It's time to say goodbye

Our time here is drawing to a close.  It's been a different day without a heavy schedule -  a time to spend with friends and a time of reflection about the whole trip.  This is not our work but His and we are just His humble servants.  We give thanks for the privilege of being used - we endeavered to bring honour and glory to His name in all that we did. 

Pastor Jackie summed everything up at the Church Meeting last night by reminding us that we need to fill ourselves with the Light of Jesus in order to shine for Him and pass that Light to others. We can do nothing without being filled by His strength, power and grace.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this trip in any way.  We give daily thanks for your prayers and support throughout the year.

Leaving Romania is always an emotional time for me.We depart for the airport at 5am  in the morning and pray that there will no flight cancellations or delays at Luton airport.  When I left Wales my Internet was down and so I apologise if you don't hear from us over Christmas.  This is a time to devote to our families, who are so special to us.

May God Bless You all

Have a wonderful Christmas
and a Blessed New Year full
of His Peace, Joy and Love

San Nicolau Mic Church and more

Monday night was spent at San Nicolau Mic Church where Jackie always closes the Christmas communion service with everyone lighting candles.  This signifies the receiving of the Light of Jesus so that we can go out into the world and give of that light to others.  It was a time of reflection and giving thanks for all that He has done for us in addition to the celebration of His Birth.

After leaving church we went with our hosts, the Lucas to deliver Christmas gifts to 2 Children's Homes, one of which was Tabitha, where I have a long association. Have you every seen Father Christmas in full costume driving a minibus through the city? - seeing the faces of people at the traffic lights was a picture!!  The 30 children were all excited and it was a blessing to spend a little time with them.  We also had gifts for the staff, who are so dedicated.

Then the Lucas took us to visit a lovely Christian family in Vladamirescu where we met a grandmother, her son and his 2 young children.  They have a third child, aged just 1 who is in hospital in Cluj accompanied by her mother so the family will be separated again over Christmas.  Cluj is a city several hours drive away and Danny has been helping with transport.  This little girl is seriously ill and needs a valve in her brain to survive.  Danny was delivering a supply of donated Christmas food and RR will give shoebox gifts.  Please pray that God will heal this little girl and give the family daily strength. They are  under considerable financial pressure due to the medical costs so if anyone feels it on their heart to help then please contact us at RR and we will supply all the details.

Our last few days

Last night was the first time I failed to do my daily blog!  We came in late from a full schedule and after eating I flopped into bed.  It was a special day out again in freezing and slippery conditions.  The morning was taken up with delivering some more Christmas presents to widows in the town. Vilma is now in very poor health and ready to meet her Saviour - we pray that God's will be done.  We also met for the first time Ana, who is paralized and has  recently been added to the program - she was in mourning for her sister and a friend and was really distressed.  After a prayer it was good to see a peace enter her heart.   We also called in with a little fruit and sweets for my previous neighbour, Buna and delivered Christmas boxes to 2 former orphans now being cared for by his daughter and Pastor son-in-law.

Then it was back to Ana and Lavi (see report from our first day here) with a further supply of wood and a gift box for the imminent arrival of their baby.  We give thanks for their metal room heater made  by the old gentleman we visited previously in Apple Way.  Jackie had also delivered them a Christmas food parcel the previous day.  They were giving thanks to the Lord.

Without the weight of a truck full of wood from Jackie's own home and her experienced driving we may not have made it to some of our destinations! Every day we pray protection over ourselves and that He will go before us.

View from the apartment

Just wanted to share a few other special pictures from the day.  The first is this morning's view from our host's apartment.  Also here is a photo of Pastor Jackie and the 2 beautiful grandaughters that she raises - Sarah and Elizabeth who not only participated in the Nativity Program today but are often present on the mission field alongside their grandmother. They are a real blessing.

Vinga Church Christmas Program

Another bitterly cold day as we ventured out in 6 inches of snow to catch the tram to the Metanoie Church. We were filled with incredible Praise and a wonderful Word and it was good to meet up with Marius and some of his team from the San Nicolau Mic Centre.  We were so pleased that a young mother and her 3 daughters who need support joined us again this week and we are praying that they will make this church their spiritual home. We explained that their Christmas food parcel and shoebox gifts was God's provision.

We returned home and thawed out to a superb meal prepared by our wonderful hosts, the Luca family.  Then it was a quick visit to the 6th floor of our apartment block with another food parcel and Christmas boxes to a lovely family of 10 who worship at the local Pentecostal Church.  After driving in treacherous conditions Pastor Jackie arrived to collect us for the Christmas program at Vinga Church.The Nativity Play incorporated into the Service was a production to behold as we celebrated the birth of our Lord and Saviour. All the excited children left with pocketfuls of sweets and mandarins.  For us it was time to say goodbye to our Church friends until the spring.  We have been blessed in being part of their lives for 3 weeks.  Pastor Jackie encountered a few problems trying to get the truck out of the village in the heavy snow but God was with us and we made it.  Sunday is my night for being in floppy mode but I give thanks for a blessed sabboth.

Delivering food parcels in the snow

God is good and we give thanks every day for his love, strength and the way that He equips us to go about our daily work. We must never forget that this work is His and we are merely His humble servants.  We also give thanks for those who come alongside us in His service.

Today we set out with 3 vehicles on route for Vinga loaded with Christmas food parcels, costumes and a set  for the dress rehearsal for the Children's Christmas program at the Church tomorrow.  I have never known such icy winds and our team were wrapped up in layers with hats, scarves and gloves.    Despite the weather whole families suddenly appeared alongside the frozen snow covered dirt roads full of potholes waiting for their food supply.  All were grateful to receive a parcel of food sufficient for making a delicious Christmas dinned and more.   The rehearsal went well and we returned to Pastor's Jackie's house late afternoon dropping off a few more food parcels for poor families on route.

Our good friend and fellow missionary, Walter joined us at Pastor Jackie's for a delicious dinner tonight followed by some prayer time which we all felt the benefit of.  Several inches of snow had fallen by the time we set off back to the city.  We give thanks for Walter, who is from Colorado and is used to driving in such conditions.  It has been a blessed day and I give thanks for our quiet intimate prayer time.  I used Pastor Jackie's camera today and so am not able to download pictures tonight.  You may have to wait for a few days for me to insert them.

More celebrations at San Nicolau Mic Kid's Club

On return to Pastor Jackie's house this afternoon we quickly loaded up the truck again and were back on the road to the San Nicolau Mic Kid's Club for another Christmas program. Marius and his team are committed to raising up in Jesus these wonderful group of almost 40 children and they shine. His Music Club is producing such talented young musicians.

There were carols, a Bible verse and story, solo acts and a sketch. Pastor Jackie provided the Pizza and hot chocolate which went down a treat!! This was followed by the shoebox distribution. We have further gifts for the adult team tomorrow. I am having problems with my camera today - there is a shimmer on the screen and some of the pictures are blurring. I think I may need a new battery - please pray that I will be able to get one tomorrow - however my camera is Japaneze!!!!!