Italy!

I am in Italy with Anita and my Barb, my good friends. They blessed me with a week of R&R. Yesterday we explored Perugia and today Assisi - fantastic! We got lost coming back from Assisi and local policemen sent us down one of the steepest, narrowest roads I have ever been on. Once we entered it there was no going back. Wish I had gotten a picture of it but was too busy praying!

Vinga Youth makes me proud!

The youth group from the Vinga church has been growing in the Lord! We went 2 summers ago and helped build an orphanage in Bulgaria. Last Easter we went around Vinga and offered to paint the trunks of the trees white for others. This tree painting is a tradition and is done right before Easter. Many were amazed that the kids did that. This year we tackled another big job. On January 10 I posted a blog about a man by the name of George Conte. He lived in deplorable conditions and also has a huge hernia for which he has refused help. Actually many people have "offered" help from the village of Dud. A neighbor had called an ambulance to try and get George to medical care - George hid! I heard some of the offers and it is no wonder that George refused. I asked George last month if he would let me bring "my boys" to help and clear up all the rubble and trash. He agreed! Right up until we started work people told me he wouldn't let us in.

During the two days we worked we were able to share with George why we do this. Just as we were leaving I asked George if he didn't want to thank the guys, and he did. He looked like he was going to cry when he shook every boy's hand. I took him some clothes and he requested a good razor - which we gave him. George has said he will go for treatment of the hernia after Easter. Some of the Christians also stopped by when we worked and asked why George let me in and not them...Whose heart did you come with I asked? Before you can talk about faith with a person in my opinion you need to give them hope. After we started the work I saw hope in George's eyes! This is the stuff that makes me happy!


More than a ton of trash has been bagged or burned. You could not see in to the yard from the front gate before we started.









Here is the pile of scrap wood we collected in the yard - I contacted a guy and he will have his son chop it all up for George's stove. I made George promise he would let the boy in.








The inner rooms are now clear of rubble and trash. After a fire the roof had caved in. These two rooms will not be repaired - the damage is too extensive. We will fix up the room George now lives in later this year.













We built George an outhouse from scraps there. Not much to look at but better than he had (none!)














Most of the "team" Peter from England was faithful to come and help - he brought the chain saw!












We are putting George's fence back before we left. later this year we will build him a new fence as well as repair the front and side of his house.

George...

George Stoica was one of the original participant's in the Widow's Mite program when Betsy and I started it. Today, as usual, my first stop in Dud is with Lena. The first thing she said was that George had died. It had not been all that long ago when I visited George with food and a team was with me. George couldn't get up from his bed and told me he was dying. We located his cousin in Dud who tried to persuade George to be taken to a doctor or call an ambulance. He declined all aid. His cousin thought he had just drank something that was worse than usual. He does that I guess - drinks what he can find.

My heart was burdened for George and I tried to talk to him about Eternity - but he wouldn't listen. I told him none of us know how many days we have been allotted by our Creator - but He sent His son to die for our sins. I guess I thought if George really thought that that day was to be his last day on earth he would want to at least consider his eternity. Lena said he drank rubbing alcohol and died in the night about a week ago. George ran out of days...but only God can judge a heart and I hope that in His Grace and Mercy He presented His son to George one last time. I am grieved.

I went to see George Conte, who is new to the program. I posted a blog about him and his terrible living conditions. I had plans in the spring to clean out his property (he had a fire over a year ago) and then see what we could repair. I planned to use the Vinga youth for this project. Lena's neighbor talked to me about him - everyone has tried to help but he refuses. The neighbors complain, the mayor has tried, the church has tried, George hid when an ambulance was called for him a few weeks or so ago. The local market offered him soap and he refused. He did say that he didn't need their handouts because this foreign woman was coming and giving him food and soap. That warmed my heart - would he let me in to help? Yes he said! I introduced Bogdan and said he would be bringing on our young men to help - before Easter. I then noticed an extra dog in all that clutter and garbage - yes it was George Stoica's dog! George Conte had brought him home - so now the dog food goes to George Conte. He goes by the nickname Gita, by the way.

As we were leaving a neighbor was complaining loudly about George and the smell of garbage. I asked Bogdan to gently, but firmly, tell this neighbor that we are going to help and to please leave him alone. I saw a tired old man that has just about given up but I also saw a spark of pride left...and I want to help. More than just provide material things I want his name to be written in The Book of Life - if it isn't already - after all that is what Widow's Mite is about.

It's catch-up time!

Sorry it has been so long since my last posting (AGAIN!!!) The winter has been tough but God has provided! My health is OK. Here are some of the highlights of the last 6 weeks.



Elizabeth still isn't too big for my lap! This is her costume for the Rock and Roll dance competition which was part of Teen Fest. They competed against many schools. This part of the competition was performed at one our malls.






Sarah chose to compete in Teen Fest in the Cheer Leading competition. Sarah is on the left in the front row.










Elizabeth's new styles are a flash-back to the 60's for me. Oh please Lord - no bell-bottom pants....












I put this in...just because I think it is G-R-E-A-T!!!!! All those manly men vs. one Romanian country woman...love it, love it, love it...! HHMMM, actually I may know her from my village.




We have really had the snow this year. Entire villages were cut off and driving was a nightmare. It has warmed up so we now are having some flooding. I have checked on all the elderly in the Widow Mite's program, and praise God we have only lost one and I don't think the extreme cold or snow had anything to do with it. I thought we had probably seen the last of snow falling this year (it is still piled up in large dirty mounds and some is still on the ground) This morning I strolled past the window...W-H-A-T??? A white covering on everything??? OK Maybe NOW we are done. I dislike ice but mud is a close second.



Elizabeth is taking guitar lessons and Sarah is taking voice - this picture is a real blessing to me - in church praising the Lord.







Spencer and Lynsey Ball. along with their children Trinity and Jonathan, visited with us for about 10 days. Here is Bogdan. Elizabeth and Spencer helping deliver food to the widows. Trinity was able to visit some Widows too and they joyfully remembered her from 2 years ago. Trinity had donated her own saved up bag of money to buy them all chocolate.



Lynsey and Lorraine helping at Mocrea. Matt and Lorraine Marshall have Friendship Camp where our youth go each summer. Along with their other ministries they have been long time supporters of the work at Mocrea and helped with renovations there.




Spencer and Lynsey's children, Trinity and Jonathan, were in charge of the Play Doh table at Mocrea. Matt and Spencer were really playing too but pretended to supervise. The little guy by the wall is Elijah Marshall - what a cutie he is.




Last week I visited with this family. I took clothing for the children. I also had 3 Christmas shoe boxes left so I included those. The older children were so excited because they thought they were getting shoes. 5 children and I saw only one with a pair of shoes. While the family was praying with their heads bowed I put an envelope on the bed with some funds.

Today I was back there with the Vinga church deacons: Bogdan; Marius and Leontin, to dedicate the baby. There is not a pastor in that village.

George Conte

This is George Conte. he is 72 years old and lives in Dud on a pension that is about $130 a month. We met him when we delivered food in Dec. to Dud, he was visiting our other George. Adina took a picture and put him down as a possible addition to the Widows Mite program. We added him to the program and today delivered food - that is when we saw how he lives.

These pictures don't do justice in understanding how bad the living conditions are.

There was a fire in an old couch which severely damaged the house. We think that was in early spring. Then George took sick. Adina questioned a neighbor about him after we left the food. Apparently after the fire and his illness he just didn't do anything to the house, he kind of gave up I think.


George has what seems to be a HUGE hernia that sits like a large ball on his lower abdomen. The description we were given is that "his insides are coming out" When Adina took the original picture he was visiting his friend George and it was not really visible. When he walked out today from George's house I tried to get him to get in to the car and drive him back to his house to leave the food. He wouldn't get in the car. He had explained that he could walk and with his "condition" he smelled really bad. I was amazed that he walked as well as he did. The neighbor also told Adina that one of the police from Dud had wanted to get him to a doctor but he refused.
I am going to pray ask the Lord if He won't send us a team to repair his house. It would be days just hauling away the trash,burnt furniture and weeds. There is also a pile of broken up cement in one room, a dog lives on top of that pile. I will ask Adina to check with the mayor there to see if they can help with materials come spring. I hope we can get George some medical attention soon.



I have seen some pretty horrible living conditions here doing the work I do - but this is about as bad as I have seen.

We will do something to help him - this much I know.

Christmas Countdown!

This is always such a tremendously busy time. This year has brought some added challenges - I fell, cutting my foot badly and breaking my sternum (now really, have you ever heard on anyone actually breaking their sternum?) After a few days in the hospital I am back home. Breathing is somewhat painful and things like doing my hair is a real challenge - managed to damage my right shoulder also. I am healing.

The good news is that everything is getting done! God is good and has been speaking to me through all of this. I have had to add a few new words to my vocabulary = "I can't do (fill in the blank)" Boy this does not make me happy but it is a must.

I think I will be able to go Sunday the 18th to our biggest single gift distribution and Christmas program that will be in Vinga at our church. Cerbu, from Osana in Timisoara, is coming with a band, puppet show, caroling and a play. We have rented the town hall in Vinga. Cerbu supplied us with posters to put up around the village announcing the show. We hope that many of the yet unreached children will attend. They will also go and do the same show at Mocrea on Monday the 19th.

Irene is here from Wales - please check her blog at: www.reachingromania.com and then go to Irene's Blog. She is involved in everything and is such a blessing. All the shoe boxes and other aid from Reaching Romania arrived here in Romania Thursday Dec. 8. Irene and a team with Adina, Bogdan, Peter, Christine, Vio and Ioanci have all been helping sort and separate everything by all the lists we had made. Irene is a wonderful blogger and has daily updates of all the visits.

Today she and Danny Luca, who has blessed us with much transportation!, are in Timisoara delivering Widow's Mite gifts. Last night they were at a children's home plus other visits with poor family.

Please do check out Irene's blog! She also has wonderful pictures. please hold Irene and the rest of the team up in prayer for strength, health and traveling mercies. Every one has had their challenges lately!

Children from the hospital

Adina is at the hospital with the abandoned babies several times every week. She has earned admiration and acceptance by the staff there. We provide cuddling, bathing, diaper changes and clothing as well as crib toys. Every child is prayed over. Adina follows up with the families if they are returned home. The State diligently seeks out the parents that "forget" their children at the hospital. We involve ourselves in these families, what can we do so that they can keep their children at home and safe? Sometimes it is a matter of food, or providing heat, sometimes finding them a place to live.

This is Alexandra, she lives with a wonderful foster family. She is fast losing her sight due to Glaucoma. Adina has found a doctor that will treat her. We are not quite sure what the cost will be but God has richly blessed us by leading Adina to caring doctors that charge nothing or very little. We then just have to pay for medicines and hospitalization. Child protection calls us when they have a child in the foster program with a treatable medical problem. The State has no funds and these children then suffer needlessly.

Iasmina is between her mom and Adina. Little Iasmina was born severely handicapped, including spina bifida, deaf. hydrocephalic, spastic, and several internal organ problems. The doctors suggested placement in an institution as she wouldn't be much more than a vegetable and the father left. We (this is the type of things I do with your generous support!) give $100 a month to help support Iasmina and her mother and I want to share a portion of an e-mail Adina sent me..."She also said something that I need to share with you -she said that she has been blessed since she meet me/us. She has mentioned she is not referring only to the material aspect, (which indeed is a big help to her), but she said she has been blessed in many aspects of her life -she was blessed with a church (she attends my church now), Iasmina goes to Sunday school and has made friends, a christian kindergarten, and has now found a doctor that is helping her much with Iasmina. I'm so happy God is blessing her through us!" This makes me so happy!


This is Argentina. She is being held by Maria, Adina's mom, after her latest checkup. Adina met Argentina and her mom at the hospital last summer. Argentina was repeatedly in the hospital for an infected channel under her eye. Her little eye was sometimes so infected it was swollen shut. The medical staff were concerned that she would lose sight in the eye. Adina visited the mother and Argentina's sibling numerous times after Argentina was released. We tried to support the family and improve the living conditions. The mother disappeared more than once with the children and Adina was so concerned for Argentina. Praise God little Argentina once again ended back up in the hospital and the mother disappeared. Argentina was placed with a foster family and is thriving. Through Adina's persistent searching we were able to find a doctor that would treat the fissure. Argentina is blossoming with her foster family!