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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.

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