Wednesday, 13 January 2016

Journal for 16th December - Feeding the hungry, clothing the poor and bringing joy with Christmas gifts.

Wednesday, 16th December, 2015
Early start and out food shopping for a poor family in Curtici.  The Father died 3 years ago from cancer leaving his wife and 3 children with a lot of medical expenses.  D has a job cleaning for  4 hours  a day.  Every Christmas we take along a food parcel and shoe box gifts for the children and this year I made up one also for mum which she so appreciated.
Then it was sorting the rest of the consignment at Pastor Jackie's for distribution at more Christmas Programmes.  Also every large box has the air pockets filled with much needed items such as medication, soft toys, slippers, woollens etc.  And Adina's car is filled to capacity all the time with just enough room for us to get in.

On the way back we called in with Rozalia,who is supported by the Widows Mite Project in Arad.  Her need is not food but incontinence pads.  She is a double amputee and has been diabetic since she was young.  She is younger than me and also has a heart condition.  She was delighted to see us all and overcome with her Christmas Box items and blanket.  We also take along a gift for her teenage grandson.  Her dog is very protective and has to be locked up before we enter.  We ended our visit with a prayer.

On return home we met with our British friend, Mark Wade at the apartment.  He joined us for a meal.  Mark is a missionary and has worked in Eastern Europe mainly Romania for around 20 years.  Since last year he has been volunteering at the Russian and Ukrainian border war zone helping deliver medical supplies, food and other equipment as well as building tents and repairing homes.  He has also been planting churches in the area.  Working so close to the front line of fighting carries enormous risks but God is protecting him.  He has also been spreading his time during the Autumn helping refugees and the police at the Hungarian and Serbian borders following the much reported influx of thousands fleeing for their lives.  His work has made headlines.  He is returning to Ukraine early in the early hours of the morning.  Please pray for him.


At 8.30pm we visited a Night Shelter on the outskirts of the city.  There were almost 50 homeless people to feed and minister to.  Adina brought along her dad and a group of singers with a guitar from her church and we all sung carols.  We provided hot dogs and hot tea for everyone present – big thank you to the Lucas for helping us with all the preparation.  We mingled with all the vulnerable men and men – everyone had their own story and there was much sadness and despair but also smiles of joy breaking through here and there.  We had beautiful toilet bags for them all – Bless you Elizabeth from Brecon for  all your support and hard work in supplying them all.  She spent hours buying items and making them all up during a time when she was experiencing so many problems with her health.  They were so appreciated.  We also brought along hats, scarves, mitts and blankets from Wales – thank you. to our many knitters.  Home to more medication as we are all still  feeling poorly with  colds.




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