Joy with the babies and city widows

Today Adina, Lynsey and myself spent 4 hours at the baby hospital providing volunteer care for the beautiful babies.  I was warmly greeted by various members of staff and it was a blessed morning spending value time with 2 babies aged 7 and 13 months. We left after they had dropped off to sleep following their midday feed.  Respecting their Data Protection Laws we are not allowed to supply pictures.

Zina seen with Adina.

Susana 

Then Adina and I went shopping for the Widows Mite food parcels for the Judet of Arad.  There  are 16 people currently on the programme in this State  with the rest being in 2 other states which Pastor Vlad takes responsibility for.  After making up all the food parcels we toured around the city distributing them.    I met Toni, widower of Maria Talpos for the first time since his dear wife of 68 years died in the spring.  He was wiping away the tears because he misses her so much and we prayed with him.  I also met the 2 new ladies on the programme, Susana and Zena.  Susannah was upset because her old fridge had broken down and Zena was crippled with arthritis and started crying when Adina gave her some photos she had taken of her.  I am away in the State of Timisoara for 2 days from tomorrow visiting widows in 4 remote villages with Pastor Vlad.  Hence there will be no more blogging until my return and I have access to a PC.
These poor people lead such lonely lives.  I will write up their stories in due course.    I am afraid I did not make the Bible Study at Jackie's tonight,  We came in late tired and I wanted to do an update on this

Back at the Lucas and Mocrea

Christine and I were chatting until the early hours and she left at 4.15 am. I went along with Jackie for the ride to the airport and she delivered me to the Lucas apartment around 6.30 am.  I am always warmly welcomed by this lovely family and after a bit of unpacking settled down for an hours sleep.    After breakfast we left for Mocrea Psychiatric hospital, about an hours drive away.  Today we were a team of 6 and as usual the patients were overjoyed to see us.  The weekly visits make such a difference to their lives and today we were armed with drinks, biscuits and crafts to make smiley faces.  With the weather still in the 40's we were working in a covered area outdoors.  After the crafts they began singing Romanian hymns and action songs followed by individual recitation and singing items.  I was so filled with joy to see each one full of pride and confidence as they participated individually.  We finished with a time of individual prayer.  It was a special day enjoyed by all.

One of the things I love about being in Romania in the summer is the way everyone stays outdoors until late at night.  As I write I can hear shreaks of laughter coming from the children's playground outside.  You will also find hundreds of people out walking in the parks after the sun has gone down and the temperature drops a little.  People love to socialise outdoors in the summer.

Another thing I came across on Sunday.  After returning from Vinga church I took a nap, when suddenly I was woken by a loud brass band playing across the street from my bedroom window.  It was 5 pm and it was leading a funeral procession on foot to the orthodox church down the road.  Funerals here are quite different to back home.  They take place very soon after the death, especially in summer.  It is customary to have a wake and to take photos of the bodies and also their loves ones saying goodbye - a task I was once given when I lived full time in Romania.

Whilst blogging is not a problem since having use of Adina Luca's PC attaching pictures is but I am hoping to resolve the problem.  Tomorrow morning I am at the baby hospital with Adina Luca and Lyndsey, an American Missionary who lives next door to Jackie which I very much look forward to.

PC Problems but a brief update

The heat here is intense and sleeping is only possible with a fan.  Unlike the December trip, when our schedule is so tight with Christmas programmes and shoebox distributions it is important this trip that I get the balance right between spiritual time and project/ministry time.

Due to commitments with her son, Christine leaves early in the morning but I stay on until the 22nd.  It has also been important for me to be around her for support as this is the first trip she has made back to her house since Peter's death.  We have both really missed him but there has been a real feeling of his presence at the house which has been a great comfort to Christine.  I shall miss her company when she leaves tomorrow.  Its been great having a Bible Study and prayer partner.

Saturday we went to the Children's programme at Vinga taking pop and apples for the children.  Jackie is blessed with a truly anointed team running this ministry: Pastor Vlad, his lovely wife, Alina, Bogdan and his mum Delia.  Bogdan has married since my last visit and will become a dad in the spring.

Sunday morning we visited our good friend Nina.  Nina was my best friend when I lived in Romania.  She was the teacher at Jackie's School and so we worked together.  Nina has brought up 10 children - 6 have now fled the nest and she misses them.  Her mum died a few months ago.  Dealing with  grief and her ailing health has not been easy and she so appreciated our visit.  Chris took her a gift in memory of Peter. We accepted a kind lunch invitation from Christine's neighbours who adored Peter and supported him so much during his illness.  Afterwards it was on to Vinga Church.  The newly extended building is really beautiful. It was a blessing to be back among fellow brothers and sisters.  Jackie did a baby dedication and spoke a good Word on our eternal destination.

Today we joined Jackie and 2 fellow missionaries on a trip to a working monastery in a remote area about 15 kilometres outside the city.  It was a place of great beauty and tranquility and we had some time in the gardens doing Bible Study before enjoying a time of fellowship around a meal on the way home.  After a short time at Jackie's home we returned to town to meet up with 2 good Romanian friends.  Peter had supported T during very difficult circumstances and had taken him into his home before being instrumental in reuniting him with his family.  His health is now much improved and it is always a joy to spend time with them both.

Tomorrow after saying goodbye to Christine, I will be moving to the Luca's apartment more in the centre of the city which is more accessible to some of the projects.   I hope to be able to attach a few pictures later.

Back in our beloved Romania

Christine & I arrived in Romania yesterday and I am staying with her at the house.  This is our first trip since Peter's death and we miss him.  Temperatures are in the 40's and mosquitos have already had some chunks out of me.  Yesterday we attended a meeting with the leader and new volunteer team who will be offering continued support at the local Baby Hospital and this morning we were up early getting all our essential medical tests done.  It was good to return to some quiet time with the Lord

An update on Charity Activities

What have we been up to in the past few months?  The AGM in  May was well attended and we were pleased that our friend, Christine accepted the nomination to become a Trustee of the Charity.  Christine has worked tirelessly with us in Romania for many years.

We also held a Sponsored Walk in the Brecon Area (Talybont to Brecon) along the canal route and were blessed with glorious weather.  To date £623 has been raised - more funds are awaited.  We also enjoyed a nice buffet on our return - thanks to my future daughter in law, Becs for rallying support and to her employers at the Play Barn for allowing us use of their conference room for the buffet.

Our friend, Christine Sansom also spent many hours making a beautiful Button Banner to raise sponsorship for the Charity,  A bit thank you to her - we are awaiting a total figure on the amount raised.  I have been out on speaking engagements also raising funds and Wayne & I had a stall at a Church fete in Hirwaun. 

I have spent much time sorting clothes at Hirwaun and we have raised over a £100 from sales of them.  We have worked hard at raising support for the Christmas Appeal and have already received 140 boxes.  Wayne has been working extremely hard at converting our premises at Hirwaun into a shoe box operation centre with Irene sorting all the items and putting everything in place in the correct order.  We have already began having RR mornings for our volunteers.  A big thank you to Sheila who again is covering hundreds of shoe boxes for distribution to schools, Churches and generous individuals.

Wayne and his nephew Eifion have started training for the Cardiff Half Marathon and need  as much support as they can get.  Please contact me if you can help.

A tribute to our dear friend Peter Grover

With Christine who devotedly cared for him

Our dear friend and loyal supporter of Reaching Romania, Peter Grover sadly passed away in May.  He is the brother of Kay Grover who founded the Charity in 1990.  Peter & Christine have a home in Romania, where during the past 15 years they have spent considerable time supporting Pastor Jackie with the various projects and ministries.

As Mus Craciun in Varadia

At  Vinga Chuch Dec 2012

There are many things that we will miss about Peter: his big heart full of love which was extended to all he met and the practical, emotional and financial support he gave to many in need.  He was never happier than when dressed in his Father Christmas (Mus Nicolai) outfit distributing gifts around the ministries and to the poor.  There are many examples of his generosity and compassionate heart but one in particular springs to mind.  T had been an alcoholic for many years and through it lost his home, his wife and twin sons.  In the absence of suitable state facilities being available for support he was placed in Mocrea Psychiatric Hospital and forgotten about for many years.  Through his weekly visits with the team Peter built up a close friendship with T.  Such was Peter's heart that with Pastor Jackie's support and through liaispn with the management of the hospital, T was released to Peter's care.  He encouraged and supported T in rebuilding his life.  He and Jackie arranged meetings with his former wife and children, relationships were rebuilt and the family were reunited.

Peter accompanied by Christine returned to hs beloved Romania for one last trip a few weeks beofre he died - it was important for him to say goodbye to his many friends there including T.  We give thanks for his life and that God made all this possible.  His memory will live on and we extend our sincere condolences to Christine.

Wayne, myself and Pastor Jackie all attended his funeral in May in Northampton and we will be priveleged to attend his memorial service in Norwich in September.

I will post a picture of Peter later.

Easter Greetings

Apologies for not having been in touch since my return from Romania.  We had a blessed family Christmas - our first back in Sennybridge which was a joy.  January presented another hiccup with my health in that I was diagnosed with Glaucoma and Wayne has had a prolonged chest infection. We are trusting God to heal us both.  At the end of January Wayne & I managed a 4 day break at Nicholaston House on the Gower.  It was a great time of spiritual refreshment.

Before the New Year I was back out searching for bargain sales wrapping paper and shoe box fillers as we enthusiastically begin our Christmas Appeal for 2013.   Thanks also to my friend Elizabeth Peters who always assists with the bargain hunting for fillers and makes up all the Baby Boxes.

I returned from Romania with the needs of the Widows Mite Project heavy on my heart.  This Project desperately needs more funding to maintain it.  Pastor Jackie adds people in pure faith that the Lord will provide and we are part of that provision.  Hence I have been busy  organising fund raising eg. cake making, appeals in Parish Magazines, speaking engagements, Grocery Packing at a local supermarket, planning a Brecon area Sponsored Walk and our good friend Christine Sansom has been busy making the Charity a beautiful Button Banner (another sponsored event).  I will write about this and other items in more detail complete with pictures after Easter. 

Posters of shoe box distribution were also forwarded to Schools, Churches & other Organizations as a feedback and a thank you for their support.  We are giving thanks that we have already received 35 beatuifully made up Widows Mite filled boxes and 26 Baby Boxes.    I will write separate articles on these later.

I would appreciate your prayers for our good friends Peter and Christine, who are constant supporters of the Charity both here and in Romania.  Both Peter and Christine's son, Phillip are poorly at the current time and require prayers for healing.  Also please pray for strength for Christine as she supports both of them.

Our latest Easter Newsletter can be accessed from the News & Download page of the website.

Have a blessed Easter as we remember His Sacrifice and celebrate His Rising.