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If you are like me, I have been concerned about Mia’s Children after hearing about the Icelandic volcano ash cloud covering Europe.  In fact, we have neighbors who went to the Ukraine on a mission trip and have been delayed coming home.  So, here is a short update on how Bucharest and the rest of Romania is fairing. 

The English/Romanian newspaper, NINE O’CLOCK, reported Monday morning that Romanian air space would remain closed until noon.  Romanian Air space was closed Saturday at 6 p.m. as the cloud of ash covered Romanian territory by 9 p.m., at an altitude of 6 to 10,000 metres. 

“The cloud of volcanic ash is currently covering the entire Romanian territory, but there is no excess in maximum admissible polluting substances recorded and there are no problems as regards air quality, so we have no special recommendations for the population,” Prime Minister Boc reported.

Time will tell if the sky will be clear enough for flights out of Romania to land in other airports across Europe. 

I have requested a first hand account from our on-sight reporter at Mia’s Children.

For the full article…..http://www.nineoclock.ro/index.php?issue=4662&page=detalii&categorie=homenews&id=20100419-12887

Greetings in our dear Lord Jesus!  Because we are in the midst of another blizzard, I was unable to go to Mia’s today; the roads are in bad condition.  But Mia and I had a very good phone conversation.

I see a definite deeper hunger and thirst for the Lord, the Word, prayer growing among them at Mia’s. She tells me how she continues to seek the Lord.  The atmosphere in the house seems loving and united, and even the 2 dogs are peaceful, especially the large Boxer-type one, Sarah by name; She’s so gentle.  We have delightful Bible study together each week with the young children, the staff that’s at the house (Luminita, mom of 4 of the kids who works & lives there, is becoming so lovely), and Mia.  It’s a precious time!  I gave Mia an anointed Bible study “I AM”, the 7 claims of Jesus in the Gospel of John, which they really like. She said last night, when she was very tired having been for medical tests among other trials all day (including being without gas power in the house), the young people insisted on having the study, and they read, prayed, pondered together “Jesus, the Bread of Life” and “Jesus, the Light of the World.”  A couple of the teens confessed sins & repented, one boy of having taken some money that wasn’t his and one of the girls, asking forgiveness for the sin of anger she shows from time to time. The teenage boy is a prodigal, so to speak, who had left & with tears pleaded to come back, and now the Lord is really changing him. Mia said it was a most blessed time!  She has mentioned that several times.

I have not seen Costel for some weeks, as he stays mostly upstairs & does work up there,  but Mia says though still weak, at this time he’s doing better, day by day. Some of the younger children like to go up and take their naps with him. The Lord surely is a Miracle Worker, working wonders by His divine grace upon grace, like John 1:16.  Also, Costel is drinking fresh-squeezed juices daily, which Luminita prepares, and that can be so physically healing.  I know you are continuing in prayer for him, too.

Mia has really needed some medical tests to check her health, also a thorough eye exam and new glasses; one lense has been cracked for some months now… wearing glasses myself, I imagine that is a real eye strain for her.  This past week she realized she must go in and have some of these tests, and the partial results showed her state of health not good, really needs attention.  She needs to have blood work done, check up regarding her heart condition, difficult breathing, high sugar; the doctor was not at all happy with the results so far.  She needs to see a good internist, maybe Dr. Milt or Linda Hanson, or whom they suggest right away,  and begin some treatment. The testing here is expensive, and what the cost might be is not known yet.  I surely wish I could help more. Mia really doesn’t complain, but I think her body is telling her she must attend to it and NOW.  Please pray and if some souls have the Lord’s burden to help, I believe He would be very pleased.

One thing that has added to stress was that last week the mom, brother, and little Florica Valeria (the very sick, dear little baby, who had come to Mia’s and was doing so well until the mom asked to take her back…this at the “father’s” insistence) called for help, asking Mia to help them find a decent living condition.  To make a long story short, Mia and 2 of the older boys from Mia’s and several police went to where the above 3 were living.  Mia was nearly overcome with grief seeing the despicable conditions, beyond anything she said she could imagine.  She went to the Child Protection Headquarters, trying to get help, and none was available.  She realized she cannot do anything to help nor to get little Florica back apart from fervent prayer…and continuing asking for God’s mercy.  She saw many, many little ones and teens, along with adults, living in these wretched conditions that really affected her.  Yet I believe at the same time she is re-inspired to train up those the Lord by the Holy Spirit has brought to her and Costel…to train them up to know, love, serve Jesus and know who they are and can be, transformed by Him and His love.

To Him be ALL the glory!!!

In case you haven’t noticed, things look a little different around here.

We have a whole new, redesigned website! And we hope you like it!

I want quickly to introduce you to a few new features:

1. You can now donate to Mia’s Children online! Use the Donate button to the right of your screen or visit the Get Involved page to access our donation info.
2. Our e-mail address is still info@miaschildren.org – but now it works! So you can e-mail us there with any Mia’s Children related questions and concerns!
3. You can sign up for an automatic e-mail notification that will tell you any time we update the blog. Do this by using the signup button to the right of your screen.
4. Every page is newly designed with updated information!
5. You may use the Search feature on the right side of the screen to search the website and blog for names, dates, etc.

Feel free to look around using the tabs at the top of the page! We truly hope you enjoy exploring all that this new site has to offer.

Sincerely,

Joanna and the Mia’s Children Team

Beloved Friends and Faithful Supporters,

After experiencing Jesus’ birth at Christmastime, with all the joy and with many people around who wanted to bless the children through their generosity, then in January God allowed us to extend our experience of faith in Him.

Right now, looking back, we can confess and praise God who showed us that even when you are down, sick, He is faithful and never lets you down. We just passed through a couple trying weeks with 17 children sick with chickenpox, high fevers, irritating spots both inside and outside, and all giving a rather pitiful picture of what the body can handle. But no matter, we continued by the grace of God to function, work, to be blessed and to bless. And only little Mario had to be hospitalized because he just couldn’t breathe, endangering his life. But in this way we again received a wonderful lesson of life according to what God is teaching and showing us. In times when the body is weak or failing, the spirit can grow stronger and the soul can become more appreciative. In all this time God sent us His angels to protect, to encourage, and to give us goals for tomorrow. In this way we continually blessed by the Foundation Mia’s Children, by the friends from ING, Rotary, other friends who are trying to provide a support, encouragement, love, by Carol and her church praying for us…so many caring friends.

Through two of our friends–Mirela and Nely–a Romanian diplomat, Mr. Ovidiu who works in Iraq (the Council of the European Union) came and was very impressed by the paintings made by our children, by the grace of God. And he made a project in which he wants to involve exhibiting our paintings in some cities in the world, letting the creativity of the kids speak to betterment of the world. He wants the gifts God gave these children through art to speak for them a hope of a better future in the world. This will create bridges around the world, he believes, and in different societies, like Iraq, United States, so on. We are honored to represent Romania because it is a way to display how God has put in these children His gifts, with seeds planted, and we all together help them grow and be fruitful. So it is not only about art; it’s about something beyond–the love of God to and through His children and all His people who answer the commandment to love one another, instead of despising and/or giving no hope for the hopeless. It shows the agape love of Jesus in action.

We praise God and thank you for the wonderful team we all together are in caring, educating, growing, transforming, & building the true character of each child. To help the kids understand and develop their qualities we continue to study the Bible and the truths God teaches there, and it’s awesome to see how they understand better how to live honest and wholesome lives, no matter what the circumstances are.
Each child has his own responsibilities in participating in maintaining the house, cooking, cleaning, washing dishes and clothes…but at the same time, they started to paint in the evenings, after their homework, and it’s amazing what God is developing in them– their imaginations, their skills, their creativity. Looking at their painting gives an overflow of the love and expression of the joy of our work together, including each of you.

As you know, our son Costi built a room on the back of the house, where there had been a porch. We very much needed this room after we realized that we could not put the 9 little kids in school. I have been teaching them at home, and this room has truly been a God-send. When the older children come home from school to do their homework, the little ones play there; in the morning we have our kindergarten class there. In this way we joyfully use this additional space. God provided almost all the furnishings. What a blessing the additional space is, and what a testimony it is that through faith in God all things are possible.

We have a good report regarding Costel’s health. He is stable right now and full of hope and faith. He is on a strict diet. But more than that, he is grateful for your prayers and thanks each of you.

Here are some prayer request; please pray for:
* Everyday guidance and a deep relation with God through Jesus.
* Sponsors and supporters, as the world crisis is greatly effecting our budget.
* New glasses for the kids and Mia.
* Strength and health for all of us…it has become a problem to maintain health needs for Costel, Mia, and the children.
* God to bring new opportunities to manage the activities, the budget, the costs, needed additional help.
* Us to continue to be joyful, thankful, and content in our life and work through God.

Thank you so much for all your love, caring, prayer.

Mia’s Children

It’s bitter cold and snowy in Bucharest. They are having a blizzard with the temps in 0 – 8 degrees Farenheit. Roads are quite bad according to the news.

Even though still very weak, Costel is up and about, pressing on, drinking healthy juices fresh-squeezed, and other things on his diet. He is very thin, but has a desire to go on…PTL!

Nicoleta had another surgery on her knee, and I pray the healing will be good and complete this time.

They are growing in a hunger for the Lord and Word as Mia says she so wants them strong in the Lord. Please keep praying for this direction and commitment and above all, for the reality of the Lord in lives as they study, pray, etc. together to know, love, serve Jesus. He is working!

Costel is home for the past few days, very thin and weak, Mia says, but thankful. They removed 20 pounds of fluid from his body and now have him on a very strict diet. When I just now phoned to check on them, he answered the phone. Oh, I rejoiced to hear his voice. It was so good the dr. who took care of him was able to locate the Albumin he needed; incidentally it costs 2,800,000 leu per treatment-$100 & he had to have a number of them; it’s very hard to find in pharmacies here. God made a way…praise His holy Name!

Last Sunday Mia, Costy, and about 20 of the kids, young and teens came to my church, Spiritual Revival Baptist Church (pastored by Peter Rong of Sudan; as I told you, he has gone with me to Mia’s a number of times), and we had a delightful time in the Lord’s presence. The kids presented songs of praise & worship, Scripture, poetry and greatly blessed the congregation, many of whom are refugees and/or asylum seekers. It was an especially blessed time for us all, and they know they are always welcomed. However, the church is quite a distance from the house; it took 2 cars and a taxi driven by one of our men to bring them. Praise God!

Please continue to pray that the Lord be King in their hearts and lives, for His love & mercy to work mightily in them, for Jesus to be the Rock of their salvation through the Word and prayer. Pray for Luminita (mom of 4 of the kids) to belong to Jesus, to be totally set free in and for Him.

Beloved Friends,
Have a very blessed and happy New Year! May you all have a fruitful year in all your ways and life!

We thank you so much for all the help, love, friendship, support, guidance and more than our poor words can say and express!

May God take care by all of you!
Happy New Year!
Mia’s Children

Beloved Friends ,

All our children are waiting Jesus’ birth ! They bring Him glory and wish you , in this very special night ,Joy and Peace to the World !Blessings be upon you all , as The Child blessed , changing the history and bringing Hope to all !
In this very special night we are grateful and rejoyce !Jesus is born !
Merry Christmas to all !
Mia’s Children

From Carol in Bucharest:

“Well, good news is that after taking out so much (can’t remember the am’t) accumulated liquid in Costel and now, still in the hospital, giving him 5 Albumin treatments, he is doing much better. Mia said he was reading his Bible the other day in the hospital and has hope again.

Mia and the kids, except for 3, are also doing better. A cold type of flu is rampant here and hits some very hard.

Please continue to pray that there be a real spiritual hunger and thirst for the Lord…& the Word and prayer and worship… for everyone at Mia’s Children.

May God bless you and your families this blessed Christmastime. May Jesus be your all and in all.

In His love and mine,”

Carol

Costel is in hospital . They took out about 10 pounds of liquid from his belly. The liquid is at his lungs, too. He has a strong infection because of the liquid. The doctors don’t give us any prediction .We pray and leave Costel in Lord’s hands. We need to buy all the medicine. He needs every day albumina (a type of medication. Only one dozen of this costs about 100 of $. The doctor said that this helps to improve his body. Costel prays and reads from Scripture. We need to find ways to help Costel in hospital and then. Please, help us to help him.

I can go to the hospital mostly in the night . During the day Costy and Oana go. Mario(Mia & Costel’s graNdson) is very sick again. They wanted keep him in hospital, but Oana decided that she’ll try to do the best taking care at home, as long as he can breathe. Most of the kids have high fever and cough, and feel bad.You can imagine what’s here. Myself have such a cough and my lungs are so bad, that the doctor said I need hospital at least for 3 days. But, I survive!

Thank you for devotional lessons. You can imagine that only the Word of God, prayer and meditation can help my soul. In my little time of rest, I rest in the Lord and I feel comfort. He’s my strength, my refuge, praise His Holy Name!
I’ll let you know more when I’ll find more. Blessings to all,
Mia