On Friday afternoon Walter, myself, Elizabeth, Sarah. Hans and four of his girls went to Pauisani. I divided Maria's food in to 5 small bags as they had to hike 1 Km up with the food. I stayed in the van to read, well that was the plan anyway. I seemed to have been a tourist attraction in that small village - "look the American is back" I heard. I visited with several ladies. The owner of the small food store introduced me to a lady named Anuta and said I should walk back with her to her house and see the table clothes she makes. Not knowing how to politely get out of it I followed her up the road to her house. Anyone who has been here has seen those table clothes with the embroidery and cutouts - now I have seen how they make them. Anuta draws the patterns on with pencil, appears to be freehand. Then she hems a piece of linen cloth all around the edge of the table cloth or piece she is working on. She has this ancient treadle sewing machine and handles not only the thin thread on the top spindle but also a heavier cord as well as another spool of thread - all while moving the piece back and forth under the needle to secure the threads - amazing! She pauses and cuts out between the stitching with a tiny pair of scissors. She was so pleased I took pictures of her and her handicraft and said I would definitely put this in my blog.
When everyone came back down the trail the kids were all very wet - there is a spring up on top and there were polliwogs! Oh joy!
Ana, another lady in Pauisani that gets food from Widow's Mite asked why we do not come and spend a couple of days there. It is lovely. Walter said Maria has so much land on top of the mountain we should go there. Ana said we would make a big fire and roast things. The typical food here to prepare on a campfire is fresh bread and you put smoked or cured pig fat on a stick and catch the drippings on to the bread. To that you add fresh tomatoes and onions. It is actually pretty yummy. We talked about Hans bring his kids, our little family as well as Roni and the kids from his children's home and hiking up there to camp. I can not imagine how much food we would have to haul up there, not to mention tents, sleeping bags and changes of clothes - but I am game. I think it would be great for the kids! Yes, I will attempt to get up the mountain. If I couldn't for some reason I could stay down in the little valley at Ana's house.
I had the privilege of baptizing Bogdan along with two of Leontin's sons, Eli and David. This was an really exciting day and we had many visitors to witness the baptisms. There are two more young people in the Vinga church that also want to be baptized. 
The three young men - Bogdan, Eli and David
On Friday afternoon Walter, myself, Elizabeth, Sarah. Hans and four of his girls went to Pauisani. I divided Maria's food in to 5 small bags as they had to hike 1 Km up with the food. I stayed in the van to read, well that was the plan anyway. I seemed to have been a tourist attraction in that small village - "look the American is back" I heard. I visited with several ladies. The owner of the small food store introduced me to a lady named Anuta and said I should walk back with her to her house and see the table clothes she makes. Not knowing how to politely get out of it I followed her up the road to her house. Anyone who has been here has seen those table clothes with the embroidery and cutouts - now I have seen how they make them. Anuta draws the patterns on with pencil, appears to be freehand. Then she hems a piece of linen cloth all around the edge of the table cloth or piece she is working on. She has this ancient treadle sewing machine and handles not only the thin thread on the top spindle but also a heavier cord as well as another spool of thread - all while moving the piece back and forth under the needle to secure the threads - amazing! She pauses and cuts out between the stitching with a tiny pair of scissors. She was so pleased I took pictures of her and her handicraft and said I would definitely put this in my blog.
A pretty good crowd for a first meeting.
Mary Jill and our translator Diana.
Paula Dunn and the worship team
Today we finished emptying the school. It was sad but it seems this season is over. I knew this day was coming. I have had the classes there at the school for almost 10 years. The State gave me this building with the only conditions being that I had to renovate it myself and it must be used for the good of the community. A couple of years ago the Orthodox church took me to court. As with many buildings and parcels of land here, much confusion surrounded ownership before communist confiscation.
The Orthodox church is in the left hand side of the picture. We took apart the small kitchen and stored what we were not going to use immediately. We moved all the music things as well as additional seating in to my small church building around the corner from the school. It will take some organizing so it can be used for both the kids club as well as the music lessons. I think I need to move the stored things out from across the street in May. Monday I meet with Daniel to change the name on the house (church building) from the foundation's name to my own. That is the house that is to be Sani's inheritance.
This is at the end of our visit and we are gathering to pray. This week many of the locked ward women were released to join us. Last week many of the locked ward men were brought in to the area. They really enjoyed the crafts and games. 
This man is new at Mocrea and I am not sure of his history. He draws and paints very well. There is another man in a wheelchair that is also talented - both of these men enjoy talking with Hans. I am always looking for help at Mocrea - the patients truly look forward to these visits. We do a craft every week and serve coffee, soda and cookies. So many of these people have no one to visit them. There is an outdoor patio area now and we are all eagerly looking forward to warmer weather and being outside for our visits.
This is Eva. She has been in the program for a couple of months. Her sister Irina was in the program but has passed away. I went to take food to Irina and her landlord came out and told me. He said she had already died the last time I left food and they couldn't catch me. When I took the food there was no one home (now I know why) so I just opened the door and put the food on the table. The landlord wanted to show me what they did with the food - they gave it to Eva who lives next door. It seemed Eva is Irina's sister and Irina had been sharing her food with her. Eva is semi-paralyzed and bedridden. 
I tried to find a picture I have from about 6 years ago. it was of Elizabeth and Sarah packing Widow's Mite bags in our living room. This one is in my bathroom - I have more floor space in there! We have added 3 more ladies to the program, they have no pensions at all. Praise God it has warmed up and wood consumption has slowed. George is out of wood however so I ordered him some more.
