Dear Family and Friends,
This has been quite a week. I am in a rather verbose mood but I will try to condense what has happened over the past few weeks.
Several of you have written asking about the roommate versus co-workers situation (their names are Emilia, Dana, & Estie.) I live with all three Romanian women that I work with at Fundatia Poarta Bucuriei. This is better for them financially and it provides me with exposure to the Christian culture here (which has been enlightening….no dangling earrings, absolutely no toe-rings, and only one ring at a time and that may NOT be a thumb ring.)
First, let me tell you something about the language here. Emilia tells me that I have picked it up faster than anyone and she promises that she is not exaggerating. I have my doubts, though, since I have told two taxi drivers they were sweet when I meant expensive. Oh, well, I suppose I must goof some in the process.
Emilia especially gets quite amused when I say the words “bless your heart.” Many of you know that this is a southern expression and one that, thanks to my grandmother and mother, I use frequently. The other day, I came in the living room and all three were practicing it. Emilia, the most successful, said, “I can’t get the heart sound the way you do…why is that?” I proudly announced, “That is because I am southern and my vowels are longing in the word heart…it is more like ‘Hawart’ instead of heart.” Emilia responds, “Well, say it right so when can mock you when you do it.” Right? Southern accents are wrong? I think not!!! Now, I have three Romanian women who are “blessing my hawart” in English constantly. Oh the joys of language!!!
I know that many of you in the south are experiencing the same sweltering heat that we have been having here. However, most of you have air conditioning but we do not. The McDonalds beside my flat has air but I can’t stomach McDonalds food and I can only order so many soft drinks in a week. Besides, it just makes it worse to go inside and then come out into a sauna. Praise God, today the temperature is about 75 degrees…a stark contrast for the 100 degree weather we have had all week.
Okay, on to the work at hand. I did meet with the people responsible for administering large grants to programs that do foster care and other work to de-institutionalize children. The meetings went VERY well and one of the women responsible for administering funds (the social worker from NC) told me that she wanted to come visit our foundation. “Great. Come on up” I told her. I called her Friday and she is coming in two or three weeks. She told me that several of the programs that I wrote did qualify for the money…now we have to go through the paper work. That translates to approximately $75,000 to $100,000 for the children in this county within the next few months. We will be able to hire people to work in that horrible hospital. We will also be able to hire someone to start the legal process of getting these children free for Christian foster homes and adoption. Praise God for answering prayers!!!
Many of you know the story of the little burned girl in the hospital that I wrote about. She is severely burned from her waist to her knees. Through an awesome sister in Christ that lives back home, (her name is June) a surgeon at UNC hospital was contacted. June got his email address and sent it to me. He and I corresponded and he told me that he was not only willing to treat this child, but he would be willing to come here if it were difficult to transport her. He also offered to teach other doctors medicine in treating burns and surgery. Talk about an answered prayer!! I sent him photos via email this week. I await his response to this. There is a problem with all of this as we can’t find the child’s parents. After much collaboration here, I have discovered that this child can actually be taken into protective custody by the state. That way, the state can grant approval to get her to the resources she needs for treatment. This all sounds easy when I write it but any of you that have worked with post-communist countries no this will take a literal act of God. I believe that He is in the business of answering prayers so….keep praying!!!
My final topic is in regard to my personal life. My boyfriend, Jeff Dunlap, will be coming on August 27th to act as the Wilderness Director for the two week camp that we are conducting for orphans. Jeff has vast experience is wilderness camping as therapy…he has been working in the ministry full-time for over three years as a Wilderness Camp Counselor in Cameron, NC (yep, my hometown!) Wilderness camping has been a integral part of this ministry since its inception. All of us (myself, Emilia, Dana, and Estie) are praying that Jeff will decide to stay to expand that part of the ministry and write a curriculum for therapeutic camping. Of course, I don’t mind in the least if he stays:-) He shares the same love for suffering children as I do and he has done previous foreign missions. Jeff has been a source of much inspiration during my stay here and his Christian counsel has been invaluable. As an added bonus, he is an immensely gifted guitar player, drummer and vocalist. All of his skills we intend to put to good use during his stay here!! Jeff and I both agree that allowing God to lead us is extremely important and we desire to seek His will in all that we do. With that as our foundation, we joyously approach this ministry together.
May God continue to bless each of you as you serve. I thank you for your prayers and your correspondence.
Basking in the Son,
Michelle
Posted on July 26th, 1998 by Michelle
Filed under: Michelle's Journal