Irenes Romania

Mocrea Christmas Programme and time to say goodbye

2011-12-19T13:00:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-18T18:38:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-18T15:37:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-12-18T14:44:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-16T15:20:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-16T14:45:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-16T14:14:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-16T13:27:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-16T13:04:00.000-08:00

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!!

2011-12-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-15T21:20:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-15T21:01:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-15T20:44:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-15T20:25:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-15T20:10:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2011-12-15T20:00:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-14T14:22:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-13T21:20:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-13T21:12:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-13T21:00:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-13T20:39:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-13T20:12:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-13T20:01:00.000-08:00

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

Shoe boxes and more shoe boxes!!!!

2011-12-12T16:52:00.000-08:00

These 4 boys are happy
in their new home

Today our schedule for my final week began in earnest. I was up really early preparing for the week ahead. First stop for Adina and I was the hospital to collect some formal discharge papers for Jackie and to take some chocolates from her to the staff on the ward plus some flowers for the doctor who had taken charge of her case. All the corridors were full of people and the place is rather grim. Then it was off to the garage with Adina's car to fix some problems before going out to Sofronea to Pastor Jackie's home to sort out more shoe boxes ready for the many distributions this week. Looking at our schedule this morning it is only with God's help that we will get it all done.

My former neighbour Nelu
was thrilled with his new slippers
and Christmas "Grampy" Box

At 4 pm I had a pre-arranged dental appointment to sort out a large missing filling in one of my front teeth. After my experience last time at a Romanian dentist I requested an injection and Praise God it didn't hurt but there was a problem with the suction tube. Then they decided to give my teeth a clean and an assistant did the usual scraping in between each tooth which nearly made me jump out of the chair!! I ended up with a mouth full of blood after this operation then it was onto the cleaning which was a bed of roses after what I had just experienced! The total bill was 30 pounds which surprised me.

We then called at my former rented home which is owned and now occupied by Baptist Pastor, Cornel and his family of 4 fostered boys from a Children's Home which I am familiar with. I also had the opportunity of meeting up with my former neighbour, Cornel's father-in-law. It was a joy to greet Nelu and to see his new rooms at the rear of the main house. He was thrilled to see me and to receive his "Grampy" box and slippers from Wales. He was excited when I showed him on a tea towel where I lived.

Then it was off to the Detention Centre to meet all the children we spent value time with last week. We distributed their boxed gifts which they were thrilled to receive. As per policy we are unable to take photos in this establishment. Peter kindly brought along a projector and showed a slide show of the RR Annual Sponsored Walk and they were fascinated with the Welsh scenery. Then one of the girls from the Children's Home showed a slide show of her stay in Wales at an Eco Project founded by the Prince's Trust. Before we left under the supervision of the night shift assistant they sang us an Orthodox Church traditional carol. Even the Security Guard is lifted by our visits.

Relaxing in the Luca's lounge
with their boxes

Back at the apartment the Lucas were hosting T (former Mocrea patient) and his wife Tatyana. Another delicious meal. We are now getting to the stage of inviting children and families from the city here to the apartment so we ensure all the boxes are distributed to those who need them. A lovely little family who struggle to survive and who are relatives of the Luca's neighbours came to collect their boxes. This was a first for them and they were so happy. We were blessed to see their faces as they went through each item in the box.

By 10.30 last night I was flagging, did most of my text blogging but crashed before inserting these pictures. It is now 2.30 am and I am up getting this done because in a few hours we are up and away again on another full day.

Shoe Box Distributions and the Luca family

2011-12-11T21:03:00.000-08:00

Adina & friends

I am very blessed to have the Luca family as my friends and my hosts whilst I am in Romania. It really is home from home and nothing is too much trouble for them.Mama Maria is renowned for her cooking skills and there is always a lot of joy and humour in the apartment. Because daughter, Adina works for Jackie, we get to spend a lot of time together. What an asset she is to the ministry with her social worker qualifications and all round abilities, her wisdom, knowledge and organisational skills.

Raul & Reuben receiving
their gifts at the Luca apartment

They are an incredible family. Today after Metanoie Church, Adina together with 5 friends went out to do a Carol Service at a sister Church in Ghyroc some distance outside the city.Here they are in full voice. Dad, Ioan a great tenor was also on Mission after lunch with his Church, Sega. Around her Church Services Mama Maria was busy entertaining other families with various needs. We give thanks for God's provision of shoe box gifts to give to those in need who are planted in our path.

Wow - look what I've got!

Enjoying her gift after a nice
meal at the Lucas. Home is
Moldova, a very poor area of
Romania.

A blessed sabboth

2011-12-11T10:35:00.000-08:00

Widow Rosa's Home

It was good to have a chat with Wayne last night to catch up on what is happening in Wales. I email and text daily but only speak on a Saturday night due to the cost. Exciting news that Wayne will soon be a grandad again and its's a little girl this time - I am so thrilled. I told him I could do with him here - I accidently sat on my one and only pair of glasses which are my lifeline - both lenses popped out and they are now somewhat crooked so Adina has supplied me with a cheap reading pair to get me through rest of trip!! Hubby has repaired them more than once!!!

Another home in the
poor community of Vinga

Bit of a restless night - coughing a lot but I'm not complaining because I am feeling so much better in myself. Before going to Church Adina and I stopped off to buy some incontinence pads for a patient on Jackie's Ward. Bless her, she was 88 and had suffered a stroke, The staff referred to her as a cabbage but Pastor Jackie despite her condition was rallying round and doing all she could. She also had a raw bottom and Praise God I had some spare tubs of Sudacream from Wales so again we were able to help. These people need to die with dignity and love. We just do what Jesus would want us to do. Pastor Jackie was in good spirits and when we left her she was still hoping to leave the hospital later in the day.

Cooking facilities

E who is very sick and her
husband live in just one room

Rosa with her pig who
lives in her hallway

Then it was off to Metanoie Baptist Church to soak up more Praise and Worship and further teaching on Godliness from Titus. I do love the teaching of their Chief Pastor. Home for a quick lunch - Mama Maria's cooking is ace! and then off to Vinga with Peter and T, God's wonderful success story from Mocrea. We all missed Pastor Jackie and prayed for her but we had an awesome service. Lots of people shared Bible readings and husband and wife team, Leontin and Maria sung. I lit the "Joy" advent candle and spoke on Psalm 139. It's amazing how God works because prior to me speaking, Bogdan (our translator and
youth leader) got up and said that he wanted to read Psalm 139 which I was going to ask him to read!!!! Don't you just love how God pulls everything together.

After the service we visited several widows in the village with their monthly food baskets. This is a very poor community and I will let the pictures speak for themselves. My heart bleeds for some of these old people who struggle so hard to survive in the most difficult of circumstances. I forgot to mention in earlier blogs that pensions were cut last year by 15%.

On arriving home Pastor Jackie rang - Praise God she was back home with her grandaughters taking things easy.

Giving thanks for answered prayer

2011-12-10T10:47:00.000-08:00

Mihai in the centre
with his brothers

We are giving thanks!!!!! Pastor Jackie is starting to recover and by this afternoon I started to feel better myself. I am going to be sensible and have another early night. Cut down on commitments today to give myself a recovery period. However, met with Romanian friend, Mihai who has lived in Merthyr Tydfil for 10 years and also 2 of his 3 brothers. Mihai and I only met around 5 weeks ago at the home of our friends and trustees of RR, Kay and Ray Jones. He has been in Romania for a month visiting family and will return home on Tuesday and will be met at the airport by our friend from church, Mark. We had a great time of fellowship over a meal and some value prayer time before we went our separate ways.

Adina with another delicious
cake. Now you know why
my waistline is expanding!

Then it was off to Jackie's home in Sofronea to make up all the dispatches of boxes to accompany the Christmas programmes. Adina, Vio and myself worked for several hours and got a lot done. We will hopefully have every dispatch ready by Monday lunch time. Then it was back to the apartment to a huge meal - the Lucas are gifted with their hospitality skills and they also had friends over. The food was delicious but my waistline is expanding!!!! I will definately be on a diet after Christmas!!!! I hope you all have a blessed sabboth. I am just going to ring my hubbie before retiring!!!

One Day at a Time

2011-12-09T19:11:00.000-08:00

Christine, Peter, & success
story T & T - God is so..o good.

The Christmas tram!

We are giving thanks that Pastor Jackie is feeling better following pain relief. She is hoping to be out of hospital on Monday after further x rays. Adina and I visited her yesterday with some tasty home cooked food by Mama Maria. It is not possible to eat what is provided. Afterwards I met Hilary Gooding, who with her husband John from the Isle of Man have served here as missionaries for the past 11 years. They are building an Old People's Home in a village called Falnac outside the city. It was a joy to catch up on what has been happening in both our lives.

My friend, Christine returns home to Norwich today. We will miss her and the help she has been to us during her stay. Last night I joined her and Peter plus T and his wife (whom I wrote about earlier in the week - what a success story) for a meal. After returning home I simply dosed myself up and crashed out in bed by 7.30pm. Tomorrow is another day - please pray for strength for me and continued healing for Pastor Jackie.

Our shoe boxes have arrived!!!

2011-12-09T01:32:00.000-08:00

Our boxes are here!

Praise God our assigment of shoe boxes and much more arrived at Pastor Jackie's home around 2.30 yesterday. A big thank you to "Support for Romania" for helping us with transportation again this year. The drivers, Stuart and David were a real blessing to us and I sat and I had a nice cup of team with them before they left. We had a team helping to unload from the huge lorry including Peter, Christine, their neighbour, Vio, Ianci and Sarah - thank you all. You would not believe the enormity of this operation - we had 6 pallets full.

Thank you to drivers, David & Stuart

Everything was loaded into Jackie's back bedroom. Firstly every box had to be opened to take out the fillers in the gaps eg. a huge supply of pasta and rice, medication, blankets, items for the homeless and baby ministry, aid and much more. Vio and I sorted out all the medication ready for transportation to the Baptist Clinic. Then we worked until late unloading every box and stacking the shoe boxes in gender and age order so I can extract all the ones I need for each distribution. You would not believe how big this operation and how many times we handle these boxes before they eventually get to their final destination. However it is all worth it when you see the smiles on the faces of the children!!!!

Vio and son, little Richy
helping me to sort boxes.

Thank you to everyone who supports our Christmas Appeal in any way both in Wales and Romania.

Thank you for prayers for Pastor Jackie

2011-12-09T01:02:00.000-08:00

Sarah ready for action

Yesterday was an eventful day but giving thanks that God is in every situation - sorry too tired to blog last night - came in and just crashed out!!

Didn't manage much sleep previous night due to my cold and bad chest. However after being up for several hours I returned to bed at 6.30 am. I was awoken by Adina just after 8 (so late for me)to say that Jackie had had an accident and was on her way to the hospital by ambulance. She had taken her grandaughters to school and had fallen over a spiky piece of metal on which the children in the yard scrape their shoes when they are muddy. She had a deep wound and tear in the top of her foot and she fell into a stair rail and cracked her breast bone.. All this was coupled with the injury she already had to her shoulder from a bad fall on Sunday morning. Because she takes medication to thin her blood the wound bled a lot but she

Supportive sister Elizabeth

managed to control it until the ambulance arrived. Adina and I immediately made our way to the hospital where Jackie was in considerable pain from her injuries.. Although conditions are not what they should be there, we were impressed that she was attended to so quickly with all the necessary xrays. Eventually after numbing and stitching her foot she was given pain relief. Due to the bad break of the breast bone she was told she would have to stay in hospital at least until next week.

We seem to be under spiritual attack health wise - first Jackie then Peter Grover, Bogdan, the youth leader and Vlad the Baptist Pastor who helps run the Widows Mite Project in Timisoara, me with my bad chest and of course Adina has car problems!! We pray in the mighty name of Jesus that the enemy will flee!!! We have such a busy schedule but we WILL get through it and bring Christmas joy!!!!!

After leaving Jackie at the hospital Adina and I went to a new shopping mall in the city (these seem so out of place here!!) where Jackie's grandaughter, Sarah was performing in a dance routine with her school friends. She later sang a solo and won the competition!!! They are a real blessing and Jackie was so upset to have missed it. Then we were out getting Jackie's prescriptions and some "over the counter" antibiotics for my throat!!! I am dosing myself up with everything possible to shift this infection!!! Then off to deliver some Widows Mite Food Parcels in the city. We will have to spend more time with them when delivering their Christmas shoe boxes. I am definately not complaining when I see their health problems!!

By 1 pm we were off to Sofronea to wait for the huge assigment of shoeboxes and other items from Wales which I will write about in my next blog.

Widows Mite Project

2011-12-07T11:42:00.000-08:00

Widows Shopping at Kaufland

Under the weather today with a sore throat and bad head so in addition to dosing myself up with medication I bought some ginger root and lemons which I liquidized with honey and hot water - I am a staunch believer in this natural remedy. . Pray it will do the trick because the schedule starts to get really hectic from tomorrow when our huge assignment of shoe boxes and other items from Wales arrive at Pastor Jackie's home.

Ileana has pneumonia

Adina and I were out early at the baby hospital where we spent precious time caring for 6 abandoned babies. Adina bought some cheese (melt in the mouth) puffs which were a great hit with the older babies!!! We had lots of smiles and cuddles.

Then it was off to the large German Kaufland Supermarket to meet Peter and Christine to shop for food parcels for 16 widows in Arad and the village of Vinga. Vlad, a Baptist Pastor that Jackie mentors will do the shopping for the widows in the Timisoara Judet. We had 4 huge trolleys full of items. How Adina manages this on her own when we are not around is beyond me!!!!

Today's items included: potatoes, onions, fresh garlic, oranges, eggs, spread, 3 tins of different kinds of pate, tinned meat, tinned fish, tinned corn, tinned peas, tinned mixed fruit, 2 jars of jam, chocolate spread, biscuits, sweets, tea, coffee, 2 pkts of pudding mix and 1 packet of cinammon, rice, 3 kinds of pasta, sugar, salt, flour, oil, polenta, semolina, cheese spread, toilet rolls, washing powder, soap, and a scourer. We also bought them bars of chocolate and some extra biscuits as an extra treat for Christmas. They will also later have their shoe box gifts and slippers from Wales. After loading 2 cars, it was off to Pastor Jackie's house where Adina and I spread everything out on the bathroom floor to get a systematic approach to the packing!!! By the time we had reloaded the car with the finished packages, the temperature had dropped and we were out in the cold delivering to some of the widows in the city. We will finish tomorrow.

Ecaterina receives no pension

It was great to meet up with some old friends from the project and also some new. I have such a heart for these ladies - they struggle so much on their small pensions and there are a few who receive nothing from the State. Both Ileana and Ecaterina have serious health problems and insufficient money to pray for their prescriptions. Thank you to everyone who supports this project. Tonight we were able to help 2 desperate and vulnerable ladies with funding for their immediate medical needs. Much more help is needed following the recent cut back of pensions by 15%.

Praise God for Mama Maria - we came in from the cold to some tasty hot soup, followed by fish and marmalega (potenta). After finishing this I am going to dose myself up and crash out!!!! The accounts will wait until morning.

Tuesday is Mocrea Day

2011-12-06T10:59:00.000-08:00

Woke up to a sore throat this morning so dosing myself up to hopefully backtrack it. The weather is surprising mild at the moment - certainly for December in Romania. Prayers are required for Pastor Jackie - as well as her ongoing health problems she experienced a fall on Sunday and hurt her shoulder which is very painful. She was not able to make Mocrea today and so our team consisted of myself, Adina, Peter, Christine, Bogdan and T (seen in the background serving coffee) which I will write about separately.

It takes us about an hour to drive to Mocrea and the condition of this main road is bad - does nothing for the suspension of cars!!! We were so warmly greeted by patients and staff and soon everyone was enjoying refreshments of coffee, suc (fizzy pop) and snacks. We had prepared lots of Christmas colouring pages and took along lots of crafts from Wales so the more able patients could make Christmas cards. Adina brought along a DVD of Romanian Christmas carols and soon we were all soaking up the atmosphere of the real reason for the season. Before we knew it the whole dining room was full of patients (including many from the secure wards) and every table was filled. With a team of 5 were able to spread ourselves out so the whole morning ran smoothly. There was much joy and excitement in their creations which we displayed in preparation for Christmas. We ended the morning with a prayer session where patients are invited to join in and many do. What a blessed day - I so love being part of this ministry and am looking forward to returning next week. We experienced a few hiccups with Adina's car on the way home but we give thanks that the problem seems to have corrected itself.

GOD IS GOOD AND FAITHFUL. In our latest newsletter I talked about how the Mocrea Ministry has been expanded into assisting patients to be reunited with their families and to be integrated back into society. "T" mentioned above was such a patient. He is 52 years old and had an alcohol addiction for many years. Because there was nowhere suitable to put him he ended up in Mocrea Psychiatric Hospital where he overcame his problem. He took great joy in assisting the team with serving refreshments and relationships were built. Earlier this year Peter Grover, who has a home in Romania, where he spends a lot of time since retiring, with the permission of the hospital invited T to stay for a month. During this time, Pastor Jackie arranged for him to be reunited with his former wife and 2 sons. After Peter returned to England T was accommodated for a short time in a small apartment supplied by Pastor Jackie's ministry during which time he rebuilt his relationship with his family. He has now returned home to the small apartment he shares with his ex wife and she is taking such good care of him. Although he has health problems I could not believe it today when we picked him up for Mocrea. He was so well groomed and dressed and looked a different person - he says his ex-wife is feeding him well!! She is so grateful to everyone who has cared enough to help. WE GIVE GOD ALL THE GLORY.

Getting the balance right

2011-12-05T13:55:00.000-08:00

Yipee Mus Nicolai has brought me a stick,
chocolate, money and fruit!!!

When coming to Romania I always stay with the Luca family. Its an amazing home where you can be yourself and relax. The family has a real gift of hospitality with lots of humour where you get the balance right between serving and relaxing.

Tomorrow it is Mus Nicolai Day in Romania. This is an old tradition celebrated in many Eastern European Countries. Now Mus Nicolai is said to be the Brother of Mus Craciun (Father Christmas) and he visits during the night of 6th December. The following morning you wake up to a decorated stick and some gifts. Some get their shoes filled up with fruit, chocolate and coins.

Ooch Irene - our feet are killing us!!!!

Well when I got back in tonight, Ioan had put a traditional Mus Nicolai stick in my shoe plus some money and a bar of chocolate - how thoughtful!!! Then we were talking around the table and I discovered that both Maria, Ioan and Adina had bad legs. Ioan has an ulcerated leg, whilst Maria has a bad swelling and Adina dropped a saucepan lid on her big toe earlier!!! What a family! - I told them I'm thinking of staying in bed tomorrow in case I fall down the stairs!!!

Baby Hospital and Detention Centre

2011-12-05T13:22:00.000-08:00

It was one of the days when we are not allowed cameras in sensitive places. This afternoon Christine and I spent several special hours with the abandoned babies. Today we spread ourselves around 6 adorable little ones who were a delight. We had lots of smiles but we nearly passed out in the heat!!! I am not sure how the babies cope. One was in a confined space in a small backroom and I sneakily opened the window a few times because my tongue was hanging out and I was afraid the baby would become dehydrated. Then a nurse arrived with a bottle of boiled water, sugar and very finely grated carrot which kept getting stuck in the teat. Well little Nicoleta was so thirsty she gulped down half the bottle and then firmly decided she hated it and was having no more!!! I tried every trick in the book (from my experience as a mum!!) but there was no way she was opening her mouth - oh she made me smile!!!

There were several other mothers on the ward with their sick babies and I had the opportunity to have a chat with many. Because we were moving on to another commitment in the evening we had a lot of bags. This coupled with the fact that we were foreigners always makes us a target for thieves. There were several occasions today when a group of young gipsy women were targeting our bags but I had to be one step ahead.

With the little ones on the top floor settled we went downstairs where little Denisa was in the most terrible state in her cot. She had had diarrhea and was desperate for a change of nappy. It took me ages to clean her up - her little bottom was sore and so I treated it. She was grateful for a long cuddle when we finished. By the end of the afternoon the light grew dim and there appeared to be a problem with the lights which is not unusual. Lord , I hope we made a difference today in the few hours we spent with these little gems. After leaving we set off on foot in the rain to meet up with Bogdan and Peter. After walking in the rain for about a mile on dimly lit pavements we finally arrived at the Detention Centre.

For the past month, Bogdan. who is training as a Youth Pastor and who is on Pastor Jackie's staff has been visiting and befriending young people at this Centre in the City and tonight we joined him. We spent much time with 5 boys and later 2 girls. Our aim tonight was to show them love and to build up a relationship with them. We took along coke and tangerines. First we had an introductions time where we spoke first and then gave them the opportunity to ask questions.. The questions were really interesting and one asked me how much Romanian I spoke so I went into conversation with him and asked him to mark me - yippee - I got a 10!!! off to a good start here I thought. Then I invited them to make some colourful bookmarks (which I had prepared earlier) in the day. I had brought over a real variety of materials from Wales. Soon there was much concentration as they carefully designed them. Their creations were beautiful. We so look forward to joining them again next week.

Widows Mite Project in Dude

2011-12-05T02:42:00.000-08:00

Lena in her yard

Meet 2 of the elderly people we support on the above project from Dude, which is a remote village about an hours run from Arad along bumpy roads - difficult to get to in the winter!! The street are dirt tracks and life in this rural area is hard. The village has an Orthodox Church, s school and a shop but little else. The nearest doctor is in another village several miles away called Tirnova but the surgery and pharmacy are not always open. There are wells in the garden or in the street, people grow their own vegetables (some of which they preserve for the winter) and they usually have fruit and almond trees in their courtyard. They also make jam for the winter. Most people have chickens and the younger country folk usually keep pigs for slaughter. Its normal to see ducks, horses or cows in the street. It really is a beautiful part of the world.

George struggling to survive following
the death of his entire family

Above is Lena - who is in her 80's and has had a very hard life. Although in poor health she still works occasionally in the fields to obtain some extra money to live. She lives on a very small pension which does not cover her prescription medicines. These are obtained from the Baptist Clinic in Arad (which we supply) and are collected by Adina for delivery with her monthly food parcel. She is also grateful for her winter wood.

There has been a lot of heartache in Lena's world. She lost her husband at a young age and then tragically her only child died suddenly from a heart attack leaving her all alone. She told me that without her God she does not know how she would have coped when her son died. We give thanks that she had friends and neighbours who supported her when she fell and broke her leg last year. Sadly it was not set properly and she still has problems. At the time she almost gave up all will to live until a zimmer frame arrived from Wales. Whenever we visit Lena we usually have eggs or walnuts to come home with. I can recall one occasion when I was living in Romania when she gave Jackie and I a rooster who was not behaving!!!

George's lunch

Also above is George who lives in the same street who is in his early 70's but looks much older.. George's has also had a tragic life in that his late wife was an epileptic. They had 2 beautiful children but sadly they too suffered with the mother's condition. Being unable to access adequate medical care sadly he lost all 3. You can see the pain and sorrow in his eyes when he talks about them. He has health problems too and struggles so much to care for himself and to survive financially. The monthly food parcels help.

We are desperate for funding for this essential project which supports elderly people who have no family support. The cost of providing monthly food, medication and wood for the winter works out at around 40 pounds per person per month and there are currently 39 people on the project. If you feel it on your heart to help then you can either give a donation (cheques payable to "Reaching Romania") or contact me and become a monthly sponsor . Several people donating just 5 pounds per month would make a huge difference to the lives of these poor and helpless people struggling to survive.

Morning Service at Metanoie Baptist Church

2011-12-04T13:57:00.000-08:00

Over the years Wayne and I have attended many Churches in Arad but this is the one that we feel most at home at in the City on Sunday mornings. Pastor Jackie's Church services at Vinga are on Sunday afternoons which means that we have the mornings free to attend Metanoie who have such a strong membership that they hold 2 morning services at 9.30 and 11.00 where hundreds of people congregate. They have this incredible worship band and the praise really prepares your heart for the Word which was today taken from Titus about Godliness given by their Senior Pastor. He is renowned as being one of the best speakers in the City which I believe has 16 large Baptist Churches. Metanoie will shortly begin building a new Church on the outskirts of the City.

It is always amazing who God plants in our path. There were hundreds of people at this mornings's service and it was hard to find a seat. Eventually I spotted one and before the service began I got chatting in Romanian to the couple next to me. When I told them I was from Wales they said they knew a lovely Christian couple from Cardiff, called Alan and Ann Penrose - wow they are couple who run "Support for Romania" and have been transporting all the boxes for several years. It really is a small world.

You can access details about the Church and also tune into live services by accessing the website.bisericametanoiearad.

Advent at Vinga Church

2011-12-04T12:09:00.000-08:00

Happy to be at Sunday School

Approximately 10 years ago Pastor Jackie planted a Church at Vinga (approx. 15 miles from Arad) in the heart of a poor gypsy Community. It has continued to grow with many people being baptized and the building has been extended to accommodate 2 classrooms. A further extension is planned shortly to cater for the increasing numbers. There is a thriving Sunday School led by Delia assisted by Sarah, one of Jackie's grandaughters. Also the Youth Group led by Bogdan, who is being trained by Jackie to be a Youth Pastor is doing well. Last year the Youth went on a Mission Tripin Bulgaria and to Summer Camp and we give to thanks to our supporters who contributed towards these events.

Some of the congregation and visitors

There are mid week prayer meetings and house groups. Pastor Jackie who has health problems now delegates more and her 3 deacons convene the meetings. There was beautiful praise, individual solos and I was blessed to share a little of what God has been doing in our lives in the past year. Today Jackie lit and talked about the 2nd advent candle called the Preparation Candle signifying the preparation of our Saviour's birth and also the Second Coming.

A hymn from the Youth Group

The guest speaker, Vlad from Timisoara, a Baptist Pastor, who Jackie mentors gave the Word on the same theme. It was lovely to share time with him, his wife Alina and family. We later all enjoyed fellowship next door with our hosts, Leontin, Maria and their extended family who laid on a lovely meal of noodle soup, chicken and mashed potato followed by Maria's yummie home made gogosa (doughnuts). As always my waist is expanding whilst in Romania!!!!

Lighting the Preparation Candle

Romania's National Day

2011-12-04T11:34:00.000-08:00

December1st is Romania's National Day and is a Public Holiday where everything shuts down. The National Flag is displayed, parades take place, there are Church services and celebrations. Whilst in the city on the day I took some pictures of the Primarie (Town Hall) and came across this small gentleman in National Costume which may be of interest. He was very proud to be Romanian. Unfortunately due to our commitments we were unable to stay for the afternoon parades and celebrations.

Meet Little Star Iasmina

2011-12-03T16:08:00.000-08:00

Tonight I had the pleasure of meeting little Iasmina and her mother Adreana who visited Adina at the apartment. Adina has been supporting this family for several months.

Iasmina is just 4 years old and is the sweetest little girl imaginable. She lives with her mother - her father left the family home when Iasmina was just 3 months old. When her mother was 6 months pregnant she was told that her daughter would be severely disabled. After she was born the doctors clearly said that she should be left to die because if she survived then she would never walk, talk or lead a normal life. The mother refused to give up on her only child even though she was diagnosed with 12 serious conditions (including spina bifida) for which she takes an enormous amount of medication. Little Iasmina is also in and out of hospital and tomorrow she and her mother travel for 5 hours by train to Cluj where she will spend a further 2 weeks having tests and treatment on her legs which are deformed. She also has decaying teeth due to her medical condition. Although Adreana is only 33 herself she struggles to walk because she has arthritus and tonight fell as she was coming to the apartment.

3 years ago Adreana commenced a college course in "Kinetic Therapy and Special Traction" in order to help her daughter and hopefully other children in a similar situation. She finishes the course next July and hopes to find a job to help support them but the hours will have to be worked around Iasmina's needs. Iasmina is truly a miracle child - for someone who was not expected to walk she can run and is a bouncy and chatty little girl despite her disabilities. She has to take an enormous amount of medication which is so expensive and needs a special diet(also costly here)

Adreana struggles so much financially because her expenditure (rent for a one roomed apartment, medication, other medical expenses such as tests and special shoes plus dietary food and nappies etc) far outweighs her income of a disability allowance and child allocation. Mum tonight told me that she eats only Iasmina's left overs. She has no family support because they live at the other end of the country in the poor area of Moldova.

We give thanks that we have a Mighty God who sees all our needs. It was not by chance that Adreana met Adina who also referred her case to Jackie whose Foundation is now offering some monthly financial support. It was not by chance that Adina introduced Adreana and Iasmina to her Church, which I also attend. It was not by chance that Little Iasmina is now enrolled in a Christian Kinder Garden and is doing well there.

Tonight Adreana told me that since meeting Adina her life has dramatically changed for the better and miracles have happened. She now regularly attends Church with Iasmina and is growing in Christ. They are now living in a safe locality in a rented one roomed apartment with a small kitchen and bathroom (they previously rented one room only at the back of a house), Iasmina is being seen by medical experts in Cluj, she has a new family in Christ but most of all she has a loving God who is on her case and in her own words tonight she now has "hope". We prayed for them both before they left tonight.

Please join us in prayer for Iasmina and her mother. If you would like to help financially support this family then please contact me.

If you would like to read more on this case then please read Pastor Jackie's blog linked to this page on the right of the screen.

First Shoe Box distribution at San Nicolau Mic Community Centre

2011-12-03T13:52:00.000-08:00

Carol Singing at the Kids Club

Another eventful day but surprisingly much milder weather wise. I was rather weary this morning - too many late nights but I am sleeping like a baby!!! It is very hot in the apartment - one of the disadvantages of living in a tower block is that the heating gets controlled centrally and so the temperature cannot be adjusted. The first thing I do in the morning is to open my window.

Leader and Teacher - Marius

After catching up a bit on my Charity admin this morning it was off to San Nicolau Mic for the Kids Club. Such a blessing to be back among these children and Marius, the leader and his team. They were busy rehearsing for Christmas and we all joined in with the carols. There is always much joy at the Club - I have a great deal of affection and respect for Marius whom I consider as a valued friend. He is such a humble quietly spoken man who is an anointed leader and a gifted music teacher. He is raising up an army of musicians also at his Music Club including Elizabeth, Pastor Jackie's grandaughter. I brought greetings in the name of Jesus from Wayne and our Church in Wales.

Joy at receiving their Christmas Gifts

After a feast of cake, tangerines and coca cola, Peter and Christine distributed the boxes to all the excited children present. Christine also handed Marius a donation from Hainford School in Norwich (who had supplied the boxes) enabling him to purchase essential supplies for the clubs.

Celebrating Guila's birthday at the "Osana" Children's Home in Timisoara

2011-12-03T02:59:00.000-08:00

After leaving the baby hospital, Christine and I accompanied Pastor Jackie and her grandaughters, Elizabeth and Sarah to "Osana" in Timisoara. Well Timisoara is a city about an hour's run from Arad but is about 3 to 4 times the size - I believe it is the 2nd largest city in Romania. Road signs are not good and this coupled with regular road closures due to ongoing maintanence usually means that drivers get lost. Pastor Jackie has a good sense of direction and after a few u - turns and prayer we eventually arrived.

This was my first visit to this Children's Home and what a blessing it was. It is run by a lovely Christian couple called Cerbu (who is Romanian) and Nadine (who is originally from New Zealand) who have their own Charity called "Mana". They have 2 beautiful young daughters of their own, one of whom is disabled and their extended family are 6 girls whom they have taken in from the State. We were so touched to see the love flowing in this home and how close a family they are. There is much joy, laughter and respect. They all receive a good education and are taught life skills and values through the love of Jesus. We spent many hours there and were reluctant to leave. We had some yummie food and a beautiful birthday cake made by Nadine. The children played simple games like pass the parcel and the dressing up game where you had to eat chocolate!! There was much fun and laughter!! Guila loved the new coat we bought her.

Guila and Nadine

The chocolate game!!

Guila and sister Rebecca

Looking so happy!!

Guila with Nadine's sister, from New Zealand

A quiet moment with myself and Pastor Jackie

I felt emotional at being reunited with Guila (aged 12) and her sister, Rebecca (aged 14) and seeing how settled and happy they now are - a far cry from last Christmas when they were in such a difficult home situation. Jackie rescued them from the street in the new year. They had stayed in my former home in Arad several times during previous crisis situations and Pastor Jackie had taken them in for 3 months in 2009 so they have a close bond with Jackie's grandaughters.

They have integrated well into the family home and are now doing well at school. They are still in touch with their mam, who sadly does not want to change her life despite receiving much support. However, we give thanks that she did send over (via ourselves)letters and gifts for her daughters. The greatest news of all about these girls is that they both gave their hearts to Jesus last Easter. When they were babies a wonderful American missionary called Jennifer Phillips had a huge input into the lives of the girls and their mother. Even though Jen moved on to serve in Kenya she had continued to have an input in their lives. Then Pastor Jackie continued the work so God has continually had His hand on them. We also give thanks for the heart of Anne James from our Church who monthly sponsors Guila at "Osana" and regularly prays for her. We will continue to look for a sponsor for her sister, Rebecca. If there is anyone out there who has a heart to help then please contact me. We give him all the glory that they are now settled, loved and committed to Christ. We will see them again at a Concert at Vinga in 2 weeks. Cerbu, Nadine and the children will put on a Christian evening Show for us for the whole village community.

Back among the precious abandoned babies!

2011-12-03T01:54:00.000-08:00

I am back on air after a few technical (which are ongoing) with the wireless connection. Also there have been problems with my Romanian simcard. Unfortunately I left my Romanian simcard at home and had to purchase another one here. I explained that in addition to making calls here in Romania I needed to text and occasionally phone internationally and she assured me it was part of the deal I purchased - but alas no and so I am having to pay an additional cost equivalent to 4 pounds today to open up my lines of communication again!! Well its Saturday and I have a morning free to try and catch up on my admin.

Security has tightened up at the baby hospital and so I had to pray that I would be allowed in yesterday without an up to date Romanian medical report. I went along in faith that all would be resolved. I also took along Christine who was not known to staff and we prayed for free entry in that Dr. Junta, the Chief Doctor, who knew me would be available. I entered the hospital and knocked his door leaving Christine in the hallway and was touched by his warm welcome. He is one of the old brigade and retires next year. We had a long chat and he told me I was welcome at the hospital at any time and there would be no problem with any other volunteers I wanted to bring along. If I was approached by any members of staff then I was to tell them that he had personally authorised my entry. Praise God - we give him all the thanks.

Christine and I spent several hours on the top floor (we will visit the ground floor next week) caring for 2 beautiful abandoned babies called Nicoleta and Maria. They were beautiful and its hard to imagine how anyone would want to abandon them but having lived in this country and seen its needs I have to understand. Sure there are parents out there who have no love for their children and discard them but there are also parents who do love their children but simply can't afford to feed them and so hand them to the State hoping that they will be cared for either in a children's home or better still be adopted.

We give thanks for our precious time with both babies. It is always difficult to estimate their ages due to lack of nutrition but I would say that N was around 8 months and Maria 3 months. Despite their circumstances and lack of care their little personalities were evident. N was a live wire doing rolly pollys but had little strength in her leg - she spends a lot of time rocking in her cot. She had the most incredibly beautiful eyes and long eyelashes. She was obviously not used to cuddles and I could not help but wonder about her past because she did not want to be cooched. Little Maria was different - she loved to be cradled and cried when we put her down. Staff came round with drinks of sugar, water and squeezed carrots for both babies. The sizes of the holes in the teats were as usual a problem.

We give thanks for our English friend, Kathleen who supplies lovely colourful bedware and toys for the children. I also brought in some supplies this trip such as toiletries, dummies and toys. We also have around 50 baby Christmas boxes en route to Romania. We are unable to take cameras into the hospital and I am having to be cautious in my writing. We enjoy an excellent relationship with management and this must be maintained if we want to continue to support these precious gifts from God. We had a blessed afternoon and pray that we make a difference for God.

I will write more later about how Adina has been expanding this ministry in helping many poor mothers in desperate need as they leave the hospital.

Supporting 2 little beauties - Ioana and Maria

2011-12-01T15:41:00.000-08:00

All happy to help the beautiful little girls.

Up and about early. Spent the morning at San Nicolau Mic checking and topping more shoe box gifts. Today we were 3 - myself, Christine and Adina and it was a case of more hands make less work. Praise God we finished by 1.30pm so we could make our way to a school, where we joined 30 people who spent 4 hours making a wide variety of Christmas crafts. Adina together with 3 friends are coodinating support for the above 14 month old twins(seen here) who have severe medical problems and need essential operations which will cost around 70,000 pounds!!!. Unbelievable when the minimum wage here is equivalent to 130 pounds a month.

Adina with her infectious smile

Our creations

Christine and I at work

Many more craft days are planned to help raise money for this very worthy cause Little Ioana is deaf and blind - whilst Maria has fluid on the brain and mobility problems. We had such an afternoon of fellowship and you should have seen the creative cards we produced - we surprised ourselves. Thank you Lord for equipping us - the many craft items I brought over from Wales are proving very useful.

It was a joy to meet the parents and their precious little girls who are much loved. Please join us in prayer that the necessary funds will be raised to help these beautiful gifts from God. If you would like to make a donation then please contact us.

Pastor Jackie kindly invited me over for dinner in the evening. It was a blessing to spend some value time with her and her 2 grandaughters, Elizabeth and Sarah. It was great to catch up on old times - I value her friendship and spiritual support.

My first full day - more shoe boxes!!!

2011-11-30T23:04:00.000-08:00

After a hearty breakfast it was out into the cold checking exchange rates to change money, getting the best deal on a new Romanian simcard (because for the first time ever I left my old one in Wales!!) and going to a local market to buy some extra crafts for the ministries. Then Adina and I drove the 5 miles to Pastor Jackie's village home for an update meeting on the projects and to finalise our programme for the trip. I was blessed to be reunited with Jackie and her family. However, she is still not well following her recent time in hospital - please pray for her. Friends, Peter and Christine also attended the meeting. Peter is also unwell and needs prayer for healing.

More shoeboxes!

For those of you who don't know Adina. She is the 25 year old daughter of my hosts and friends - Ioan and Maria Luca - a wonderfully warm and witty lady who shines for Jesus. Adina speaks excellent English, is a qualified Social Worker and is on Pastor Jackie's staff at the Ministry - what as asset she is to God's work - always happy and so capable. Then it was back into town to Peter and Christines's house to check all the shoe boxes that had kindly been donated by Hainford School in Norwich which were designated for the San Nicolau Mic Centre. Christine and Peter have strong links with the school who have committed themselves to supporting the Kids and Music Club. Christine and I worked until 9 pm checking our stock of items before completing the boxes ready for distribution this Saturday. The date was brought forward because Christine has to return home on the 10th December. There are further boxes to check and I am hoping to return there this morning.

Tasting bread in the new mall -
look at the size of the loaf!

Its hard to believe that here in Arad a new shopping Mall has been built which opened 3 weeks ago. Obviously this is from foreign investment and for me it looks out of place in this country. There had been much publicity about promotions and sales there (something you rarely see in Romania) so we went along in search of a reasonably priced new camera for myself. I am having a problem with mine - the pictures are not as sharp as they should be. I had limited funds to spend and Peter kindly offered to sell me one of his second hand and I saved a huge amount of money!!! Then we did a bit of grocery shopping before sitting in the foyer of the mall enjoying a mug of hot chocolate - I looked at my watch and it was midnight but there were hundreds of people in the stores mainly just looking at items for sale!!! Today is a public holiday in Romania - its their National Day - all shops and schools are closed and the city will be full of celebrations and parades.

Hit the sack very late - too tired to blog - hence the early rising this morning. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Ready to Serve!!

2011-11-29T17:13:00.000-08:00

With cases bulging at the seams with items for the ministries, hubbie Wayne dropped me off yesterday at 4 pm at Port Talbot where I caught a National Express coach to Heathrow before travelling on to Luton, arriving at 11 pm. God moved mountains on my journey when he planted trolleys waiting for my luggage at every stop and a kind station attendant who got me on an earlier coach for Luton thus avoiding me waiting for an hour and half in cold conditions. I managed an hour's nap and some precious time with the lord during the journey.

It was great to meet up with my friend, Christine from Norwich who took the same flight. We were met at Timisoara by our good friend Peter, Christine's fiancee who promptly delivered me to the city apartment of my hosts , the Luca family - what a welcome!! Soon we were sat around Maria's table tucking into delicious soup, followed by rice with beef, pickled red peppers and her delicious fruit compote - what a feast!! After saying goodbye to Peter and Christine it was time for a nap and a later long chat with Adina Luca, Pastor Jackie's Social Worker about Project updates.

Complications later on trying to access all my email accounts due to increased security measures because I was accessing them rom a different location (never happened before!!). What a performance - this is why I am writing so late.

My friend Adina is experienced some technical difficulties with her new internet wireless connection so prayer is needed if you are to receive daily blogs from me. I am meeting Pastor Jackie and the entire team in the morning to discuss our schedule during the trip and to finalise the timetable. I await with anticipation as to what else the Lord has in store for me.

Thank you Almond Tree

2011-11-27T16:14:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday I had the pleasure of talking about my forthcoming Pre-Christmas mission trip at Almond Tree. our Church Ministry for the elderly. The AT family are staunch supporters of the Widows Mite Project iin Romania. I give thanks for friends, Jenny Williams and Jen Stewart who made home-made cakes and sold them and also for new friend, June Thomas who made 25 beautiful knitted Christmas Puddings which she filled with sweets.for sale towards shoe box transportation, We are blessed to have so many people who care about the vulnerable, sick and lost of Romania.

Shoeboxes loaded, tickets booked!

2011-11-27T16:08:00.000-08:00

It sure has been a busy few weeks checking shoeboxes, sorting and packing them plus a huge amount of other essential items for the various ministry. I give thanks for my fellow trustee, Kay and our good friend Ken who worked tirelessly alongside us to meet the deadline. It took us all day last Wednesday to pack the last 300 boxes and other items plus loading our vehicles. A van from our good friend, Mark and our two cars were bulging at the seems as we set off for Talbot Green Warehouse to meet our friend Alan Penrose.

After loading everything onto pallets and labelling them we spoiled ourselves by having lunch at the Boat House in Treforest. Friday and the weekend has been taken up with finalising Charity administration, family commitments and meeting with the builder at my former home, Padest. This issue has been a trial with an ongoing insurance claim for heating oil spillage which has taken 2 years to complete. I truly am giving thanks that works are nearing completion.

and now...... comes the real excitement - I am flying to Romania on Tuesday for 3 whole weeks and am so.... looking forward to it. I am visiting my second home which is so dear to my heart and I love being back on the mission field.. I wonder what God has for me on this trip.

Hainford Primary Partnership School Norwich

2011-11-18T01:33:00.000-08:00

Thank you to staff, parents and pupils for once again supporting the above Appeal in supplying around 60 shoe box gifts for the Kid's Club and also the Music Club at San Nicolau Mic Centre in Arad. We give thanks for our good friends, Christine Wood and Peter Grove who are our links with this school. Despite his illness, last month Peter drove all your boxes across Europe.

We value you all for your support of Children in dire need.

Cwmgwrach Primary School - an answer to prayer!

2011-11-18T01:25:00.000-08:00

God is so good and provides for all our needs. This year we were concerned that we would not meet our target on Shoe Box gifts and so we prayed. In a matter of days we were told by one of our Church friends that Cwmgwrach Primary School had a supply of shoe box gifts and they were looking for a suitable local Charity to dispatch them to Romania.

This week we collected over 40 boxes and many other suitable items enabling us to fill more boxes. A huge thank you to the head teacher, staff, parents and pupils for their support. It was a joy to meet everyone and the children even loaded my little car. Thank you for helping us to put a smile on many faces this Christmas. I will be in Romania myself to distribute them and will bring back many pictures for you.

Penderyn Primary School supporting our Christmas Appeal

2011-11-18T01:11:00.000-08:00

We extend a big thank you to Mr Wood, the headteacher, staff, parents and children for their support of our Christmas Appeal in collecting items to make up shoe box gifts.

I arranged posters for the school to promote the Appeal and before Half Term I was kindly invited to an Assembly to talk about our Children's Projects in Romania. As part of the talk, I took along 2 filled Christmas Shoe Box Gifts and 4 volunteers helped me show all the children the contents. It was a relaxed morning with children interacting with my talk and I was amazed by some of their questions. Thank you Penderyn for your welcome and support. You will help us make a difference to children's lives this Christmas.

Morgan is 4!

2011-10-30T21:39:00.000-07:00

Today we are celebrating having our beautiful grandson Morgan in our lives for 4 years - what a gift he is and we give thanks for him every day. We are blessed to live 15 miles away and so we spend much value time together. He is growing up fast and really loving school. Here he is enjoying his party a day early.

This year is extra special because he gets to spend much more time with Uncle Neil since his return home to Wales. Whow look at Uncle's Neil's present - a Jelly Bean Machine!!!!

"Almond Tree" Country and Western Style!!

2011-10-29T21:58:00.000-07:00

The "Almond Tree" Ministry from Ramoth Church is very dear to our hearts and Wayne and I are blessed to be part of the team there led by our good friend, Jenny who organises a varied programme.

This week we all went out to a new Educational/Community Centre at Aberaman for a beautiful tasty buffet lunch followed by a line dancing demonstration. Here you can see our members in "country" mood - it was a joyous occasion and the afternoon ended with a sale of jewellery and scarves followed by a blessed Word from Jenny. Hope these pictures capture the mood of the afternoon.

Our dear ladies and gentlemen are loyal supportes of the Widows Mite Project in Romania and many knit and collect items for our shoeboxes.

Support from the Dulais Valley

2011-10-22T05:01:00.000-07:00

We are always amazed at God's provision. He plants amazing people in our path. This week we have received a lot of support from the Dulais Valley in which we live.

Maesmarchog Primary School donated all the pasta they collected for Harvest to hungry people in Romania. Here are some of the children with members of staff.

This morning I have been out and about in our valley collecting shoeboxes and items to fill more from 2 lovely ladies, Eira Roberts from Onllwyn and Megan Thomas and her husband from Seven Sisters.

We are so grateful to everyone for sharing our passion to help so many in real need.

They did it!!!

2011-10-22T04:39:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Eifion and Wayne for successfully completing the Cardiff Half Marathon and raising much needed funds for the Charity. Once again there was a lovely atmosphere as 15,000 runners set out in beautiful sunshine on the new route this year. Eifion crossed the finishing line in just over 2 hours with Wayne beating his record last year in just over 3 hours, despite suffering from a chest infection for 3 weeks before the race.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable day out spent with Wayne's sister and family plus Eifion' s girlfriend, Sophie and his friend Perry, who helped with gaining sponsorship support. A huge thank you to everyone who supported us.

Me - I am just the admin lady who organises everything and takes the photos. However, I am being encouraged to enter myself next year!!!!.

Do you think I could do it??

Tune in to Pastor Jackie's blog

2011-10-12T03:32:00.000-07:00

For more up to date news of what is happening in the ministries in Romania don't forget to click the link to Pastor Jackie's blog on the right of this screen. It will give you a real insight into the highs and lows of people' daily lives in Romania. I have incredible memories of my time serving full-time there and really miss it. When I read about the ongoing needs it it touches the very depth of my heart which is why I am so passionate and committed in doing all we can here to raise funds for all the ministries/projects.

I will be in Romania for most of December and am so looking forward to it but Wayne will remain in Wales to handle all our responsibilities here.

Cardiff Marathon 2011

2011-10-12T01:39:00.000-07:00

Our runners are getting ready for the Cardiff Half Marathon this Sunday, 16th October and we wish them well. We pray the weather will be kind (as for the past 2 years). Hubbie, Wayne (seen here after last year's event) has been laid low for a few weeks with a chest infection but is recovering with lots of prayer and a home remedy of honey, lemon and ginger made up by me! His nephew, Eifion from the Rhondda (seen below), who ran for us last year is well trained up for the event.

Sadly we have lost a few of our runners and so our financial support is reduced. Our friend, Chris Rees was sadly injured in a car accident a few weeks ago and we pray for his speedy recovery. Another new runner, Phillip Williams has suffered a knee injury - Phil we hope you can join us next year. Our good friend, Gary sadly lost his dad and the funeral will be tomorrow - our condolences to all the family. We pray that his good friend, Samuel from Preston will still be able to join us for the first time.

With a few runners down we are desperate for financial support for this event so if anyone would like to make a donation then please contact me with your full name, address and post code and let me know whether you are in a position to "Gift Aid" your donation which will enhance your giving by 28 pence in the pound, with no cost to yourself. Cheques should be payable to "Reaching Romania".

June - you are a blessing to us!

2011-10-06T08:27:00.000-07:00

God moves in mysterious ways and plants many people in our paths. One day, our good friend, Charlotte who is a loyal supporter of RR told me at the "Almond Tree" ministry that she had a friend called June who was interested in supporting the Charity. Like Charlotte she is a knitter - I was told to ring her in 2 weeks on her return from holiday to arrange a visit to collect items. On the collection day, I had my friend Jenny in the car as we had been visiting 2 of our other "Almond Tree" ladies who had both been celebrating their 90th birthday on the same day. It turned out that June and Jenny (now both in their 60's) had lived in the same street when they were young and had been close friends but had lost touch. What a happy reunion and both still sharing the joy of the Lord!

June (seen here with her grandaughter) had knitted and collected an amazing amount of much needed items for the Charity and I was summoned back this week to collect much more. May God bless you June for your love and support.

Support for our Shoe-Box Appeal

2011-10-05T00:03:00.000-07:00

We are blessed to receive support from various sources for our Annual Shoe Box Appeal which brings joy to many lives. Here are some of the generous organisations that care and help the vulnerable in Romania.

Thank you to Marion and Kathryn (see here) from Merchants Hill Baptist Church in Cwmbran who arrange all the support from generous families at their Church - around 50 boxes were received.

The wardens and tenants of Ty Maes Marchog and Llwynon Sheltered Housing Complexes in the Dulais Valley where we live also work hard at collected items as shoebox fillers in addition to making up some boxes. We value your support.

Annette, Warden.Manager of the The Havens in Hirwaun (seen here) and her loyal and active tenants have also been busy making up around 50 boxes for children and elderly people. We give thanks for you.

God Bless you for your love.

Our Annual Sponsored Walk

2011-10-04T23:34:00.000-07:00

God is good. Despite the weather forecast of heavy rain, our Annual September Charity Walk took place in glorious sunshine with blue skies. 24 walkers supported the event and it was a great opportunity for building new friendships and also catching up with old friends. Some of us (including myself) were "huffing and puffing" a little to get to the top of the Foel Mountain but the reward of the beautiful view of the Brecon Beacons was well worth it. Again we returned to a scrumptious buffet lunch at the Church.

Our grateful thanks to everyone who supported in anyway: our walkers, their sponsors, our leaders Sally and Alun who also supplied the water and chocolate bars, our friend John who provided the St. John Ambulance support, our friend, Jenny who purchased the buffet items , our Church friends who prepared the food, Kay and Ray - our floating stewards for the day, our Church for use of the premises, Lee of the Hirwaun Chippy who has supplied a voucher for the walker who raises the most money.

Also a huge thank to our friends, Peter and Christine who travelled all the way from Norwich for the occasion. We would value your prayers for Peter's healing following the recent news of a serious health problem. We thank God for him and his determination to support the event.

I hope you enjoy these photos.

Old Time Music Hall Sing-a-Long Event

2011-10-04T22:38:00.000-07:00

22nd September saw our return to the OAP Association Hall in Hirwaun for our Annual "Old Time Music Hall Sing-Along to raise money for the Widows Mite Project. After a brief introduction from Irene it was over to our good friend Jen who led the medley in song and keyboard. We then tucked into some delicious refreshments. It was a great afternoon of fellowship and fun and all our home made cakes were sold in a flash!!! There was also a great response to our appeal for slippers for our dear widows.

We give thanks to everyone who supported the event in any way. You make a difference to people's lives. Over 250 pounds was raised.

Giving thanks for some value family time

2011-09-11T15:58:00.000-07:00

Due to our hectic lifestyles, apart from mission trips, Wayne and I have not had a proper break for almost 4 years and that is unlikely to change for the forseeable future. However we did manage a few family days out this summer. Our one little grandson, Morgan started school last week - we shall miss him because he used to spend 2 - sometimes 3 days a week with us.

I also give thanks for the fact that my son Neil (seen above with Morgan) has permanently returned home from Dublin after the difficulties of the past 6 months. The whole family are overjoyed to have him back among us and we are looking forward to our first Christmas altogether in 8 years. Neil and my other son, Wayne enjoyed a break in West Wales on his return and Wayne, I and Morgan joined them for a day at Manor Wildlife Park. Wayne & I enjoyed an action packed day out with Morgan at the Cantref Adventure Farm.

Hubbie Wayne celebrated his birthday at Almond Tree with friends. We also took out our dear Almond Tree folk to the Aberdare Country Park and also Porthcawl on day trips.

Little Lambs Summer Trip

2011-09-11T15:24:00.000-07:00

Cantref Adventure Farm in the heart of the Brecon Beacons was the perfect setting with its beautiful scenary for our Annual LL Trip. It was a glorious day out with blue skies and sunshine. There was a variety of activities and animals for all to enjoy. Everyone who joined us mentioned that they had a great day. Many of the children were fast asleep on the return home!!!

More fund raising and organizing support for our Christmas Appeal

2011-09-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

During the past few weeks I arranged 2 Charity Sales. These events take a lot of organizing in gathering, sorting and preparing the items for sale, then transporting them and laying everything out including our publicity stands. The first in our village carnival proved somewhat of a trial with the weather. We almost got blown away putting up our gazebo, then laid everything out beautifully before the skies opened and we had driving rain. There we were holding down plastic covers in high winds - in between the showers I ventured out to gain support for naming my huge teddy bear who was a little damp by this time!. Like all the other stall holders we wrapped up early a little bedraggled and set off home. We were both shattered and made 35 pounds.

A week later we held another sale at our Church and this time we managed to raise 200 pounds but could not have done it without the support of our dear friends who helped in many ways. We had a lot of stock over and after lifting it all back into storage we came home and were ready for bed!! However, it is all for God's work and we will do whatever we can to raise awareness and funds.

We have 3 events coming up: an Old Time Music Hall Sing a Long at Hirwaun OAP Association Hall at 2 pm on 22nd September including a Cake Stall (my mixers will be out again!!). The 24th September sees our Annual Charity Walk from Hirwaun to Penderyn - up the Foel Mountain and return to a tasty buffet at our Church. It is around 10 kilometres and we return to a tasty buffet lunch. Please contact me if you are able to join us and support the Charity's Projects. Here is a picture of last year's event. It is a great fun day. Please pray for good weather.

This year we have 4 runners enroled for the Cardiff Half Marathon (including hubbie Wayne) on 16th October. If you would like to sponsor them then please contact me.

We also need further support for our Christmas Shoebox Appeal - this year we are down on our normal 600 children's boxes so if you can help then please contact me for a covered box. In July we managed to fill around 200 boxes at our Church - thanks to our friend Sheila who covers all our boxes, to our Pastors, the Church elders & all our members, to everyone who supported with filled boxes, with items to fill them and also to our friend Elizabeth Peters who does so much bargain shopping for us. We also checked another 100 boxes . All were packed into large boxes ready for transportation.

"Little Lambs are Leaping" in Aberdare Park

2011-09-11T14:19:00.000-07:00

Before the end of our term we held another "Little Lambs are Leaping" Sponsored Walk for our Pre-School children. The weather was again kind to us as children, parents, grans and friends strolled around the perimeter of the Children's Playground. The sun shone all morning as we enjoyed our teddy bear's picnic - the teddies are certainly in party mood!!!! We invited other people in the park to join us.

Our thanks to everyone who took park to support Children's Ministries in Romania - we do not yet have a final figure for the fund raising but will let you know in due course.

I'm back!!!

2011-09-11T13:59:00.000-07:00

Where have I been you may ask - just busy busy busy!! Well its catch up time on what we have been up to over the summer.

In addition to our Church ministries, much of May was spent decorating the house in Sennybridge but alas there were further holdups with the Insurance Company which are still ongoing - it will be 2 years in November since the spillage - please continue to pray with us.

In June I gave a talk about the Charity's work to the Havens (Sheltered Housing Complex) in Hirwaun as part of the Church's monthly ministry there. We give thanks to Annette (Warden) and the residents of this complex who faithfully support us with our Shoebox Appeal each year.

Our Annual General Meeting held on 9th July was well attended. Sadly our income is down on last year due to my limited time in organising fund raising events. Here we all are studying the reports which took time in preparing. Our Trustees - myself and Wayne, our friends, Kay and Ray Jones and Pastor Chris Dawes from our Church were re-elected and the officers remained the same - Chairman - Chris, Secretary - myself and Treasurer - Ray. A film show of the projects followed the meeting while refreshments were served.

Juggling Eggs in my Basket!

2011-05-27T11:15:00.001-07:00

It sure is a busy time and I apologise for the limited blogging. Amongst the family responsibilities and the Charity and Church commitments I am still decorating my former home which was the subject of a heating oil spillage in 2009. We have also had to overhaul the garden. It is now 18 months into the Insurance Claim and it has been a time consuming trial of working with so many agencies and personnel. We are praying that remedial works in the kitchen will soon be completed and the new central heating system installed. I give thanks for my friend, Teresa for her willing heart to help me.

I will also shortly return to Ireland to support my son. Please pray for his ongoing health problems and that he will be successful in securing a job back in Cardiff.

During the week I gave a presentation on the "Widows Mite" Project at our Church "Almond Tree" Ministry for elderly and disabled people. My friends, Jenny Williams and Jenny Stewart kindly helped me make cakes for the stall. With several donations we made a grand total of 160 pounds. Grateful thanks to all who supported. Tomorrow we are holding a Charity Meeting at the Church.

Giving Thanks

2011-04-27T00:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have been off the air for a few weeks. My mum had a further health crisis which involved my staying with her for a while, then my son, Neil was taken ill in Ireland and so I flew out there at short notice to support him. I give thanks that both are now recovering and that Neil returned to Wales with me to spend Easter with all the family which was a real blessing for all of us. Renovations and decoration at my former home is also taking up a lot of our time at present which will delay my planned May trip to Romania.

Easter is such a special time as we celebrate the rising of our Lord and Saviour. We hope you all received our latest Newsletter and Easter Greeting either electronically or in hard copy. If not, then you can access it via this website.

I am so looking forward to my summer trip to Romania.

Aid for people in need in Romania

2011-04-01T03:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Wayne and I took 2 car loads of aid to Talbot Green in readiness for transportation to Romania next month. It took me around 2 weeks to sort and pack it all (including some rice and pasta) kindly donated by the Headmistress of our local school.

We are so grateful to Alan and Ann Penrose who run the Charity "Support for Romania" and who transport our goods. Sadly after 20 years on the road they are retiring but their Charity continues with monetary donations. We are therefore having to make alternative arrangements for future transportation of our shoeboxes and aid but we give thanks that we currently have a contact who may be able to help.

I can but apologise for the lack of photos for the last few entries - as you know I carry my camera and everywhere. Whilst at the Church a few weeks ago my charger lead went missing and I am still looking for it - please pray it will turn up. It is a Japenese camera and I purchased it whilst living in Romania.

Old Time Music Hall at Llwynon

2011-04-01T03:47:00.000-07:00

Our good friends, Billy and Jen recently led an "Old Time Music Hall Singalong" at the Llwynon Sheltered Housing Complex in Crynant in the valley in which we live. It was a truly blessed afternoon with the elderly joining in with all the war songs over a nice cup of tea and a buffet kindly laid on by the staff. We took along our RR stand and I spoke briefly about the history of the Charity and the Projects it supports. Before we left we were given clothing items for Romania and money boxes of coins.

Jen and Billy (who is Irish) ended the afternoon with some Irish songs and distribution of Shamrock Shortbread to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. This was followed by a beautiful rendering of "Amazing Grace".

A big thank you to wardens, Pam and Linda, the residents and Billy and Jen for their support. A total of 75 pounds was raised and they are planning to support our Christmas Shoebox Appeal.

Our 4th Wedding Anniversary

2011-03-10T15:19:00.000-08:00

We recently celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary - its hard to believe that 4 whole years have passed since that momentous day at Ramoth Christian Centre where we exchanged our vows before all our family and many friends. So much has happened since - we returned from Romania in Oct 2007 to support our elderly parents and have become involved in various ministries in our Church. We have been blessed with 2 beautiful grandsons and even though we are now both retired we are as busy as ever with charity work and our other activities. We continue with our regular mission trips to Romania to support Pastor Jackie, to assess the needs of the Projects and to work on the front line which is my passion.

For our first anniversay we went to the Ffald y Brenin Christian Centre in West Wales for a few days and were incredibly blessed as well as being spiritually renewed. Due to our hectic life and family committments we have not managed a break in the past 3 years and so we had hoped to get back to FYB for a few days to recharge ourselves- alas it was not meant to be at this time - all booked up!! We settled for a simple meal out and a trip to the cinema to see the "Kings Speech" which we thoroughly enjoyed.

The picture above is of us at a family wedding last May.

Almond Tree Activities

2011-03-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

Almond Tree has been a hive of activity in the past few weeks. Firstly our leader Jen arranged a "Mr & Mrs Show" for Valentines Day and she went to town on the decorations. Wayne and I were invited to be one of the 3 couples participating - it was such fun and we came 2nd. Our Pastors, Chris and Kath (seen here) beat us to the post!!

St. David's Day was celebrated in style with the room beautifully decorated with Welsh flags, leeks, daffodils and many wore national costume. Jen's husband, Derek made tasty traditional Welsh cawl, which was followed by gateau and icecream. We rounded off the meal with homemade welsh cakes and bara brith. Entertainment included a DVD on Wales, a brief talk on St. David and the Welsh evangelist - Evan Roberts, some Welsh poetry and hymns ending with the National Anthem. It was a special day enjoyed by all.

Shrove Tuesday was celebrated with a pancake making demonstration. Many volunteered to toss the pancakes which was great fun. Everyone had a choice of delicious fillings and we rounded off the afternoon with a sale of home made cakes to raise funds for the Widow's Mite Project in Romania. I got up at 1 am to cook but was thrilled that 55 pounds was raised - our grateful thanks to everyone who supported.

On a sadder note - Almond Tree is mourning the loss of dear Gladys Roberts. We all have such fond memories of her but rejoice that she is now with the Lord.

Dylan's Birthday

2011-03-10T12:58:00.000-08:00

We are so blessed to have 2 beautiful grandsons. Last month we travelled up to Burton on Trent to celebrate dear Dylan's 2nd Birthday with family and friends. It was a truly special day which we want to share with you.

The Widow's Mite Project - Smilia and Aurelia from Dolat

2011-02-05T13:52:00.000-08:00

Many of you will recall my writing about the above mother (aged 90) and her daughter (aged 66) who had mental and physical disabilities and who resided in squalid conditions in one room of their run down home in a remote village in the Judet of Timisoara near the Serbian border. This photo was taken 2 years ago.

We last visited them whilst in Romania in December and were upset by their declining health and inability to get out of bed or eat. I wrote movingly on the blog and we prayed that God would take them both home. It had always been Smilia's prayer that he take them either together or that Aurelia die before her. We give thanks that this week God rewarded her for her faithfulness as she passed away a day after Aurelia. There is no more pain nor sorrow but peace in eternal life with the Father.

Prayers for my Mum and some dear friends

2011-02-05T11:56:00.000-08:00

With so much happening in January and our return to Church Ministries I prayed that God would spare me some uninterupped time to meet the 31st deadline for submission of my own income tax return and the Charity Commission Return - thank you that I made it in good timewith the help of Pastor Chris, our Chairman.

Unfortunately my mum (seen here on New Year's day) sustained a minor stroke and was again hospitalised for a week - we give thanks that she has made a good recovery. However there has been a further hiccup in the past few days when she needed a biopsy so please pray for a satisfactory result. I am currently spending a lot of my time supporting her thus travelling a great deal so please bear with me if there are delays in my blogging. I suffered a fall myself last week resulting in concussion for several days but am now truly healed.

I would also appreciate your prayers for our sister, Gladys from the Almond Tree Ministry who is 88 and poorly in hospital and whom I visited this week. Our dear friend and loyal RR supporter, Teresa is also in need of your prayers as she faces trials and also Diane as she slowly recovers from her appalling injuries following a fall.

Our treasured friend - David James

2011-02-05T11:14:00.000-08:00

In my previous blog, I mentioned that our dear friends of many years, David and Diane James from Brecon had joined us for Christmas Day. They were also loyal supporters of the Charity.

Sadly on New Year's Eve we received news that David who was a former Baptist Pastor has suddenly passed away earlier in the day. I want to pay tribute to a wonderful friend who would always go the extra mile to help any one. On Christmas Day he was full of enthusiasm and excitement about his new job and volunteered his services as a driver to Romania. It was truly a blessed day with lots of laughter with Diane organizing an after dinner quiz. We also have great memories of them both organizing all the flowers for our wedding.

We give thanks for his life, for the fact that he did not suffer, that he died during such a happy period when he was about to embark on writing his life story but most of all that he is in heaven.

Please pray for dear Diane, his widow who sustained multiple injuries following a horrendous fall after his death. We give thanks for their beautiful children, Clive and Deena who have been a tower of strength.

Back in Wales for Christmas

2011-02-05T10:50:00.000-08:00

Contact at last - I can only apologise for the delay.

We arrived home from Romania to heavy snow in Britain. We met passengers at Heathrow who had been stranded in the airport for 3 nights so we gave thanks for our safe arrival with no delays. We were grateful to our friend Ivan who had dug out his car to collect us from Aberdare Station. With Christmas looming we made for Tescos to do some food shopping. Collecting my little car from Kay and Ray's farm was not an option as it was snowed in and we arrived home to an unwelcoming log cabin with frozen pipes. After collecting our mail we made for Brecon and spent the night in the comfort of Mum's bungalow. Praise God she had fully recovered from her chest infection but we received sad news that Aunt Barbara had passed away

Wayne took several days to defrost the pipes and incurred a few bursts along the way so we transferred Christmas celebrations to mum's bungalow and I set about doing the shopping, cleaning and cooking. After stuffing the Turkey we returned to Wayne's old Church in Seven Sisters for the midnight service. It was great to meet up with old friends who support our projects in Romania. To avoid undue travelling we attended the Christmas Day service at Mum's Presbyterian Church in Brecon with our friends, Diane and David who later joined us for a truly memorable day. On Boxing Day Caroline, Richard and Morgan came over for lunch - my son, Wayne was unfortunately laid low with a stomach bug and we truly missed his and Becca's presence. Hubbie, Wayne and I took Morgan out on the sledge which was great fun.

After such a busy time and with the cabin dried out Wayne and I took a few days out before the New Year to just rest up which is very unusual for us!!!

My family is so dear to me - here are a few pictures of us over the festive season.

Saying goodbye

2010-12-20T13:58:00.000-08:00

We are down to our last few hours in Romania that is provided our flight is not delayed due to snow and ice at Luton Airport. We are also aware that there could be delays with our coach trip back to Wales so please pray for us because we need to be home with just a few days to go to Christmas.

We have a really blessed trip and it is hard to say goodbye to this country and its people who are so embedded in my heart but I hope to be back in May.

We spent the morning at Mocrea with a huge Christmas programme. We took along Marius from the school playing the mandalin as our team strolled from ward to ward (both unsecure and secure) singing carols, distributing gifts, fruit, coffee, sweets and Christmas tracts. It was indeed a blessing to bring the joy of the birth of Jesus into their lives.

We respect the privacy of the patients and so I am selective of what pictures I attach to this post.

We later visited 2 of our challenging cases with Christmas trees, presents and refreshments. They both need a lot of prayer. Our last stop was with my our Nina and her 9 children - then home to the packing.

A place of extremes

2010-12-19T14:38:00.000-08:00

Romania is a place of extremes - not only regarding the weather with the cold winters and the boiling summers with lots of mosquitos. It is normal to see a BMW with blacked out windows driven by a rich businessman, followed by a horse and cart and then an old man on a bike. When I first lived in Arad on the edge of the city - on the one side there was a humble family who ran a mini farm in their back garden - cows, sheep, pigs which were frequently slaughtered, rabbits and chickens. A rooster used to wake me up every morning. On the other side I never once saw my neighbours whom I believe were rich Italian businessmen. They used to drive up and the electronic front gates would open. In my back garden was an old man with his paralised wife who lived in very poor conditions with no mod cons.

As most of you know Jackie and myself continue to work with a lot of poor Sigani (Roma) families which is often very challenging. On the one side of the scale you have families living in shacks with no bulletin (ID card) who have little hope of finding a job because they have no education and also because of prejudice. On the other side you have the very rich gypsies who travel to other European countries to make money by various methods and return to Romania to build mansions and drive around in Mercedes.

Whilst the main city roads are being upgraded many of the side roads are full of huge pot holes that can wreck your car. Begging is rife and you will find prostitutes on most of the city approach roads. My second home in Arad was on a dirt track. Everyone needs to pay attention when walking in the dark side streets because you can easily drop into an open manhole without warning. Another thing to look out for are horses and carts on dark unlit country roads.

One of the things that hit me today when I was taking phographs at the Church in Vinga today was the oppression written over the faces of the people. Praise God they come regularly to Church which gives them hope but the sadness of their lives always comes through even in the eyes of the children. I had to prompt some of the children to smile for the camera. Having said that they are such hospitable and friendly people who have and continue to suffer hardship with all the recent cutbacks in wages and increase in VAT. I asked one person how they manage and he said "You forget, we have lived through communism!"

I love this country and it's people and am already looking forward to my next trip. I take home so much in my heart. Thank you Lord for allowing me to be your humble servant.

Vinga Church Christmas Programme and Gift Distribution

2010-12-19T09:24:00.000-08:00

Last week Pastor Jackie was blessed with a new Dacia 4 X 4 which she was just getting used to. Her American sponsors had wanted her to go for a better make of vehicle and had provided appropriate funds - however Jackie was happy to stick with Dacia which is a much cheaper make. I do hope she made the right decision because this afternoon between her village and the city it broke down and she had to have it towed back to the garage - so she did not make it to the Church. Also both her grandaughters have chicken pox. The capable elders came to the rescue and ran the service including the lighting of the last advent candle which symbolises "Love". There was a time of sharing and Wayne and I spoke separately on God's Love and what it means to us.

This was followed by the Children's programme including a Nativity Play and a simple stable scene. The children were excited and performed well - we give thanks for Delia and Ligia, the Sunday School teachers. This was followed by shoebox distribution by the elders and teachers. Over 90 boxes were handed to the children and it really was loaves and fishes provision because every year several new children arrive when they hear about Christmas boxes. All the families were handed a monetary donation (calculated by the size of the family) so they could buy their Christmas groceries. Pastor Jackie felt stongly this year that they should be given this responsibility themselves.

There has been a real move of the Holy Spirit in the Church in the past 2 years and there is talk of a further extension!! Due to Jackie's absence we missed on the Widow's Christmas Gift distribution in Vinga today which I assume will now be done by the Church elders. I was sad to say goodbye to everyone but I hope to be back in May.

A thankful heart and a big smile that lit up the room.

Dedication of the New Sega Church

2010-12-19T08:55:00.000-08:00

Temperature here this morning is -7C but I understand you are experiencing the same temperatures back in Wales with heavy snow. We are checking the internet and realise that there could be delays but we hope no cancelled flights for our home coming. This is a view outside the apartment block that we are staying in.

This morning our hosts, Maria and Ioan invited us to the dedication of their New Church Building at Sega here in Arad. This Church has around 1,000 members and today pastors from the most of the other 22 Baptist Churches took part in the service - there is real solidarity in the movement. The choir singing was superb and the service lasted over 4 hours. As in most of the churches here everything was so well organized and rehearsed. I felt a real move of the spirit when the choir sung. Home to a quick lunch before rushing off to Vinga with Adina for the Christmas programme, which I will write about under a separate entry.

Carol Singing at the Primarie

2010-12-18T13:32:00.000-08:00

After finishing at the baby hospital we were treated to a meal by Pastor Jackie. We managed a quick hour back in the apartment before going out with our hosts to the Primarie (Town Hall) in the city centre where the Metanoia Church Band and their Senior Pastor, Cristi Borbosu were leading Romanian carols and preaching the gospel on a huge covered stage in front of the building. Even though it was a freezing night it was awesome and I sang my heart out (note the picture of me and Wayne with Mamma Maria). They gave God their best. Concerts and Romanian dancing take place in front of the Primarie throughout the week prior to Christmas.

We also met with friends (including Hilary, an English Missionary and Irina, Viorel and their daughter Daniella). They lived on the streets but Praise God were saved. It was a joy to help arrange their wedding in 2005. They now have an apartment and 2 beautiful children.

When I first came to Arad in 2001 there were no lights or decorations. Since joining the European Union there has been a lot of foreign investment to encourage tourism. A massive shopping mall has been built in the city but when we briefly visited one evening last week there were many people viewing but few buying. It looked so out of place in Romania - families are struggling to survive especially since the recent 25% cut in wages. The city centre is now beautifully decorated and there is massive tree on display all lit up. The Primarie is one of several landmarks and beautiful buildings in the city. It is always lit up at night. Tonight there was also a beautiful large Nativity Scene on display with real sheep.

Romania really does put us to shame in the way they celebrate the birth of and also the rising of their Lord and Saviour - Christmas and Easter are huge Christian festivals centred around Jesus. There are church services twice a day for 4 days and groups of carol singers go out for 4 nights also. They will call on unsaved families as well as ones they know, be entertained with refreshments, sing inside also and then go on their way. They don't finish until the early hours. It's awesome and I love and miss it.

Saying goodbye to the Babies- Thanking Maesmarchog School for their gifts

2010-12-18T12:58:00.000-08:00

Today was our last visit to the baby hospital and we will miss them so much. It was indeed a blessing to be able spend most of the day just caring for these individual gifts from God who have been abandoned by their parents. They were looking all forlorn in their cots but after a while the smiles appeared which lit up the whole room. The wards were full to capacity with the winter weather. I change all the nappies etc and Wayne is just brilliant in nursing, cuddling and praying over them. He spent the day in one of the back rooms caring for 3 little beauties whilst I went off to various other rooms and wards to care for others and talk

to various mums and also pray over sick babies. Again I was offered money to pray over babies and again I explained that the gift and love of Jesus Christ is free. The babies were at such peace with Wayne and everytime I returned he would be nursing one but talking to all 3 as the costs were so close together. He had all their full attention!

After checking with staff I distributed beautiful colourful hand knitted bears to all the babies on the wards (seen here in these photographs). If a child is fortunate enough to have a mum, then she is expected to stay at the hospital until the child is discharged so I met many today who were thrilled to receive a gift for their child. I explained they were hand made by children from a school in our village back in Wales and their hearts were touched. To the children and volunteer tutors of Maesmarchog School we say thank you for having a heart to help. I would love you to have seen the faces of the babies and mums. Your blankets will go to babies of individual families outside the hospital and we will also get some photos of their distribution.

Taking pictures of children in State care is not encouraged and so I am enclosing pictures of babies with mums present only. Part of our ministry is to also support and minister to mothers on the wards. Caring for a sick baby is often traumatic and they too need support.

As I was reflecting on the day and our precious time with the babies I thought about the greatest gift of all, that beautiful baby that was born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem. He came into the world to save sinners and we give Him all the thanks and glory.

Gift distribution at Fantanele

2010-12-17T14:59:00.000-08:00

This is a small Children's Home housing just 4 children and their Mama. It is funded by a Dutch Foundation whose founders we know well. The children were really excited to see us - its been a whole year since our last visit.

In the same village live Hans and Mary (Dutch missionaries) and their 6 children whom we have known for several years. The family live a simple life and serve as volunteers with a British Christian Charity called Networks in a town about 20 miles away. Mary volunteers in a house for pregnant and single mothers - she provides practical and spiritual support as well as teaching them life skills. Hans is involved in practical work around the various ministries/projects which includes Apple Way. We felt it on our hearts that we should give their children shoebox gifts and so we spent around 2 hours at their home just sitting around their wood burner, chatting and catching up on what God has been in our lives in the past 12 months.

San Nicolau Mic Christmas Programme

2010-12-17T14:39:00.000-08:00

The temperature has dropped tonight to minus 4. Earlier we joined the children of the Kids Club at the SNM Centre for their Christmas Programme. We enjoyed carols accompanied by guitar and keyboard together with a quiz and a DVD cartoon on the story of The Little Drummer Boy. It was good to see a few mothers present. Afterwards we all enjoyed pizza, pop and mandarins before distributing the Christmas boxes and gifts for all the dedicated team. Sadly they had run out of wood for the stove so the hall was cold - we give thanks for funds to ensure that everyone can be comfortable whilst attending the clubs.

We have a long standing relationship with these children and the team and love them all.

A village recording studio

2010-12-17T00:53:00.000-08:00

Adina's brother, Danny Luca (seen below in the red jacket)who also does long distance driving for us is a member of a Christian singing group which has 5 members. They are indeed in demand spreading the gospel and all their music is written by one of the team (seen below praying), whom you may recall has a daughter with a brain tumour. A village Baptist Church has given them a rear room to serve as a recording studio. They have insulated it but more work is required. For much of the last week they have worked until the early hours of the morning recording their Christmas Album which they are hoping will be ready for Saturday. We plan to purchase a few to bring home. They are very talented and we enjoyed dropping in with Adina after midnight to see them all at work with their sound man who was doing all the mixing.

Still distributing gifts at midnight!!

2010-12-17T00:42:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I wrote about another warm and loving couple from the village of Cirer who foster 4 children including Rebecca (seen here with a beautiful scarf from her Christmas Box), whom we first met here at the apartment. They run a village shop in the grounds of their side street home. It is a typical village store that sells food and such a variety of household items including second hand clothes. They work hard but give so much - they are blessed to be a blessing. We had pre-warned the family that we would be late and arrived at around midnight to a joyous welcome. We smiled as mam enjoyed sharing what each child had in their shoe box and at one point picked up a pretty pair of girls's pants and said to one of the girls - "well now you stop wearing mine!" These children are doing so well and a joy to behold. Mam mentioned that they had all been involved in making up Christmas food parcels for poor families in the village. The Luca family blessed them with a box of fruit for Christmas.

Crutches to the rescue!

2010-12-16T23:40:00.000-08:00

We are down to 4 full days before we return home and our schedule is tight - hence we had a very late night early morning but people understand.

After leaving the Church we made our way in difficult driving conditions to visit the little lady (with dwarf syndrome), her husband and baby. We felt it on our hearts to deliver a large Christmas food parcel, baby clothes, blanket, baby bottles and towells. Adina also brought along clothes and a set of crutches which had been cut to size for Leontina. However, they were still too long and so Wayne, Adina and her husband shortened them further with a hacksaw. We pray that these will make her life easier. She has been using sticks for the past 30 years.

This family is very poor but the husband, a former experienced shepherd explained that they had managed to buy 2 sheep and he hoped to breed from them. If there is anyone out there that could maybe help by purchasing some more, then this would really help this family. Leontina gave us both some beautiful hand knitted woollen socks as a gift and told us to make sure we visited again not just with gifts - we definately will. Seeing the socks gave me an idea - they would be ideal to put in our Widow's Mite Christmas boxes next year. We could buy the wool and pay Leontina to knit them for us - it would certainly help them financially. She told us that on a good day she can knit one whole sock!!

The blessing of children from "Tabitha" and "Felice"

2010-12-16T23:25:00.000-08:00

Last evening we had the joy of attending a Christmas Concert at the Betania Pentecostal Church in the Gradiste area of the city. It is a huge Church built to a high standard with I believe American support.

All the children from both the above homes participated in the concert and as is normal in Romania - everyone was dressed up for the occasion.

Later we were invited to join them, the pastors and staff from both Homes in the conference room of the Church for Pizza, Mandarins and pop. Little di

d they know that Adina had arranged for us Father Christmas (her brother, Danny) to visit with all the Christmas shoeboxes plus gifts for the staff. There was so much excitement and I cannot put into words the precious time we spent with these children. Although the Tabitha Home has recently taken in 5 new children (all from the same family) most of them I have known since I first arrived in Romania. We spent so much time together with English tuition, Bible Studies, Children's ministry, cooking and crafts as well as outings. We give thanks that they are brought up in a loving Christian environmentment and look forward to meeting up with them again in the spring. "Felice" is a sister orphanage in the city and occasionally children get moved from one to the other, dependent on age and intake of other children from the State.

The City Widows get a visit with Christmas Boxes

2010-12-16T23:06:00.000-08:00

I apologise for being a day late with this blog but yesterday was busy and we arrived home at 2 am this morning - a little late for turning the PC on!!

Early morning yesterday was taken up with doing our accounts and sorting out everything in our room for distribution to various places - like Christmas crafts to the Childrens Homes, soft toys and blankets for the baby hospital, toilet bags and towells for the homeless - also gift wrapping little presents for all the staff at the Children's Homes and the Team at the School. We must never forget that such people give out so much love and spiritual guidance to these beautiful children and their work should be acknowledged - we thank God for them. We bought them all pen sets with a key ring which we individually wrapped.

Another consignment of items and some more shoeboxes arrived on Tuesday - and we have not yet finished sorting all the items for distribution. We give thanks for Vio, Jackie's neighbour who is such a blessing to us with her enthusiasm to help.

Later yesterday we visited elderly ladies in the city from the Widows Mite Project - we managed some pictures but 2 were so sick it would have been insensitive to have got out the camera. Maria (who used to be my neighbour when I first moved to Romania and seen here) is very very ill and has just returned from hospital - she has chronic heart failure, stomach and numerous other problems. Before being added to the programme she used to go through my rubbish bin every week to find food. She is in a lot of distress and is ready to meet her maker - we pray that God's will be done.

Vilma , bless her was unable to lift her head to speak to us but we spent some time chatting to and praying for her - we give thanks that she is now being cared for by her son and daughter in law. Sadly it came to light last year that she had been physically abused by a family member with mental health problems so she was removed to the safety of her son's home. We pray that God will take her home in His timing because she is suffering.

Vicuta and Ecaterina are neighbours and live in small apartments on the 6th floor of a block of flats. The live in more comfortable surroundings than many of our widows but struggle to survive on their minimul pensions since their husbands died. We give thanks that they have each other. Both are also very sick - Vicuta has osteoporosis, is very immobile and lives in a lot of pain whilst Ecaterina has chronic heart disease and asthma. Vicuta is an Orthodox Christian and fasts for 40 days before Christmas. Please pray for Ecaterina because whilst she is open to the gospel and prayer she has not yet given her heart to the
Lord.

We give thanks that Ileana now has a comfortable room (thanks to her landlord) even though she had a bad chest infection when we called. The last time we visited her she lived in a really damp basement approx. 12 x 8 feet and she had rats!! It just broke our hearts to see her so broken with her situation. Thank you Lord for answered prayer.

In between the visits we also called briefly with 2 other cases (previously written about) who are being supported.

Maranatha Children's Home

2010-12-15T13:52:00.000-08:00

Up and out early this morning on the icy pavements - me to collect my new spectacles - known as "progresiv" here but "varifoculs" back home. Wayne went to the bank - the exchange rate has improved since our last visit. On our return we had a pre-arranged meeting in the apartment with Cipri - who runs the homeless ministry. It was good to have a complete update on what is happening on the street and in the ministry which the Charity helps financial support. We will meet him again at the Clubul Gara on Saturday - which is a Christian Club for Homeless and Street People and Children. The football tournaments have been going well in continuing to building relationships with Jesus in the Centre. We also supply filled toilet bags and towels for the tournaments.

Pastor Jackie, Wayne, myself, Adina and her brother Danny (our capable driver and Father Christmas) later set off in the minibus complete with 50 shoeboxes for the Maranatha Orphanage in Hunedoara, a 3 hour journey away. The roads were bad with snow and ice and we encountered a head on collision between 2 huge trucks with another incident of lorry and trailer having skidded and overturned in a ditch. Thank you Lord for our protection.

We were warmly welcomed by Pasta Hada and so enjoyed the Christmas programme performed by the 19 children and staff. The costumes in the Nativity Scene were superb. There has been changes at the Home since last year. 7 children had been integrated back with families but they had been replaced by younger children. We also met a young mother and her 2 little sons. She is a victim of domestic violence and Pastor Hada and his family who also live in the building are taking them in for their own safety.

Although the facilities are good this project is really struggling to survive with all the cutbacks. Pasta Hada also runs a soup kitchen as an outreach for families who cannot afford food. Shoe box gifts were also supplied for this essential ministry. Father Christmas was such a hit in the form of Danny, our driver. It was a joy to meet with some of the parents who came along for the concert but are unable to care for their children at home for a variety of reasons. Many of the children in this orphanage have had traumatic pasts and may never live normal lives. "Reaching Romania" via sponsors helps to support 3 children.

Back at Mocrea

2010-12-14T12:22:00.000-08:00

Wayne and I together with Jackie and Adina paid our second visit of the trip to Mocrea today. There was much excitement and many patients from the locked wards were allowed to join us at our request. Peace and calm enveloped the hall as we organised further Christmas craft activities. Today they coloured Christmas pictures and there was a lot of glue, glitter and blue tak!!! They were soon in good voice with their carols as refreshments were served by a trusted patient. Today we completed the Christmas wreaths (with their photographs in the centre) which were displayed along with all the other hand made decorations and pictures (seen opposite) Everyone was in fine form and we give thanks for a blessed morning. The grounds were so pretty as the snow fell around Adina!!

Snow had fallen all morning and on return to the city we called with a member of Adina's family who shortened two crutches for our dwarf sister from Vladimerscu. We had hoped to deliver them and a Christmas food parcel tonight but the roads were too treacherous for us to venture outside the city. Instead we visited my old neighbour Ioan with a Christmas "grampy" box. He was thrilled to see us both as we skated to his doorstep. We called at the supermarket on the way home but we could barely stand up following freezing sleet and snow as it hit the ground. It was -5 in the car park and as you can see Wayne is more than a little cold as Adina is sweeping snow off the car. We came in so tired tonight and are looking forward to a good night's sleep. We will need to review the weather conditions in the morning before we can decide whether it is possible to make the 3 hour journey to Maranatha Orphanage in Hunedoara. Please pray for us because we do not want to disappoint the children but obviously safety is a big consideration - God, it is in your hands.

Splitting ourselves in half!

2010-12-13T22:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we split ourselves in 2 so we could cover more work during our last week. Wayne went out with Adina to stretch our funds for food for poor families whilst Pastor Jackie and I spent some time with M, a 23 year old girl that I took in for several months in 2005. She was rescued from a shed in her sister\s back garden. I continued to fund M's independent accommodation until she left for Italy in 2006. She is vulnerable, has serious health problems but is also still a challenging case. Sadly she has never been loved by her family which is the root of many of her problems. She currently resides in a comfortable small apartment funded by Jackie's Foundation. Yesterday Jackie and I took her to have a meal and to do a grocery shop.

M was recalling a time when she lived with me when she experienced for the first time the joy of decorating a Christmas tree -having a present under it blew her away. I too recalled the laughter we had when I ordered a turkey so I could host foreign missionary friends and many children in need for Christmas. We were so shocked at the size when it arrived and it cost me a fortune. I ended up sawing off the legs and wings before it would enter my old gas oven - M and I were in hysterics. This year I will buy M a small tree so she can experience some of that joy all over again. We will visit her on our last afternoon with a Christmas gift and a food parcel.

We also met up with a gipsy family from Vinga, who attend the Church. They are very poor, limited in their capabilities and have 6 children. Their 9 month old baby has been in the Children's Hospital with chest problems for the past week. It was only yesterday that they were able to visit her for the first time. As is normal in hospitals here treatment could not be given by the doctor until the prescribed antibiotic was purchased from the pharmacy and hand delivered to the hospital complete with needles. Clothes and nappies were also required and so Jackie ensured that all these requirements were taken care of plus funding for the return coach trip home. We have a further assignment of aid arriving today from Wales and I know we have some baby clothes and blankets on board so we can help. Jackie's Church funds all medical emergencies. Every Church family plus others will get funds for Christmas food as opposed to parcels this year. The shoe boxes will be distributed after the Christmas programme on Sunday. Please pray for loaves and fishes provision due to the numbers involved.

Last evening we visited another 2 Christian families. One consists of a mum, grandmother and 2 daughters - sadly dad has severe mental health problems and is in a psychiatric hospital. This family has experienced a lot as dad's condition worsened but the joy of the Lord shines through. A and D aged 10 and 11 were thrilled and so appreciative to receive their Christmas boxes and mum and gran were touched with the huge food parcel Wayne had prepared. Later we visited Cornel and Maria, a Baptist Pastor and his wife who is the brother of Maria, our host. When I first arrived in Romania I rented what is their current home. Last year they fostered 2 brothers, Simon and Luji from an American Children's Home which was closing down and in January a further 2 brothers will join them. Here are both boys enjoying their gifts.

Another two families who touched our hearts

2010-12-12T22:53:00.000-08:00

Last year our friend and minibus driver Danny took us to visit a lovely family (mum, dad and 3 children) in an outlying village. Dad was home with 2 of the children and their grandmother. Mum at that time was in hospital in Cluj, a large city around 4 hours drive away. with little R who has a brain tumour - she is just 2 years and 2 months. I gave thanks that Danny supports the family with journeys to and from the hospital. Little R has had several expensive operations but we understand the tumour is still present. Mum and little R return to hospital in January.

We were overjoyed to see the complete family last night, including the gran who had also recently returned from hospital. The children were overjoyed with their shoe box gifts. Dad sings in a Christian group along with Danny Luca and writes all their music. This week they will release a CD and we plan to purchase a copy to share. Please join us in prayer for this family.

Adina has had a long friendship with a 20 old girl called Rebecca who was brought up in a State Orphanage until she was 11. Then she was offered a home by a lovely family who also took in a further 3 orphans in addition to their own daughter. Yesterday Rebecca came into the city by tram to join us at the Metanoia Church and to spend the day with the Luca family. She is still at school and such a lovely girl - incredibly beautiful with brown hair and blue blue eyes. Last night we took her home and met her family. They were so warm and inviting and we were touched to see everyone in such a relaxed setting sit around a large table just chatting - you could feel the love bouncing off them all in such a relaxed atmosphere We give thanks that these beautiful children with such traumatic backrounds have been placed in such a loving home. We enquired as to how much financial help the family get from the state and were amazed to find that the allocation was just 20 pounds per child per month ! Mum said God is their provision.

Little S and her family and the power of prayer

2010-12-12T22:28:00.000-08:00

Last night we visited little S and her family who live in a village outside the city. Adina met this family whilst volunteering at the baby hospital. Mum has been a Christian for 16 years but dad is not yet saved, although he does attend church. Mum is 39 and has dwarf syndrome, dad was a shepherd and they have a handicapped daughter aged 18 months. They so desperately wanted little S and she is deeply loved by her parents who live in a tiny room in very poor conditions in mother's house. Sadly grandma offers little support but we give thanks that they have Christian friends who do call regularly.

Little S is so tiny for her age and is unable to walk, She has been in hospital 3 times in the last year Please pray that God will provide for all their needs. They are very very poor and limited in how they can care for their sick daughter in such poor conditions We took around a shoe box gift and Adina provided a food parcel. RR will provide further food provision for Christmas.

The home of this family is difficult to find and we visited in the dark. On approaching the large village we prayed that God would direct our path. In Romania on cold dark nights most people do not venture out in the cold. However we turned into a side street and suddenly there was a young girl walking up the road so Adina on the off chance asked her whether she knew of this family. To our amazement Mariana told us she was a Christian and a friend of the family!! She jumped into the car and directed us straight to the house some distance away. All we could say is "Thank you Jesus" for answered prayer.

The blessing of the Luca family

2010-12-12T22:05:00.000-08:00

We are blessed to have such wonderful Christian hosts in the Luca family who always go the extra mile in caring for us and supporting the ministries we are involved with. I have known them ever since I first came to Romania and we value their friendship and fellowship. Maria is an incredible cook and I always come back home several pounds heavier! She and Ioan have a great sense of humour.

Their daughter, Adina is a qualified social worker but due to the economic climate is unable to find paid work in this field in Romania - the wages are also extremely low. For a year she was a nanny in the US and just before our arrival she was laid off from her Market job here in Arad. She is an incredibly generous girl full of spirit, joy and humour with such a heart and capabilities beyond description. She always goes the extra mile in helping people less fortunate than herself including volunteering at the baby hospital. We give thanks that she is now supporting Jackie's Foundation with her social and organizational skills. This week Adina has been making up shoe box gifts here for poor Romanian children in remote areas (via a Baptist Church here in Arad). Adina's brother, Danny and his family are also a great asset to us. He has a minibus and does a lot of our driving on long journeys. He will also be our Father Christmas on some of the forthcoming shoe box distributions.

Here is a picture of the family wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Teenagers from Vinga Youth Group thank Blaengwawr School

2010-12-12T21:39:00.000-08:00

The E3 After School Club of Blaengwawr Primary School in Aberaman kindly made some hand crafted bags for teenagers from the Youth Club at Vinga Church. We distributed them after yesterday's service and 2 were handed to relatives to give to 2 girls who were sick and unable to attend.

These girls have so little. Thank You to the pupils from Blaengwawr for putting a smile on many faces.

The Lord's Day

2010-12-12T21:33:00.000-08:00

Came in too late last night to catch up on the blog - hence the early start today. I need your prayers - there is a faulty on/off switch of the tower of the computer I am using at our hosts' apartment. Sometimes it takes me 20 mins to start up. Should I suddenly go off the air then you will understand but I believe God will make a way for me to continue with my journal.

Yesterday was a blessed day. The icy/snowy conditions started to thaw and temperatures rose a little. We attended 2 awesome services - one at Metanoia Baptist Church here in Arad - incredible praise and worship/carols and an awesome Word on Trials and Tribulations from the last Chapter of 2 Thessalonians. Later we went with Pastor Jackie to her Church in Vinga which was full to capacity, including the 2 Sunday School Classes. That too was an incredible meeting where many shared what God has been doing in their lives including how He had brought them to the point of forgiveness. Jackie lit the Joy candle and spoke a powerful Word on the subject. Praise God for the newly formed Church choir seen above in action. We are sorry to miss 3 Baptisms and a baby dedication which will take place after we depart.

We had hoped to attend another evening service at a new Charismatic Church in this neighbourhool called "Adoram" but we arrived home too late for the start. Instead we went out visiting several families which I will write about separately.

Boxes and more Boxes!!!

2010-12-11T11:54:00.000-08:00

Minus 3 this morning as we travelled on icy roads out to Sofronea to sort out shoeboxes for the many distributions ahead next week. En route we came across an old shepherd in sheepskins with his flock - seen here in the distance. It was freezing in the outbuilding but, with the help of Vio, Jackie's neighbour and friend plus breaks for hot drinks we managed to complete everything by 4 pm. Another English Charity called to collect 80 of our shoeboxes for distribution at Apple Way on 23rd December. After thawing out by Pastor Jackie's home log burners we set out for the city, first calling at the Music Club in San Nicolau Mic. Later we visited my dear friend Nina who has 9 children and who also cares for her sick mother.

Nina has had a very hard life but we pray for an imminent conclusion to her 3 year battle with the state to enable her to sell land owned by her late father which was seized under communist rule. They are a beautiful Christian family and we value their friendship and fellowship.

We give thanks that the 13 year old girl who went missing earlier in the week is back home tonight with her family. Please join us in prayer for this family because the mother has multiple problems which is reflecting on the lives of the children.

It is again snowing in Arad tonight and driving conditions are appalling. I think we may be facing a skating rink in the morning. I am so so tired tonight - I just want to crash out. We hope you all have a blessed day tomorrow.

Another blessed day

2010-12-10T13:26:00.000-08:00

Minus 3 this morning with icy roads as we made our way out to Pastor Jackie's house to spend the morning sorting shoeboxes ready for distribution. We also met with 2 Baptist Pastors from Timisoara who visited to collect food and shoe box gifts for widows in another remote village in the Judet of Timisoara. The Pastors also have a prison ministry.

Poor Elizabeth and Sarah, Jackie's 2 grandchildren are both sick with chicken pox. Our friends, Peter, Christine and Sophia, Peter's grandaughter are leaving in the early hours for home and so in the afternoon we all enjoyed a nice meal with Jackie and family.

Later we had a huge welcome at the San Nicolau Mic Kid's club. What a joyous evening of singing carols, teaching and watching a DVD. Marius, the leader is truly annointed and these children are thriving in the Word. Peter and Christine distributed hat, scarve and glove sets to all the children, much to their delight. The temperature has really dropped tonight - time to put the thermals on.

Back at the Baby Hospital

2010-12-09T09:44:00.000-08:00

It was surprisingly mild this morning and raining as we made our way to the baby hospital via the market to purchase disposable nappies. We are blessed to have our hosts' daughter Adina, who is a Christian and qualified social worker volunteer at the hospital when we are not around. Adina now works for Jackie's Foundation and is very much part of our team. - we value her.

We were warmly welcomed by the staff and I met with Dr. Geanta who is the Chief Doctor. The wards were full of sick children, mostly with mothers present. Today there were 9 abandoned babies on the two wards and soon we were feeding, bathing and cuddling them. Our friend, Kathleen a British part-time missionary had been over in June and supplied beautiful coloured sheets and new toys and it was a blessing to see these in the cots. Soon we had smiles from even the sickest of babies - one was very malnourished and all were small for their ages.

On the long walk back to the apartment we bumped into S and her 4 year old son, I who was begging on the street in the same spot she has begged at for years. I have known S ever since I first arrived in Romania in 2001. She is a former street kid but now lives with her father in a shack in a very poor area of the city not far from where we stay. Praise God her son goes to a Gradinita (Pre-School Playgroup) set up by another English Foundation. Her former partner died of TB last year and we attended his funeral. We love them both - here they are with Wayne. S will never smile for the camera because she has lost all her front teeth due to decay. Please pray for them.

Tonight it is snowing in Romania but we pray that it does not stick to much because in the morning we are out in Sofronea (Jackie's village which is about 5 miles out of the city).