will come across often in Romania at this time of the year - even in the city.  Irene always feels on her heart to make up lovely shoe box gift for Leontina and her husband and we always take along a food parcel for Christmas.  They were so so thankful.  Leontina loves to knit and so Irene has also been paying her to knit socks for the Widows Mite Project.

Second stop a family that Irene and Adina have been involved with for several years.  They have had a difficult time - the family now consists of just mum and 2 daughters.  Dad is a patient in a mental hospital and both gran and great gran who also resided in the home both died within the past year. Mum has a job in a clothing factory but it is a real struggle to live on just her minimal wage.  Again we delivered a food parcel plus shoe box gifts for the girls.  Irene had felt it on her heart to make up a special gift for mum who is a rock.  They are a wonderful Christian family and we are blessed to be a little part of God's provision.

Later we visited several other families known to Irene but whom Chris and I had not met before. They all lived in very poor conditions - some with no running water.   Both received fruit, blankets and boxes of aid carefully packed by Irene.  Their shoe box gifts will be delivered later by Adina.

After a delicious lunch prepared by Adina's mam, Maria  it was time to visit a beautiful little girl called Iasmina and her mum Andrea, who are both very special to Irene, who had made up special boot box gifts for them both.    Iasmina, whom Irene has wrote about in our latest newsletter was born with spina bifida and many other serious medical conditions.  She and her mum spend much of their time in and out of hospitals incurring extortionate medical bills.  They are an inspiration to us all in the way they walk in faith with so much joy!!!  What courage - Thank you God.  Meeting them both was a life changing moment for me and Christine.  I know Jesus has a plan for their lives!  We are blessed to be a part of their support.

We later met up with Pastor Jackie at Club 7 which is a Christian Club run by Adina, with the support of her parents, Maria and Ioan, brother Danny,sister-in-law Lavi and their 2 children, Patricia and Marc.  What a family they are - we love them dearly and it is a joy to see their new venture (after lots of work) being truly blessed with God's vision.  The place was beautifully decorated, had sofas,



 Christian music and a big screen plus lots of games - a great meeting place for fellowship.  All the children from the Tabita and Felice Children's Home arrived to food laid on by the Lucas.  This was followed by our shoe box distribution which they all enjoyed.  I was overjoyed to see the children, many of whom I had spent value time with, during our time of living full-time in Romania.  All were asking about Irene and they presented me with a beautiful gift for her of a Christmas tree made from coloured pasta shells and buttons.  She will be overjoyed!!!.  Home late - what a day - God is good!!".