Trip to Bucharest – Part 2
As you know, one of my main goals for the trip was to check and look for places for the kids to live. At the time we thought that we were going to have to be out of Ariadna’s home the first of April or May. Ariadna and her family have moved to the United States with her husband’s job and would be here for 2 years. Ariadna called Mia on the day after we arrived and told me that the mission could use the home for another year. By then they would be ready to buy a house in the States. This was a great blessing. It gave us time to look and search and pray for a proper place for the children that met with the government of Romania’s requirements, I.e. number of bathrooms, living quarters, etc.
While we were there, we had 3 opportunities come along. Some members of the Bucharest Rotary had come in contact with an organization from Europe that had a home in Domnesti where 2 monks lived with 8 boys who were moving to “transition” apartments in Bucharest. The house had been there for several years. It has 8 rooms including an office, a living room, a kitchen, 5 large bedrooms, and 3 baths plus a cellar under the garage. It has approximately 3 acres of land with an orchard and a vineyard, as well as a small barn. Just happened that one of the officers of the organization was in Domnesti on the day we went to look at the house. We had much discussion. I asked about purchasing the house and land, the answer was no. I asked about rental of the property for an extended period of time. The answer was no to rent. If it is decided by their board meeting in May for us to have the house, then we will be given the house, free of charge, for a period of time. There would be many deta ils to be worked out, but this would definitely be an option.
We looked at a piece of property, 10,000 sq feet. The owner wanted $225,000 for it with no house. We looked at another house with a little land that was $65,000 but the house which was refurbished was only 800 sq feet. No way our kids could fit in there.
The Rotary also heard of a government building, very large and in need of much repair that was being offered on a 50 year lease with very low payments. Mia and Costel and some of the Rotary members went to look at it. They have talked with the Mayor of that village about qualifying for the building. The Rotary will play a large part in whatever we choose.
The real estate in Bucharest area is astronomical. This is a very big area of concern for us. Please be in prayer for the location of a place for the kids.
I know this is lengthy but this second portion of my letter is truly the most important. I realized while in Bucharest how much the groceries and living expenses have gone up. When we began feeding the children, it was with the thought of one hot meal a day, which was generally all the kids got for the day. Now we are faced with feeding 17 children 3 meals a day, as well as snacks. They all have baths and teeth to brush, normal family stuff, but 17 times. This does not include the expenses at the mission flat where we have 6 older children living. Mia and Costel make their money go as far as possible but like most parents, worry about the end of the month with not enough money.
We are going to grow a garden and that will help. The kids will reap the benefits of fresh veggies they have grown themselves. Mia is under much stress trying to make ends meet. I sent Joan an email while I was there saying we needed at least $2000 per month more than we are sending.
Here is my proposal. I would like to ask each one of you to commit to $10 above your normal donation per month. If you are not giving at all, now would be a good time to start. We all blow $10 a month easily. This would equal $1500 per month, or individually $120 per year. Please take that money and feed a child. Mia’s Children is willing to prepare your addressed envelopes and send them to you. It will be easy each month to write that check. And it is tax deductible.
Please pray about it. Send your check to Mia’s Children Foundation, 9245 Poplar Avenue, Ste. 8, #380, Germantown, TN 38138