John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Dear Family and Friends,
I made my weekly visit to Crizantina’s village yesterday and after I detached her from my hip, I found her to be rather sick. She has a terrible cold and cough and even though the doctor left medications for such conditions last week, they took her to another doctor and were told that they shouldn’t use the medicine because it expired in June. I know, I know…this doesn’t make any sense but as Marianela (my Romanian friend that went with me…she is the wife of Pavel), “Michelle, poor, uneducated people do such things because they don’t know when to ask questions.” Marianela is correct. She spent over 30 minutes explaining each medicine to them and how to use it for each child. I love it when she is able to leave her four children with someone else and go with me to Crizantina’s village. God has given Marianela a heart for the gypsy people in a major way. If she had a house, she would take one of the abandoned gypsy babies from hospital….and she already has 2 5 year old twin girls, a 4 year old boy and a 5 year old boy. How’s that for a full-time ministry?!?!? Marianela and Pavel currently live in a two bedroom home and all 4 children sleep in one bedroom. I ask that you join me in praying for a house for their family. She and Pavel have been so faithful to assist me with ministry needs here. I want to see God bless them in mammoth ways for their tenacious obedience in doing His work!
While I was in Crizantina’s village, her mother asked me to please help Crizantina’ first cousin, Elana (her mother’s sister’s daughter). This beautiful 18 year old was so pitiful. Her tattered clothes were representative of her total impoverished lifestyle. Her feet were in the shoes that certainly must have been her mothers given the way they flopped when she walked. Crizantina’s family kindly asked me to help Elana. I am told that she suffers from both a congenital heart condition and arthritis. My heart broke when I met her tear-filled eyes. I told her I wanted to pray for her and she agreed. God truly worked miracles through that prayer and I praise His name. Please continue to remember her and her younger brother in your prayers. She is his primary caretaker since her father is an alcoholic and rarely comes home. When I visit the village again, I will take food to her home.
This Friday, we will present all the paperwork from our nonprofit to the local child protection so that we may obtain accreditation to work with children. We are told that many nonprofits have abused the system and said they are working with children only to get tax breaks for registering cars, etc. Esti and I have worked all week to get the required papers (this includes annual budget, methodology for treatment, organizational chart, letter of intent, and all of our statutes) for our presentation. I will present without Esti (she in on her honeymoon) on Friday. I ask that you please pray for this presentation!!
I will be out of touch by computer until Thursday. I thank all of you that have written letters of encouragement this week. You are appreciated!!!
Basking in the Son,
Michelle
Posted on October 10th, 1999 by Michelle
Filed under: Michelle's Journal