Mia’s November Newsletter
Beloved friends of Mia’s Children,
We have been praising God, for He is so good and every day He has been blessing us in so many ways, many of them unexpected. Even though in Romania we continue struggling with circumstances to survive, we exalt with joy that God is in control of our lives and in everything we have victory.
On your Thanksgivig Day, November 22, we had a special time of praising and thanking God in prayer and song, pinning up autumn leaves each with children’s thanksgiving on a tree I painted on the big living room window & door. Each leaf was a history of the life of each child, pointing to the Lord and His goodness for their new life. The children said many Scriptures, from Psalms and Old & New Testament. After praying, we shared a lovely meal of celebration with, not only the children but some of the parents as well. This special time built in our spirits a strength and joy in our God. Mr. Stephan, Raluca’s father, who has been diagnosed with skin cancer, asked us to keep praying for him as he was so touched and encouraged by the time together and witness we had.
In school all the children are doing great! Because of that some of the teachers are still asking us to receive more students from their classes, usually those not only having difficulties in their families, but those who need additional help and encouragement with their homework. At this time we cannot take any of them; we are open to the possibility, but we cannot add more as we don’t have additional helpers to work with us. Most of the children have big emotional troubles and need special attention, but we cannot focus on them as well as our children. These new ones would need extra attention because of their emotional problems and everyday troubles and are for that reason behind in their learning as well.
We are very excited about the kindergarten program where we work everyday with six of our children, between three and six years old. It is just amazing to everyone, including me, how open they are to receive information, how excited they are to learn new things…in two months they are like blosoming flowers. Among these six children, three are coming from abject poverty without knowing simple personal hygene, but knowing too much about guns, knives, bad words, violence…It is often so hard to replace bad memories with joy, emotional healing, smiles instead of hurts and deep sadness. All these children are sleeping here in the house with us, and still from time to time have bad dreams and nightmares. Sometimes they confess the physical abuse they have had. We pray with them about what’s going on inside of them, and we also pray for their families. Every night we have special family fun time together (fourteen children sleeping each night with us) involving the older children in story telling, dancing, singing, acting so that they are positively affected. Costel sleeps with most of the boys downstairs, while I do so with the girls upstairs; this seems to work out well and in every moment each of them feels secure.
We want to thank you all who are helping us, especially now when the power of the dollar is so low and the price of food, electricity, gas and gasoline, all continue to increase–more than 20% in the past month. Bills for the flats, with increasing inflation, are so high we wonder how we will be able to cover them. Some of the children have been sick(thanks for the help which was given by Drs. Linda and Milt Hanson and to the Open Door Clinic ), and we still have a great need for shoes, medicine, coats.
Recently Carol, a missionary from America, living in Romania for ten years, has come to help us, to encourage us, to bring new breath to us. As you know, few Romanians understand the need to take care of these underprivileged children. She is here now helping me write this newsletter.
I want to thank God for the Rotary Clubs from America and Romania, who are open to improve the life needs for our children. We want to thank them in the same way we thank the Christians and Mia’s Children Foundation, Cambria Church and other churches & groups, who are faithful in their commitment to pray and to support the work we do here.
Mihaela and Marian are still in Cyprus, and they have the best records in their training. They have been asked to go to England right now. They asked us to pray with them to know what God’s plan is for them.
Here are some of our prayer requests:
* For a stable home for the Mia’s Children Association.
* For the stability of the dollar and that we will have the necessary finances to cover the costs: bills, food, medicine, clothing, transportation, etc..
* For health for Mia, Costel, Mario Robert (Mia’s grandson), and all the children as their immunization systems are weak from their past neglect.
* For reliable helpers other than Mia, Costel, Oana, and Costi.
* For everyday guidance and strength to go on as we face so many needs, attacks, uncertainties.
* For joy and fullness of Christmas, especially the real meaning of Jesus’ birth.
* For the founders, Joan, Darrell, Joanna; for all our faithful friends & sponsors to rejoice in the Spirit of Christmas as they bless so many children here in our association.
Love Mia and the Children