Journal for Friday 16th to Sunday 18th of October

Friday 16^th October

Today we had another early start to a Coffee morning at Hirwaun Library from 10 am to 12pm, where we made handmade cards, and sold them so we can support our charity. We had a few beautiful ladies, Sheila, Claire and Sarah who helped with making the cards and a lot of others who supported the work by buying the cards!

After this meeting we went out for lunch of a big ham roll and afterwards returned to the house in Hirwuan. Tony and his wife Sandra popped in for a visit and I was able to get to know them more. From around 2:30 pm I went back to Hirwuan Library to meet with the Natty Knitters, and collect all the items they so kindly put together for Romania! I was fascinated by the way they were knitting and had them give me some knitting lessons–at the beginning I had 2 left hands but I soon got into the swing of it with my own design and realised just how much fin knitting is. Needless to say in the evening, after we had completed our many tasks for the day I ended up in knitting in the kitchen whilst having a chat with Irene. After updating some things on my computer the knitting bag came out again and I simply kept going – I believe I might start taking orders any time soon! 

Saturday 17^th October,

Today we have a quiet morning doing work around the house. In the afternoon, around 3pm we took off to finalise the last details for Ema's 50^th birthday party! 

The party took place at Pentrebach House, Merthyr Tydfil and was AMAZING – beautiful people and great food. Too bad we only have birthdays one a year! 

Sunday 18^th October,

'This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!' Yes, this is the day set aside for God, and I see no better way of spending it than in His house, and His presence! In the morning I went at Elim Church in Brecon – beautiful worship and great word from God! In the evening I went to Park Baptist Church in Merthyr Tydfil. The beautiful hymns sang there made me feel like I was in one of the churches back home. Pastor Andy had an uplifting message, and spoke straight to my heart, and all I can say is that God used the Pastor to talk to me!

After church we had a great evening with Romanian dinner - polenta, fish, garlic sauce and much laughter at our home, with our friend Mike.

Journal for Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th of October

Wednesday 14^th October

Another day of putting shoe boxes together. I have a hard time putting in words the joy of making the shoe boxes – there is not many things that can equal that! Well maybe the joy that is on the faces of those who receive them!!!

At 6 pm we drove to Merthyr Tydfil to Wendy's home as she kindly got me and Irene tickets to a Concert (to raise funds for the local “Food Bank” for poor families). While at her home I managed to fix Wendy’s printer and update her computer. We had a lift to the concert in a minibus. This was an evening musical event with Cantorion Cyfarthfa (a Ladies Choir) and Dowlais Male Voice Choir held at an Anglican Church. The singing was beautiful and it was another amazing day!

Thursday 15^th October

Today we had Jane Eason, a good friend of Irene's over for lunch. Jane is a Social Worker. We had a long chat and I learned so much about the differences between the Romanian and UK social systems.

From 7 pm we went to a Farmer’s Bible Study/Prayer monthly group at Bronydd Mawr Farm near Trecastle. We had such a blessed time there – lovely worship, beautiful speaker and an amazing crowd of people! I love the beauty in this country, and I love the people that are planted in my path – but even more I love the Creator of all there is under sun! He is the one that deserves all the praises!

Journal for Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th of October

Monday 12^th October

This morning we had a visit from some dear friends of Irene's and Wayne – Terry and Cilla Harris from Exeter in Devon! This beautiful couple have been involved in doing ministry in my home city in Romania for over 20 years - Amazing how God works! I had such great fellowship with them and so looking forward to seeing them again here and also in Romania!

After our friends left, we went to a beautiful retreat (Llangasty House) and spent a couple hours there with Ema and Mihai (Romanian Trustees of the Charity). They had spent the weekend there having a much needed break. 

This is a beautiful place, located by Llangorse Lake. 

From here we drove back to Merthyr Tydfil to take Mihai home, and to give Ema a lift to work. While in the town we visited a few stores and picked up some shoe boxes and a few more items for filling the boxes!  

From 7pm we drove back to Brecon and went to a meeting for Street Pastor Ministry again at Capel Porth y Dwr (Watergate Baptist Church)! Another beautiful evening- made new friends and got to hear how this community is reaching out to the people in need!

Tuesday 13^thOctober

An early start today driving to Ty Ddewi, a beautiful sheltered housing complex in the Rhondda mining valleys of South Wales where we met a group of beautiful elderly people. I was introduced to Tony and Sandra, a wonderful couple from Hirwaun who do a lot of work at the complex! I met Peter, one elderly gentlemen in his 70’s who is writing a book about his life! I was so happy I was able to give him a hand with a few computer technics and also to just sit and talk to him for a while! During our visit Irene and I shared what our charity does in Romania, shared some pictures and showed them 4 filled shoe boxes (baby, boys/girls, widows). There was much happiness on their faces as we talked and shared about the joy the people in Romania have when they receive their Christmas boxes!

From here we drove back to Hirwaun, where we had a beautiful Welsh lunch – Fish and Chips, and from there we were working in the shoe box room, rejoicing while getting more gifts ready for our next consignment! I have great joy as I make the boxes, especially the ones for my ministry, for the children/people I well know. Irene is working on the “Widows Mite” boxes. I feel overwhelmed with joy and so look forward to Christmas – to be back on Romanian ground and see the children’s joy as they open their boxes!!!

WALES - my Home away from Home! 

So looking forward to the next couple of weeks to see what God has in store for me!

Sunday 11^th October
I arrived at my home in Sennybridge  around 5 am, went to bed after 6 am, and after only 3 hours I was up (I was still on Romanian time)! Irene & Wayne told me we were going out for lunch with our dear friends Ema and Mihai but I had no idea what was waiting for me! At the restaurant at the beautiful Mountain Centre in the Brecon Beacons National Park, there was a surprise party for me – many dear friends of mine were awaiting my arrival! I had an awesome welcome with much laughter and joy! So very blessed by the large number of friends God has blessed my life with here! Not only did we have amazing food, English Tea, but also an awesome cake with my photo on and a beautiful bouquet of flowers plus a “Welcome Back” balloon! I cannot describe in words just how special this made me feel! 

After catching up with everyone at the party we went to visit Connie (Irene's mother) – a beautiful lady whom I love like my grandmother! Gotta mention that I'm back behind the wheel and unlike my 1st time in Wales, I'm not confused driving on the wrong side of the road– driving the new smooth Dacia also helps – praying for travelling mercies as I will do most of the driving while I am here!

After our visit to Conny we had a half hour gap till our next meeting, and I got to walk on the Promenade in Brecon and Praise my God for the wonderful way He is orchestrating my life! At 7 pm we went to the Harvest Festival of the Young Farmers Club, at the Capel Porth y Dwr (Watergate Baptist Church) in Brecon. The young people presented our Charity with 30 filled shoe box gifts! I had an opportunity to meet and build relationships with many people– we had a blessed day! So very thankful for all those that support our charity!

Welcome back Adina - it's over to you!!!

We were thrilled to receive Adina back into our home on 11th October.  She has perfect English and degrees in Social Work and Psychology, and is such a help to us both here and in Romania. We give thanks for her, and I have asked her to use the blog to publish her journal during her stay - we hope you enjoy it.

And now on a lighter note!!!

Many of you know that the national car of Romania is a Dacia.You see them everywhere, old ones, newer models and now they even have 4 X 4's!!  Well the Dacias are renowned for being versatile but I could not believe this picture taken recently  by one of Adina's friends in the city of Arad.  Yes it is a cow in the back of an old Dacia saloon.  Quite how it was placed in there is beyond me!!!

Back in the summer Wayne's Vauxhall Zafira finally gave up on us!!!  After much deliberation we decided to buy - YES a Dacia - well we figured that if they go so well in Romania on all the bumpy roads then one would be fine for Wales.  I let Wayne do all the research - a decision was made that we needed a vehicle cheap on fuel with no road tax and with a big carrying capacity (for me with all the Charity collections)  The Dacia Logan estate fitted the bill perfectly - we are now bombing around doing 70 mpg but  not planning on  cow transportation.  !!!  We still have the Daihatsu - going like a baby after 8 years!!!

Lunch at Aberdare Salvation Army Centre with our Neath Supporters

My friend Jen Stewart and I are blessed to periodically meet up with our good friends, Pat, Liz and Denise.  We so enjoy our updates, times of laughter and fellowship.    Last week we all had lunch at the Salvation Army drop in centre in Aberdare.    It was a beautiful lunch and we so enjoyed the company of the leaders there and their volunteers.

Denise and Liz both have individual singing ministries and Pat is the Pastor of a Deaf Church in Neath.   We are grateful for all the shoe boxes they supply for our Christmas Appeal in addition to many many other much needed items eg. nappies, sanitary items, woollens etc. all of which are dispatched to Romania.  Thank you also for the donations towards shoe box transportation.

We finished off the afternoon by singing a new rendering of the hymn "We plough the fields and scatter" named appropriately " We plough the fields with tractors"!!! Lovely fellowship - we will visit  the centre again soon.

Adina's activities

Most of you are aware that our good friend Adina returned to Romania mid June after spending a month here in Wales helping us with Charity work.  She made so many Welsh friends and has been sorely missed.   Since her return she has been  busy working at a Children's Home, assisting with some of the medical cases we support and helping an American Team of Doctors, Dentists, Nurses and Preachers who annually visit poor areas to freely help people who are not in a position to afford medical care.   Adina not only translates and drives for the team but also helps as a dental assistant.  Here you can see her multi tasking!!!!

She has also been part of a team who took a group of children out to a Christian camp.  They had no running water or even mattresses but everyone had a ball!!!  

It is hard to keep up with everything that Adina is supporting because she never stops when it comes to being a humble servant for the Lord.  She is currently assisting another American team with a prison ministry in Hunedoara.  She is due to arrive home on Friday and then she flies back to Wales  on Saturdayto help us.  Adina - be blessed in being a blessing to so many.

Fund Raising

Thank you to David Knibb of Friends R Us in Aberdare for his September annual invitation for me to give a talk to members.  This year I decided on "A day in the Life of" presentation regarding our work around the projects in Romania.  There was much interest and questions.  This was followed by a sale of cakes -thanks to Elizabeth, Anne,  Emma and Mariana's mum for helping me with all the baking.  Wayne kindly assisted with the Cake & Teddy Bear competitions.

We made a total of £82.70 - the surplus cakes were sold at the "Almond Tree"  Ministry of Ramoth Church the following day - adding another £44 to the funds raised.  We appreciate everyone who supported us in any way.

On Saturday, 19th September with blue skies and glorious sunshine 4 of us (myself Wayne and our good friends, Jane and Jen) set out on our annual sponsored walk in the Hirwaun/Aberdare area.    Our route this year was from Hirwaun to Penderyn along the scenic route - up to Penderyn Church and the Foel Mountain and back.  I was looking at the mountain and saying "Lord I need you to put some strength in my legs"!!!!!  Well Praise God because we all made it and boy was it worth it - the views were magnificent.  After a packed lunch on the top we ambled back to Hirwaun.  To date over £400 has been raised with more money awaited.

Come and meet us at Hirwaun Library - Fridays 10-12 noon

On 11th September we began our Charity mornings at Hirwaun Library which are proving very successful.  Thanks to all the locals who come along and not only take an active interest in what we do but also want to help us.  The first few weeks were taken up with covering shoe boxes ready to fill with gifts - our good friend Sheila who covers hundreds of boxes annually gave Trustee Emma and myself a few lessons in making them look more professional without wasting paper!!!  Thank you Sheila - we are now in the swing of things and are able to offer you some help.  

Thank you to Trustee Mihai who is a prayer warrior - we value his support and presence.    Sheila's daughter Claire and her friend Sarah have been regular volunteers and we are so grateful for their help with making up pencil cases and hair accessory bags for shoe boxes.  Last week they started making beautiful cards for us to sell to raise funds.    Locals are dropping in with filled shoe boxes, filler items and sweets.  We have had some truly blessed mornings of friendship and fellowship.   A bit Thank You to everyone for their support and to the library staff for their welcome and help.

Irene is busy collecting filled shoe boxes from various supporters, checking them and also making up manys herself.  It is a busy time building up to the mid November deadline when the consignment  is transported to Talbot Green for loading.

We are still in need of sweets which we pack separately and also slippers for our Widows Mite Project (Size 6 upwards for ladies and Size 9 upwards for men).