The closing of the school

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.

Tuesdays are Mocrea days

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.

I have been blessed with help for the last several weeks. Lynsey Ball, Hans Jaspers and Adina Luca have been coming. I had photos of all of them but there were too many faces of patients showing so I could not use them. Hans plays the guitar, as well as lets patients use it. He plays chess and visits with the men. Lynsey and her family will be here in Romania until April and I will miss her help - she is excellent at crafts. Adina is back from a year in the States and has not yet found a good position - the job market is pretty bad here now. Adina has always pitched to help in many ministries.


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.

More widow's

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.

Vinga Youth goes skating

Last Friday I took the entire youth group, all 17 of them, from Vinga ice-skating and then out for pizza. None of the kids had ever been skating. By in large they all had a lot of fun. A small group quit after just a few minutes saying that it hurt their feet and they were afraid to fall. I took that opportunity to talk with them about life in general. If you afraid to try new things because you might fall or something might hurt you you will lead a very dull life. I told them I had prayed for them all not to break anything and they should have a sense of adventure and go for it. All but two went back and tried. I did not think it would be wisdom, with my knees, to get out there with them however!

We continue to work in Apple Way at the squatter camp. I am not sure what can be done for these families when the demolition starts in the spring. Claudia's baby died in the womb at 6 months. She is around 19 and this was her 4th child. As they were going to administer the anesthetic for the C-section she requested a tubal ligation. The same day she was taken by ambulance to the hospital her house burned - again. They steal their electricity and it was a faulty connection. When I saw how many things were wired in to one line I shuddered. I tried to explain to Ramos but he was not interested in listening. At least the damage was not extensive this time.

I need to move out of the school. I am praying about extending the church building in Sanicolaul Mic to accommodate the music lessons and Kid's Club. I need to hear from the Lord! Some have asked if I am not going to be reimbursed for the funds I put in to the renovation of the school - no I am not. That is the law here, however I was able to stay on for some time after the judgment in court. I need to sort out the property taxes since the school and the church are tied together in one enormous tax bill.

Everything else is going along pretty well. As usual I am sorry I don't post more often!

Our first Christmas pageant

The girls are sure getting big!








Lighting The Christ Candle. The "Angel" Sarah closed in prayer.






I hope you can see in this small picture that our pageant included sheep (to the left of the manger) as well as donkeys (on the right against the wall). Also the Orthodox church lent Bogdan the 3 shirts that the Magi were wearing. I thought that was cool.



Our choir on the left with Bogdan's mother. She did a great job preparing the kids.

Taking a few hours with the girls

Elizabeth went out at night to get a picture of ol' Frosty - she knew he would be gone soon. And the answer to your question - no I do not know how to rotate a picture before posting!





The row of kids behind my car, I tried to hold the camera over my shoulder while I drove, but finally had to stop to get the picture.








Elizabeth, Sarah and some friends








In the midst of all the work Elizabeth and Sarah had wanted me to pull them and a few friends behind the car on their sleds. The work will still be there but I wasn't sure the snow would - a warm up with a lot of rain was forecast. They had a great time!

Mocrea Christmas

Sarah helping to distribute gifts to those who couldn't come to the party. There were 165 patients at the hospital and we had a gift bag for every one!





We visited all the rooms where patients couldn't come and sang Christmas Carols. They all enjoyed seeing Santa too!






We had two separate programs with gifts and carols for the ones able to come to the cafeteria. It was a real joy to our hearts!