News from Mia – June 2008
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.