Colossians 3:23

Colossians 3:23 was today's scripture. "Whatever you do, do it with all your heart."  I am extremely busy right now and will probably be until mid-September when I will take a break with another knee replacement. I guess I can't do emojis on a blog??  The emoji would be the one with the fat face rolling in laughter. Right now I am full-on and doing it with all my heart, and that makes me happy. I am truly grateful that the Lord is providing the strength daily!

I posted on Facebook about the Mocrea project. I am going to try and periodically post about the projects on my Facebook page (I know...promises promises - I am terrible at this!)

Cati, a widow in Vinga, is a real challenge for me. She was unable to go far to the outhouse and was used to just urinating where she was. This is difficult in so many ways - I will spare you the details. I bought her a potty chair. I would like to report that that solved the problem - NOT. I have purchased 3 different wood stoves for her but when the weather warms up she sells them. I have even cemented one to a wall - yup she got it sold, I guess the purchaser had to free it himself.  The latest? She has a donated refrigerator - an old huge consumer of electricity. It has tripled her electric bill, which I pay. Does she have food to refrigerate - no. I guess she just sits on her bed next to her potty chair and pees while listening to the peaceful hum of the refrigerator.

Got to go to the dentist (could use an emoji here also) I will blog again soon about the awesome summer Elizabeth and Sarah are having!

Spring has Sprung

End of March! We have seen the end of the ice and snow.  Soon we won't even need that one fire in the stove for the evening chill.  Do I splurge on a another set of tires for summer or just drive with this years new set of winter tires?  Ordinarily I would buy the summer tires, I usually change tires in April and October. This year maybe not. The good news is that I won't have to spend all that money for more tires...the bad news is that I am not sure I will be driving enough to warrant new tires. If you are reading this blog it is usually because you are someone that knows me well, if so you know I am not really pleased about being more or less grounded.

Before I chat more about me let me tell you about the projects!  All the people in Widow's Mite are looking forward to this spring.  Almost all of them ran out of wood since they started burning it early. In many cases I had to buy more. A miracle gift was received last month for them! I learned a very valuable lesson: do not start buying the wood really early because it is cheaper - they will start burning it for heat despite favorable temperatures!  Mocrea - many new patients have joined the program and several of the regulars have been able to leave. This is always a joy if they can go and then remain at home!  The visits are every Wednesday right now. We switch between Tuesday, Wednesday and sometimes Thursday depending on the shower schedules. It may change every few months. The patients so look forward to the weekly program. It is difficult sometimes to come up with new craft ideas!  Osana and Caleb houses. We have a visitor staying with us for 3 weeks, Farris. She is a delightful 17 yr. old that wants to be a missionary. We took her to Caleb house yesterday to interview the house parents and meet as well as play with the boys there.  I have tried to expose her to several of the ministries we are involved with at Rock Of Hope Ministries.  I am still involved in feeding and clothing the poor when resources are available. I received a couple of large bags of children's clothing last evening so we will prepare them for distribution. 

I had the right knee replaced in January and I did really well the first 6 weeks of rehabilitation. I received detailed instructions on doing these exercises at home and I was diligent.  About 10 days after the check up by the surgeon I apparently pulled a ligament on the new knee.  I waited almost 2 weeks o return to the doctor, hoping whatever I had done would heal. Not.  I will return to the doctor again in a week or so. I have knee braces coming from the States. My other knee was no better than the one I had replaced but picked the one that was the most painful  for the first surgery.  My left knee is objecting to this situation. The left knee is scheduled to be replaced in July. My plan was to update the blog after surgery in January but It was not comfortable to be seated at my desk for a period of time and then and then...well here we are today.

I went back and read my Thanksgiving blog post. Where am I today? Well the other members of Rock Of Hope Ministries have had to pick up the slack on what I can't do at this time. I had started back doing widows and Mocrea when I pulled the ligament. Actually we are not positive that is the problem as it is difficult to verify. I can't have a MRI because of the metal in both prostheses I have. All I can do is rest. In reading my Thanksgiving post I was reminded that in the tough times make a list of all you are thankful for. The pain is not intolerable and I do have medication available, So many people just have to suffer and do not have the luxury available to just rest. I mentioned ministry funds in the Thanksgiving post - no I have not located new sponsors or had many unexpected gifts (but there were some!)  I have been encouraged to start fund raising...oh my goodness that is not an easy one for me, but I think of my widows and orphans....In the Thanksgiving blog I mentioned my granddaughters - they are both in a good place right now. What a blessing!  Then I wrote that many people in my life are in serious situations...one has gone home to the Lord and we continue to hold up the others in prayer for miracles.  Now I come to the part where I have had to repent OUCH.  I wrote about being content where I was.  I was not content at this time. I wanted to go out and do what I wanted to do, go where I wanted to go...I was gazing heavenward and saying SERIOUSLY GOD???? Yup I am called to be content where I am right now. It is a daily battle. I am not in a place where I want to abide. An old lesson comes back to my spirit, mind and body - pain and peace can reside quite comfortably side by side. So I can say and will continue to say IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL!

If you have continued to this point in reading this long post I would like to ask you to pray: for the girls and myself; pray for Rock Of Hope Ministries, Scott Carolyn and Ramona;  pray that the widows have food  and all that they need; that the children at Caleb and Osana will grow in to all that the Lord has for their lives; that the patients at Mocrea continue to be blessed. Also would you consider giving to support these projects? Would you please see if any of your friends or church family would like to help.  If anyone would like more information please feel free to contact me:  jackieramsey1998@yahoo.com. Checks are payable to Rock of Hope Ministries and they are mailed to George Ford  1164 North Fox Ridge Links Dr,  Vincennes IN 47591.  Rock Of Hope Ministries.org  provides a means of giving by credit card.  I realize that there are so many ministries and projects asking for donations and funds are limited everywhere but I also know there IS Provision for the Vision. The Lord has poured out His blessings for this ministry for over a quarter of a century and the best is yet to come! Please consider partnering with us if you have not already!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Merry Christmas to you all!  I pray everyone will have a joyful celebration of our Savior's birth. I know the holidays are difficult for many people who are not with family or are grieving over the loss of a loved one. Some people are struggling in other ways like health or finances. I pray the peace that passes all understanding to wash over us all.

I wanted to share several pictures - the first is Elizabeth who has done very well in her exams this second year of veterinary medicine. I don't have a picture of Elizabeth studying. The next is Sarah in her student nurse uniform. She is also doing very well and likes her courses.

We were able to repair Cati's house in Vinga. Hans came with 2 friends from Holland to do the work and Reaching Romania helped to pay for the materials. This winter she has a new roof, walls without holes and a secure door.  We distributed Christmas gifts to all the widows and they had extra food for the holidays. There is a picture of Tammy packing the food bags in my bathroom - it is quite a task. The widows love their Christmas boxes. That is Randy with one of our ladies in the Widow's Mite program. The picture of a single widow is Ana. Ana is 95 years old and knits slippers from her bed. She will not use regular yarn for her slippers - she unravels sweaters!  She gifts me with all these slippers and we pay for her medicines in trade.  Ana broke her glasses and we were unable to get them professionally repaired, they said she would have to come in for an exam and get new glasses.  Ana is rarely out of bed anymore. I gave it my best effort with the repair and warned her they were very fragile. I got them to her this afternoon and she was so happy. Pray they last!

We had several Christmas parties at Mocrea.  The Rock of Hope gang all came and did an excellent job of caroling and helping to pass out presents, bags of candy and fruit as well as soda. Elizabeth doubled up on a class the day before so she could play the guitar. Scores of Ana's slippers were given as gifts as well as awesome finger-less gloves made by a special group in the States called Knitters on a Mission. All the profits from their knitting goes to help support the girls at ROHM. 

Osana and Caleb houses each had their own gift distributions. They also received the bags of fruit and candy. It is such fun to watch these youngsters dig through their Christmas boxes. Each year Reaching Romania provides all these gift boxes for the widows and orphans. 

A party was held in Vinga for the children in youth group in Vinga.  It was the first we did to start off our holiday parties. 

Well now I remember I have to load the pictures from last to first so it matches the narrative.  Also I do not know how to rotate after they have been uploaded. I would like to tell you that I will keep trying to edit this blog tonight...ah no. Wait maybe I can label the pictures...be right back...well as you can see that didn't work. Merry Christmas to you all and to all a good night!

Happy Thankgiving

I will hopefully actually update the blog with news on the various ministries like Widow's Mite, Mocrea, Orphan sponsors next week I hope, but for this moment I just wanted to share where I am at this point in time. Today is Thanksgiving and I do not remember a Thanksgiving day when I felt more thankful.

I was just trying to analyze this "feeling" ...well it is not exactly a feeling but rather a state of being. Does that make sense?  It can't be because I am pain free...but God is here with me comforting me. It can't be because I know how I will be able to fund all the different aspects of the ministry in 2019...but I know God provides provision for the vision. It can't be that my life as a grandmother of lovely young women is drama free...but I know it will all work out. It is not because all the people I care about are without disastrous things going on in their lives...but I know God is in the midst of their trials and He loves them and wants the best for them.

So what is this?  Perhaps it is just being content with where my life is and where it may go. Knowing I have been blessed and it is well with my soul. I am in a place at this moment in time that I want to abide in, a place I never want to leave.  For me this evening has been a mountaintop experience...with actually nothing really changing at all, nothing that could be described as spectacular or miraculous. I am thankful for this oasis and rest.

Tabita

When I went over all that I had posted in the blog update from just yesterday ((below) I forgot to tell you about Tabita.  Tabita was born a dwarf. I had known her mom and siblings for at least 18 yrs. Several years ago there was an experimental program here in Romania with a new growth hormone.  We were able to get her admitted to the program and in time she began to grow!  One of the difficult things was her appetite for sweets. Everyone fed her snacks and sweets. The doctor warned me that she was gaining way too much weight and that her blood sugar was getting too high to continue with the growth medicines. I pleaded with her family as well the neighbors to stop...to no avail. They said she would cry. I was so frustrated but no amount of discussion get get them to stop feeding her this junk!.  She was removed from the program not too long after.  I kept track of her and visited her, she was becoming less and less mobile and was developing heart and lung problems. Randy, Tammy and I stopped in to visit her, she wanted prayer.  We did pray and I asked her if there was anything I could get for her?  She needed money for more distilled water for her breathing machine and asked if I could give her health.  My heart broke for her, paying for the water was easy - health not so easy.  After we left I prayed that the Lord would not let her suffer.  Spencer and Lynsey had continued to work with the Vinga kids and had a program for them. The last time I saw Tabita was at a Community Art Show that Spencer and Lynsey put together with art from the Vinga kids program. It took some doing to get her to the community center with her oxygen paraphernalia but they got her there, she had such a good time. Tabita went home to the Lord soon afterward.  She was 14.

Where do I start???

I guess I will just find some pictures I want to share and go from there.  As most of you know my last post was just before my trip to the States. I visited friends in two places in Indiana before moving on to Ohio and then California.  I knew my daughter was hospitalized and was able to talk to her a few times along the way. She was excited about my upcoming  arrival in California to be able personally tell me about a recent experience with the Lord. I checked with nurses in ICU when she was unable to communicate. Several times I asked the nurse to put the phone to her ear so I could remind her I was on my way and that she was Covenant Seed.  Just after arriving at my second stop in Indiana I got the news that my granddaughter Sarah had been rushed to the hospital with what was assumed to be appendicitis and they would probably operate. I also got the news that my daughter had taken a turn for the worse. Wow - my first thoughts were "what do I do God? Which way do I go...to my daughter or granddaughter?"  I was geographically between the two.  I felt the Lord impress on my heart to just "stay the course"  My tickets had been purchased nearly 4 months before and He had things in control. OK - I kept to the schedule. I had mentioned, after I purchased the tickets, to some trusted people in my life that I had thought this would be the last time that I would be able to see my daughter.  I arrived in California on April 15 and went straight to the hospital to see her. She recognized me and knew that I was there. That was what she was waiting for apparently, she was ready to go home. Elizabeth and Sarah were both able to say what was on their hearts to their mother by telephone. She squeezed my hand when I asked if she heard them. She went in to the arms of the Lord at midnight April 16.  I brought her ashes home and we buried her with a small ceremony in a lovely setting near our home.  Elizabeth will have a brass plaque made with simply "Kathleen Ramsey - Covenant Seed.|"

Update on Mocrea:  The patients are always so thankful for our weekly visits!  Sometimes people will mention that they never feel really appreciated for the ministry they do, I chuckle and invite them to come to Mocrea - they will be loved and appreciated there! We continue with the same basic program; coffee and snacks; a craft; a bible story and quiz (candy rewards); singing and ending in prayers. Those patients can really pray!  Sometimes I throw in little messages of encouragement or what is on my heart. Ramona says I should "preach" more often because the patients like it.  We'll see. The picture below is of a patient at the widow of an open men's ward. We were getting back in to the car when he called out that he had no bible and could I give him one?  Just happened to have one and I handed it up to him.  He immediately kissed it. I love my work.

Widow's Mite:  Another one of our original ladies, Lena from Dud, has passed away.  I had talked with her about the Lord for many years. She softened and said she has forgiven many people. She always listened. I was never quite sure where she stood and always told her I looked forward to seeing her in heaven with me.  She passed away in May. The neighbor who regularly checked on her said her last words were to make sure she was buried with the "repented ones".  That made me smile.

We have one married couple in the program, Gheorghe and Maria. They are well in to their 80's and have no pension. They farm for a living and Maria hauls their harvest to the piata in a hand-pulled cart.  They always want to know which day we will come so Maria can prepare a snack and they always want to share their fresh vegetables with us. This couple are poor by worldly standard but rich in the things that count - knowing the Lord and family.  We found out that a neighbor across the street was very poor and Gheorge and Maria had been sharing the food we bring them with her. We of course have added her to the program. Below is a picture of this precious couple. The other picture is of a lady also named Maria. Her health does not always allow her to get to church and when we were there last month she was saddened because she had missed Communion Sunday. I told her we could fix that, we carry with us what we need to serve communion when we visit monthly. She was thrilled.

Gheorge and Maria are pictured with Tammy. Randy and Tammy are a huge help with this ministry. They are willing to take over this program when I am no longer able to work. No no no... I am fine but there needs to be people ready and able to take over when the time comes.

Orphan Sponsor Program:  These are two houses we help support. Osana is the girls house and Caleb is for the boys. The house parents truly care for the children at these homes. It is difficult work as so many of the kids are badly damaged when they come to the homes. Pictured below are the kids in these homes. The third one is with Tammy reading with the youngest boy at Caleb, Maldanado. If you are interested in sponsoring a child it is $30 a month.

Last but certainly not the least - Sarah graduated high school!!!  As you can see I have no idea how to rotate this picture! Sarah did not need surgery but is still under treatment for a large cyst.

Elizabeth is doing her practical training for 3 weeks at the university, having completed her first year of Veterinary Medicine, and then she and Sarah head off to England for a holiday, which will include Spain. Elizabeth and our team will do a Grain Game camp in Bulgaria. Randy and Tammy are helping this again this year. 


Ramona, our faithful partner at Rock Of Hope Ministries,  noticed when she read the last blog that I do not say how to donate to these projects or my personal expenses. OOPS!  OK - you can write a check payable to ROHM and send to my administrator; George Ford at 1164 North Fox Ridge Links Dr. Vincennes IN 47591 or donate on-line to Rock of Hope Ministries (rockofhopeministries.org) Rock of Hope in the States is Solid Rock Youth Ranch. Please designate where you want your gift to go and please include your e-mail address for me.

Thank you all for your prayer and financial support. Without you guys I could not continue with these projects as well as the other work I have not highlighted like helping various poor families. I was able to see many of you on my recent trip but saw very few of the California folks I have missed.Love to you all!

Going to the States

It has been  6 years since I have been back to the States. I will be there March 28 to April 24.  I will be visiting in 2 locations in Indiana and then on to Ohio, before continuing on to CA.  I am looking forward to seeing so many wonderful friends!

What a busy summer, fall and winter it was!  2018 is already shaping up to be an exciting year.  Before I update the projects here is the latest on Elizabeth and Sarah.

Elizabeth started Veterinary Medicine in Timisoara in the fall of 2017. Praise God she got a scholarship for the tuition!  This first year is a challenge but she is doing well. The dormitory situation is difficult and we hope to be able to make some changes for next year.  Elizabeth is enjoying the course work so that is wonderful. Watching Elizabeth blossom and mature is awesome. It is sometimes difficult  to "let go".

Sarah turns 18 on March 21. I can't quite get my mind around that.  She will be having a HUGE (in my opinion) all night party on the 23rd with 70 guests. This party will include a DJ, equipped with a bubble and smoke machine, a photographer, an all night buffet with a huge cake at midnight.  Last week she wanted to make sure I hadn't forgotten her tiara...S-I-G-H...of course not sweety. Then there is the special champagne flute for her with little porcelain flowers on it to match her dress. The next big event is the Baccalaureate and then her graduation. Sarah has been going to tutoring 4 days a week and is working very hard.  I am very proud of her.

Here are a few project highlights - so much has happened - wonderful things since my last update but I will just touch on a few things:

Mocrea - We continue the program at Mocrea Psychiatric Hospital weekly. The patients count on us to show up on Tuesdays. We have a good time with the crafts, snacks, bible story, singing and praying.  These people can really pray and I bring special prayer requests to them. They have a child like faith and pray fervently!

Widows Mite - We are slowing expanding this program. as more and more younger people leave Romania and the villages so often the parents seem to be forgotten. We have wonderful visits monthly with them.  Even as of last week I was still buying wood for them. We are supplying more medicines as fewer medicines are available free or were greatly discounted for pensioners.  Some of our widows  are failing and this is sad but I know that I will meet most of them again one day.

Children's homes sponsorship - Beca is getting married in August!  It is hard to imagine I was around when she was born. I was an honored guest at her engagement party. Her house parents at Osana hosted a lovely party. Giulia graduates this year. The other girls are all coming along. The sponsor updates will be around a month late this year due to my trip. The boy's house, Caleb, is adjusting to some real challenges some of these boys present! There are really committed house parents there also.

Working with the rest of the Rock Of Hope Ministry team is exciting. Randy and Tammy are back from the States and jumped back in with helping both at Mocrea and with the widows as well as their involvement with the girls at the ROHM apartments.  Ramona is awesome at helping wherever is needed and also helps with Mocrea and the widows. Scott and Carolyn have a special anointing with their vision to help the young women that have aged out of orphanages.  They are great at Mocrea too.

I will really really try to update again soon - I have some wonderful pictures I want to share of the work here. Thank you for your support for the work here and your prayers. I appreciate it so very much.

Happy Summer!

OK - where do I even start?  In May Sarah went to Germany with another 6 students for an internship program with her school with the major in mechanic and electronics. She is pictured below with the group with her certificate of completion. Very proud of her. She will be be entering her last year of high school next month. She was offered and accepted a 6 hr. per day job in a factory this summer.

Elizabeth has been very busy. She graduated from high school and passed her Baccalaureate exams.

The graduates on the school staircase

Elizabeth applied for Veterinary Medicine in Timisoara and also qualified for a scholarship. So proud of her too!

                        

 I will not write at length about all the projects but will highlight  some:  Mocrea - I can't even remember exactly when this project started, visiting and working with the patients in the State psychiatric facility. I have very few pictures of this project as the patients are in State care and posting their photographs is not allowed.  Each week it is an adventure but a team goes with me. The ladies are excited that Tammy is now in charge of the make-up and nails. The ladies beam after they are done. We continue with coffee and snacks weekly as well as a craft, singing and prayer. We also read them a bible story and then give a quiz - correct answers get candy (OK gotta admit usually everybody gets a candy!) They really enjoy this. We have started to have a monthly birthday cake for everyone born in that month. They love the cakes, it makes it special for them to have their birthdays recognized.To many we are their only family and visitors. Your donations that are general funds or donations for me personally (general funds are donations not to a specific project) fund this project.  I have already started to look toward Christmas - we do caroling in all wards and have something for every patient (usually in the neighborhood of 165 patients).  Christmas is expensive!

Widow's Mite - The revamped program is working really well.  We have 35 in the program now, I am looking to expand it and add more older people that need assistance. We have already started buying winter wood. We only stopped buying last season's wood in March!  There are several people that help out now: Spencer; Randy and Tammy; and Ramona - they are a blessing!!! It was truly awesome to visit Maria Jacoby from Comlosul Mare this month.  She is getting a bathroom installed! Her son and one of his friends were working on it when we visited her this month.  We will be adding candy to her monthly bags of food - she revealed that she loves candy.Below are the pictures:

Sanicolau Mic Bible Club (Jesus Generation) and music school:  Marius and his lovely wife Elena do a great job. My part in it is to fund what I can and maintain the buildings, paying the taxes too. Right now they need bars on the door and windows as the house is empty now when the club or lessons are not in session.  I am hoping to get the funds to Marius next week. This project is also funded from the general funds.

Grain Game Rromi summer camps:  We had a great time doing 2 camps for Rromi children, one in Vinga and the other in Bulgaria.. We work in conjunction with The Grain Game out of Alabama with Chip Riley. Kaitlyn and her husband Dustin from Alabama  were here to help with Vinga and we were joined by Spencer and Lynsey, Randy and Tammy as well as a contingent of the GG young people from Romania.

GG's vision is to reach every child in every nation with the gospel. We may be able to get in another short program for children before school starts.

Bulgaria:  Marty Sutton hosted the team in Sevlievo. The camp was held in a neighborhood called Balabanza. Balabanza's residents are Muslim Rroma and they speak Turkish and Bulgarian. Last year during and after the camp the Iman was stirring people up against the Christians.  The building where the church met pretty much was closed down and the meetings went back to the pastor's house. They were willing to let us use the building again and we pray everything remains quiet.  We had a wonderful time ministering with this pastor and his family and they seemed encouraged by the time we left. Genadi, the son of Marty's heart in Bulgaria, will carry on with children's clubs. Marty may have a volunteer to teach music in that neighborhood so we asked the pastor if they were in agreement with this - if so I would raise the funds for instruments as we go. If we don't follow-up on the gospel message these children have heard, and got excited about, we will lose them. I am hoping Kaitlyn and Dustin will join us in Bulgaria next summer (and Chip too if possible)  Samy Novak and Elizabeth did the GG demonstrations, Tammy and Randy helped in all areas as did Genadi. Marty and I filled in where necessary.

 Most of the games and demonstrations were done indoors, the heat was horrendous.

 They loved all the songs and really got in to them. We sang in 4 different languages: Turkish, Bulgarian, Romanian and English.

 All the demonstrations had a short, and to the point, bible lesson. The theme for the week was "Who Am I" . Each day had a sub-theme: I am loved; I am forgiven; I am happy; I am saved and finally I am fulfilled.

 Pastor Samir and his family.  His wife Svetla was a Muslim and converted - they are paying the price to minister in this area.  Would you pray for them, their family and ministry.  We will go back next summer!

 Rock of Hope Ministry:  I think everybody knows I have been partnered with this ministry for some time now. The founders are Scott and Carolyn Pouncey.  Randy and Tammy Moss have moved to Romania to help. This ministry provides for young women that have aged out of orphanages. They have a new web site:  www.rockofhopeministries.org and can accept Pay Pal donations, also for the projects I am involved in. They help in Mocrea too, as do some of the young ladies under their care when they have corresponding days off.  Please check out their web.

This is already a very lengthy post and I apologize for the layout, I am not very good at this stuff. - The 2 facilities, Osana and Caleb house, where we sponsor children are doing really well and I will feature them the next update,  Spencer and Lynsey are continuing with the Vinga children, they just did a camp for the children. The Baby ministry is going well also.. 

Thank you all for your prayers as well as financial support - without all of you I would not be able to stay and do this work.  If you would like to visit or get any further information my e-mail is
jackieramsey1998@yahoo.com.

It is Spring and Sarah is 17!

Sarah turned 17 on March 21st.  Where have the years gone?  She is a delightful young woman

full of promise for the future.  She is pursuing an electronics major in high school. When she signed up for high school I was told she could not attend this school. In asking why not I was told because they are "boys" subjects! Seriously???  Gee I sort of remember being in the same place half a century ago! You go Sarah!


Widows - We were still buying wood well in to March. We got a late start in one geographical area but they wood is only meant to be a supplement so we were able to continue later into the year. God knew what they had need of.  I am praying about expanding the Widow's Mite program.

Happy Valentine's Day

What a great day - remembering those you love. I am pondering all of that today. I am long past being taken to a romantic dinner, given a bouquet of roses or listening to precious endearments being whispered in my ear...or am I?  I have the love that never fails me, the One who says I am wonderfully and awesomely made. He never leaves nor forsakes me. Sure can't say that for some other people that have been in my life. Oh well..He heals the brokenhearted too. Happy Valentine's Day Jesus - I love you with all that is within me and so glad to have the assurance we will be together forever.

My hip surgery went well. There were a few hiccups but nothing serious. I am making plans for the spring and summer..thank you Lord for making that possible. I am looking forward to seeing my granddaughters grow in to the women that You Lord have called them to be. HMMM - might even get to hang around to meet my great-grand children here on earth. No extra days, weeks, months or seasons have been promised me but I feel free again to plan on life. Thanks God!

Happy 2017!!!!

Well I have set a new record for not updating my blog.  Summer rushed in to Fall, Fall rushed in to winter and here we are. So what is happening?  My ministry is in transition as are so many others. All the projects continue and the good news is that I have more help!  So much has happened since this last summer.  I broke my leg in June and it took much longer to recover than I thought it would. I am scheduled for hip replacement surgery January 18...please hold me up in prayer. Here is some information on the projects and family.

First the family:  Elizabeth turned 18 October 2nd. She is in her last year of high school and is concerned because her future plans are not yet made. Elizabeth is the type of young lady that wants to do it all. She is very involved in Harvest church here in Arad. Sarah is in her 3rd. year of high school and has a chance for an intern like program in May in Germany. The participants are selected competitively and she isn't sure she can qualify. I think she is selling herself short and am really encouraging her. She also wants to start work during the summer, which I am also encouraging. Please pray for my girls as they mature and make choices for their futures. I am so proud of them both - they are a joy to my heart.

OK now for projects:  Vinga church. We are meeting in a new location and have a new set of challenges but God is in control!  It was time for me to loosen my hold on the reins and when my pastor, Rich Femia, was here we installed Spencer Ball as lead pastor. He and his lovely wife Lynsey do a wonderful job in Vinga as Lynsey does the children's ministry. Lynsey also is in charge of the Baby Project and is very respected at the hospital. She trains all of the volunteers and works there herself almost daily.

Widow's Mite:  Spencer has taken over the Arad portion of the project. He is doing an excellent job, he loves these elderly people and it shows. I get the fun of visiting them at other times than food delivery.  The widow's program in the other areas is being revamped by me so it will be more efficient and able to reduce the non-food expenses like fuel costs. I am excited with some of these changes and hopefully will have 2 more people on board soon to help Vlad. These changes should allow us to provide more than we have in the way of food and medicines and add more widows as we find them.

Mocrea:  This project has the assistance of Scott and Carolyn as well as Traian. Scott drives and we all go weekly. Sometimes other people will come along. At Christmas we took presents for every patient, much of the gifts provided by Reaching Romania. We went caroling in every ward and gave out the gifts along with 70 pounds of fruit.  A few people in ministry here have commented that their work is not appreciated so I encourage them to come with us to Mocrea, talk about appreciation!  They hang out the windows welcoming us every Tuesday.

2nd Chance: This project is still going but only has one student this semester but two from last year are now employed which is the goal of the education opportunity which is available to school drop outs over the age of 16. Reaching Romania funds this program - thank you!

Child Sponsorship: I am in the process of revamping this program too. I am excited about these changes and will be notifying the sponsors soon. This will effect the sponsors of Maranatha only. As with all the projects the sponsorship program will continue.

I have needed to be doing some reorganization as I am not able to do it all myself, nor have I been able to for some time. Praise God He has been sending some great people that have a heart for these projects. I would hate to think that I have spent the last 20 years in a ministry that would die when I do!  Letting go of some of these things has not been easy for me but His Grace is sufficient!  Now might be a great time to mention that Rock Of Hope Ministries will administer all these projects when I am no longer able. No, I do not think I am exiting any time soon but I learned in the corporate world that you don't get promoted unless you have trained up another or in my case others plural. I always knew that there was probably not a single person who would fit all these projects so I have been busy. I have several people and families that I help monthly. This is personal to me and I have instructed the girls that these are in no way their responsibility!

Thank you all for your support, prayer and financial. Every thing that has been done you share in!  I am so blessed to have all of you on the team.

Summer already????

Well hopefully I will get the cast off my leg tomorrow. This has been a long 5 weeks.  Posting to my blog is the last catch up item on my list - YAH!!!!

There are so many awesome things that have happened since I last posted that I settled in today for a marathon update, loaded with lots of pictures...but thought better of it. I really want to share that like everyone else life is full up ups and downs.  I am blessed that I have friends that stick with me during all these times and I am most blessed that the Lord never leaves nor forsakes me. I am still deciding whether or not to have a hip replacement. Without it long distance traveling is off the program. I put the surgery off because I could not afford 6 weeks off - then I broke my leg. HMMM guess I COULD take 6 weeks off - what did I know.

This summer we are doing at least 3 Grain Game Rromi camps. The first one was for our Pesac kids and it was awesome. Tomorrow Bogdan and Steven leave for Brasov where we do a second one and then Aug. 8 starts a big camp in Bulgaria with Marty Sutton. We will try and do two more camps but only for a couple of days each: Vinga and Dud.

The Vinga church is doing well with the children's program. Spencer, Lynsey and Bogdan do an awesome job.  2nd Chance (school dropouts can return to school) and the Vinga teen program are off for the summer. The baby program is still facilitated by Lynsey. She trains volunteers and works with the babies. She has such a wonderful anointing for this. Spencer is running a discipleship program with some young men, good fruit coming from that. Mocrea is still a weekly project, Scott and Carolyn are faithful to help each week along with Steven, Bogdan and Traian.  I have just finished the orphan sponsor updates today. We have lost a couple of our Widows the last few months but are adding others!  I have already bought one widow's winter wood - she was so anxious that she wouldn't get any so I went ahead and got hers now. It makes her feel secure just to see the woodpile outside in her yard. It is July and I as of yet do not have any excess funds for their winter wood for this year.

And of course Elizabeth and Sarah. Sarah has been an invaluable help to me since I have been hopping with a walker. She is expanding her knowledge of cooking.  Elizabeth is with Eurotrek for a month, in 4 countries doing camps for children with Grain Game. Thank you to everyone that helped her get there! We are saving for Africa in 2017!

Spring has come in Romania (I think)

We had the strangest winter weather, but then it seems most of the world did too.  So if it is spring, or almost, what  happened to the rest of fall and the winter?  Since I have been s-o-o-o-o-o negligent in keeping up the blog I'll just try to quickly play catch up and then hopefully do better!  Oh my, how many times have I said similar things over the years?...but I always mean it...honest....

The Christmas season was busy as usual. Irene, Wayne and Adina were on hand to help accomplish all the distributions and parties.  They did so much of the work this year, it was an awesome blessing for me.

All the widows had been given wood by November. Many of then had to have much more purchased over the winter as we have several that were home bound and two that were bedridden.  We lost Roza this winter, she knew the Lord and just wanted to go home. She refused medical help and medicines near the end, she just wanted this life to be over.  She is happy now!  I was shocked to find that Roza was only 3 years older than me, which makes Cati quite a bit younger. Amazing! We also lost Rozalia. She had been very ill with complications from her diabetes and had lost both legs. I half expected we would lose Ana and Anton but they have made it this far. They both know the Lord and await going to see him. Although it has been much warmer than normal we just bought a little more wood today for Cati.  Ekcaterina ia now also very ill and is staying with a niece.  Your prayers are appreciated for all the widows and widowers in the program.

Vinga is going very well with all the young peoples ministry. Spencer, Lynsey and Bogdan are doing a super job with the younger children. It is so exciting to have them share verses and songs at church on Sunday. Bogdan continues to head up the teen group as well as the ministry at the detention center. We are blessed to have Steven Goodwin here until October. He has a heart to disciple the boys and minister to children in general. He and Bogdan are making a super team.  Spencer is sharing the preaching roster on Sundays and has a good word to share.

2nd Chance has not started up again after Christmas. We know the State would rather the program didn't continue but so many youngsters dropped out of school and need something like this propgram. I pray they start up again soon and that we can get more teens in to the school.

We have a super team helping in Mocrea!  Scott and Carolyn not only do the driving for the team but pitch in with all the activities. They are a vital part to ongoing ministry there at the mental hospital.  Scott, Bogdan and Steven just completed installing new doors on our craft cupboard. When the old one broke we lost  a great deal of our craft supplies. Edith is on hand every week to help, especially with the refreshments. Of course Traian is also with us each week. he is a joy to my heart.  We will be losing Edith at the end of March, she needs to return to New Zealand. She will be missed by us.

Lynsey is still doing a great job at the hospital with the Unplaced Child Development Program. She is there almost every work day and trains all the new volunteers.  Without her that program would not be able to continue.

The children at Maranatha and Osana are all doing well. Thank you to all of you who sponsor a child.

Elizabeth and Sarah are both chugging along through teen-hood. I am very much the chauffeur.  They are so different from one another but both beautiful and talented.  Elizabeth will be going on Eurotrek with Grain Game and Sarah is helping with Grain Game Rromi. She will be accompanying us to Bulgaria to do a summer camp as well as the camp with the Pesac kids. Elizabeth is still fund raising for her summer travels. She has written a tour guide of the historic buildings here in Arad and gives tours. If this is of interest to anyone please contact me. If even if you can not visit us for the tour Elizabeth can e-mail or mail you a booklet.

Elizabeth turns 17!

Wow - where did the years go?  We have always been "The Americans" here.  So many people are amazed at how well the girls know the Romanian language. They can not get their minds around the fact that Romanian is their first language.  No I am not quite the typical grandmother here. I like to think that I can do (or used to be able to do) almost anything. Why I could ride a horse, ride a motorcycle, do work on the Space Shuttle, raise children, build simple structures, shoot, cook and clean...but alas I fall short on what almost all, if not all Romanian grandmothers can do - BAKE A CAKE!  Elizabeth wanted a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Can I do that she asks? Well sure I say.  The results:

Before Elizabeth saw the cake I told her to remember I made it with a lot of love. Not very pretty is it.  Also I didn't have the number 7 to make up the 17.  Hey - the numbers add up to 17!  I couldn't get the numbers to stay on the top of the cake - the surface was too uneven. The cake tastes good and Elizabeth was happy with it - that's the important thing.

Grain Game camp in Vinga

Just before school started in Sept. we had a week long Grain Game camp for the kids in Vinga aged 8-12. Fifty two attended during the week. Bogdan Galea did the gospel demonstrations and teaching, Callum King and an awesome team from World Race did games and crafts while Elizabeth and Samy Novak covered the music. Everybody had a really good week.                                           

  These were a great group of kids!

Making masks - Callum and his team came up with great crafts everyday

We had rain for two of the days but had enough floor space for indoor games on those days

Bogdan did a truly great job of presenting the gospel through the GG demonstrations. The vision of GG is for the gospel to reach every child of every nation. 

My Sarah

 It doesn't seem like I write as much about Sarah as I do the activities of her sister Elizabeth.  Sarah is having a good summer. She hadn't particularly liked the first 8 grades of school but she loves high school and is anxious for the fall semester to begin. She enters the 10th grade. She rides the train to town and back every day and that is the focal point of her social life. If I need to discipline her the biggest threat is that I would drive her to and from school!  Elizabeth would love that and wants to know why I never threaten her with that.  The girls are as different as night and day but both are a joy to my heart. Raising teens is not for the faint of heart however. Sarah is so photogenic. She would love for me to allow a tattoo or a few piercings...ah no.  Just wanted to take a moment to spotlight this gorgeous young lady.

Vacation!!!!

While Elizabeth was slaving away doing camps Sarah and I were able to get a week at the Black Sea in Bulgaria. We went with the Poncey's and their girls.  It was a long drive but I so enjoy the ocean and poolside.  Scott and Carolyn as well as Tammy and Randy, visiting after a wedding, went with the girls to a water park and parasailing too. The parasailing was the highlight of the trip.  Here are some pictures:

Sarah and I both enjoyed the trip

Anghelina and Sarah on the beach

View from Apt. balcony

The lovely pools

Elizabeth and Eurotrek

Elizabeth has been a Grain Game camper for years and last year was a junior leader.  This summer she joined Eurotrek.  Eurotrek is Grain Game in Europe. Elizabeth had the opportunity to spend one week in the Ukraine, two weeks in Serbia and two weeks in Romania.  Fundraising in Romania is not an easy thing to do. Kids don't have part time jobs as a rule, they don't pay babysitters and you can't do car washes or bake sale type of projects. She wisely decided it would be somewhat rude to write to the supporters of my work and just ask for money (although some helped of course). We brainstormed and came up with nothing. I do not have the funds to just send her, besides I wanted her to raise her own funds as much as possible. I did sell a trailer just before she left which helped! Elizabeth has been invited to a Grain Game function in Alabama in January and has already made plans to join Eurotrek next summer. She feels drawn to Africa and would like to make a trip there and work with Grain Game Africa after high-school graduation. As she is gushing about her future my mind is adding up expenses... but I do know God has provision for the vision so I wasn't worried. He has provided for us here all these years.

During a week of alternate education Elizabeth took a walking tour of Arad. The city is full of old places and historical buildings. She was excited to share what she had learned with me when she got home..."LIGHTBULB MOMENT"  We decided that many people might like a similar tour of the city.  Teams of visitors come in and out all year and she could handle groups. Elizabeth has made up a booklet to hand out after the tour.  We will be advertising her tour soon on Facebook and maybe sending out e-mails. Of  course if people aren't coming to Romania and wish to support Elizabeth they will be mailed the booklet.  We are excited about this and it will give her ownership of her ministry. I am so joyful of the paths she is choosing.  Elizabeth will also help us with the Vinga camp next month.

Elizabeth in Serbia

Chip and Elizabeth

Grain Game Rromi Camp

What an awesome start to the summer.  The kids from Pesac were able to attend a summer camp up in Sistarovat!  Thanks to an American team, led by Daryl and Janna Edwards, for helping and the financial support!  This aspect of The Grain Game is fairly new.  Bogdan and Callum and a few others are the leaders. I agreed to spearhead this effort and administrate it for now until Bogdan can take over.  Grain Game primarily targets middle school age youngsters for the wonderful gospel preparations. Grain Game, Chip Riley, has developed some of the best demonstrations for children's ministry that I have ever seen.  This is our second year for camp with the Pesac kids. During the rest of the year Bogdan, Callum and team do monthly kids club with them. 

We have another camp scheduled for the 2nd week in September, just before school starts. We will be doing this camp with the Vinga youngsters. We already have a kid's club there on Saturdays run by Spencer and Lynsey Ball as well as Bogdan.

Cati

Cati is is on the left, a mentally challenged young man that helps Roza in the middle and Roza on the right. Cati and Roza are sisters and live next door to each other in Vinga. Roza is the oldest of 14.  I know Cati is younger but I am not sure how many siblings were in between.  Cati has some trouble processing information and can be quite difficult.  Cati as well as Roza are in the Widow's Mite program.  They are not close, in fact I am not sure Cati knows Roza was baptized.

Several weeks ago Cati fell in the fields while collecting flowers to sell at the Piata.  She was transported to the hospital in town with what I thought was a broken leg. Cati returned home in less than a week. She was afraid of surgery and would not let them operate. it was her hip that was broken not her leg. She was brought back by ambulance and placed on her "bed". She could not get up to go outside (there is no bathroom).  Lynsey and I visited with her to assess the needs...whoa, what a list.  Neighbors are helping to care for her so with adult diapers,baby wipes, antibiotic cream as she has open sores where she fell, a bed pan, a walker and diaper creams and a supply of sheets, she was settled. I gave her a couple of shifts of mine to use as nightgowns as she lays in a room open to the yard.   Christine let us have one of her twin mattresses as Cati really didn't have a bed. She had a rusted box spring with old filthy blankets and a quilt for padding. It also looked like there were several layers of clothes underneath her. It was pretty smelly to say the least - let alone a REALLY bad place to be laying with open wounds. Here is a picture before she was transferred to the new nylon covered mattress. That is just packed dirt beneath those crates - and that is all the furniture in that room.

Cati is actually (and surprisingly) doing quite well and is able to move her leg around now. God is good - because without Him having His hand on her - it would have been a much worse situation. Please pray for a rapid healing and that she be able to walk again!