Merthyr Sponsored Walk

On 18th July in glorious sunshine we set off on our Annual Sponsored Walk along the Taff Trail towards Pontsticill.  Even though we were few walkers this year it was a day of much fun and fellowship.  Joining Trustees Wayne, myself and Ema were our friends, Sharon Thomas from Park Church, Merthyr and Glenys from Victory Church in Crickhowell.    Sharon works at Santander, Aberdare Branch and they will again be match funding her support. Details of total money raised will be updated later.

An Urgent Prayer Request for Wendy

Wendy seen here with Adina when she hosted a Coffee morning
for Reaching Romania in June

Some of you will know of our good  friend, Wendy Pope from Merthyr Tydfil who is a faithful member of Park Baptist Church, has a gift of hospitality and such a heart to help people.    She is a  keen supporter of the Charity and needs our help.

Wendy has a history of eye problems and for many years has had very limited sight in one eye.  Several weeks ago she developed severe problems with her other eye which has been closely monitored by her consultant.    Yesterday she received news that her condition has deteriorated and by tomorrow when she returns to see
the registrar she must decide whether  to proceed with an urgent operation on Thursday  which the experts say may or may not be successful.

We have a Mighty Faithful God who can perform miracles - please join us in prayer that Wendy will be made whole.

An Appeal for support for Alina

Marius the leader of the San Nicolau Kid's Club and Music School has brought to our attention an appeal for help for Alina Zsiga.  Trustees Irene, Wayne and Christine have  all met Alina and  seen her commitment to the Club and recognise  her  "calling". 

Alina is 18 years old and lives with her parents and 6 siblings in the village of Tisa-Noua near Arad in Western Romania.    She is a regular at the “Jesus Generation” Club and Music School where she plays guitar, sings and is part of the leadership team.  Her father has spent long periods out of work and her mother is confined to the home caring for one of her sisters who has a psychiatric illness.  The family struggle to survive financially.

Alina works hard and has just graduated from a  Pentecostal Theological School in Arad and wants to continue her studies by doing a 3 year social work degree in the Emanuel University in Oradea.   However her family are not in a position to financially support her.   

In her own words “As part of a large family, taking care of my little brothers and my sick sister I learned what it means to show kindness, love and to make sacrifices.  I understand the “calling”  of people who dedicate their lives to the welfare of those with physical or psychiatric problems. God put in me His love and I want to give away that love to people in need in a social foundation establishment”.  

The Charity is able to cover Alina’s tuition fees but we are looking to raise a further £504 a year to cover her accommodation and food expenses.   If you feel it on your heart to help by either giving a monthly sum by standing order or by giving a “one off” donation  then please contact Irene.  Any amount, large or small will help Alina fulfil her dream and give her a positive future.   

We appreciate your support

Visit to Israel

The Mount of Olives in the background

There are times when we all need a break and spiritual refreshment.  During our 8 years of marriage Wayne and I have always wanted to visit the Holy Land but the time was not right until now.  Earlier this year our friends, Billy and Jen invited us to join them on a holiday in Israel and our dream was realised.

Wayne and Billy at the Western Wall

 In June we were blessed to spend 2 weeks in  God's land, visiting the Biblical sights, walking where Jesus walked - everywhere we went the Bible came alive.  There was so much to take in and the visit impacted deeply on our lives, especially being re-baptized in the river Jordan by Pastor Billy.  It has been a time of reflection since returning to Wales.   God willing we hope to return one day.

The Garden Tomb

The stone rolled away

Trustees of the Charity

 Earlier in the year our good friends, Kay and Ray  resigned as Trustees of the Charity due to other commitments.  We are so very grateful for their 5 years of expertise and hard work and we wish them both all the very best in their new ventures.

After much prayer we were led to ask our 2 dear friends. Mihai and Emanuela (another strong double act!!) if they would consider taking up the positions.  They were thrilled to accept and at the Charity's Annual General Meeting  on 16th May they were officially appointed as Trustees.  We give thanks for them - being Romanian they have a complete understanding of the culture and needs of their people and are prayer warriors.  Please pray for all of us as Trustees - for wisdom and discernment in all our decision making.  We want to bring glory and honour to God in all that we do.

Mihai and Emanuela seen here with Adina at the AGM

Its back to Irene with an update!

Adina is safely back in Romania and Wayne, myself and the other Trustees want to sincerely her for all she did to help us with RR whilst here in Wales - she was in deed a blessing  and the good news is the Lord has directed her to return in October.  There are many happy people awaiting her arrival!!

Since returning to Romania Adina has been busy back  at the Tabita Children's Home and working with individual cases that she supports.  She is currently assisting (with translation and physical help) a team of 17 Americans who visit Romania annually to provide medical surgeries and spiritual support in poor communities.  The team consists of  a GP, 2 nurses, a dentist and assistant, 2 ladies who help with glasses. a barber, a Pastor, a youth leader and teenagers who assist with children.  They bring with them a huge amount of medication and equipment.  There are so many people in poor areas in the city and also out in the villages who cannot access medical care due to lack of funds and so this annual ministry is so important.  We give thanks for the hearts of the team to serve and their dedication to help those in need.

Iasmina has needed support
with a dental problem

Adina multitasking with the team dentist!

Journal for Tuesday 9th to Thursday 11th of June

Tuesday 9^th of June

My time is coming to an end and there is still much to do! This morning I started with a visit to Connie! Within my last visits with her I have shared the fact that my time is coming to an end, and she has told me quite a few times that

she will miss me once I'm gone – she has been so very sweet and I shall miss her too!

Later I returned home to pick up Irene, and from here I drove to Hirwaun to pick up 40 empty shoe boxes. On route to our next meeting we picked up Jen! We met with three wonderful ladies (Denise, Pat and Liz) at McDonalds, and one of the ladies was a deaf ministry Pastor! I had such a lovely time with them, much laughter and smiles! Before we left they filled our car up with made up shoe boxes and other items they had collected for poor people in Romania.! On our way back we stopped and meet another lovely couple, Kathryn and Jason and their 3 children. Their church also supports the charity with shoe box gifts. Our next stop was at Jen's and Billy's – and as always we had a good time -they have been such a blessing to me!

We then got back to the house in Hirwaun and unloaded the shoe boxes from the car, and while Irene worked on other things I manage to make up a couple more shoes boxes! And I couldn't return to Romania before seeing Ema and Mihai – so tonight, after 8 pm we stopped and visited with them! What a wonderful couple and great friends they are! I shall miss them much upon my return home! We left after a couple hours and made it home right around 11 pm!

Wednesday 10^th of May

This is my last day here, and there is so much to fit in! We started early this morning with a meeting with Julie (Iasmina's sponsor) –we were with her for about 2 hours, for we had much to talk about! From there off we went to meet Blodwen (a friend of Irene’s) – a lady who has visited Romania as her daughter and son-on-law are missionaries there. Next stop was to see Connie – and this has been the saddest day for me, for I knew I am heading home and have to say goodbye! She is so dear to me, and I loved her even from before I ever met her, for I heard Irene talk a lot about her, but now, I consider her to be my grandmother, and I have cherished every single day I

visited and stayed with her! Connie has dementia, and some days she didn't know me but many she did, and today before I left, I told her I love her and will miss her after going back to Romania, and she told me 'she will miss having me around' ...do I need to say more?! My heart is crying as I am typing right now :(

My last evening in Wales, finished with a multicultural meal, as Irene made the traditional 'Welsh Cawl' for me and I made the traditional Romanian 'Stuffed peppers' for her and our guests! About the Welsh Cawl dish I can only say it was YUMMY!!!

For dinner we had our good friends Mike and Wayne over – and it was a good evening but I can say that we didn't have the joy we had all the others evenings before...I believe they were saving it for the Big Party they were gonna have through the day after my departure – just kidding! I sure will miss our time together - all the fun and laughter, I will miss the two of them!

Thurday 11^th of May

My time came to an end in Wales, but I can surely say that this has been a BLESSED TRIP! Could've I done more work? Could I have met more people? Could I have visited more church or places!?! ...Sure I could have but not in a 4 weeks frame! While on this trip, the days were long and the nights were short, but I want to say that every single person I met, every single place I visited, everything I managed to do – whether it was related to the shoe box ministry, working on the house, time cooking, or in meetings – everything has blessed my heart and touched me in ways I find it hard to describe in words!

I can truly say that it is so MUCH BETTER when God is on board and He guides you where He wants you to be – THANK YOU GOD for the blessing of this trip! And special THANKS to Irene and Wayne that made this possible and the love they shown me throughout my entire stay in Wales! Also a big THANK YOU to all those that crossed my path at any point and have shown me much love and to those who have been involved with our ministry!

Praying Gods blessings on you all and God willing, we might see each other again!