Education

Pray for Romania’s Public Employees

 in Economy / Education / Mia's Children / Prayer / Romania  tagged lei / pension / prison / protest / schools / strike / teachers by


Romanian currency: a banknote for 10 (zece) lei

On Monday, hundreds of thousands of Romanian state employees participated in a massive strike to protest wage and pension cuts.

Over 700,000 medical staff, teachers, emergency responders, and prison workers joined for a one day strike. Many of the workers joined to show solidarity with school and public institution employees, who plan to strike indefinitely.

But despite overwhelming dissatisfaction with the cuts, Romania’s plan to implement a 25% wage cut and 15% pension cut to all state employees still became effective as of yesterday.

Let’s pray for these teachers in particular as they continue to strike. They are the men and women running the schools in which the children we support spend every day. We need them to be examples of love, dignity, and courage for the youth of a broken nation.

And let’s pray for Mia’s Children as they educate and nurture young people in Romania, even when no one else can or will.

The “I Am” Study on the Claims of Christ

 in Bible / Education / God / Jesus / Mia's Children / Ministry  tagged Bible study / I Am / International Students / Romanian by

Mia and the children have recently been working through a study called “I Am: a Bible Study Series on the Claims of Jesus Christ,” by Richard J. Mendola.

International Students, Inc., a non-denominational ministry out of Colorado Springs, CO, publishes the study. It is designed for small groups or individuals.

By “claims of Jesus” the study refers to different things Jesus claimed to be during his time on earth: I am the Bread of Life, I am the Good Shepherd, I am the “I Am”, etc. There are seven lessons, and each lesson includes background information, a Biblical passage, observation questions, analysis and discussion questions, and a time for reflection.

The study is appropriate for both believers and non-believing friends. PDF copies from International Students, Inc., cost around $2.40 (2 copies permitted per study, as it is copyrighted).

If you would like to order a study and follow along with Mia’s Children as they look at the character of Christ, just contact us and we will make an order for you and other supporters!

“Shame on Them!”: Romanian Workers Protest

 in Bucharest / Economy / Education / Health / Mia's Children / Romania  tagged AP / debt / EU / IMF / protest / taxes / Traian Basescu / World Bank by

The IMF Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

On Wednesday (a few hours ago, US time), tens of thousands of Romanian workers took to the streets in Bucharest to protest massive wage and job cuts by the Romanian government.

Approximately 40,000 people marched and chanted, “Down with the lying government!” “Shame on them!” and “You have pawned our future!”

The protests follow an announcement that Romania will be cutting all public salaries by 25% and pensions by 15% beginning June 1. Romanians fear debt will only continue to skyrocket while taxes increase. Romania accepted a $24 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), European Union and World Bank last year in order to pay state wages.

Police officers, teachers, and health workers are calling for the government to resign. The unions are threatening a large-scale strike. Public jobs comprise 1/3 of Romanian employment, and such a strike would leave the country without health care or law enforcement.

Romanian President Traian Basescu

But it is unlikely the protests or even a strike will change the government’s plans. The IMF will only give Romania the next portion of its loan when the country has enforced the wage and pension cuts. Romanian President Traian Basescu has continued openly seeking that installment, worth $1.15 billion.

Please continue to pray for Mia’s Children during this time of economic hardship in Romania. Our children depend on the public sector for school, safety and health resources. But we also try to provide such things privately to them through the mission. And as the dollar continues to grow in strength against the euro, please consider a donation to help cover the increasing costs in Bucharest.

(You can read more about the protests from the Associated Press.)