On Tuesday, December 4th, 14 team members met at the Charlotte, North Carolina airport: seven flying in from Maryland, three from Alabama, one from Georgia and three from Florida.  For some this was their first mission trip ever, for others it was their first mission trip to Romania and for others, it was a return trip to reunite with friends.  But for all of us it was an anticipated opportunity to share the good news of God’s love to the people of Romania.   With our preparations and discipleship program complete, we were ready to be used of God in whatever manner He chose.  Four  airports and 18 hours after leaving home, we arrived in Cluj-Napoca, to be greeted by our hosts, Rita McClure and Codruta (Trudy) Harsan of Calea Adevarului.  After months of preparation on their part, everything was in place for our visit.  The home of Mr. and Mrs. Presecan, where we have lodged every December for many years, was a welcome sight and after a good meal and an organizational meeting, we began sorting the hundreds of pounds of food, hygiene items, clothing, toys and candy that would be distributed over the next week.

Ministry in Aghires

Thursday morning our team, Rita and Trudy, an additional translator and five young volunteers loaded the bus for the villages of Aghires and Mesesenii de Sus.  We have been partnering with the mayor of this area for many years.  He is a man of great vision and it has been a privilege for us to be able to assist and encourage his efforts to build schools and develop educational programs for “his” people.  He has a heart for the Roma people who have typically been uneducated and neglected.  What a joy it was for us to arrive to the children waiting for us, having prepared songs of greeting and Christmas celebration.  Trudy and the Romanian volunteers presented a wonderfully, hilarious skit about the true meaning of Christmas.  The children listened intently as Florina spoke of that first Christmas morning with the birth of Christ, God’s reason for the gift of his Son and Jesus’ ultimate gift of an abundant life to those who will receive Him. It was a beautiful picture. The program ended with laughter and smiles when a clown appeared and performed.

Next the gifts were given out.  Each child received a bag filled with toiletries, a hat, gloves and socks, fruit and a toy.  It was fun to watch them as they received their gifts, especially when the little boys got a Matchbox car.  Their eyes widened as they began showing each other what they had.  Exclamations of “machina” (car) were heard and then the mayor stepped up and asked if he could have one.  There were smiles all around when he chose a red sports car.  As the children left we watched out the windows as they peered into their bags bringing out various items and showing them to one another.  Such a simple act on our part brought great joy.

Ministry in Mesesenii De Sus

A few miles down the road we arrived at Mesesenii de Sus, another school in the jurisdiction of this same mayor.  It is the first school the mayor built particularly for the Roma children.  We have had the privilege to visit this school for the past several years, purchasing and putting together desks, providing school supplies and encouraging the workers and the children.  We were met by children dressed in their traditional costumes, waiting on stage to confidently recite poems, heartily play musical instruments and boisterously sing traditional Christmas carols, many in English, and perform a skit for us.  It was obvious that these children and their teachers had been working for months on this program.  What a joy it was to see the children’s progress and their development even from last year to this year.  Our time with them ended with our giving gifts which were received with excitement and appreciation.

Between these two schools, we were able to minister to 298 children and 10 workers.  One of the joys for our team was knowing that our youngest member, 13-year-old Chase, had donated his Matchbox car collection and had collected enough cars from his friends to bring 200, putting a smile on the faces of lots of little boys and one mayor.

Ministry at the Girl’s Home

Friday morning we sorted and organized for the rest of the week’s distribution.  That afternoon we went to Maria Gabriel Girls’ Home.  Last year was our first time to this home.  There are 8 girls cared for by the director and a care giver.  The youngest is 10 years old, the oldest is 21.  The girls are placed in this home by social services for various reasons.  Many of the girls have come out of the orphanage system and have no place to go.  Mrs. Maria is a Christian whose goal is to make this as much of a real home for these girls as possible.  They are taught to cook, clean, work in the garden which produces some of their food, and how to interact with each other as family.  They go to school or have a job and each must contribute to the home in responsibilities.  They have come out of a lifestyle where nothing was expected of them, so they did nothing, expecting their basic needs to be met without any requirements from them.  So, it is a process.

Dealing with teenage girls can be a challenge at best, but when you throw in the neglect, abuse and the different personalities and life experiences, it can be overwhelming at times.  Mrs. Maria is doing a great job and we love the opportunity to just come in and love on these girls, reaffirming their value and speaking hope into their future.  We were able to leave supplies of sugar, oil, meat, detergent, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, and fruit.  For the girls individually, we gave hats, gloves, scarves, candy, and miscellaneous “girly” things like small jewelry boxes, bracelets, and lip gloss, all of which brought hugs, smiles and thank yous.  The team was able to leave a donation which Mrs. Maria announced would pay their utilities for the rest of the year.  We will keep these girls in our thoughts and hearts until we meet again.

Ministry in Berches

We awoke Sunday morning to snow – lots of snow!  After loading the bus with the gifts for the children we headed to church in the village of Berches – up the mountain.  Fortunately we were in the hands of a very professional, confident driver who took the bus up and over several ridges; sometimes inching up hills.   About 30 minutes into our drive, when the bus began slipping and sliding.  We gave the bus driver permission to turn back.  But, he continued creeping forward, knowing the church people, including children, were waiting for us.  Suddenly, coming down the hill toward us, there appeared a snow plow which had cleared the way ahead.  It was funny to watch our Alabama team members who had never seen a snow plow, take pictures.

We arrived at the church an hour late.  Amazingly the people, many of whom had walked to church, were still there.  It was full to capacity with about 75 people.  As we entered, the pastor began playing his accordion and the children who were standing in choir form at the front of the church began to sing songs of greeting to us.  What a beautiful sight.  A message from the overseer about family which included a baby dedication followed. Then there were testimonies from our father and son team members, a Bible lesson based on the parable of the lost sheep from another team member, songs both from the church and our team and a sermon by David.  While they had been there at least an hour before we arrived, they seemed to be in no hurry to leave.

When we thought our time there was coming to a close, the pastor asked us to sit.  Then, to our surprise, the young people began distributing plates of food to everyone in the church.  They beamed as they handed us generous portions of sarmale (cabbage rolls – a traditional Romania dish), followed by plates of homemade cakes.  What a feast it was, accompanied by beautiful smiles and hugs as we enjoyed their gift to us.  We truly felt the fellowship of our brothers and sisters as we ate together.  Our day ended with giving gifts of fruit, hats, gloves, socks and toys to the children.  Contentment permeated the bus as we made our way back down the mountain.

Ministry at the Miracle House

One of the highlights of our trips in December for many years has been our time at the Miracle House. This is a center established by Mrs. Ana-Mariana (Maria) Ilies many years ago out of her personal need for help with her special-needs son, Florin.  Twenty three students are cared for five days a week by 7 wonderful, selfless people, including the director, Mrs. Maria, and her daughter, Anca.  These students are loved and cherished.  They are taught skills such as woodworking, cooking, sewing, and making hooked-rugs.  Just recently the organization has been given a silk screening machine for t-shirts, hats, cups, etc.  The things these students make are sold to help with the funding of the school.

When our bus arrived laden with bags for all of the students and workers, we were eagerly met with costumed students who were ready to perform for us.  As they began helping us unload the bus, I noticed some of our team members looking a little confused.  Having not been here before and not recognizing the students, the Bible-themed costumes threw them off.  One team member told me later she thought they were Arabs.  Once everything was unloaded and we were safely inside, seated and waiting for what was next, the story began.  With homemade costumes and props in place, we witnessed a very serious,  beautiful rendition of Jesus telling the disciples the parable of the Good Samaritan.  After months of preparation, their dedication had paid off.  We were moved, some to tears, some to smiles, and all to an appreciation of God’s great love.  Our gifts to them of food for their families for the Christmas season, hygiene supplies, fruit, hats, gloves and socks were minimized by the love they gave to us, the hugs, the laughter, the joy.

Ministry at Casa Theodora

Our last outreach was to an elderly care home in the Cluj suburb of Theodora.  This was our first visit to this home and we were invited to come when Rita and Trudy took clothing to them earlier in the year.  The president of the home, who is also a doctor, was very appreciative of our coming and very informative of the work carried out for these elderly.  When asked what needs they had, food and hygiene items were requested.  So, we took sugar, rice, white flour, corn flour, margarine, oil, pasta, peas, tomato paste, toothpaste, toothbrushes and soap to the 100 residents and 38 workers.  In addition, one of our team members who ministers at a nursing home in Maryland had the residents there make a scarf for each of the residents at Theodora.  After a brief message by one of the team members and a couple of songs, the residents were asked to go back to their rooms.

One of the Romanian Christmas traditions is caroling.  The carolers go door to door,  singing  Christmas carols and giving fruit and candy.  The president had told Rita that if we wanted to give an extra special treat, there was a favorite candy bar and cookie that the residents loved but rarely got.  So, as our team members went door to door at the three-floor facility, a candy bar and cookie was given to each one.  Many of the residents invited team members into their rooms to show them crafts they had made.  And of course, they wanted to share a part of themselves with us.  So, some came home with handmade cards which will be cherished.  The president is a Christian and covers all they do in prayer, asking for God’s help, provision and blessing.  We left this place knowing that these people are loved and are being prepared for their last days on this side of heaven.

The trip is over.  We are home and have celebrated Christmas with our own families.  We can end this year with joy in our hearts for the many blessings in our lives, our own children and grandchildren, our family, our church, the privilege of sharing God’s love with those of another culture and nation.  And without question, we celebrate the greatest gift ever given, God’s own son and His choice to give us  abundant life in a personal relationship with God, the Father, through His sacrificial gift of His own life.

Thank You

Thank you for helping make all of this possible by giving of yourselves in prayer, financially and providing items for us to distribute.  It was all worth it!  Please enjoy the video summary of the trip below: