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I wanted to give you an update on Mia and Costel. I have received correspondence from Dana Moldovan, who is a Rotarian from Bucharest and living in California. At present she is in Bucharest and has been helping Mia with doctor visits. She has been a God-send to us. Here is her report.

May 20th, I took Mia to the hospital to the Rotarian Neurosurgeon.
Mia’s tumor did not affect any other organ – the main fear was of course the brain.
The doctor said is just a tumor that needs to be removed. He recommended a maxillae-facial surgeon in a different hospital. He personally arranged the appointment for Mia tomorrow at 1pm. She will have to be in the hospital for a few days, but it is an easy operation. You can imagine that Mia was very relived to hear the good news.
Costel was still at his doctor appointment when I left about 2pm from Mia’s.

May 21st, Today is the first appointment for Mia with the doctor that I think will do the surgery.

Costel is going to the hospital as well for a new treatment for his liver. Anyhow he looks much better than two months ago.
Dana

This is a report from Carol Schulz who is doing missionary work in Bucharest and has become friends with Mia, Costel, and the family. I will update you all as I hear from them.
Please keep Mia, Costel, and the children in your prayers. God bless, Patsy

Dear Friends of Mia,
Greetings in the blessed Name of Jesus` the great Physician.
I just finished talking on the phone with Mia. Today she went to a neuro-surgeon, one known by the people at Rotary, who are sending Mia to doctors they recommend. It is now known that the tumor is on the parotid gland, I believe, to the side of the eye. It is not a brain tumor, praise the Lord, but the doctor told Mia the surgery is extensive and may (also may not) result in some degree of facial paralysis. Tomorrow she goes to speak with the anesthesiologist; she must be very carefully put under because of certain conditions found in former surgery.
Mia says she feels at peace, even though the thought of the surgery isn’t easy. She wants to be a testimony to the Lord, she says. Her sister-in-law will come to help, also Costi and Oana.
I’ll let you know more definite information when I speak to her again. They will have to do quite a few tests before the surgery.
As we pray, making our requests of our Lord God to oversee all this medical care for His glory and her well being, we can be assured that our great God is ever working all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. Bless the Lord, Oh our souls… (Pa 103)
May God richly bless you with His many blessings.
Carol

This past weekend was quite exciting for the kids and Mia. Friday night there was a Gala with the Rotary Club Internaional held for the purpose of fundraising for Mia’s Children. About 20 pieces of artwork done by the children were auctioned off and around 4,000 Euros were raised. This is equal to approximately $5500.00 to be used toward the necessary repairs and furnishings of the missions future home.

On Saturday, there was a UNICEF gala that the children were invited to in order to raise funds for UNICEF. Mia’s Children expects 1000 Euro for participating.

Here is Mia’s account of the events:

When the pictures come in, we will post them for all to see. In the meantime, just pray for Mia as she attends to her medical needs and for Costel as his health improves that he might take her place so that she can seek healing. Mia has a growth inside her mouth that has long roots that seem to be affecting her sight. She is seeing a neurologist and having further tests. We will keep you updated.

This morning, this article was the headline in Romanian media. Gypsies are still disciminated against just like they were hundreds of years ago. These are “our children” they are talking about!

Supreme Court admits President’s appeal in journalist case, rules no contravention
Still the wording ‘stinking gypsy’ is considered to be discriminatory.
published in issue 4182 page 1 at 2008-05-16
BUCHAREST – Judges with the High Court of Appeals (ICCJ) Thursday admitted the appeal filed by President Traian Basescu against the ruling November 8, 2007 by the Bucharest Court of Appeals (CAB), thereby the head of state had been rejected his request to have the warning handed by the National Council for Combating Discrimination (CNCD) cancelled, for the wording ‘stinking gypsy’ he used when he spoke of a journalist. The judges however retained the CAB’s remark that the words ‘stinking gypsy’ are discriminatory.

The Supreme Court overturned the CAB ruling, deciding that the president’s gesture cannot be considered an offence. The ICCJ ruling is unchallengeable.

The court had adjourned until May 8, having heard the arguments presented by the lawyers for President Traian Basescu and by the CNCD representative, Cristian Nuica, and its president, Csaba Asztalos.

Traian Basescu’s lawyer, Robert Ros, argued that the ruling by the Bucharest Court of Appeals should be quashed, given there is no such thing as an offence, since the recording was illegal and against the president’s will, and the decision to sanction him was the result of media pressure.

The CNCD representative, Cristian Nuica, said that according to the norms of the European Court of Human Rights, the private life of politicians blends perfectly with their public life. ‘The European Court states that politicians are those people whose two lifestyles combine perfectly through their duties and their role in public life,’ said lawyer Nuica.

The CNCD president, Csaba Asztalos, drew the judges’ attention to the consequences of the statement by Romania’s President.

‘When 70 per cent of Romania’s population hold that Roma should not travel abroad, when 70 per cent of the people in this country say they would not have Roma people as their neighbours, and when a person with Traian Basescu’s status made such statement (’stinking gypsy’), who should be held accountable, the person who made the statement or the person to whom it was addressed?” the CNCD President asked.

by Ioana Micu

It was such a blessed time for us , but such a tired time .

Well , good we finished it well .Everybody appreciated our Friday night at Rotary when we sung songs and dance and we finished with “Lord I lift Your name on high /Lord i love to sing You prises “. saturday night we had the UNICEF galla and our children were in the same room with The Romanian President , Prime Minister and many important people .They worked so well , spoke , gave gifts made by them and everybody was so impresed by them . All Sunday at news our children were presenred in different moments from Galla .We received congratulations from TV directors for the way we educated our children .

We went with Dana and Andy at the place , village The Rotarians wants to helpand they accepted that the place it’s too far away by Bucharest and schools .Andy will speak today about with the club who it’s in the middle of .The Rotary president ,Mr. Timcu make a wonderful connection with a liver doctor , seems to be one of the best from here for Costel . We stood in line for more than 5 hours to speak with and he put Costel in hospital ,again for more tests .He understood that Costel has to come home afternoon and he accepted . He saw us at Rotary ball and appreciated us a lot .He promised me to take at one of his friends doctors to see my tumor .The RMN didn’t say a lot about eye papillar problema .But speak about a tumor at my right part of the head with many adenoma going to the cervical part .The tumor is growing , has about 2cm/5cm . When we first time measure it , with Dr. Milt , was about 0,1cm /1cm .The texture

it is not homogeneous , partially necrosis .

let’s see what will be . For sure , I’ll need surgery and I’m afraid by the level of what the hospital can offer .what do you suggest me ?

Jacque is here . She came yesturday and will stay for one week .

Blessings ,

Mia and all

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

During March, Patsy Vick (VP of Mia’s Children), Kirsten Winberg, and Ann Robison went to Bucharest to work with Mia’s Children. The following is a report on their trip. On behalf of Mia’s Children Foundation, Inc. I want to thank them for their trip and for taking care of so much of the Foundation’s business while there. Many contacts were made and this year should be easier due to the groundwork they laid.
It is my hope to post many of the pictures from their trip within the next few weeks. That is something to look forward to! Now for their report…

Our trip to see Mia and the children was awesome. Many things are different at the mission now. It is like a reversal of children. Our teenagers are almost grown and we have the next generation coming on. When we arrived at the home that was given to us to use for a period of time, we found 17 children and 4 adults living there full times. There are 12 kids under 10 and 5 teens living with Mia and Costel full time, 24/7. What a group!

At the house there was only 1 bathroom and 24 people (including the 3 of us). There is a sign on the bathroom door that says “Occupied” and “Open” in Romanian. Of course, frequently the sign was ignored and a little one would wander in to go to the potty. No sitting and reading in the john at that home. So the first project that was begun was to install a 2nd bathroom. A small room on the first floor had been plumbed but not finished. After the room was painted, we had a toilet and lavatory installed along with shelving for storage. The washer was to be moved to that room along with a new dryer that the Rotary Club had purchased. For the finishing touch a door was added. What excitement a new bathroom can be!!!!

The yard is fenced with a play area in the front and a garden area in the back. We worked in the yard and bought seed and flowers to plant as soon as the last cool spell was over. The kids love raising vegetables to eat.

We have a lady named Luminita living with us. She was brought to us by a pastor. Her husband had left her and 4 small children – Andrei, Be-Be, Monika, and Coca, all under 5 years old. Luminita has been a marvelous addition to the mission. She cleans and washes clothes, helping Mia in anyway needed. She is a very special lady. During some of our Easter services, she accepted Christ into her heart. We said the “sinner’s prayer” with her. It was such a blessing.

During Easter week, we read from the Scriptures, beginning with the entry into Jerusalem and ending with the Resurrection. Each night, Kirsten, Ann or I would give a lesson. Afterwards we would talk, answer questions and sing. What a joyful noise we made unto the Lord. Ann taught them to sing “Jesus Loves Me” in English with sign language. The kids loved it. On the night of the last supper, I explained about Jesus giving his life for our sins and explained the symbol of bread and wine. We shared Communion with them, breaking bread and blessing it. God was so with us in that room. We talked about how hard it is to live as Jesus would have us live in our world. Even as little children, they comprehended what we were saying and talking about. Mia has truly shown our little ones the face of God.

The next night we gave out Romanian Bibles for Children. They were bought with change saved by the kids at my church. Each one that did not receive a Bible last year got one this year. We passed out 10 Childrens Bibles and gave an adult Bible to Luminita. They were so proud of their Bibles.

Again this year each child got a new pair of shoes, some socks and underwear. I guess this is my grandmother nature. We purchased 38 pair of shoes. We measured feet and took 3 of the older kids with us. They shopped and shopped. We ended up with only 1 pair that needed to be exchanged. Ann and I were pooped.

On Easter Sunday we had about 32 or 33 for lunch. All the teens that could come and all the little ones had a feast. The night before we had colored Easter eggs and we had them displayed on the table. After lunch we did the “traditional” egg hunt. It is traditional for us Americans but very foreign for the Romanians. The older kids remembered an egg hunt we had years ago. The little ones had a treat in store. The teens hid over 125 plastic eggs filled with jelly beans in a field near the house. The little ones swarmed like piranhas, shouting with joy as they located an egg. It was super.

Sunday evening, Kirsten who is only 25 herself took all the teens to the back porch and talked with them about sexual purity and what God expects of His children. She said the young people were very attentive and asked a lot of questions. I was so impressed with her willingness and godliness.

We made some good contacts while we were there. Did some business and real estate looking, all these I will include in another letter. The only sad thing that happened was Costel’s illness. He has a severe liver infection that will require a special diet, medication, and lots of rest, 16 hours a day. This will be like tying a bear to a tree. Please keep Costel, Mia and all the rest of the family in your prayers.

After Patsy Vick’s return tothe U.S., Costel went to see a specialist about his health – particularly his liver. He has been hospitalized for about a week and today we found out that instead of Hepititis or liver disease, it is an infected liver. He is responding well to the medicine and will be in the hospital for a few more days. When he goes home, he will need 16 hours of rest a day and a a better diet including more protein.

We thank God for this news and we need you all to pray for Costel and Mia as they begin a new phase in their lives — eating properly. In addition to prayer, we need to find additional donors around the U.S. as we need approximately $2,000 more dollars a month to provide proper food for the kids. Patsy Vick and I will be meeting this week to go over all the information from her recent trip to Mia’s Children and I will post the highligts. Until then, please think about names that you might be able to contact or be willing to give us so that we can start speaking in churches and with civic organizations about monthly donations. Small groups of friends (4 or 5 who you can host in your livingroom) is a great way to share about Mia. We will speak to one person or 5,000. Please give this prayerful consideration.
Mia’s Children is made up of a lot of people giving what they can.

On a final note, we are also in the middle of a search for permanent housing for the mission. We will keep you updated on our progress. I thank God in advance for what he is going to do in this situation.

If you would like to send Costel a get well card, feel free to send it to Mia’s Children, 9245 Poplar Avenue, Suite 8,#380, Germantown, TN 38138. I will collect them and send them in one package on Wednesday, April 9th.

Thank you for your generosity and your prayers!

Joan Castle

Costel is in hospital. The doctor didn’t let him go home. He seems to be not good , but we’re praying for him . Roxana is in hospital , also Mario Robert . Oana has also fever over 40 C , so it’s a dramatic time for all of us . Please , keep us in your prayers .

Mia

Costel is in the hospital. The doctor didn’t let him go home. He seems to be not good , but we’re praying for him . Roxana is in hospital , also Mario Robert . Oana has also fever over 40 C. Please , keep us in your prayers .

God has once again provided for Mia’s Children in a wonderful way! They can stay in the house for another year – rent free! Thanks so much to Ariadna and her family for their generosity and warm hearts for the children. This will give us a little time to plan and prepare for a proper move to a proper facility. Also a big thank you to Dana Moldavan and Mr. Grumbach for their help in addressing the housing issue.