Michelle’s Journal – September 22, 1998
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Dear Family and Friends,
I have just returned from a week of vacationing with Jeff throughout Romania and I must tell you that I feel restored and ready for more action. Jeff looked at me on the way back yesterday as I was making a two page task list and said, “I guess the vacation is officially over now.”
Crizentina, the little burned girl that I have written much about, (the Tonia project) continues to need prayer. The embassy told me that it would take some time to get all the paperwork squared away so I am completely trusting God for this. The other problem is transporting her back to the US. She cannot sit in a regular sit because of how malformed her legs now are from the burn. However, Wendy (my best friend that is a RN) seems to think that she could travel in first class if the seat was reclined the whole way. This means that we would have to pay for the first class ticket of Crizentina and myself or Wendy to travel with her. Wendy is certainly qualified to care for Crizentina since she has worked with severe burn patients for over a year. But, Wendy is coming in three short weeks. It will certainly be a miracle if all of this get resolved in three short weeks. Again, this is one more reason that I am on my knees for this child.
I met with the people from World Vision about a grant for Fundatia Poarta Bucuriei. They are willing to give up to $25,000 for foster care projects. I must write a concept paper and submit it to begin the process so I guess you can all guess what I will be doing later today and this week. Praise God, they are equally interested in Jeff’s idea of starting a wilderness program here for orphans. In fact, they even offered him some land to use to do it!!! Therefore, Jeff will also be writing a concept paper to get some funding. God is so awesome!!
Before we left for vacation, we were at camp for two weeks with three different groups of orphans. Two groups were from a “normal” orphanage and one was from a special needs orphanage for children with physical and mental disabilities. I have no experience in working with special needs children but I can tell you that God surely does. These children were the most precious, wonderful experience that I have had. Although they had disabilities ranging from blindness to severe mental retardation, they were the happiest group that I was blessed enough to work with during camp. We did a face and hand painting activity with them one afternoon and my heart melted as I watched smiles grow widely across their tender faces. Hugs and kisses abounded as I finished each “work of art” on them. One person commented on how sorry they felt for the children and I quickly verbalized my disagreement. These children will never know some of the problems that “normal” people face. One little lad was so thrilled about seeing a pig that he jumped up and down and motioned for me and Jeff to join him in seeing a pig. That, my friends, is true joy.
When they arrived, I was concerned how I would communicate the love of Jesus to them. What happened was the reverse, in their simple joy at life and all that surrounds us, they communicated the true love of Jesus to me. What a gift such children are to our world. What a beautiful lesson to learn in what sometimes feels like a cold, stark world.
Basking in the Son,
Michelle
