Dear Family and Friends,
I have received several emails this week from people wanting to know why I didn’t write an update last week. The answer is simple. I moved!! I now have a BEAUTIFUL new apartment and I haven’t been able to walk through my house much less find space to put my computer to type! I have attached some pictures of my new 2 bedroom, two bath apartment/office. I have really moved up! This place is incredible…. I was shocked to find such a stunning home. And, as an added bonus, it is not in the usual Romanian blocks that I have been living in. It is in a privately owned house with the entire first level being my home. Barbara and I have laughed at our excitement at what we consider great living conditions here. While our new apartment is wonderful, the light fixtures that consist of naked bulbs and wires dangling from the ceiling (and, no, the refrigerator is not frost free). But, praise God, the heat works great!! My allergy problems have already drastically diminished because of this new place. It is amazing how much your health can change when you don’t have mold and mildew growing on every wall!
I have several other praises to tell you about. First, thanks to a supporter from Seacoast, I now have Pavel’s salary pledged for one year!! As of November 1st, Pavel started work for New Life for Children! He has already proven to be a blessing. He is enthusiastic about his work and he is so talented with so much (from computers to cars) that I can give him any task to do and he can accomplish it within hours. I love having employees like that!!
Another praise is that the church I attended during my childhood in Cameron, NC, raised over $1,300 for Crizantina’s family so that I could buy food and other supplies this winter. Additionally, a nurse that cared for Crizantina while she was in Chicago sent a check for $500 for Crizantina’s care!!!!!! Can you say Hallelujah!?!? Thank you to all those that contributed to provide for her family.
We continue to look for a house for Crizantina’s family but not having a vehicle makes it difficult. Esti looked at a house two days ago but it was not the type of house we were looking for. We ask that you join us in praying that we find a house before the winter hits hard.
My American pastor here allowed me to borrow their miniature van (the Damas) to visit Crizantina’s village. I now need to go into great detail about the Damas. It is called a van but it is really only a tall car with a motorcycle engine (no kiddin’…it is only a 1.8 engine.) We are always joking about it being the grape ape (it is bright purple).
In my haste to get the clothes that I took unloaded, I neglected to turn off the headlights. So when Esti and I got in the van to leave….you got it….it was dead. I was despondent over what to do and Esti looked gripped with fear as she realized we were stranded in the middle of a gypsy village and over an hour from home. The nearest car was over 2 kilometers away. I prayed hard. Within minutes, there were over 30 gypsies assembled to push the van so I could pop the clutch to get it running. I don’t think the Damas has ever gone so fast in 2nd gear. Because of the gypsy mowered momentum, we cleared a mud hole about a foot deep and then went sailing through 10 feet of what looked like quick sand. It was definitely a Kodak moment. The gypsies all cheered and I promptly started crying. Just when I think I can be Jesus to someone else, God shows me how others can be Jesus to me.
I wrote you a few weeks ago about baby Robert…the clef lip/palate child that needed surgery. Because of his age and wait, Robert was unable to have surgery at this time. We are told, however, that a team of surgeons will be back next spring and Robert should qualify for the surgery at that time. We thank you for praying for this.
I wrote several months ago about a New Year’s Eve project that I was feeling lead to do for young people in this area. Well, it is going to happen!! I am working with my church here to organize the event and my Romanian pastor has put me in charge of organizing the entire event. Can you say God-sized task? We have secured the place and we have two Christian Romanian artists lined up to perform. If any of you have any ideas about other bands or artists that could possibly perform, please let me know as soon as possible. We were hoping to have at least six different performers.
I received notice this week that my friends, Andy and Kellie Hein, the youth pastors at my US church, Seacoast Christian Community, will be bringing a team of eight here for Christmas!! I am thrilled about having them join the ministry here for our Christmas project. The purpose of their trip is leadership training. I have contacted Samaritan’s Purse in Romania to organize a shoebox Christmas gift distribution in some schools, orphanages, and churches. We will be delivering gifts to over 800 gifts in the area. How’s that for a little Christmas project!?!?!? I wanna start playing Christmas music!!!
We now have a Romanian post office box and I am told that mail will be much more likely to make it here. (All Christmas goodies except for that jelly-filled-faux-fruit-cake will be appreciated and devoured.) 
Please note my new address and phone number at the bottom of this email (the new home number will be changed in about three weeks because the apartment owners want to keep this number.)
I appreciate all the financial support that people have given during the past month. God has been gracious to bless this ministry. We are buying baby formula for our children so that they can eat proper nutrition each day. I thank many of you that have made that possible.
May God bless each of you richly!
Basking in the Son,
Michelle
Posted on November 7th, 1999 by Michelle
Filed under: Michelle's Journal