the end of summer at the orphanage…

Thursday, August 23, 2012
An entry that appeared in my journal yesterday:

Today we found a dog!

The day started out well, with everyone in good spirits.  Today is Tata’s birthday, he turns 62.  Everyone went about their work happily this morning because we know we will have a party tonight with all the Gavril children who are in the area.  Tata is saying little jokes here and there.  Tonight, we will not have our usual Bible study with the little kids in order to make space for all the festivities and merriment.  For dinner, Felicia, Mama and Tata’s oldest daughter, is making shaorma.  It is kind of like a taco but different.  It is a Turkish sandwich with a pita that is stuffed with ketchup, mayo, lettuce, grilled chicken, french fries, tomatoes, shredded carrots, and pickles.  Oh how delightful and filling!  There are a lot of Shaorma stands in the city, it is as popular as a hamburger would be back home.  I think this family has made them before, because the women seemed to have a system in putting them together.  One for each kid, and then the adults made their own.  It was quite a bustling party! We had about 18 kids present, counting the kids in the orphanage and the grandkids, and 13 adults counting Kim and I.  The adults ate in another room where many stories were told!  Mihaela, the oldest girl in the orphanage, made a Happy Birthday sign with colored paper.  Alex, Vlad, Eric, Kim and I put up balloons.

Earlier in the afternoon, the kids, Kim, I, and Anita, a woman who works at the orphanage, all went for a walk .  It has been rather hot, but nothing like the record highs of the summer a few weeks ago of 90s/100s fahrenheit.  Now it has been in the upper 80s with scattered storms, delightful for an afternoon walk.  On our walk, a man said he heard barking in the bushes by the riverbed.  We all went to investigate.  Kim was the most determined, and aha!  she found a puppy that was crying!  The kids fell in love with it ( later we found out it is a German hunting terrier mix) and we carried it on our walk and back to the house.  Beyond everyone’s belief, Mama and Tata agreed to keep it on the homestead!   The orphanage homestead has many farm animals including cows and chickens, but up till now, no pet.  The boys do like to pick up the chickens and carry  them around like a pet! and they like to pet the bunnies, but it is not the same as having a dog.  It will give the kids good lessons in taking care of and training something.  So far, Cristian has hovered over it’s every need and even started training it to stay inside the gate. We named it Kim, for it is a girl.  There have also been 2 or 3 stray kitties hanging around, for the kids put stuff out for them, so we will see if we come to name them as well.  Mama and Tata remarked on how big the farm is getting: cows, chickens, cats, dogs, then Mama said flies!  😀  Thanks to Tata, the past few weeks have been less dense with flies because of the strips he found.  There is a new freshness in the air at the orphanage homestead with these new creatures hanging around.  We have found favor in the eyes of the Lord as we live out the kingdom!

I will end with a Romanian tongue twister:  Fată fostului fierar face fasole fără foc fiindcă focul face fum.  (It means something like this:  a girl makes beans without fire because fire makes smoke.)

Be in prayers for Filip, the grandson who had the hip operation, as he starts his physical therapy which will last three weeks in Northern Germany.  We must give thanks to God for providing a doctor who speaks Romanian for the therapy, He is so good!  Pray his dad can find some construction work to do there and pray for his sister  who is here in town with us, when feelings of longing for her brother and dad hit.

Pray the Lord bless our time with the kids, that it may be useful.  Kim only has about 3 more weeks before she returns home to the states.  We received a big box of craft items and goodies for the kids from her family, what a blessing.  May it last.  Pray we can teach and instill virtues of gentleness, kindness, and love in their precious hearts.  Pray we recognize each day as a chance to make an impact.

La rivedere my friends!  Goodbye!

 

Passport adventure to Bucuresti

Some of you know of my ordeal of losing my passport on the flight from US to London. This is an email I wrote Mike Heisey on Aug 3, updating him on the situation about how things were working out. I was issued a temporary passport in London so I could continue my travel- that was way back in June when I was just on my way to the orphanage. Then, later on, I was to get a real passport in the capital city when I got to Romania. Here is how the story pans out…

I thought I’d update you on my passport adventure to Bucuresti. All went well, I spent a good 4 days down there and was well received by the Iancu family that lives there. (it is 6 hours south of the orphanage) We visited some parks and had a good time even though it was hot down there, 97/98. It didn’t matter, it was still a nice way to observe the city. The day of my appointment at the Embassy all went very smooth; I had all the papers I needed and the attendants were very helpful and kind. I found out I will have to wait a good 2 weeks to receive it though, they have to send the information to America and will ship the passport to me at the orphanage address in Dobreni. That’s okay, I can wait. I will wait to do the visa until after I receive my passport. (a visa is required for non-citizens of Romania who want to stay longer than 90 days)

Thank you for your prayers, and if you would be in prayer for my visa when I start to process it in two weeks, I would be very grateful. Some news, little Rebeca has arrived from Germany just today. Her father and brother will stay longer to do some recouperation and therapy. She came with a man who is from Piatra Neamt , but was visiting Germany for a short while. It was providence how the transportation worked out. I don’t know for sure, but I think she will be very glad to spend some time at the orphanage and with her Grandma and Grandpa again. Continue to pray for their situation, as I am sure she will miss her dad and brother during this time.

That is all, I hope all is well with you and you are making the most of the summer with memories. Oh, since the copii mici have been away at camp this week, Kim and I have been cooking a good bit! (there were only 10-15 people to cook for) Its been fun, we made mac n cheese today, and pizza and cookies yesterday, and stirfry with chicken the day before. They are getting a good taste of what we like to eat in America . Tomorrow we will make beef barbeque and have smores when the kids get home.

Talk to you later, al rividere!

**UPDATE: I received my passport in the mail on Tuesday and it looks great! 🙂 Now I will plan when to go to town to do the visa. It just depends on when someone is free to come with me to translate.