Mia's Children Foundation, Inc.

I spoke with Mia last night. She was full of news about the children.

We have three finishing the 12th grade – Marinela, Costy, and Marius.

We have three finishing Skill School – Bigo, Gigi, and Tabita are all taking their final tests at Chef School. Thanks go to Skills for Life, sponsored by Dana Moldovan, a Romanian living in the U.S. and working with the Rotary Club in California. Without their funding,this would not have happened.

Bogdan is now working as a cook in a Mexican Restaurant in downtown
Bucharest. Another Rotarian helped him get the job and he is doing great.

Mihaela is working in a beauty salon due to her training in cosmetology school. The owners really feel she is a wonderful person and are pleased with her.
Again, thanks to Skills for Life.

Gelu is taking his tests to go to the 11th grade. I remember Gelu when he was in the first or second grade, struggling with reading and writing, making mistakes,then erasing holes in the paper when trying to correct them.

All the other children had excellent grades and passed on to the next level. One of our younger kids, Roxana came to live with us last fall. Her father brought her to the mission to live. She was very shy, quiet, and a little fearful. It is an honor to say that she was 1st place overall in her class. Yeah, Roxana!

Hertz and some other businesses were sponsoring an International Festival in Bucharest this last week. Our kids painted 100 wooden spoons and 120 pictures to be exhibited and sold there. They
worked two booths and spoke about Mia’s Children. You can’t imagine what pride that must have brought to the children.

Our garden is growing. There are onions, garlic, tomatoes, and a variety of vegetables.

The younger children and the preschoolers have had the luxury of a blow up pool to spend hot days in. Mia is using it as a bribe to make sure all the chores get done. Then all 17 play in the water and the pool, as well as run in the yard. What a way to spend the summer days!

Costel is still not feeling well. He needs to get more rest which is just so hard to do with a family of 17 under one roof and another 10 or 12 older ones depending on him for guidance. Mia is recovering from her surgery. The incision was across her cheek as well as down her throat with 28 stitches. She has had a lot of pain due to the fact that she is unable to take pain medication due to previous illnesses. She does have some numbness in her face and lip, as well as her eye droops some when she is tired. July 1st is the day she goes to the doctor to see if there was any cancer in the tumor. Of course she never has time to rest.

PRAYER CONCERNS

Nicoleta is supposed to have surgery on her knee in July. All this hinges on money for the surgery.

Coca’s eyes – Coca is about 2 years old and wearing glasses for the next 3 months. In October the doctor wants to do eye surgery.

Mia and Costel need all your prayers for health and strength. Without them we have no one to care for our children.

Funding is also needed. As you know when I came back in April, I appealed for an extra $2000 per month. It hasn’t happened. Now we need to pray for God to increase our funding just as Jabez asked for an increase in his territory (1 Chronicles 4:9-10) in order to grow for God.

Thank you all for your love and concern.

Dear Friends,
I spoke with Mia Sunday morning. She came home Saturday. She has 28 stitches in her face and neck, but is doing well. She still has some pain. It will be about 2 weeks before the results come back on the biopsy.

The kids have all taken their last tests at school and made really good grades. We have four that would be eligible for college possibly in the fall. Of course, that would call for sponsors.

The housing situation is still in “square one”. Nothing has been found that is suitable yet.

As you can see plenty is going on in the lives of our family in Romania. Please keep them in your prayers.

Rotarian Madalina went to Mia at the hospital at about 2pm local time. Mia was in ICU and she was ok. Her blood pressure was good.
Mia’s husband Costel said that Mia was doing good and the surgeon would be checking on her Tuesday. Will talk with Costel again Tuesday,

Dear Friends, I would like to ask each of you to raise Mia in prayer sometime today before you go to bed tonight. At midnight Central time USA it will be about 8:00 in the morning. We don’t know what time her surgery will be, but are concerned for her health. Hopefully we will be able to contact Costel by phone tomorrow night to find out how she is.

Beloved Friends of Mia’s Children ,
Again our letter comes so late to you .I’m so sorry and we ask apologizes to all of you !. But many wonderful things were happening in last two month to our children . We praise God for all the good work , for trials and for special friends , for results and hopes and blessings powdered over us so abundantly!
As most of you know , already , we had here special Friends from USA , Patsy , Ann and Christine ,Jacque , Andy Loveless and Dana Moldovan . They all brought a new breath , much joy and help and we want to thank all of them , as we want to thank to all other friends who supported them and support our mission for so long time .
It was such an amazing time , to can prove and see how God puts together people from different continents to help and encourage the work we do here !So many bridges quilted over the times and oceans to show that it’s still so much fellowship under the sun to help and support , to build the human being , the most of God’s creation !We are deep impressed , moved , grateful for all this special love and precious help , for many Friends , for Brothers and Sister over the distances .
Looking back at the time when God started everything , it’s so incredible to see the greater picture of Mia’s Children . We want to give special thanks to the founders ,Castle family , to Godsey family and to Each of you from churches and from Rotary clubs .Thank You !
Last months we went through hard times for our health . It was like a cross of the roads when we had to find a new house , when Costel was so sick and for myself the doctors discovered a tumor somewhere at my had . In the same time , we had to be part from many projects involving the name and the results we had in the Association with our children .It was like handling between the light and the dark .It was difficult but in every moment we felt the presence of God and many Friends around . We trust with all our faith in God’s will , in His plan for all of us and in You , beloved Friends and we want to thank to Ariadna , to Mihai , to Mike and to all the friends who made possible for us to use this blessed home for one more year ! Thank you to Dana who came at the proper time to encourage and to develop a new move in Romanian Rotary clubs together Mr. Grumbach and Mr. Laurentiu, to bound the American efforts with the Romanian ones .We know about many churches and clubs , about many wonderful people .Excuse if we don’t write your names here , but You are written already in The Special Book of our hearts , of Mia’s Children
We had a nice presentation at Rotary Club ball dedicated to our association , to gathered money to help the project for a home , than we had a nice and high level presentation at UNICEF Gala .Everybody appreciates our good fruits in changing life to our children .All our students have good grades , the teachers appreciate them and recognize we do a great job in our preparation gave to the children .
Monday I’ll have the surgery. The doctors are a little concern for my health , that’s why I want to ask you in a special way to continue to help and to support Mia’s Children , the place where so many children find love and peace , the place where so many life are changed , where the dream become real . it might be a long or a short time since I can be in touch with you , but remember always that I have all the respect , I’M GRATEFUL FOR EACH OF YOU , I THANK YOU WITH ALL MY HEART AND I’M SO PROUD AND GRATEFUL THAT I MET YOU!I’m so honored to be a small part from such a great thing ,MIA’S CHILDREN !With Your help we developed and proved in a country who was under comunism so long time , too long time , that there is still HOPE and GOD can change and bring a new life , new vision , a better tomorrow and better human beeing !
Please , continue to love , to encourage our children , my family !Pray for Mia’s Children and one day we’ll be together again !
All my appreciation to You ,
Mia

This is a letter just received from Dana Moldovan with the Rotary Club. Dana has been extremely important to Mia’s Children through her work with the Rotary in California and in Romania. Please keep Mia, Costel and the children in your prayers. Here is her update.

I am still in Romania and I wanted to send you some pictures with the kids and to tell you what is going on.

I got a donation of about $1000 from my Rotarian colleague from
Cambria that was here beginning of May and with the help of a Rotarian in Bucharest we have been shopping. We bought food and some bedding.

We are continuing to try to find sponsors for food but it is moving very slow as everything in here. Also the Rotarians in Bucharest are looking for a house – we have different options but none is a real good fit so they are trying to find more solutions.

We had a meeting last evening and now we have a person responsible from Rotary for Mia’s Children. Her name is Madalina Turcanu. She already got involved and when Mia does not have enough food she goes and shops with her own money. She helped me shop in order to get the best deals. She will help finding a new accountant and a new cook as the last one left.

Also the Rotarians are getting involved in finding jobs for the older children. One just started working in a restaurant again two days ago. There are plans for other kids as well.

Rotarian Lau who connected Costel with the new doctor – told us that Costel has hepatitis B and cirrhosis but he can recuperate pretty well if he undergoes the treatment. The treatment is very expensive but it is free for Costel.

Mia is still doing tests and the problem for her will be the anesthesia due to her multiple health issues. I think on June 4 she will go back and meet with the doctor that will do the anesthesia as she wants to see all the test results.

The doctor that will perform the surgery for Mia is one of the top 5 in Romania. Mia will have the best assistance. The problem is still the fact that she has many heath problems. I am trying to encourage her as much as I can. It is important to think positive and unfortunately we Romanians are not too good at it !

I do hope that God would not let anything bad happen to her as so many lives that she saved are still depending of her!