God has not promised
Skies always blue,
flower-strewn pathways
all our lives through.
God has not promised
sun without rain,
joy without sorrow,
peace without pain.
But God has promised
strength for the day,
rest for the labor.
light for the way,
Grace for the trials
help from above,
unfailing sympathy
undying love.
I received a greeting card with this years ago and framed it - it hangs on my bedroom wall.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Found the camera...
The Vinga youth group did such an outstanding job in the community with painting tree trunks we had a cook out for them. Almost all the kids from 8 - 18 in the Vinga church are gearing up for summer camp. I think I have almost 60 going, counting Sanicolaul Mic, my village and 3 girls from Timisoara. What a blessing to have the funds - the cost will be $80 per child plus transportation. I started saving last year right after camp.
Widows: This lady is Roza in Vinga. She is really a feisty one, she is picking up a little extra money digging a field, she is almost 80 I think! 
Elisabeta is new to the program this month. She represents a new category of the elderly here - she is a beloved grandmother whose grandchild has always helped her but can no longer manage. The granddaughter is a neighbor and is aware of the Widows Mite program and said she was really embarrassed to have to come and ask for help.
I am blessed that I can help! We have added 2 other new ladies to the group also AND because of an awesome yearly gift I am able to add even more plus have the winter wood money. God is s-o-o-o-o-o Good!!!!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Time is zipping by!!!
Every day I think "I must update my blog! Thus and Thus has happened" Now I am having trouble remembering all the "thus and thuses"! Sigh - don't know if I should blame senior moments or being just plain busy. See - I took some pictures (which is amazing that I remembered) and they would surely remind me of what I wanted to post on the blog...ah and I put the camera where????
One thing for sure I want to tell you about is that Trian is now in his own little apartment. When he first got out of Mocrea he was pretty tentative about everything and did not think he could stay by himself but he has been gaining confidence the last few weeks! Today Trian went to Mocrea with us and was visiting with some of the patients and he told the social worker about having an apartment - she actually teared up and Trian and I both got hugs. One lady said she also wanted to go home with Jackie...ah, not right now. This woman had a terrible case of postpartum depression and has been at Mocrea for years now. I was sitting waiting for the volunteer team and a few mentioned they had no family and I told then they had me, I would be their family and I even visit every week!
Well I guess this is it - until I find the camera!
One thing for sure I want to tell you about is that Trian is now in his own little apartment. When he first got out of Mocrea he was pretty tentative about everything and did not think he could stay by himself but he has been gaining confidence the last few weeks! Today Trian went to Mocrea with us and was visiting with some of the patients and he told the social worker about having an apartment - she actually teared up and Trian and I both got hugs. One lady said she also wanted to go home with Jackie...ah, not right now. This woman had a terrible case of postpartum depression and has been at Mocrea for years now. I was sitting waiting for the volunteer team and a few mentioned they had no family and I told then they had me, I would be their family and I even visit every week!
Well I guess this is it - until I find the camera!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Who is Trian?
Trian is a patient at Mocrea. He has been there for 2 years. I don't remember exactly when Trian began to help me serve coffee, soda and cookies to the other patients but he has been doing so each week for some time. Trian and George were best buddies. George passed away 2 weeks ago at Mocrea.
I began to ask Trian about his background - what was he doing at Mocrea? He said he threw away his life with alcohol, he now has trouble with his speech and sort of shuffles a little when he walks. He told me he has been divorced for many years and has twin boys. He made an excellent living - before becoming an alcoholic. Trian is one of the ones, as was George, that do not need to be in Mocrea, a hospital for the chronically mentally ill, but also may not be able to live totally independent. I have wanted sort of a half-way house for some of these patients for a couple of years now but that is a major financial undertaking - not so much to find a house but to pay for someone to be there 24-7, that would take several people (3) in shifts. The patients that could live in that type of assisted living situation more than likely have a pension in place and I thought they could pool the pension money for food and utilites.
Trian had said his father has a large apartment but will not let him return. Before last Christmas I told Trian we would pray that his father allow him back in to his house. Trian said just before Christmas that he was going to his father's and knew it was an answer to prayer. Trian called me New Years Eve with greetings. I asked if he was staying away from alcohol and he assured me he was. Unfortunately the father would not let him continue stay and he had to return to Mocrea shortly after the holidays. Peter, who faithfully goes with me to Mocrea each week when he is in Romania, told him that when he returned in the spring he could come for a visit to his house.
Peter has returned and Trian hadn't forgotten the offer! I talked to the director of the hospital and they thought I was kidding. After assuring them we weren't they said it was fine - EXCEPT they would have to totally discharge him to us, the paperwork would take awhile. I understand the liability of the State - it kind of scared Peter I think. Nah - it's OK! I assured Peter. I told Trian that Adina would visit the father while Trian is at Peter's and we would plead his case and offer weekly family visits for support etc. Trian says he can get a referral to return to Mocrea if he has to - it is my prayer he not have to ever return.
Tuesday we sprung Trian! He wanted to stop by his ex-wife's to pick up some things and leave his laundry. He said she wanted to meet me. She is a lovely woman! I met his sons who are 19 and should be going to Timisoara to school in October. They live in a tiny place. Trian's wife has a good job but she confided in Adina that she has had a really rough life after Trian began to drink and they have been divorced 10 years now. The boys are out of control she says, although Trian doesn't know this. Trian's wife says that the father is a very difficult man and does not think we will have any success with him allowing Trian to return.
The best part is that Trian's wife said Trian can return home when the boys go to school - there is literally no room in their tiny place for one more body. I am so excited! This is so awesome - so...God! Now of course there are just a few little details to be ironed out, ah like October is still 4 months away. I am hoping that it work out so well at Peter's that Trian can just continue to stay until October. The ex-wife is going over today to have lunch with Peter and Trian.
Please hold this family up in prayer!
I began to ask Trian about his background - what was he doing at Mocrea? He said he threw away his life with alcohol, he now has trouble with his speech and sort of shuffles a little when he walks. He told me he has been divorced for many years and has twin boys. He made an excellent living - before becoming an alcoholic. Trian is one of the ones, as was George, that do not need to be in Mocrea, a hospital for the chronically mentally ill, but also may not be able to live totally independent. I have wanted sort of a half-way house for some of these patients for a couple of years now but that is a major financial undertaking - not so much to find a house but to pay for someone to be there 24-7, that would take several people (3) in shifts. The patients that could live in that type of assisted living situation more than likely have a pension in place and I thought they could pool the pension money for food and utilites.
Trian had said his father has a large apartment but will not let him return. Before last Christmas I told Trian we would pray that his father allow him back in to his house. Trian said just before Christmas that he was going to his father's and knew it was an answer to prayer. Trian called me New Years Eve with greetings. I asked if he was staying away from alcohol and he assured me he was. Unfortunately the father would not let him continue stay and he had to return to Mocrea shortly after the holidays. Peter, who faithfully goes with me to Mocrea each week when he is in Romania, told him that when he returned in the spring he could come for a visit to his house.
Peter has returned and Trian hadn't forgotten the offer! I talked to the director of the hospital and they thought I was kidding. After assuring them we weren't they said it was fine - EXCEPT they would have to totally discharge him to us, the paperwork would take awhile. I understand the liability of the State - it kind of scared Peter I think. Nah - it's OK! I assured Peter. I told Trian that Adina would visit the father while Trian is at Peter's and we would plead his case and offer weekly family visits for support etc. Trian says he can get a referral to return to Mocrea if he has to - it is my prayer he not have to ever return.
Tuesday we sprung Trian! He wanted to stop by his ex-wife's to pick up some things and leave his laundry. He said she wanted to meet me. She is a lovely woman! I met his sons who are 19 and should be going to Timisoara to school in October. They live in a tiny place. Trian's wife has a good job but she confided in Adina that she has had a really rough life after Trian began to drink and they have been divorced 10 years now. The boys are out of control she says, although Trian doesn't know this. Trian's wife says that the father is a very difficult man and does not think we will have any success with him allowing Trian to return.
The best part is that Trian's wife said Trian can return home when the boys go to school - there is literally no room in their tiny place for one more body. I am so excited! This is so awesome - so...God! Now of course there are just a few little details to be ironed out, ah like October is still 4 months away. I am hoping that it work out so well at Peter's that Trian can just continue to stay until October. The ex-wife is going over today to have lunch with Peter and Trian.
Please hold this family up in prayer!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
I have NOT fallen off the end of the earth...
I can't believe it has been two months since I have updated the blog. Now that I realize there are some people that actually read it I really feel badly when it doesn't get done! So much has happened!
Tomorrow morning a team leaves. Mary Jill from Hungary brought a team of ladies from Scotland to do the Women for Women meetings we had May 13 and 14. Beth Soper was the main speaker and what an awesome job she did. I had met Beth and her husband, American missionaries in Scotland for 27 years, many years ago in the States. Marian, Ellen and Liz were Beth's team and also shared in church on Sunday before Beth preached. I pray that they will all want to return to Romania again! Elizabeth and Sarah want to go with me and visit them all in Scotland.
I continue to prepare for the large summer camp in July. The teen group did a community service project at Easter. They went around and painted the trees of all the neighbors and elderly that would like it done for them. Here they paint tree trunks from the ground to around 4 feet up. I have sought to find the real reason for this but the answers vary! Our youths made an impression in the village! Alas, as often happens, I don't have even one picture! I am taking them to Walter's on Saturday for a cookout and an opportunity to run up the mountain (ah, I'll pass on the run up the mountain part).
Right after Easter George and Anita Ford brought an awesome team from Indiana. They pitched in with everything for a week. I know some of what they saw brought tears to their eyes but I also hope they went home with joy in their hearts. I will be visiting with them in October. Howdy Carolyn, Michelle, Shelly and Amy!!!
Last week when I went to Mocrea I found that George had died. George was horribly injured and disfigured in an explosion years ago. He didn't need to be in a mental hospital but there was no other place for him. I had often talked to him about the Lord but he was embittered that he had been so badly injured and blamed God. I told him he would be whole in heaven and had asked God not to let him die until his name was written in the Book Of Life. I pray that God honored that prayer...I am hoping to see George again some day in heaven.
Tomorrow morning a team leaves. Mary Jill from Hungary brought a team of ladies from Scotland to do the Women for Women meetings we had May 13 and 14. Beth Soper was the main speaker and what an awesome job she did. I had met Beth and her husband, American missionaries in Scotland for 27 years, many years ago in the States. Marian, Ellen and Liz were Beth's team and also shared in church on Sunday before Beth preached. I pray that they will all want to return to Romania again! Elizabeth and Sarah want to go with me and visit them all in Scotland.
I continue to prepare for the large summer camp in July. The teen group did a community service project at Easter. They went around and painted the trees of all the neighbors and elderly that would like it done for them. Here they paint tree trunks from the ground to around 4 feet up. I have sought to find the real reason for this but the answers vary! Our youths made an impression in the village! Alas, as often happens, I don't have even one picture! I am taking them to Walter's on Saturday for a cookout and an opportunity to run up the mountain (ah, I'll pass on the run up the mountain part).
Right after Easter George and Anita Ford brought an awesome team from Indiana. They pitched in with everything for a week. I know some of what they saw brought tears to their eyes but I also hope they went home with joy in their hearts. I will be visiting with them in October. Howdy Carolyn, Michelle, Shelly and Amy!!!
Last week when I went to Mocrea I found that George had died. George was horribly injured and disfigured in an explosion years ago. He didn't need to be in a mental hospital but there was no other place for him. I had often talked to him about the Lord but he was embittered that he had been so badly injured and blamed God. I told him he would be whole in heaven and had asked God not to let him die until his name was written in the Book Of Life. I pray that God honored that prayer...I am hoping to see George again some day in heaven.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Women for Women
The pictures aren't in order but this is Mary Jill ministering to the ladies Saturday in Arad. Women for Women is what I called the first meeting we did together with Mary Jill and Certain Women. The ladies really look forward to seeing and hearing from Mary Jill - she brings an anointed word.
Here is our Friday gathering - small beginnings but the subject "The Garden of Your Heart" was mentioned in today's school meeting along with an invitation to our next meeting. The director of the school spoke about us guarding the seed which is our children so they will have a good harvest in their future. Wow - I would say that there was some impact from Friday!
Sunday we were at the Vinga church. We had a guest accordion player, he was invited especially for Mary Jill. Mary Jill brought a good word Sunday also. Three days of ministry is a lot - thank you my friend!!!!
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