Our good friends at St. Mary's Church

We are back into the swing of fund raising with our table top sales.  Here is Wayne hard at work selling our goods, most of which were donated by generous friends.  I did my bit setting up the stall!!  I have been doing battle with my main computer which suddenly developed problems 2 weeks ago.  It is currently in bits at our good friend, Ray's home - we pray it is nothing serious because I am so reliant on it.  In the meantime I am using the laptop Wayne bought me on the sales.  It is proving very useful, especially when I have to stop over at my mam's.  I have written the latest newsletter and it should be printed late next week.

We give thanks for our good lady friends from Wayne's old church - St. Margaret's in Seven Sisters.  They recently donated lots of useful  items to the Charity and it was blessing to meet up with them again.  Tonght we have been at the Church Youth Club and tomorrow we are travelling up  Burton on Trent to celebrate the 1st Birthday of our lovey Grandson, Dylan. 

Getting back into routine

My family life is precious to me and it has been important to take time out to support my 3 children prior to and following the death of their dad.

After a few computer problems I have at last made a start on my charity administration backlog but there is still much outstanding - please be patient with me.  We are also busy with our ministry work back at the Church.  I have taken on the leadership of the "Little Lambs" Mother and Toddler Group and am so grateful to husband Wayne and our good friend Debbie for their help and support.  We continue to serve as part of the Almond Tree team, a ministry for the elderly where we recently gave a presentation on our Christmas Mission Trip.Whenever possible we also support  the Friday night Youth Club. 

Today we did our first fundraising event of the New Year with a table top sale at Glynneath Town Hall.

Thanksgiving for the life of Malcolm

God is gracious and loving in all circumstances.  For many years Malcolm, my former husband and I maintained a special bond of friendship.   Sadly in  March 2009 his health deteriorated resulting in frequent hospitalisation.  On New Year's Eve he lost his fight against the illness and will be greatly missed by all the family and his many friends.

Despite the sadness and great loss we are giving thanks for his life and all he brought to us during his 64 years.  He has left us a wonderful legacy of memories filled with love.  I personally give thanks for the many happy years that we shared, for our beautiful children, Caroline, Neil and Wayne and their wonderful partners, for our little treasure of a grandson, Morgan, for our own bond of friendship and for the devoted way that our children cared for him during his illness.

What an assurance we have knowing that he is now enjoying eternal life with his Lord and Saviour, having asked Jesus into his heart in March.

Back in Wales

Due to circumstances we extended our stay in Romania until the 27th December.  Our hosts ensured we had a blessed time as we celebrated the true meaning of the season with Church services and groups of carol singers calling in.  We were also pleased to spend time with Pastor Jackie, her family and friends on Christmas Day.

Our good friend Ivan kindly collected us from Cardiff Station and treated us to a lovely meal on the way home.  Alas on our return we had to deal with 2 burst pipes resulting in water pouring through into 3 rooms.  Within an hour of our homecoming I had to leave Wayne to deal with the flood whilst I travelled to Brecon to sleep over with my mum who was unwell.  I give thanks that she is now much improved.

As soon as the snow clears we are looking forward to resuming our Church activities.  In the meantime there is much Charity administration to catch up on including updating the website.

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.