Journal for 18th December - Back in Apple Way distributing aid

Friday, 18^th December, 2015

With the help of Adina's brother with the minibus and also her dad and uncles we loaded a trailer full of clothing aid to take to a very poor gipsy area on the outskirts of the city called “Apple Way”.    The area consists of families living in shacks along bumpy and muddy tracks.  I met some people I already knew from the past.  Everyone received something and the distribution went smoothly.  Thank you for answered prayer.  We entered the home of a family of 8 who lived in one room and had only one bed settee to sleep on.  Their request was for another similar one.  We will pray that one will be found.

From there we visited 2 friends of the Luca family on Oituz where we were so warmly welcomed.  It is amazing how God works.  When we told them about our work they asked if we could help with shoe box gifts for a children's ministry attached to a church in a very poor village on  route to Oradea.  We still have boxes left  – phone calls were made to establish the ages and sexes of the children so we could meet the need.  They will take photos of the distribution.  From Oituz we went to Sofronea to sort the rest of the shoe boxes and remaining items of our consignment.  Much work was carried out – further items distributed and the rest stored for the time being.  Pastor Jackie's back bedroom was returned to its former state because she has an American  missionary arriving  from Bulgaria for Christmas.

Still feeling unwell we were rather tired at arriving home.  Later 3 children arrived at the Luca apartment to receive  gifts.  First there were 2 boys from Maria and Ioan's church who have very difficult home circumstances.  We so enjoyed their company catching up on what they  have been doing during the past year and discussing their hopes for the future giving thanks that they are grounded in the faith.  Next to visit was little E who lives in another apartment in this block with her mother and twin older siblings.  Her mother is divorced but contrary to British law the father got to keep the family home and the mother and children had to leave and rent accommodation – so their lives are hard because maintenance does not appear to be enforced in this country. Our host Maria helps with taking and fetching E from school.  She sang us some carols and we were blessed to spend time with all the children.