The Widows Mite Project at Dud

Outside of Ghita's house

On leaving Mocrea we went to the remote village of Dud to deliver food parcels and Christmas Gifts to the 2 people included on the programme there.    It is a beautiful scenic route  - life in rural Romania is so very different to the city.  There are geese, chickens, turkeys and sometimes cows or horses on the muddy roads complete with horses and carts.. Also along the streets you will find farm machinery and huge tree trunks waiting to be cut up for fire wood.

Helping Bogdan with a spot of cleaning. The dust is covering the camera lense

Christmas present opening time

Some clean clothes and company has put a smile on his face.

First stop of the day was Georghe (known as Ghita) whom I met for the first time December last year.  He was at then visiting his friend also Georghe, one of the original members of the programme who sadly died earlier in the year.  It was strange going to  Dud and not seeing him - we miss him.   After learning more about Ghita's circumstances he was added to the programme early in the New Year.

Everyone on the programme has a story to tell.  G is aged 75 and he has been a widower for 12 years.. In Romanian culture it is the woman who runs the house and so after his wife died conditions deteriorated  to extent that he lived in  squalor surrounded by mountains of refuse both inside and outside the house.  Sadly be became the source of much gossip in the village but no-one was prepared to help.

Ghita's repaired cooker

We are here to love  and care for people in all circumstances and soon Jackie gathered together her  own team, Members and Youth Group from Vinga, other foreign missionaries and even an American Missionary team and "Operation Ghita" was underway.   It caused quite a stir in the village - they could not understand why complete strangers would want to travel for almost an hour to help  a "down and out".     We pray that seeds were planted and we await the harvest.

The team spent several days in the village clearing the rubbish internally and externally (there were lots of bonfires).  His bed was burned and another one  donated, his old stove was repaired and a layer of paint was stripped from his smoke damaged walls.  All the spare wood found in the different areas of the yard was gathered together for winter fuel.  Adina cut his hair and gave him a shave and new clothes and  bed linen were supplied   Jackie bought a water butt to store drinking water which comes for his neighbour's well.    He did not have a toilet so an earth one was made in the garden.

Lena has just been painting her fire

He was also added to the programme with a monthly supply of food.  Being unable to cook for himself his parcel consists mainly  tinned foods.  However Georghe's support is not only about food.  As he is unable to care for himself, he requires continuing help with personal hygiene, cleaning, washing etc.  So Bogdan and Vlad call regularly to clean up, dispose of any refuse, to ensure his bed linen and clothes are changed. They also take care of his laundry. Dog food is also supplied for his best friend.    Praise God G's quality of life has so...o improved and its all down to the Kingdom principle of "Loving God and Loving People 

G also has multiple medical problems - a huge stomach hernia which is visible through his clothes.  Jackie managed to persuade him to let her take him to the doctor who explained that  he can do nothing about his problem after 8 years.  Also G has heart and lung problems - yesterday his breathing was very bad. G is so.... thankful to everyone for their ongoing love and support.

Struggling to walk since breaking her leg last year

We also visited Lena, another dear lady who is a quite a character and one of the original members of the programme.  Lena has lost her complete family - her husband and son both died many years ago and her daily life is very hard especially since breaking her leg over a year ago.  It was not set properly and she lives in constant pain.  Many of you will recall that we features a story on her in our Pre-Easter Newsletter this year.  Lena also has multiple medical problems - her medication is purchased by the Project.
She loved her Christmas shoe box gift and slippers.

Will attach more pictures later.