The Widow's Mite Project - Smilia and Aurelia from Dolat

Many of you will recall my writing about the above mother (aged 90) and her daughter (aged 66) who had mental and physical disabilities and who resided in squalid conditions in one room of their run down home in a remote village in the Judet of Timisoara near the Serbian border. This photo was taken 2 years ago.

We last visited them whilst in Romania in December and were upset by their declining health and inability to get out of bed or eat.  I wrote movingly on the blog and  we prayed that God would take them both home.  It had always been Smilia's prayer that he take them either together or that Aurelia die before her.  We give thanks that this week God rewarded her for her faithfulness as she passed away a day after Aurelia.  There is no more pain nor sorrow but peace in eternal life with the Father.

Prayers for my Mum and some dear friends

With so much happening in January and our return to Church Ministries I prayed that God would spare me some uninterupped time to meet the 31st  deadline for submission of my own income tax return and the Charity Commission Return - thank you that I made it in good timewith the help of Pastor Chris, our Chairman.

Unfortunately my mum (seen here on New Year's day) sustained a minor stroke and was again hospitalised for a week - we give thanks that she has made a good recovery.  However there has been a further hiccup in the past few days when she needed a biopsy so please pray for a satisfactory result.   I am currently spending a lot of my time supporting her thus travelling a great deal so please bear with me if there are delays in my blogging.    I suffered a fall myself last week resulting in concussion for several days but am now truly healed. 

I would also appreciate your prayers for our sister,  Gladys from the Almond Tree Ministry who is 88 and poorly in hospital and whom I visited this week.  Our dear friend and loyal RR supporter, Teresa is also in need of your prayers as she faces trials and also Diane as she slowly recovers from her appalling injuries following a fall. 

Our treasured friend - David James

In my previous blog, I mentioned that our dear friends of many years, David and Diane James from Brecon had joined us for Christmas Day.  They were also loyal supporters of the Charity.

Sadly on New Year's Eve we received news that David who was a former Baptist Pastor has suddenly passed away earlier in the day.  I want to pay tribute to a wonderful friend who would always go the extra mile to help any one.  On Christmas Day he was full of enthusiasm and excitement about his new job and volunteered his services as a driver to Romania.  It was truly a blessed day with lots of laughter with Diane organizing an after dinner quiz.  We also have great memories of them both organizing all the flowers for our wedding.

We give thanks for his life, for the fact that he did not suffer, that he died during such a happy period when he was about to embark on writing his life story but  most of all that he is in heaven.

Please pray for dear Diane, his widow who sustained multiple injuries following a horrendous fall after his death.  We give thanks for their beautiful children, Clive and Deena who have been a tower of strength. 

Back in Wales for Christmas

Contact at last - I can only apologise for the delay.

We arrived home from Romania to heavy snow in Britain.  We met passengers at Heathrow who had been stranded in the airport for 3 nights so we gave thanks for our safe arrival with no delays.  We were grateful to our friend Ivan who had dug out his car to collect us from Aberdare Station. With Christmas looming we made for Tescos to do some food shopping.    Collecting my little car from Kay and Ray's farm was not an option as it was snowed in and we arrived home to an unwelcoming log cabin with frozen pipes.  After collecting our mail we made for Brecon and spent the night in the comfort of Mum's bungalow. Praise God she had fully recovered from her chest infection but we received sad news that Aunt Barbara had passed away

Wayne took several days to defrost the pipes and incurred a few bursts along the way so we transferred Christmas celebrations to mum's bungalow and I set about doing the shopping, cleaning and cooking.  After stuffing the Turkey we returned to Wayne's old Church in Seven Sisters for the midnight service.  It was great to meet up with old friends who support our projects in Romania.  To avoid undue travelling we attended the Christmas Day service at Mum's Presbyterian Church in Brecon with our friends, Diane and David who later joined us for a truly memorable day.  On Boxing Day Caroline, Richard and Morgan came over for lunch - my son, Wayne was unfortunately laid low with a stomach bug and we truly missed his and Becca's presence.    Hubbie, Wayne and I took Morgan  out on the sledge which was great fun.

After such a busy time  and with the cabin dried out Wayne and I took a few days out before the New Year to just rest up which is very unusual for us!!!

My family is so dear to me - here are a few pictures of us over the festive season.

Saying goodbye

We are down to our last few hours in Romania that is provided our flight is not delayed due to snow and ice at Luton Airport.  We are also aware that there could be delays with our coach trip back to Wales so please pray for us because we need to be home with just a few days to go to Christmas.

We have a really blessed trip and it is hard to say goodbye to this country and its people who are so embedded in my heart but I hope to be back in May.

We spent the morning at Mocrea with a huge Christmas programme.  We took along Marius from the school playing the mandalin as our team strolled from ward to ward (both unsecure and secure) singing carols, distributing gifts, fruit, coffee, sweets and Christmas tracts.  It was indeed a blessing to bring the joy of the birth of Jesus into their lives.

We respect the privacy of the patients and so I am selective of what pictures I attach to this post.

 We later visited 2 of our challenging cases with Christmas trees, presents and refreshments.  They both need a lot of prayer.  Our last stop was with my our Nina and her 9 children - then home to the packing.

A place of extremes

Romania is a place of extremes - not only regarding the weather with the cold winters and the boiling summers with lots of mosquitos.  It is normal to see a BMW with blacked out windows driven by a rich businessman, followed by a horse and cart and then an old man on a bike.    When I first lived in Arad on the edge of the city - on the one side there was a humble family who ran a mini farm in their back garden - cows, sheep, pigs which were frequently slaughtered, rabbits and chickens.  A rooster used to wake me up every morning. On the other side I never once saw my neighbours whom I believe were rich Italian businessmen.  They used to drive up and the electronic front gates would open.  In my back garden was an old man with his paralised wife who lived in very poor conditions with no mod cons.

As most of you know Jackie and myself  continue to work with a lot of poor Sigani (Roma) families which is often very challenging.  On the one side of the scale you have families living in shacks with no bulletin (ID card) who have little hope of finding a job because they have no education and also because of  prejudice.  On the other side  you have the very rich gypsies who travel to other European countries to make money by various methods and return to Romania to build mansions and drive around in Mercedes. 

Whilst the main city roads are being upgraded many of the side roads are full of huge pot holes that can wreck your car.  Begging is rife and you will find prostitutes on most of the city approach roads.  My second home in Arad was on a dirt track.  Everyone needs to pay attention when walking in the dark side streets because you can easily drop into an open manhole without warning.  Another thing to look out for are horses and carts on dark unlit country roads.   

 

One of the things that hit me today when I was taking phographs at the Church in Vinga today was the oppression written over the faces of the people.  Praise God they come regularly to Church which gives them hope but the sadness of their lives always comes through even in the eyes of the children.  I had to prompt some of the children to smile for the camera.  Having said that they are such  hospitable and friendly people who have and continue to suffer hardship with all the recent cutbacks in wages and increase in VAT.  I asked one person how they manage and he said "You forget, we have lived through communism!"   

I love this country and it's people and am already looking forward to my next trip.  I take home so much in my heart.  Thank you Lord for allowing me to be your humble servant. 

Vinga Church Christmas Programme and Gift Distribution

Last week Pastor Jackie was blessed with a new Dacia 4 X 4 which she was just getting used to.   Her American sponsors had wanted her to go for a better make of vehicle and had provided appropriate funds - however Jackie was happy to stick with Dacia which is a much cheaper make.  I do hope she made the right decision because this afternoon between her village and the city it broke down and she had to have it towed back to the garage - so she did not make it to the Church.  Also both her grandaughters have chicken pox.   The capable elders came to the rescue and ran the service including the lighting of the last advent candle which symbolises "Love".  There was  a time of sharing and Wayne and I spoke separately on God's Love and what it means to us.

This was followed by the Children's programme including a Nativity Play and a simple stable scene.  The children were excited and performed well - we give thanks for Delia and Ligia, the Sunday School teachers.  This was followed by shoebox distribution by the elders and teachers.  Over 90 boxes were handed to the children and it really was loaves and fishes provision because every year several new children arrive when they hear about Christmas boxes.   All the families were handed a monetary donation (calculated by the size of the family) so they could buy their Christmas groceries.  Pastor Jackie felt stongly this year that they should be given this responsibility themselves.   

There has been a real move of the Holy Spirit in the Church in the past 2 years and there is talk of a further extension!!  Due to Jackie's absence we missed on the Widow's Christmas Gift distribution in Vinga today which I assume will now be done by the Church elders.  I was sad to say goodbye to everyone but I hope to be back in May. 

A thankful heart and a big smile that lit up the room.