Dear Family and Friends,
Daniel and I have had a busy Christmas season distributing all the gifts for the children and all the food parcels for the families. The week before Christmas, we were gone all day and evening on Thursday and all day on Friday delivering all the wonderful items that so many of you helped provide. Here is a photo of Daniel and one of our Education Inspiration boys, Florin, as we delivered food and presents to his family for Christmas.
Their families were very touched that we thought of them for Christmas and, as a result, since Daniel was the man, he got invited to everyone’s house for coffee and fresh sausages (every family in the entire country seemed to be slaugthering a pig that day as is tradition here before Christmas) while Alina and I struggled with folks trying to steal the food and gifts from the car! Needless to say, our experiences that day and memories are quite different!! Daniel almost got simultaneously punched by Alina and me when he finally returned from his taste-testing visits. Alina and I recovered from our trauma and continued on to deliver more food parcels and gifts and here are some of wonderful families.
“Crina’s Mom from Education Inspiration receiving food for her family along with our social worker, Alina.”
(Don’t mind the apron. She was butchering a pig in their house when we arrived and needed the apron to keep all the blood off of her.)
“Father and six children. Father has a terminal lung disease but seems to be stable right now. Please pray for his healing.”
On Wednesday the 19th, we had our Christmas celebration at our “Good Beginnings” preschool and the children were just precious doing their play. I had an enormous lump form in my throat and tears in my eyes when one of the “angels” declared without being prompted for her lines, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news. Today is born the Son of God.”
After hearing so many times how “gypsy” children are genetically prone to being unable to learn, it was such powerful proof that The Lord will expand His word to all people. We thank the local Adventist church that provided the children with Christmas gifts and a day in the park in city. The park has an indoor part and the children absolutely loved every moment of it.We had a terrific Santa Claus this year and Daniel, Neli and I enjoyed being his elves as we visited all of our foster children. They were so cute and, as is tradition here, the children either recited a poem or sang a song for jolly ole’ Santa. They were all absolutely adorable as you will see yourself from these photos.
“Michelle and Flaviu”
“Neli with one of our foster children.”
“Doll holding a doll”
“Miniature Santa playing with his new toys”
“a not so trusting Gabi reciting poem for Santa”
On Christmas Day, Daniel invited our former Agape Home resident, Mona, and her child, Maria, over to eat with us along with our current Agape Home parents and their children. We had such a fun time with everyone and Maria was an absolute doll as she opened her gifts with such wonder! Mona was giddy about receiving a gift from under the Christmas tree and it was deeply touching to see this young woman with so such gratitude to The Lord for all she has. Here is a photo of both Mona and Maria opening their gifts and one of Maria trying to understand what a “Mrs. Potato Head” is!
We thank so many of you for how you have blessed our ministry in 2007 and we look forward to seeing what The Lord does through all of us in 2008! Please do not forget to write us personal updates about what is going on with you!
Basking In The Son,
Michelle
Posted on January 7th, 2008 by Michelle
Filed under: Michelle's Journal