This week we have been working in another group home for special needs. It has been an amazing time. We have felt the renewing of our strength as we go and do not tire of playing with the children. There are twelve children in this home, the oldest is 15 and the youngest is 7. We have enjoyed every moment of pushing Emilut on the tricycle, or dancing with Adriana or running all over the yard with Claudia, or walking with them into town to get ice cream for them and watching Marius dance as LeAllison sang to him. These kids are truly amazing and as I sit and watch them my heart is filled with love and compassion for them.
Last night in the group home, one of the caretakers, Tubi, came out to the yard with two photo albums. She shared some stories about the children and she said that Bobi was her favorite and went on to share his story. Bobi, at age three was in the hospital, he was unable to walk after already having two years of therapy. The doctors said that he would be a vegetable for his life. She was one of the caretakers at the home he was placed in. During their breaks all of the caretakers would go to the store or sit outside and smoke. On her break, she would massage his feet and spend her time working with him. Eventually she taught him how to walk and now, at age 10, he runs around the yard like all of the other children. The love for him was evident and you could see it in her eyes as she looked at her “Bobitsa.” It was truly a miracle to see how her unconditional love had brought him so far.
The translators and in-country staff have also been a huge blessing to us. They are always so willing to take us shopping or to the post office to buy phone cards or whatever we need, and they do all this without complaining. They have been great about translating what the kids are telling us and also for the entire two to three-hour long church services. We would be in quite a bind if they were not here. But we have also enjoyed watching them interact with the children. The kids all have great respect for them and flock to them as soon as we arrive at the homes. They share story after story of what these kids used to be and how much they have changed.
Echipa Rosu
Echipa Rosu
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
Blessings
I would like to simply take a minute to reflect on the blessings of God. As I lay in my bed last night I was overwhelmed by how great is the love that God has for me. He gave His son to take the punishment for my sin so that He could have a relationship with me. What is the result of this relationship? Well, it is a lot more work on His part than mine most of the time. And I am a miserable failure. He can do amazing things and the next minute I am wondering why He is not doing something else that I had on my agenda for him to complete. But He loves me despite my failure and He reaffirms this and continues to love on me. He has shown himself to me in amazing ways through his provision in many different ways: financial support, emotional support as well as strenghtening me for each day of interaction with the children.
As a result of His love he doesn't just pour, he dumps blessings into my life. Particularly while I have been here in Romania YOU have blessed my socks off! I am blown away by all of your notes of encouragement, your constant prayers, and your excitement and enthusiasm for what God is doing.
I have been humbled by the fact that God would use me to minister to and love these children. To tell them stories, to sing to them, to hug them and to laugh with them. What a huge blessing and one of the greatest opportunities of my life.
Multumesc--Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Blessings!
Katie
As a result of His love he doesn't just pour, he dumps blessings into my life. Particularly while I have been here in Romania YOU have blessed my socks off! I am blown away by all of your notes of encouragement, your constant prayers, and your excitement and enthusiasm for what God is doing.
I have been humbled by the fact that God would use me to minister to and love these children. To tell them stories, to sing to them, to hug them and to laugh with them. What a huge blessing and one of the greatest opportunities of my life.
Multumesc--Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Blessings!
Katie
Saturday, July 21, 2007
The Girls at Zau de Cimpie
This week we worked in the orphanage at Zau. It is a big old castle located on a hill overlooking the city. You can see it for miles before you drive up. This was the hardest week we have had and I felt the spiritual warfare for the entire one- our drive every morning. Satan did his hardest to discourage me and convince me that the girls did not care that we came and they were not learning anything from the Bible lessons that we gave. On Wednesday I was sitting on the porch really discouraged. I felt like I could not teach another Bible lesson. The Spirit came over me and reminded me that God is my provider. When I cannot go on, it is then that He will carry me. When I cannot love these children, He will love them through me. When I fall down, it is then that He holds me. When I am discouraged and I have no strenth, He is my strength. Although it was the hardest and most emotional week, it has been my favorite.
I worked with the teens with Mandy-one of the interns, Anca and Ioana-the in-country staff. The first few days were rough and we had a hard time getting them involved in the discussion and games. It was Thursday before they became comfortable enough with us to really participate. On Friday we received a lot of compliments on the day from the in country staff. I could not take any credit because I know that it was God working through me. That was not our program. It was very awesome to see Him work through us.
The girls were very precious. I would have taken any one of them home with me, all of them if possible. It was neat to see how they get along so well. Living in the orphanage would be like having 45 sisters around all the time.
It was heartrending to hear their stories. Some of them have 3 or four sisters in the orphanage. One family of 5 was dropped off right at Christmas time because their family did not want them anymore. The oldest was about 17. Bella has five sisters but she was the only daughter that her mother did not want. Several of the girls' parents took them home to work on the farms for the summer. The girls will come back in the fall to go to school.
One of the girls who has a special place in my heart is named Mimi. She is about 13 and one of the happiest girls I have ever met. We had very limited conversations: Hi. How are You? That is about it. Everything else that we said to each other we could not understand. She would always be smiling. No matter how mad the girls would get at her because she had already listened to the same song six times and now she was listening to it again, she would smile and laugh and keep on playing it over and over. She would come over grab my arm, and and we would dance for just a minute before she started laughing, maybe I am a bad dancer, I don't know why she laughed. Then we would do it again, I will cherish that moment forever.
I worked with the teens with Mandy-one of the interns, Anca and Ioana-the in-country staff. The first few days were rough and we had a hard time getting them involved in the discussion and games. It was Thursday before they became comfortable enough with us to really participate. On Friday we received a lot of compliments on the day from the in country staff. I could not take any credit because I know that it was God working through me. That was not our program. It was very awesome to see Him work through us.
The girls were very precious. I would have taken any one of them home with me, all of them if possible. It was neat to see how they get along so well. Living in the orphanage would be like having 45 sisters around all the time.
It was heartrending to hear their stories. Some of them have 3 or four sisters in the orphanage. One family of 5 was dropped off right at Christmas time because their family did not want them anymore. The oldest was about 17. Bella has five sisters but she was the only daughter that her mother did not want. Several of the girls' parents took them home to work on the farms for the summer. The girls will come back in the fall to go to school.
One of the girls who has a special place in my heart is named Mimi. She is about 13 and one of the happiest girls I have ever met. We had very limited conversations: Hi. How are You? That is about it. Everything else that we said to each other we could not understand. She would always be smiling. No matter how mad the girls would get at her because she had already listened to the same song six times and now she was listening to it again, she would smile and laugh and keep on playing it over and over. She would come over grab my arm, and and we would dance for just a minute before she started laughing, maybe I am a bad dancer, I don't know why she laughed. Then we would do it again, I will cherish that moment forever.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Reflecting on the First Week
So we have been in Romania for almost one week. I can't believe that it has been that long! The children have been great. Especially at the group home, the kids are very active and I greatly enjoyed watching them. I love to see the joy on their faces when we take just a bit of time to care for them and play with them.
Today we got to take the children from the day center to the zoo. It was so much fun to see them get excited to see the monkeys and bears. When they saw the goats they all started "baaing", all 20 of them in unison. It was great!
If you could keep us in your prayers this coming week for continued working with the in-country staff; pray for us this coming week as we go the the girls orphanage in Zau, that we could encourage them in their walk with Christ. Also I am still lacking funds for support, please pray for that all to come in. If any of you would be willing to support me financially checks can be made payable to Buckner International and sent to my home.
Blessings upon you all and THANK YOU for all the prayers you have sent my way!
Katie
Today we got to take the children from the day center to the zoo. It was so much fun to see them get excited to see the monkeys and bears. When they saw the goats they all started "baaing", all 20 of them in unison. It was great!
If you could keep us in your prayers this coming week for continued working with the in-country staff; pray for us this coming week as we go the the girls orphanage in Zau, that we could encourage them in their walk with Christ. Also I am still lacking funds for support, please pray for that all to come in. If any of you would be willing to support me financially checks can be made payable to Buckner International and sent to my home.
Blessings upon you all and THANK YOU for all the prayers you have sent my way!
Katie
Thursday, July 12, 2007
May we...
One of the highlights of this week was attending church on Sunday night with Cristina and Ioana (Buckner in country staff). There were about 150 in attendance and they were all very excited to be at church. It was neat to hear songs that I recognized even though the words were not the same. We do not speak the same language, yet, we are all able to worship the same God together.
The children are such a huge blessing and encouragement. They are so much fun to hang out with and they are well behaved for the most part. It is great to hear them sing “Father Abraham” in English and know that they have no idea what they are singing; they sure are enthusiastic about it though! As soon as we walk into the classroom the children get these huge smiles on their faces and run up and give us big hugs and the little girls want to be held the whole time. They are precious.
It is heart breaking to know that most of these children will probably only get to attend school for two years and then they will go back to be at home. The uniforms and books are too expensive for many of the families to have the children continue their education. Thus, this cycle of poverty is repeated.
I am greatly blessed by the caretakers in the group home. I am blessed by how they love these children and care for them unconditionally. How they patiently rebuke them and do not yell and scream at the children until they obey. They lovingly care for them, hold them, kiss them, and laugh with them.
I am reminded of a conversation en route to Romania. I was sitting with LeAllison and she said that sometimes we get too comfortable with our lives and we take things for granted. We get to go to Romania! What a huge blessing! We need to soak it all in and not get frustrated when things do not go how we had planned because we have been given this great opportunity and we want to get everything out of it that we can.
I hope that we never take this for granted. We are blessed to be here and to serve these children. May we not worry how many times they pull our hair out or pick our noses or push us over; may we be ridiculously goofy as though there were no one to criticize; and may we open our hearts to love them just as Christ loves them.
The children are such a huge blessing and encouragement. They are so much fun to hang out with and they are well behaved for the most part. It is great to hear them sing “Father Abraham” in English and know that they have no idea what they are singing; they sure are enthusiastic about it though! As soon as we walk into the classroom the children get these huge smiles on their faces and run up and give us big hugs and the little girls want to be held the whole time. They are precious.
It is heart breaking to know that most of these children will probably only get to attend school for two years and then they will go back to be at home. The uniforms and books are too expensive for many of the families to have the children continue their education. Thus, this cycle of poverty is repeated.
I am greatly blessed by the caretakers in the group home. I am blessed by how they love these children and care for them unconditionally. How they patiently rebuke them and do not yell and scream at the children until they obey. They lovingly care for them, hold them, kiss them, and laugh with them.
I am reminded of a conversation en route to Romania. I was sitting with LeAllison and she said that sometimes we get too comfortable with our lives and we take things for granted. We get to go to Romania! What a huge blessing! We need to soak it all in and not get frustrated when things do not go how we had planned because we have been given this great opportunity and we want to get everything out of it that we can.
I hope that we never take this for granted. We are blessed to be here and to serve these children. May we not worry how many times they pull our hair out or pick our noses or push us over; may we be ridiculously goofy as though there were no one to criticize; and may we open our hearts to love them just as Christ loves them.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Ministry
We have completed our second day of ministry here in Tirgu Mures with Buckner. It has been amazing to see this totally new culture and how they interact.
Our first stop in the morning is at a day center. This center is a two-year school for kids in Kindergarten through first grade and it is funded by the government. Many of the children that attend this school will not go on to elementary school. Their families are often too poor to buy the uniforms and books needed to continue their education. The kids are really fun and they want to be as close to us as they can. Each of us will often have at least one kid on our laps at any given time. They are very cute and affectionate and have a way of making you smile.
The second place is in Ceuasi, about fifteen minutes from here. This is a group home with 12 kids in it. They have special needs ranging from down syndrome to fetal alcohol syndrome to blindness or autism. These children are very special and it is really neat to see them warm up to us. One little boy has autism and he played by himself the first day and would not come near us. Yesterday he came and sat down next to me. I started talking to him and then I blew bubbles with him for a while. He then would lay next to me and wait for me to tickle him, he would laugh and laugh and roll off the cot, then sit up and crawl back over and lay next to me and wait for me to tickle him again.
I often wonder if these children will remember when the americans came and jumped with them on a trampoline and blew bubbles for them... probably not. Will they remember anything that we told them? Probably not. But I believe that God called me to minister to His children, and to love them like He does. My desire is to do that and to catch a glimpse of His heart for his children. To love them without the condition that they love me back, because that is what He does for us.
Our first stop in the morning is at a day center. This center is a two-year school for kids in Kindergarten through first grade and it is funded by the government. Many of the children that attend this school will not go on to elementary school. Their families are often too poor to buy the uniforms and books needed to continue their education. The kids are really fun and they want to be as close to us as they can. Each of us will often have at least one kid on our laps at any given time. They are very cute and affectionate and have a way of making you smile.
The second place is in Ceuasi, about fifteen minutes from here. This is a group home with 12 kids in it. They have special needs ranging from down syndrome to fetal alcohol syndrome to blindness or autism. These children are very special and it is really neat to see them warm up to us. One little boy has autism and he played by himself the first day and would not come near us. Yesterday he came and sat down next to me. I started talking to him and then I blew bubbles with him for a while. He then would lay next to me and wait for me to tickle him, he would laugh and laugh and roll off the cot, then sit up and crawl back over and lay next to me and wait for me to tickle him again.
I often wonder if these children will remember when the americans came and jumped with them on a trampoline and blew bubbles for them... probably not. Will they remember anything that we told them? Probably not. But I believe that God called me to minister to His children, and to love them like He does. My desire is to do that and to catch a glimpse of His heart for his children. To love them without the condition that they love me back, because that is what He does for us.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Crunch Time
I have only a few days until I leave. Aaaaah! It seems so unreal to me. "What? I am going to Romania?!?" Excitement is building!
I cannot wait to go and meet my fellow team members face-to-face. I hope and pray that we grow into sisters and we are able to love and support each other selflessly as unto Christ. I pray that we can minister effectively to these children without worry of the culture and language barrier; that our love and smiles would transcend through any invisible barriers.
I would once again like to ask for your prayers.
Pray for team unity-that we could minister to the children, staff and to each other.
Pray for last minute preparations to go smoothly and as little stress as possible.
Pray for the team to rely on Christ and not worry about school, work or commitments at home.
Pray for the funds to continue coming in.
Pray for safety in travel with all the uncertainty with terrorists--that we will also be able to rely on Christ's protection to keep us safe.
We will fly out of Dallas on Friday, July 6 and we arrive in Bucharest, Romania on Saturday. We will return on Sunday, August 5. You can keep these dates in prayer.
May we go forth in the strength of the Lord to honor and glorify his name.
Blessings!
Katie
I cannot wait to go and meet my fellow team members face-to-face. I hope and pray that we grow into sisters and we are able to love and support each other selflessly as unto Christ. I pray that we can minister effectively to these children without worry of the culture and language barrier; that our love and smiles would transcend through any invisible barriers.
I would once again like to ask for your prayers.
Pray for team unity-that we could minister to the children, staff and to each other.
Pray for last minute preparations to go smoothly and as little stress as possible.
Pray for the team to rely on Christ and not worry about school, work or commitments at home.
Pray for the funds to continue coming in.
Pray for safety in travel with all the uncertainty with terrorists--that we will also be able to rely on Christ's protection to keep us safe.
We will fly out of Dallas on Friday, July 6 and we arrive in Bucharest, Romania on Saturday. We will return on Sunday, August 5. You can keep these dates in prayer.
May we go forth in the strength of the Lord to honor and glorify his name.
Blessings!
Katie
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