Our Blog

Mia’s Words for Patsy

 in Family / Hope / Mia  tagged Bucharest / encouragement / ministry / Romania by

As many of you may already know, last week Patsy Vick, one of our board members, lost her husband.

Ray Vick was an active part of Mia’s Children, supporting Patsy’s regular visits to Romania and traveling there with her as well. A devoted father here in the United States, he was also beloved by the many children he met in Bucharest.

After losing her own husband this year, Mia had many kind thoughts for Patsy. We wanted to share some of what she said with all of you.

We love you, Patsy, and we miss you, Ray.

From Mia:

Beloved Patsy and Family,

The words are too poor to can say how much I’m sorry to lose such a wonderful man as Ray was and will be forever!

Lord knows him so well and I’m sure that he’ll stay with Lord in Heaven, watching over all his dear Family and Friends, as well as his beloved grandchildren.

Costel is with him and I can see their hugs and special smiles. Two brave men who dedicated their life for others, serving the Lord whom they loved so much…

They’ll stay with us forever, dear Patsy. We were so blessed to have them. Ray was a special Husband, Grandfather, a Man of God, a Friend for so many. What a blessing and great honor to meet him, to know him, to work with him, we all in a great and blessed team of Lord!

The kids are so sad to lose their Grandfather Their tears are signs of how much they were blessed through Ray and you!!! Many memories will stay with them forever, because ray was the great man with white hair, with soft heart, with tears in his eyes speaking to them about Lord and sharing a special love!

Thank you, Ray, thank you, Patsy, thank you Lord! He is with us forever!

Patsy, I don’t know how to comfort you…but Ray is with Lord and with other Man of God, with Costel. You’ll suffer a lot after him because you’ll miss him so, so much. Nothing will can fill your heart, but be strong in Spirit as he’s not suffering anymore and you’ll meet him one day.

You have so many to love you around you and you’ll have to give them Ray’s love, to continue to be for them what Ray was. Take care of your beloved Granddaughters, rejoice into Lord. I’m with you – take my hugs right now and say a great thank you to Ray from me, from us, please!

Painting and Prayer

 in Painting and Prayer / Prayer  tagged Bible / God / gratitude / painting / prayer / provision by

…they did not believe in God
or trust in his deliverance.
Yet he gave a command to the skies above
and opened the doors of the heavens;
he rained down manna for the people to eat,
he gave them the grain of heaven.
Human beings ate the bread of angels;
he sent them all the food they could eat.
He let loose the east wind from the heavens
and by his power made the south wind blow.

Psalm 78:22-26

God, we so often forget your provision. Teach us to trust you for absolutely everything we need. Help us to pray, even when we’d rather stay ungrateful. Amen.

Painting and Prayer

 in Family / Painting and Prayer  tagged Bucharest / children / fathers / FathersDay / God / love / painting / prayer / Romania by

But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.

Psalm 10:14


Thank you for fathers who love you and who give sacrificially for their children’s well-being. We pray for the many children who do not have fathers or who do not know paternal love. Please comfort them and provide them with people who reflect your fatherly care. We ask this for the children at Mia’s Children and for other young people like them around the world. Amen.

Painting and Prayer

 in Painting and Prayer  tagged Bible / God / painting / prayer / Proverbs / trust / wisdom by

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.

Proverbs 3:7-8

Even when it feels like the world makes no sense, when we are overwhelmed by events we cannot control and wrongs we can’t fix, we are reminded that you give wisdom, that you are wisdom. We are so unknowing and yet, through you, we can have the wisdom of the wisest king. Teach us to trust you for the wisdom we need to live in this world. Amen.

Painting and Prayer

 in Painting and Prayer / United States  tagged Bible / Bucharest / endurance / harvest / painting / patience / prayer / Romania / travel / visa by

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

Please give Mia the energy and endurance not to give up on the many tasks in front of her, especially as she works on securing a visa to the US. Open the doors for her to come and make her way easy. Let her not become weary in doing good. Amen.

Painting and Prayer

 in Painting and Prayer  tagged God / Jesus / love / MemorialDay / MiasChildren / painting / prayer / sacrifice by

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:13 (NLT)

Lord we take time today to remember what it means to sacrifice one’s entire life. May we learn to be more grateful for the many men and women who have done so for us, and may this Memorial Day bring us to a deeper understanding of how much you love us. Amen.

Painting and Prayer

 in Painting and Prayer  tagged Afghanistan / Jesus / painting / peace / prayer / Romania / war by

Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:7

Lord we lift up to you the men and women fighting in wars around the world right now. This past week Romania lost soldiers in Afghanistan – a rare thing for that country. We ask for resolution to the violence, and we pray that you will give us hope for your kingdom and the peace we will share there. Amen.

Meet Our Doctors

 in Bucharest / Health  tagged Bucharest / charity / children / gypsies / health / medicine / Minnesota / non-profit / Romania by

Open Door Medical Clinic – Bucharest

Did you know Mia’s Children has our very own medical team?

Okay, well not exactly, but we do have a special place to take the kids if they get sick or need checkups.

Drs. Linda and Milt Hanson, a US couple, run a medical mission in Bucharest called Open Door Medical Center.

From their website:

Situated in the city of Bucharest, capital of Romania, Open Door Medical Center is a full-service family medicine clinic that primarily serves low-income Romanians, gypsies, and refugees from Africa and the Middle East. Services include prenatal care and well-child care, geriatrics, and preventive care. The medical staff includes Drs. Milton and Linda Hanson, associate professors with University of Minnesota School of Medicine.

Most patients are very low-income Romanians, many of whom make less than $40 per month. The Romanian government provides no safety net medical care, and most low-income persons simply go without, but for the charity care offered at Open Door.

Refugees from Africa, and Iraqis and Iranians living in Romania also frequent Open Door Medical Center, as do some Americans and Western Europeans living in Romania.

Open Door’s two physicians are a husband and wife team. Milton and Linda Hanson are associate professors with University of Minnesota School of Medicine.They first came to Romania in 1994, learned the Romanian language, received their hard-won Romanian medical licenses, and then initiated the Open Door Medical Foundation in 1997.

For many years Mia has been able to bring the children and her own family to the center for quality, compassionate health care. What a blessing in a country with overburdened medical programs and a struggling economy.

Learn more about Open Door Medical Center and how you could get involved with their work.

Painting and Prayer

 in Painting and Prayer  tagged finances / fundraising / Jesus / ministry / painting / Paul / prayer by

I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:18-19


God we ask you to provide Mia and Mia’s Children with all of the funding they need this month to cover their costs and the needs of the newest children in the house. Please send them financial support during Romania’s economic struggles and let them know that they are cared for – by you, through us. Amen.