Word for the trip - JOY

From Wayne's Diary - 7th and 8th.  "I felt that God gave me the Word JOY for this trip.  It is always so..o exciting when GOD confirms things.  We arrived in Romania to learn that two American Missionaries, called Dave & Beth have arrived to set up a Christian Radio Station in Arad called JOY - WHOW - exciting times - this will bring the JOY of Christ to so many who need it.

We attended Vinga Church on Sunday - warmly welcomed and excited to be back in fellowship with dear friends.   My first time to see the Church since it was renovated -beautiful!
During the car journey both Chris and I felt the Holy Spirit give us the Word JOY again and guess what awaited us at the Church - A Word on  JOY from Jackie's Pastor friend, Spencer.  Today the Candle of PEACE was lit for Advent.  Here we are on the Mission field and for the first 2 days we are surrounded by JOY and PEACE - we were moved to tears!
Missing my wife - and lots of prayers going up for her Mum".

Diary of the December Mission Trip

Hubbie Wayne and Christine had a truly blessed trip to Romania from 7th to 21st December.  After a delay in their flight and a night in the airport they arrived a little tired but soon started going through their tight schedule with Pastor Jackie.  I will post several blogs with pictures using the words of my husband from his Diary.

An update on activities and forthcoming mission trip

Its been a busy few months since my return from Romania in August.  Our Annual Sponsored Walk from The Country Park Aberdare to Cwmaman  took place at the end of September and as usual we were again blessed with the weather. Around £500 was raised.  Husband Wayne ran the Cardiff Marathon for the 4th Year running - I am so proud of him because it is such a commitment with his emphysema - he always comes through the finishing line full of joy.    He was joined by his nephew, Eifion this year who also thoroughly enjoyed himself.  We are giving thanks that over £1000 was raised.

I  have been busy travelling around schools, churches etc roping in support for our Christmas Appeal.  We have indeed been blessed with people donating filled shoe box gifts, items to fill them and donations towards transportation.  We have made up around 200 boxes ourselves. 82 massive boxes including gifts for all our ministries/projects were loaded on Monday and are now on route to Romania.

Wayne and I together with Christine were due to fly out tomorrow but due to a deterioration in my mum's health I had to make a hard decision last night to withdraw from the trip.   Naturally I was disappointed but I know that my priorities have to with my elderly mam at this time - she has been hospitalised for 3 months following a fall.  I would value your prayers.  I give thanks for Wayne & Christine who together with Pastor Jackie & her team will ensure that the programmes and distributions go smoothly.  So there will be no blogging from me til their return.  I am hoping they will keep a written diary for me.  Please pray that the weather will be kind to them so they can get to all their destinations.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us in any way throughout the year.  You bless people's lives.

My last day in Romania

My precious time in Romania is coming to a close.  It is 1.30 am and I am packed and showered and I leave at 4.15am for the airport, courtesy of a lift from Pastor Jackie. I thank Christine and the Luca family for their hospitalility and support during the trip.

This morning was spent at the baby hospital with Lynsey- bathing, feeding changing and spending value play and cuddle time with 2 babies. and then sadly it was time to say goodbye to little M and D.  They are both so beautiful and have individual personalities with beautiful smiles.  They were sleeping soundly as I left and I prayed God's blessing and protection over their lives because I may never see them again.  There is now a team of 7 volunteers (including myself and Christine when we are in Romania) who go into the hospital from 9 am to 1pm Monday to Friday and today we signed our official contracts following satisfactory medical tests and training.

After leaving the hospital Jackie and I met with a Romanian girl, M who many years ago lived with me for 3 months.  She is still being supported by Jackie's ministry and is currently doing child minding work so she brought along the little 2 year old and we had lunch together in a little self service cafe.  Later I took a short nap at Jackie's house before joining Jackie and fellow foreign missionaries for a Bible Study on Jonah  and Prayer Meeting.  This is an oppressive country and the work is very challenging which is why it is so important that missionaries regularly meet to encourage and hold each other up in prayer.  Im afraid I arrived home late to start organising my departure.

A big thank you to everyone for all the support I have received this trip.  In some ways it has been a time of discovery in what God has been showing me.  Always sad to say goodbye but I will be back in December, hopefully with my dear husband, who has been a tower of strength in the way he has been sending through encouraging scriptures by text.

God is good - an update on C and the story of A

As we work in poverty stricken areas there are many heartbreaking stories to tell.  However, it is also good to share good news about how the Lord is working in people's lives.

Last year I wrote about little C with the cleft pallet whom Adina had met through the course of her work.  Praise God that she was fostered by a beautiful family who love her so much that they are now adopting her.  We give thanks for Adina who found the surgeon to perform the operation.

Adina has also been involved with little A.  He too has been placed with a lovely family who love him dearly.  I have withheld pictures to protect the privacy of the children and families involved.

Congratulations to Marius and Elena

Our good friend Marius has been the leader of the San Nicolau Mic Kids Club and the Music School Teacher for many years. He plays many instruments. He is a truly anointed leader and teacher and loved by all.  He has such a gentle quiet manner that all the children respect so much and  has a true heart for God's work.  Wayne and I have always had such admiration for him.

For many years we have been praying for a lovely wife for Marius and our prayers have been
 answered.
Beautiful  Elena from Moldova has been brought into his life and I had the privilege of meeting her at the SNM centre today for the first time on the announcement of their engagement.  We could not be more happy for them both.  They get married on 13th October in Metanoie Church in the city.  Elena will be joining Marius in his ministries and I am sure they are going to be a wonderful double act!.  May God truly bless them both as they begin their new life together.

Mocrea Day and my friend Nina

It was the last visit of my trip to Mocrea and today we were a team of 5 visiting armed with drinks, biscuits and coffee sachets.  We split the team with 2 of us doing makeup for the ladies with the other 3 organising painting, all of which was a great success.  Bogdan and I visited the locked wards with staff.  The sessions finished with singing and prayer.

We then delivered Widows Mite food parcels to the remote village of Dude.  We currently only have 2 people on the programme in this village - Lena  and George known as Ghita.  Lena is aged 85 and is now looking frail.  She broke her leg two years ago and in many ways has not recovered from it.  Whilst she is mobile again she lives in pain from her rheumatism and has heart problems.  Lena has lived a very hard life on her own for many years having lost her husband and only child at a young age.  Bogdan, myself and Ceri, an American missionary all helped to clean Ghita's home - conditions were very bad.  Since his wife died many years ago he has been unable to cope with caring for himself and unless Bogdan goes in regularly to do essential cleaning and to change his bed and clothes his situation can quickly deteriorate.  Bogdan found mice in the food cupboard and whilst cleaning we found dropping everywhere.  Ghita also has a huge hernia but doctors say there would be too much of a risk to correct it.  During the next visit he needs his beard and hair cut.

Once back in Arad I visited my good friend, Nina who lives on the end of San Nicolau Mic Village.  It was good to just sit down and catch on our family life and reminisce on the time we worked together in the SNM School.  Nina was the full time teacher and I came in to teach English and Cooking.  We had many hard but good times together.  We were such good friends and we flew her over to Wales for our wedding in 2007.