In at the Deep End

What a day! (Prayer Request at the very bottom-if you're short on time head straight there!)

After arriving safely on Sunday afternoon we were treated to a roast dinner and a relaxing evening. That was extremely misleading for those who has never been before. But we all enjoyed it none the less. And then this morning...reality of life in Romania hit home!

It all began with breakfast in the living room due to the vast quantities of shoeboxes in the dining room! This was no bad thing as it kept it short and sweet. Then Norman led devotions and we were focused and ready for the day ahead.

Firstly, we sorted all the 'fillers.' Every shoebox received is checked and fillers are essentially basic items that may have been forgotten and that we are able to add to ensure that every child receives the same gift at Christmas time. 

Then we began checking the boxes and completed the Girls 3-4 and  2-3, ladies and babies today. This may not seem like a lot but hopefully the picture indicates something of the quantity to be done!

In Romania, to receive social service benefits you must work 9 days of the month. This can be on the roads or at the dump but you must complete the time to get the money. It amounts to £12.50 a month. This is what some of the Gypsy community are trying to live on which is next to impossible and partially explains why children aren't in school as they need to look after the younger ones as parents go to work, why health and hygiene is neglected as it all costs money, why children are starving as there isn't enough food to be put on the table (if they're fortunate enough to have a table) and why women go into prostitution to earn extra money to feed their children. These are only a few of the implications of not being able to earn enough to keep your family. Other factors obviously need to be considered such as an alcoholic father, a smoking mother or an abusive relationship. The photos above and below are some of the locals going to and from work.

Anyhow, back to the day...then we searched the "kabana" (big shed) for hospital equipment and supplied that were received from Northern Ireland on Saturday when the latest container arrived. We managed to locate them, climb over the stuff to reach them and then pack them like tetris into the van, leaving only enough room for the four of us travelling in the front seat to Sighisoara Hospital.

Obviously the van was not packed expertly as on route to the hospital a few of the boxes came sliding forwards and hit us on the back of the head. No damage done though.

Sighisoara Hospital

 We emptied the van into their storage room and Dr Kundi was extremely grateful. He was overjoyed with the supplies that will enable him to continue his ministry to the poor and needy patients that come across his path and he can offer reduced rates. A Christian doctor who truly lives sacrifically for the Lord and strives to give what he can. He will often do 10-12 operations a day and any emergencies in the evenings when possible.

4 bedded room

Lunch

ambulances

Dressing trolley

Treatment room

Operating theatre

 A tour of the hospital revealed that it has 4 wards and 54 patients with 8 staff working in total and a rope lift. Then we headed back to Laslea to repack the van for a trip to Danes. There was a load of clothes to be taken to Happy Days organised by Ionella, a lady who works closely with Project Romania. Happy Days was founded with that name due to the number of times Ionella heard Linda using the phrase around 4-5 years ago! Ionella solely started and runs the project which reaches out to the elderly population in her village. She is able to distribute basic essentials such as food, clothes, toiletries and most importantly God's love. She contacts them roughly once a week and visits when she finds the time amongst everything else!

Ionella's pickling vegetables

 Once we has everything unloaded Norman had to go and get a tooth x-rayed so Ionella offered to have us stay at her house. We (Rebecca and I) entered her home and as soon as Norman had driven off she announced we were going on a trip to get ice-cream! There wasn't much room for persuasion so off we set. Arrived at Hotel Dracula, which is an impressive horse-riding hotel about 15 minutes from the Project Romania base in Laslea. She is working for the government in tourism and was able to let us see the grounds including the stables and the gardens.

Then she checked with us that we only wanted ice-cream which we made pretty clear. So we sat down at this 'Downton' style table for three. She ordered something and then she took us to see round the inside which is absolutely beautiful! We sat back down at the table and a bread basket arrived. I thought it was peculiar to have bread with ice cream but said nothing. Before conversation began 3 plates of traditional sausage and chips arrived! This was an unexpected meal at half 3!!!!

And then came 'papanes,' a traditional Romanian dessert. It's like a doughnut with the hole of a doughtnut set on top. It was lovely with  redcurrant sauce. It came with little pots of cream of which I tried a little and realised it was sour cream. Before I could warn Rebecca most of hers was on the dessert! Oh well!

It was a beautiful hotel and a very surprising visit! The only problem being...I had dressed to sort shoeboxes, not dine out in the finest hotel in the area. But here I am outside the building looking like a hillbilly taken out for the day- which is relatively true!

Sunset on the way home

 So we arrived home absolutely stuffed!..just in time for dinner. Norman had sussed out the situation on the drive home but we decided not to mention it to the others. So we got in, helped with the shoeboxes and then dinner was ready shortly after. I filled my family in on the dilemma of having to look like I'm having dinner but not actually have any! They took this on board for about 30 seconds...and then forgot everything I said. They could not have made more comments about me eating/not eating if they tried!

Eventually, having survived dinner, just about (With serving the others first, sitting at the other end from Linda and trying to ignore all the comments made about me not eating much!) Linda asked what Rebecca and I had done. With half of the table smirking it was hard not to keep a straight face. As soon as I mentioned we took a trip with Ionella she knew exactly what had happened!!! Rebecca and I looked like guilty children caught eating chocolate! So she wanted the full story...it seemed unfair to deprive them of every detail of how incredibly beautiful the gardens were and how delicious the food was...so we fully embraced the opportunity! And rubbed it in..a little. Not too much of course!

After dinner it was story time from the adults and we all had a good laugh together! Then we sang and prayed together. David called round too so it was brilliant to hear his stories and news from the other villages I'd been in over summer too. Every one has slowly trickled off to bed and only two of us are left while I finish updating you all! It is midnight!

And what a day it was!

Septre Noiembrie

**Prayer Request**
I'll finish on a more sombre note for prayer...the guys were out building today and mid afternoon smoke was rising from one of the buildings. It turned out to be a fire in two of the houses. It has completely removed the roof of one and gutted the other. These two families, who had almost nothing, now have even less. They'll stay with neighbours/family tonight but please do pray that we will be able to help find a more permanent solution in the morning. Pray that we would be willing to change our plans and be flexible to assist these poor and desperate families in this a time of need.