Roni’s Updates

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Hey All!

Just a short note to let you all know that I arrived home safely yesterday to the wonderful voice of my little brother yelling "noni" across the airport, the welcoming arms of my mother, and the surprise of two amazing friends! I managed to stay up until 7pm and then crashed and slept for 8 hrs. straight. However, it is now 4am and after lying in bed for an hour I've decided that I am hungry and wide awake : ) Thank you all for your prayers on my journey home and your continued thoughts as I transition to time, food, surroundings, and culture.

Be watching the mail for reflections and pictures of my trip that I hope to send out later this week!

One final prayer request: I must make a rather quick transition to camp this week/weekend so please be praying for my energy and transition. You guys are AMAZING!

Chiao!

Fri, 8 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Buna Ziua for the last time from Romania,

This last week of ministry has been full with long days, short nights, much laughter, and also many tears. Along with the Bakersfield team I have had the chance to go to a couple of deaf schools here, the rehab orphanage, and work with a group of girls from the orphanages in the afternoon.

Last weekend two other interns arrived, so there have been four of us living together in the apartment, which has been a ton of fun. Today we took a group of about 20 mentally disabled kids from the rehab to see "Meet the Robinsons" and for lunch at McDonalds. The theater was rented just for these children and another group of orphans and was decorated with balloons on all the seats. It was a great time of seeing the kids find such pleasure, such joy, and such excitement in such simple things.

I fly out very early Monday morning and arrive home around 11am that same day. Thank God for His protection thus far in my trip! Please pray that He would continue that protection and health and grant me traveling mercies on the trip home (especially when it comes to the Frankfurt Airport : >)

Please pray for my transition back to home and my goodbyes to the children and staff I have gotten to know this past month and half. I cannot say thank you enough to you all for your financial support and many prayers that have allowed me to be here. I must end this email short as my roommate is ill and needs to return home but I will send out some reflections next week when I return. Thank you again to each and every one of you.

Only by His grace,
Roni

Tue, 29 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Wow! A month in Romania... the time has gone by so fast. Because of the way that the next team schedule is set up this is my final week actually in the orphanages. As I say goodbye and hold children for one last time I struggle with many feelings. There are so many faces here that I have not studied, so many names I have not learned, so many stories I have not heard. The problem here is so big and I am so small. But if there is one thing that God has been teaching me this month it's that He is BIG!

I cannot know every child, I cannot hold each hand, I cannot listen to each problem, I cannot catch every tear, I cannot protect every heart like I long to do. However, I have a Maker. Each of these precious children has the same Maker - who has made them for a purpose. He knows each one of their names, He has planned each of their lives, He sees every tear that falls, hears each cry, holds each heart. I ask you to join me in bringing these children before the feet of our Father. He is Great and Mighty and though we do not understand His ways, though we question at times His plan, all things work out according to His purpose and His promises.

So many heart-wrenching stories have come to me this week. One in particular is that of a little girl named Iuli (pronounced Eulie). She is seven years old with big chocolate brown eyes and dark ringlets. Her mother brought her to the orphanage 2 years ago because she was the "extra." Since then her mother has not visited and the man that does visit every once in a while that Iuli calls dad, is not her dad, but rather yet another one of mom's boyfriends. Each tell her that maybe when she's older they will take her back. I cannot understand how anyone would want to give up, could give up, such a precious, loving, and sweet child. How can her mother just leave her? And yet this precious Iuli is so full of life, so full of joy, so full of hope. I wonder if there was a time when the older girls were once this way also...and now, after years of a rough life and little encouragement, they are seeking that life, that joy, and that hope in all the wrong places. Pray for these children!!!!!!

On a happier note, Monica and I moved into our apartment yesterday and are settling in. On Saturday the team from California arrives as does another intern, Breann, who will be staying with Monica and I.

Thank you each for your prayers, your encouragement, and your support as I was preparing to come and while I have been here. Please continue to pray for me as I begin to wrap up my stay here. You are in each in my prayers and thoughts.

Binecuvantat fie El,
Roni

Sun, 20 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Well, my stay here in Romania is now ½ way over! I apologize for not writing sooner - we had some internet issues here at the office. The past two weeks have been full and crazy. Here are a few highlights:

• I spent an afternoon in the park with a group of pre-teen girls from at-risk families. They come every week to study and hang out with Anca. It was neat because I was able to build some relationships with them despite the language barrier and we had a ton of fun laughing and playing together. Anca and I are planning a day of girly dress up, dessert, pictures, and devotional for them before I leave.
• A team of seven people arrived from Florida last Saturday and spent a week with us here at CTL. Since I was living with them and spending a great amount of time with them, they were quick to adopt me and we had many fun hours of ministry together.
• I spent a morning with Lili in the special needs part of orphanage #6. We took the older ones to the park to play. One of the boys, Ionut, had a wheelchair because he cannot walk, but he and I were walking all over the court as I supported him with my arms, and he was so excited! I think that if he had a walker and someone working with him, he could learn to walk. When we returned we held the babies. Little Cercel was lying in his crib when I entered and just staring at the ceiling. He has a feeding tube and when I took him out, he was completely limp, not being able to hold his head up or have much control over his limbs. But he has a beautiful smile and wonderful laugh and I fell in love with this little boy.
• At orphanage #7 I met Elizabeth. She came up to me and asked me to speak to her in English because she really wanted to learn. We practiced introductions, colors and numbers. When it was time to leave I told her we could practice again when I returned and her face lit up with a huge smile as she eagerly nodded her head. I am very excited to be working with her and getting to know her. She is a very sweet and gentle girl.
• The other intern, Monica Wall, arrived Tuesday and what fun we have had! She is a Romanian orphan who was adopted by a family in Seattle and has returned several times to minister to those in the place she once was. Her story is incredible and her personality oh, so much fun! We have already gone on one adventure today taking the metro and tram across the city to find the only Starbucks in Romania. We succeeded without getting lost and had a ton of fun on the way.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
• Pray for the country of Romania - they have just re-elected their president after some controversy over whether or not his actions were constitutional.
• Monica and I have both not been feeling very well and I have gotten to know Mr.Toilet quite well in the past 24hrs. So please pray for our health and energy.
• Pray for the CTL staff here in Romania that they would be refreshed and encouraged.
• Continue praying for the team in Africa - they are having a safe trip and are being blessed by being a blessing. Pray for their continued safety and ministry.

Sat, 5 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Buna Ziua!

I have now spent a week in Romania and I am EXHAUSTED! As I mentioned in the last email, May 1st is a National holiday here so we did not start working until Wednesday. On Tuesday Alina invited me to a church choir BBQ with her. We all carpooled to a small village outside of Bucharest and ate, played games, and rested. I had mici (meech) for the first time which is a combination of lamb, beef, and pork. I thought it tasted a lot like a hamburger.

Wednesday I awoke to meet "Mama Maria" who doesn't speak any English. But through pointing and a sort of charades she was able to ask me how I slept and I was able to answer. Every morning since then we have this little code-talk. I am trying to pick up some of the langauge and the CTL staff is very patient and helpful, but it is difficult.

CTL is putting on a camp for some of the orphans in July so we had a sort of clinic with Heidi, an American, about planning and running camp. It was neat for me because I was able to pick up some little tricks to bring home to Canyonview. (And I was a pro at dum-dum-diddy)

In the past 2 ½ days I have gone to two apartments and three orphanages. The apartments are kind of like our foster-homes. The first was for six mentally handicapped girls and the second was for six children, boys and girls, ages 7-18. Both were a fun and sweet group.

At orphanage #6 we worked with a group of preschoolers who are learning about America and Romania. Florina had me recite a verse to them so that they could hear English and the look on their faces was one of awe and bewilderment. The best part about #6 is that the children didn't mind that they couldn't understand me, or I them, they were just excited to have someone to hold them, hug them, kiss them, and love them. It amazes me that they can have such love, such joy, such a sparkle in their eye despite their circumstances. Life in an orphanage is a rough one and was very evident in #7 as children were picking on one another.

Today we took a group of mentally handicapped children from #5 to the park and museum. They were jumping up and down and shouting because they were so happy to go outside! I loved just watching their faces light up at the different sights and sounds.

I have already experienced every form of transportation here in Bucharest (tram, subway, bus, taxi and walking) and would definitely vote walking as my favorite! Bucharest is a BIG city and the public transportation crowded and complicated for a country girl such as myself. I could use your prayer that I would not become overwhelmed with it and the language that is proving difficult to learn.

Be praying for the children of Romania, that they would be encouraged and if they don't already have the hope of Christ to hold on to, that they would come to know it. As I play with them and get to know them I cannot help but wonder how such precious little ones could be seemingly forgotten not only by their country but the world.

Also, a team from school is headed to Africa on Tuesday to minister to the children and families there and would greatly appreciated your prayers, I'm sure. To those of you on the Africa team- I am confident that God has already prepared AWESOME works to do through you. My love for the children there goes with each of you. When you are exhausted, worn-out, and running on grace alone, know that I am constantly praying for and cannot wait to hear the mighty ways in which God worked through your weaknesses!

That is about all for now. I'm going to bed early tonight and tomorrow am headed to church with a couple of the CTL staff. (Did I mention how cool they are? ?)

Hugs to you all, (or as they do here: a kiss on the left cheek and a kiss on the right?)
Roni