Just a quick note to you who have sponsored orphans - the updates on all the kids starts this week. Am I late again? well sure but I won't bother with a list of excuses, just know your update and picture will be on the way shortly.
If you know anyone that would like to sponsor a child or an elderly person please contact me. I am sure it has escaped no ones attention that there is a financial crisis all over the world but for those who were right on the edge, it is desperate.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Back to Apple Way
We are back in Apple Way. Walter, myself and a team from Networks are back working in Apple Way trying to get some of the squatter shacks somewhat ready for winter. We covered a couple of roofs in heavy nylon last week and are returning today. This entire squatter area is scheduled for demolition in the spring - what will happen to all these families is still very much up in the air. The State has no plans to relocate them and most are not from this judet.
Vinga Youth
Here is most of the teen group from the Vinga church. I have had the opportunity to be a youth pastor - never thought I was called to that but heck it seems I am doing several things here I was not called to do! It boils down to doing the best I can with what God puts before me. While we were at camp this summer I felt it would be an awesome thing to take these kids outside of Romania on a missions trip. I talked to a fellow missionary from Eastern Germany and we may be able to work something out. I told the kids they would have to earn some of the money. The plans are for this group, plus others I hope, to attend summer camp again this next summer. I think a charity in the UK, Reaching Romania, will be helping to fund that.
Friday we are having our meeting in town over pizza. I am praying for a youth leader - I don't want to lose these kids. Vinga has so many children, between the teens and the children we would have more than 65 kids if they all came any one Sunday to church.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Please agree with me in prayer
I returned from Leysin Switzerland Saturday morning. It was an awesome 3 days - it is called a Time of Refreshing - and so it was! Nothing restores and refreshes like the presence of the Lord!
My daughter Kathleen is due to be released tomorrow from prison in California. She will probably be transferred to another detention center to resolve some other charges but should be given time served and then released. She requested to be released to our pastor in Ohio but it is doubtful that will be allowed HOWEVER God can move heaven and earth in her favor - if it is His will. I know friends worry about how hard it is on me every time Kathleen falls - but one of these times she won't - God promised me. Maybe this time will be the time. I stood for her in prayer from Malachi chapter 3:8-12 (I am a tither and a giver so the promise is mine) for 7 years. She came to Romania and was clean for 7 years, she has begun her 7th year in the mire again - BUT I declare in the heavenlies that THIS 7th year is the year of Jubilee! Please agree with me in prayer on this!
My daughter Kathleen is due to be released tomorrow from prison in California. She will probably be transferred to another detention center to resolve some other charges but should be given time served and then released. She requested to be released to our pastor in Ohio but it is doubtful that will be allowed HOWEVER God can move heaven and earth in her favor - if it is His will. I know friends worry about how hard it is on me every time Kathleen falls - but one of these times she won't - God promised me. Maybe this time will be the time. I stood for her in prayer from Malachi chapter 3:8-12 (I am a tither and a giver so the promise is mine) for 7 years. She came to Romania and was clean for 7 years, she has begun her 7th year in the mire again - BUT I declare in the heavenlies that THIS 7th year is the year of Jubilee! Please agree with me in prayer on this!
Monday, October 12, 2009
I am still alive ...honest!
Just a quick note - I apologize that I have not been faithful in keeping up the blog. I am leaving in about an hour to travel to Switzerland. A ministry in the States sponsors a Time Of Refreshing for missionaries. It is 3 days of Praise and Worship, good talks, great food. pampering and rest. YIPEE YAHOO! I am looking forward to seeing and sharing with others serving in Europe.
I am in search of wood for the Widow's Mite program. The man who usually supplies some of the wood said there is a problem this year with getting A permit for forest cutting. I was hoping that we would have also found a source in the judet of Timis by now - but we haven't. The temperature is due to be zero and below in the coming nights this week. No one was totally out of wood yet so I have a little time. The funds are here - I just have to find the wood!
The Christmas shoe-box gifts will be on the way here by around the third week of October. Reaching Romania has taken on the huge task of supplying gifts for 400 children. We also have 140 patients at Mocrea State mental hospital and 34 Widow's in the Widows Mite program. Irene and Wayne Phillips of Reaching Romania come to help distribute the gifts and usually Peter Grover is here also to help. Distribution is a huge job!
We continue to visit in Apple Way, this is a squatters settlement. Claudia's "house" was insulated for the winter by Walter. Walter has been developing relationships there with visits and bike repairing.
The church in Vinga is growing! Bogdan and I are doing the teen group on Thursday evening and Liga, Bogdan's girlfriend, and Dalia, Bogdan's mom, are doing the Sunday School. I am praying for a youth pastor and musician for the church.
I am not going to edit this so I hope it makes sense - I just wanted to let you know I am still here!
I am in search of wood for the Widow's Mite program. The man who usually supplies some of the wood said there is a problem this year with getting A permit for forest cutting. I was hoping that we would have also found a source in the judet of Timis by now - but we haven't. The temperature is due to be zero and below in the coming nights this week. No one was totally out of wood yet so I have a little time. The funds are here - I just have to find the wood!
The Christmas shoe-box gifts will be on the way here by around the third week of October. Reaching Romania has taken on the huge task of supplying gifts for 400 children. We also have 140 patients at Mocrea State mental hospital and 34 Widow's in the Widows Mite program. Irene and Wayne Phillips of Reaching Romania come to help distribute the gifts and usually Peter Grover is here also to help. Distribution is a huge job!
We continue to visit in Apple Way, this is a squatters settlement. Claudia's "house" was insulated for the winter by Walter. Walter has been developing relationships there with visits and bike repairing.
The church in Vinga is growing! Bogdan and I are doing the teen group on Thursday evening and Liga, Bogdan's girlfriend, and Dalia, Bogdan's mom, are doing the Sunday School. I am praying for a youth pastor and musician for the church.
I am not going to edit this so I hope it makes sense - I just wanted to let you know I am still here!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
I did not fall off the end of the earth...
I apologize for not posting anything during our holiday, nor since returning home.
The girls and I had a wonderful time visiting in the States. It is such a joy to be able to spend time with friends! The girls spent innumerable hours in pools, visited King's Island in Ohio as well as the Aquarium and Zoo there. They went canoeing and camping with my pastor. They had their first visit to a cinema, went to Chuck E. Cheese as well as as Build a Bear! They were being spoiled rotten and they knew it!
Usually when I am in the States for 4-5 weeks by the 3rd week my heart is on it's way back to Romania. This year was different. By the start of week 4 I was not near ready to return to the fray. I wondered if the last year or so had taken a bigger toll on me that I realized? I spent time meditating on the fact that my days in Romania could be drawing to a close...but then the spark hit and I know at least for this season there is more the Lord would have me do here in Romania. A few people mentioned that perhaps it would be better for the girls if we were to live in the States - there are so many more advantages. Yes, that is true in one way, but then I thought about the girls running free in the village, coming home when they hear the cows leaving the fields or when the village church bell tolls, my being able to discipline the way I think should and not looking over my shoulder to be accused of child abuse, the girls can pray in school and there are choices on which religious instruction to take or the parents can opt out. Elizabeth would like a year of study in the States in the future but we have time.
I have closed the food bank building. I could not continue to pay the rent and buy all the food. A missionary friend still has a lead to large quantities of donated foods in the future and I need to meet with Daniel regarding a building for us. I definitely learned a lot these last 6 months about food distribution! I need a large building in a non residential area where people can come - I can not deliver any longer as the list is over 200 families. As many of you know, riots in nice neighborhoods are a no-no. This project remains my passion and I look forward to seeing what God will do!
Widow's Mite is still expanding, and Praise God we have the funds for the winter wood for all of them!!!!
We are starting up the youth group in Vinga this evening - please pray for us! I have met with a very nice young man that has a heart to become a youth pastor - YIPPEE YAHOO! Keep praying for music for the Vinga services.
Thank you for all your prayer and financial support!
The girls and I had a wonderful time visiting in the States. It is such a joy to be able to spend time with friends! The girls spent innumerable hours in pools, visited King's Island in Ohio as well as the Aquarium and Zoo there. They went canoeing and camping with my pastor. They had their first visit to a cinema, went to Chuck E. Cheese as well as as Build a Bear! They were being spoiled rotten and they knew it!
Usually when I am in the States for 4-5 weeks by the 3rd week my heart is on it's way back to Romania. This year was different. By the start of week 4 I was not near ready to return to the fray. I wondered if the last year or so had taken a bigger toll on me that I realized? I spent time meditating on the fact that my days in Romania could be drawing to a close...but then the spark hit and I know at least for this season there is more the Lord would have me do here in Romania. A few people mentioned that perhaps it would be better for the girls if we were to live in the States - there are so many more advantages. Yes, that is true in one way, but then I thought about the girls running free in the village, coming home when they hear the cows leaving the fields or when the village church bell tolls, my being able to discipline the way I think should and not looking over my shoulder to be accused of child abuse, the girls can pray in school and there are choices on which religious instruction to take or the parents can opt out. Elizabeth would like a year of study in the States in the future but we have time.
I have closed the food bank building. I could not continue to pay the rent and buy all the food. A missionary friend still has a lead to large quantities of donated foods in the future and I need to meet with Daniel regarding a building for us. I definitely learned a lot these last 6 months about food distribution! I need a large building in a non residential area where people can come - I can not deliver any longer as the list is over 200 families. As many of you know, riots in nice neighborhoods are a no-no. This project remains my passion and I look forward to seeing what God will do!
Widow's Mite is still expanding, and Praise God we have the funds for the winter wood for all of them!!!!
We are starting up the youth group in Vinga this evening - please pray for us! I have met with a very nice young man that has a heart to become a youth pastor - YIPPEE YAHOO! Keep praying for music for the Vinga services.
Thank you for all your prayer and financial support!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
We're off...!
I think I have covered all the bases before we leave to the States. Irene and Wayne are on their way here and we will pass in the airport. The girls are very excited and I am definitely looking forward to a rest. I don't travel as well as I used to but I still love it.
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