Patsy Vick, Vice-President of Mia’s Children has just returned from a two week trip to Mia’s Children and will be providing an update over the weekend. Check back soon for the most up to date information on how everything is going in our little mission in Bucharest.
Beloved and Faithful Friends of Mia’s Children ,
Excuse me that my letter for you , our supporters , friends and co-partners in our everyday work here is late. We praise God for each of you and for so many changed lives…in which you have a vital part. Everyday is a special day with so many signs of a huge love that has been shown , spread, and shared with so much generosity and joy , bringing hope, peace, and love to many children at risk.
February was a very intense month for us , with much unexpected sickness and continuing inflation. A family we just met in the neighborhood, who found out that some of our children were sick with a strong flu virus, sent their family doctor to test the sick ones. She found that because of malnutrition which they experienced as babies, their immune systems are weak and their blood needs building us. Adrian ended up in the hospital, as did Gabriela’s youngest brother, Costi, and Mario Robert. But now all of them are doing better. The hospital doctor told us to watch them carefully because of poor life and health conditions in their early childhood. Nicoleta has her right leg in a full cast and before the end of the school year she will have knee surgery, then 60 days off her feet while healing. We are thankful that we were able to move her before this time to a high school much closer to us than the one she attended before. She has such a good attitude, but admits to being afraid for the surgery.
We want to thank all of you who are faithful supporters and are praying , sending the gift of your godly love for Romanian children .
As the dollar continues dropping, it is day by day more difficult to manage the finances.
Also, the owner of the mission flat is asking for more rent money for the apartment; this is happening all over Romania. Real estate prices have gone up drastically. Along with this, all other costs of heating, water, electricity, food, gasoline have increased in the same way. To be honest, we have been almost unable to pay all expenses and feed the kids at the same time. The money we receive has been for feeding 30 children one hot meal per day, but in truth we have to feed 20+ children for breakfast and dinner…as they live with us and have no other place to go. Thankfully, we have found a source that sells some meat and cheese wholesale, which has helped us, but still feeding them has become a great challenge.
Claudia finished her first semester at the university with very good resutlts; Bogdan finished his vocational school, where he was trained to be a cook and soon will be looking for a job. Last month a puppet theatre group offered to come to do a show for the children; it was such a special joy for the children to see. You see the enthusiasm on their faces as they watched the performance.
Recently we have been looking for land and/or a home for all of us. Because of the high inflation, you can imagine it is very expensive. Still we believe for a miracle that there is a place for us.
With help received from Rotary Clubs we were able to buy a freezer , kitchen pots , microwave oven, a dishwater machine , a clothes dryer .We are so thankful for this wonderful help. This encourages us that God will allow us to also have a house where this equipment will help us with the children. We also met here with a ministry from England, who have a heart for Romanian children and have worked in this country for some years; they are interested in giving some monthly help as/if we will have what the law requires in meeting European standards for the children, beginning with adequate housing, feeding, etc.. They were very enthused watching the children interact all one afternoon, seeing their joy, knowledge, & activities.
Please pray for:
* A home for housing the children and us.
* Wisdom for managing this work, for meeting government requirements, etc..
* Finances to be able to cover housing, feeding, utilities, health needs & medicine, transportation, the needed help.
* Health for Nicoleta, Costel & Mia, for Oana & Costi & Mario, and for all the children.
* For stabilizing of the dollar.
* The strong spiritual development in their life for Mia, Costel, and all the family.
We thank God for you and your commitment to helping these dear children here in our work with them. We love you, pray for you, and are ever grateful for your concern.
1 Peter 1:6 & 7
All of us at Mia’s Children
Beloved Friends of Mia’s Children ,
We are grateful and praise our Lord for the wonderful month we had .After all the Christmas’ excitement, it’s always difficult to come back at the everyday life . But , we started a new year filled with joy and trust , because we have so many signs of a mighty plan .It’s hard sometimes to explain such things , but we stay to think positive for our children’ future.
We are blessed to receive a national award for humanitarian work. The TV chanel “Euphoria “gave to me the award for the woman work for a better life around .The prize was handed to me by the Prime – Minister’s wife .Our children were painting during the show and everybody told that they are so well educated .We saw the Calendar printed in California and are so grateful for all the hard work people of California were doing for us.
As you know , we took here to live together us the 4 children and their Mother, Luminita by her name .The children are :Bebe (little John ).4 years , Andrei , 5 years , Mona 2 and half years and Coca , 1 and half year .They were abandoned by the father who have another wife and baby and left his first wife with nothing to survive with her four children .Luminita , the mother is very nice and she tried hard to keep the children and not to abandoned them , but when the snow came was dramatic for all of them to survive in cold , with no money for food , wood . You know that we are working with Bebe and Andrei for one year already . When the hard frost came , the two little girls were so frozen and the mother told she has no way to survive in her little room , especialy that the owner of the room asked her for more money .Took more than one month to make the girls fell well . All the four children are backward because they were forced to live in one room with several more people ; the mother could just in this way to share the cost of rent .So , they couldn’t speak , because the people were working over the nights and they need sleep during the day . The mother tried hard to keep the quiet and they mostly learned a way to speak by signs . The mother became a very nice helper for us here , in the new home .The kids are blooming day by day , they develop their habits , are making great steps and fell more secure .
There is another child , Roxana .Her father has special needs , he has a shorter leg and hardly can walk , but work and dig holes . They are a type of gypsy family ,with no home here, but very nice and they want the best for their child . Roxana has big troubles with her writing and reading and she needs a lot of attention and for sure a special consult and treatment for long term .The group is very nice with her and all the girls are trying to help her , to work after their homeworks and we are so proud that none of them don’t want to give up !
There is another situation where there is domestic violence and it’s hard to see teenagers so much concern and able to stay clean in such hard life in their home . They said :”praise God we have a real family in Mia’s Children , other way, where would we be ?”
The costs of life are growing every day . The costs are high and we hardly can manage the expences .The owner of the fifth floor told several days ago that he has to rise again the rent .The bills and transportation , the gas and electricity , the bread and vegetables , almost everything is going crazy .But when we see the fruits we have in these children , we know that all of us are doing a great work for the kingdome of God and we need to keep going .Even there are nights when we cannot sleep because they have high fever or cry or have nightmares ,even there are times when we really don’t know what to do other that to pray , we confess that it’s the presence of God in every step we make .
Here there is a short letter they wrote at the end of first school semester:
“Dear Friends ,
Today ended up the first school semester and it’s a new success beside you , together you ! We thank you for all the support you are giving to us everyday and thank you for making us to feel we are loved and are like your children .
May the mighty God to continue to help you and love you .We love you a lot !
The children from Mia’s Children “
Reasons to pray for :
-Pray that we’ll have house for the children who are here with us ;the costs of the houses are high and they still grow ;but we are sure that God is in control and we’ll have a place for our children ;
-pray for health and more care , especially foir the kids who need a lot of attention ;
-pray for our Mario Robert , for Gabriel –Patsy’s grandson , for his recuperation ;
-Pray for a way to be stabile in a place for longer term ;
-pray that God will bless all our Friends , founders , sponsors , helpers .
Many thanks and blessings for our wonderful month ,
Mia and all .
Beloved FRIENDS of MIA’s CHILDREN ,
There are so many ways to express THE LOVE. During the times, the people wanted to express the emotions, the feelings of one to another. There is only one perfect type of Love, who is AGAPAE LOVE!
Today , we want to write to You about THE LOVE we experienced since we met YOU!
We found a Special Love. We learned about it, understand that is something unique and must be shared with everybody. It’s not just for you and us, it’s for everybody and it’s free!We need not to pay something but we have to give, because it’s already payed for and it was given to all of us! It’s not just for now or for yesturday, or for tomorrow, it’s Forever!
Since we met You, we found the deeply meaning of this LOVE. It’s pure, faithful , powerful and make us feel acceptated , loved, important. It’s a strong Love to have Friends over the Ocean but to feel not the distances because the Love doesn’t have a limit, it’s just flying and bounding, giving and granting life, carring and hopeing, teaching and expecting and never, never giving up! How wonderful it is!
We feel so small but so great through the Love we receive from You and give!
We don’t know great words, but we feel great things and thoughts and have great feelings which never will be measured. There are Our for You and Your for Us! It’s so complete but not finished, yet.
Click on the photo for a larger image
And there are so many smiles, from each of us. Looking at our faces you can feel The Love brought into our life through You! Yes, since we met You we smile and sing, we hope and dream, and we learn to give! It’s an on going on type of Love!
And from each of us, a river of life, flowers of hopes, mountains of thanks are going to You, like a picture of Love who is blooming in this special day just to remember that The Human Kind needs TO LOVE!
With LOVE from LOVE,
WE all from Mia’s Children
Mia’s Children is growing in impact in Bucharest. Read below to see what your prayers and financial gifts are doing for the children. Keep in mind that we are in need of a new place for Mia’s Children to call home. If you know some one who might be interested in investing in Mia’s Children or Romanian real estate, please contact Darrell Castle at 901 327-2100 and identify yourself as associated with Mia’s Children. May this message from Mia and the Children warm your hearts.
Beloved Friends of Mia’s Children,
We are grateful and praise our Lord for the wonderful month we had. After all the Christmas’ excitement, it’s always difficult to come back at the everyday life . But , we started a new year filled with joy and trust , because we have so many signs of a mighty plan . It’s hard sometimes to explain such things , but we stay to think positive for our children’ future.
We are blessed to receive a national award for humanitarian work. The TV chanel “Euphoria” gave to me the award for the woman work for a better life around . The prize was handed to me by the Prime – Minister’s wife . Our children were painting during the show and everybody told that they are so well educated . We saw the Calendar printed in California and are so grateful for all the hard work people of California were doing for us.
As you know , we took here to live together us the 4 children and their Mother, Luminita by her name .The children are :Bebe (little John ).4 years , Andrei , 5 years , Mona 2 and half years and Coca , 1 and half year .They were abandoned by the father who have another wife and baby and left his first wife with nothing to survive with her four children .Luminita , the mother is very nice and she tried hard to keep the children and not to abandoned them , but when the snow came was dramatic for all of them to survive in cold , with no money for food , wood . You know that we are working with Bebe and Andrei for one year already . When the hard frost came , the two little girls were so frozen and the mother told she has no way to survive in her little room , especialy that the owner of the room asked her for more money .Took more than one month to make the girls fell well . All the four children are backward because they were forced to live in one room with several more people ; the mother could just in this way to share the cost of rent .So , they couldn’t speak , because the people were working over the nights and they need sleep during the day . The mother tried hard to keep the quiet and they mostly learned a way to speak by signs . The mother became a very nice helper for us here , in the new home .The kids are blooming day by day , they develop their habits , are making great steps and fell more secure .
There is another child , Roxana .Her father has special needs , he has a shorter leg and hardly can walk , but work and dig holes . They are a type of gypsy family ,with no home here, but very nice and they want the best for their child . Roxana has big troubles with her writing and reading and she needs a lot of attention and for sure a special consult and treatment for long term .The group is very nice with her and all the girls are trying to help her , to work after their homeworks and we are so proud that none of them don’t want to give up !
The costs of life are growing every day . The costs are high and we hardly can manage the expences .The owner of the fifth floor told several days ago that he has to rise again the rent .The bills and transportation , the gas and electricity , the bread and vegetables , almost everything is going crazy .But when we see the fruits we have in these children , we know that all of us are doing a great work for the kingdome of God and we need to keep going .Even there are nights when we cannot sleep because they have high fever or cry or have nightmares ,even there are times when we really don’t know what to do other that to pray , we confess that it’s the presence of God in every step we make .
Here is a short letter the children wrote at the end of first school semester :
“Dear Friends ,
Today ended up the first school semester and it’s a new success beside you , together you ! We thank you for all the support you are giving to us everyday and thank you for making us to feel we are loved and are like your children .
May the mighty God to continue to help you and love you .We love you a lot !”
The children from Mia’s Children
Reasons to pray for :
-Pray that we’ll have house for the children who are here with us ;the costs of the houses are high and they still grow ;but we are sure that God is in control and we’ll have a place for our children ;
-pray for health and more care , especially foir the kids who need a lot of attention ;
-pray for our Mario Robert , for Gabriel –Patsy’s grandson , for his recuperation ;
-Pray for a way to be stabile in a place for longer term ;
-pray that God will bless all our Friends , founders , sponsors , helpers .
Many thanks and blessings for our wonderful month
Mia and all
Beloved Friends of Mia’s Children ,
We praise our God for the year 2007 . Many good things God allowed us to go through and He never forsake us in the middle of all the hard times we went through
We are so grateful and want to thank you in a special way for all the support and work from year 2007 to help Mia’s Children Association from Romania .
Over 30 children from our Association benefit everyday by the help you provided in different ways through your programs , your members, motivated by your high desire to make a better world, to share Agapae love to those who are in needs most , to love and encourage the children..
We are also grateful for the permission Ariadna and her husband , Mihai, gave to us to use their home from Romania for one year with no charge of rent .Here we slept every night with about 16, 17 children and sometimes more than this and found the peace to have a safety place for our children , but right now it’s time to pray and find another home for our children , as they need to sell their home from here and buy a home in USA. Thank you ,dear Friends for this wonderful year spent in your home with our children. Many good things happened in one year and many hopes and changed life were around this place .
We want to let you know that all your support and prayers helped our children to have good and very good grades , good fruits. Two of them , Bogdan and Claudia took the national tests after the high school ; Claudia is student at the best Romanian University and Bogdan is trained with Skills for Life Foundation ‘s help, run by Dana , to become a chef . He loves this and it’s very well appreciated by the people working for . other 7 from our teenagers are sponsored by Skills for life Foundation. Two of them just came back from Cyprus with a special experience in their fields .Another boy , Marius was placed the second at the national contest for art between all the Romanian students in art school and he’s part from Romanian representative international team in art field. Nicoleta graduated the eighth grade and now she’s student at one high school in Bucharest
Year 2007 it’s the year when we could take from orphanage two beloved children Nicoleta and John Ilie and we could make official papers for Gabriela and Mathew . Right now , they exist and we can prove it with their birth certificates .The girls from Romanian Radio and TV Chorus- one of the best from the Europe , went to sing in several concerts around Europe.
Right now in the house with us came to live some more children and their Mom . They lived in a room with some more people inside and with their mom , as their father abandoned them before mom gave birth to last child , coca , 1 year and 5 month old . The girl is late , her development needs to be much improved . As the winter came so bad , there were no wood to heat , no food , no money to pay the rent , so we share our place with them and the mother helps us . She doesn’t want to abandon them or to expose them and is so nice and just would do anything to help us to keep them all with us.
So we can appreciate several from the fruits we had last year and we cannot stop before to remember that we had an art exhibit in TN and , with Andy Loveless help and other several very dear Friends ,The Calendar for 2008 catch inside several paintings made by some of our children .
Thank you so much to each of You , dear Friends for your attachment to our children , to our attempts to change something in their life . Looking at this past year we can consider that with your help and love , with your care and dedication we all can make a difference. .
There are so many children waiting to bloom with some help and we all can change and turn life from darkness to the light through the strength of education with love and patience , with a lot of determination and devotion.
We also want to thank to all the Friends we have for 10 years since we met first time , some for more than 10 years and so many new but faithful Friends we have . Thank you for allowing us to visit with Costel USA , Cambria , thank you to Catherine , Earl , Olevia Casscadden , to Cambria Church for all the support for food ,for all the wonderful people we met during all our visit and I don’t want to forget any of the special people we met in Thousand Oaks or everywhere in California ,in Rotary Club or churches as we don’t want to hurt any of the wonderful people from Lapel or the amazing people from Memphis and Mississippi , the people who were introduced to us by Joan and Darrell , by Patsy and Ray , as all our dear friends from allover The United States of America .Costel and myself were so welcome everywhere and we appreciate so much the time spent with you . Thank you to Mia’s Children Foundation , to our founders for all the constant support during so many years , for the wonderful friendship we can share with our great family from USA .It’s so , so important for us to know each of you and we know there more of you which we even never met , but who are faithful to our needs and help a lot .Thank you dear special Friends from years and years or just from now !
May you all be blessed ! We are so grateful for each of you , even your name isn’t written here.
For this 2008 year , please pray for :
1. A HOME for our children where to can stay with those children who have no place
to go
2. financial support and spiritual strength to keep working
3. health and godly fruits for all of us
Remember always that we want to do God’s will and we want to fulfill His plan for so many children .
Thank you again and blessings to all
Mia and all Mia’s Children
I spoke to Mia last night and much is going on around the mission.
Oana (Costi’s wife) was in a car accident and spent a few days in the hospital. Please pray for her as she recovers at home. Mia assured me that while there were several injuries, she is expected to have a full recovery.
Mario Robert, Mia’s grandson, is still having problems with breathing. He has been in the hospital several times this past year and the doctors are concerned about his immune system. Mia asks that we pray for him as well.
There are two boxes of items Mia received when they were here this past summer that she was unable to take with her. It will cost several hundred dollars to send them to her and so I am asking that if you would like to earmark a contribution to help me send this shipment, please do so. As you know, unless requested for us to do otherwise, 100% of the money received goes to the mission. No dollars are used for administrative purposes unless you earmark it as such. Thanks for any help you can give.
On a lighter and brighter note — Costel took a bunch of the kids to the orphanage near their summer camp site and shared the Christmas story and handmade gifts from the children. They are scheduled to visit hospitals and orphanages around Bucharest this week. Finally, they will be going out on the streets around Bucharest where the homeless children hang out. Their desire is to sing carols, read scripture and share the story of Christmas and the Good News of Jesus. What a testimony this is to their faith and their willingness to share what they have found in God.
Just a reminder that year end financial gifts are always appreciated as it is expensive to keep up with the Euro. During the next year, it is our desire to expand the circles of supporters. If you would be willing to invite your friends and family to a small get-together at your home, Patsy and I will make ourselves available to come and share what Mia’s Children is all about. You will be receiving a final newsletter in the mail this week and you will see what a wonderfully productive year we have had.
Thank you for all you do to support Mia, Costel and the kids!
Joan
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
It is late Thursday night and I am thinking back over this Thanksgiving Day. I have shared a feast with my husband, daughter, son-in-law and his parents at their home in Rochester, Michigan. We are all healthy. We had great conversations. We watched a great movie “Amazing Grace” and we thanked God for loving us, sustaining us and bringing us to this season of thanksgiving. God owes us nothing. If we have anything at all it is not because we deserve it. It is a gift from God and that humbles me as I think about all that he has provided to me and my family.
Approaching the Christmas season, I know that God has shared wealth with me so that I can share it with others. Mia and Costel are also approaching the Christmas season with 30-45 children who have learned that God provides for them too. Mia’s Children is all about God’s provision and His love. He has taught us that one of the great joys in life comes from giving to others.
As you begin preparing for Christmas, please keep Mia’s Children in mind. A donation to Mia’s Children is a wonderful way to honor friends and family during the holidays. Keep in mind that there are quite a few kids and it is our goal to ensure that each child receives at least one present that is personal to them. With the fall of the dollar, our money doesn’t go quite as far as it use to. To provide a piece of clothing or toy will cost around $30 per child. It is best to let Mia and Costel decide on what they need and to prepare their Christmas plans.
As in the past, the children will be examples to us as they serve their community in song and drama during the holidays. Please reflect on all that God has provided you and if you can, send a special Christmas donation to:
Mia’s Children
c/o Joan Castle
2586 Hocksett Cove
Germantown, TN 38139
I will need to wire our combined monetary gifts to them by the 5th of December.
May God bless you and your family during this season!
Joan Castle
901-624-3884
Our Beloved Family and Friends ,
We all have so many reasons to be thankful for , that we’d need days to write about .But this Special Thanksgiving it’s for us a time to praise , to glorify , to remember , to enjoy , to wish .
The Romanian part of our great family Mia’s Children sends to You thanks , blessings , greetings , hugs and all the love .
Happy and blessed Thanksgiving to You !!!
Mia’s Children