Dear Family and Friends,
We have been back in Romania two weeks and it already seems like two months! We were very blessed to have Dave and Cheryl Pickert come over and install a flower garden at Agape Home. Not only did the Lord provide all the money for them to come, but He also provided all the funds for them to buy everything needed to put in the garden to include stepping stones, flowers, plants, planters, etc. The photos below are the before and after shots. They do not really do it justice!
What amazing results God yielded from their work in 8 days!! I loved how the rays from the sun (and The Son) were beaming over our garden. We are so proud of the aesthetic improvement this is for our home.
Both of our residents are doing well and growing spiritually and physically. Our house mother, Flori, tell me that one of the residents, Alina, came during her fifth month of pregnancy with a concave stomach because of malnouishment. You can see for yourself from this side shot of her with Nicu that that was quickly remedied!!
They are both proud of their protruding stomachs! Alina LOVES working in the garden and tending our now 300 chickens and chicks!! She told me, “I think I can have my own little farm when I leave here if God helps me to find a place.” I smiled and thanked the Lord for allowing me to see a piece of fruit from our labor.
Some of our foster children grew so much I did not recognize them! In a few days, I will be sending photos. Wednesday is “Day of the Children” in Romania and we are having a big party at McDonalds with all of our foster families. I will make sure to get some updated photos to send and put on our website. I will also write a separate update and explain how the law changes made while we were gone have drastically impacted abandoned children negatively. All the ministries here working with children are very upset and reacting but, from what I am told, the government is not listening. Please pray for political ears to be open.
We are in the process of looking for both housing and a car to purchase. We have narrowed down both and our board will meet on Thursday to decide. We ask for you to pray for them to have wisdom on both issues.
I still miss home (especially my family) very badly and Daniel has been so patient to deal with my many tears. His knee is doing much better and we have started back to the gym where he is working hard to get back to normal. He still has pain with leg extensions but he is up to five pounds now. (The ONE exercise where I can do more weight than him!!) He said to thank you for all your prayers and to say, “God’s mercy is great!”
Also, my Mom had knee surgery the week before we left. She is doing well but she, too, is walking with a limp and still in pain. Additionally, my aunt, Kathy Comer, will have double knee replacement surgery tomorrow and she is only in her 40’s. She told me she will be the youngest patient her surgeon has for this procedure. As you can imagine, she is a bit apprehensive about this and it will required three weeks in the hospital. I ask you to please pray for both of these women in my family to recover fully! (And please pray for my knees to last until the Lord takes me home!!!!)
We thank all of you for how you to continue to bless us with words of encouragement, prayer, and monetarily. We are privileged to serve here with you!
Basking in the Son,
Michelle
Posted on May 30th, 2005 by Michelle
Filed under: Michelle's Journal