|
Special prayer request
Cristina was diagnosed with appendicitis today and will undergo surgery tomorrow, July 29th. Please pray that she will experience the peace of God and rapid healing. Also, pray that she will have favor with the healthcare workers and be shown respect and compassion.
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
First of all, we want to thank
you for your prayers as we have transitioned from South Asia to Romania. As you
can imagine, it has been a big change. And with every big change comes new
challenges, both personally and professionally. We are so thankful that no
matter where we go, our God, the all- knowing, all- seeing Father, goes before
us, beside us, and behind us.
|
|
Very soon after our arrival in Romania, we began to serve alongside the staff
at Clinica Diaconia in Braila,
Romania.
Clinica Diaconia is a Christian medical and dental clinic in the heart of a
very spiritually dry place. This section of Romania is known to be very
resistant to any beliefs that do no coincide with Orthodoxy. However, through
meeting people at their point of need physically, many have experienced the
heart of evangelical Christianity- the love of God. We are so pleased to work
alongside the dedicated staff of this clinic. Not only are they precious to
God, they are also precious to us and we are proud to call them friends.
|
As we prepared to come back to Romania, we
were reflecting on the areas where God has involved us in the past. In Ocna Mures, Romania,
we had no idea how to develop an elderly care program. In South
Asia, we had no idea how to help widows and lepers in a way that
would make a permanent change. As we prepared to come to Braila, we were keenly aware that serving at
the clinic was most likely only a part of what God had in mind for us. We had a
sneaking suspicion that another "we don't know how to do that" situation could
be just around the corner.
|
We began helping with
short-term dental mission teams in June. One day, a young woman entered the
clinic for dental help. She had a very street-wise look about her. Sporting a
ball cap, tattoos, and piercings, her out er appearance did not match the fear
and timidity seen in her eyes. Her name was Cristina, and it didn't take long
for her to find a special place in our hearts.
|
Cristina, now age 23, grew up
in the horror of the vast Romanian orphanage system. Communist orphanages were
horrible, and state run post-communist orphanages, with their lack of funding and even
greater lack of human decency left many scarred, both physically and
emotionally. (If you would like to read more about Romania's adult orphans, follow the link found in Quick Links on the left side of this page. The article begins on page 5.) Cristina was abandoned by her parents at the age of 4 months. She
was abused by orphanage workers, as well as by the older girls in the orphanage.
Amazingly, she has a sharp mind and functions at a level well above her peers.
|
As we got to know Cristina, she
introduced us to "her group". She lives in a homeless shelter with about 80
residents, most of which are "adult orphans". Many are physically handicapped,
most are emotionally handicapped, and all are in need of a great deal of love
and guidance. None of these people have regular jobs. They are known as
"orphanage kids", and because they have no social status, are worked as illegal
day laborers without any government benefits. The corruption of the Romanian
government only adds to their plight. They are encouraged by caring state
workers to act mentally ill in order to get a small amount of government
assistance monthly. Funds for the homeless shelter are misappropriated, so the
living conditions are deplorable. They have no meals provided for them. For
those who are not able to do hard physical labor, meals are difficult to come
by.
|
What a heart breaking
situation! Nothing about the lives of these young people is right. They have no
family, no social support, little education, and no knowledge of the God that loves
them. Where do you begin to help in a situation like this? We have no idea. But
we know God brought a precious young woman into our lives to open our eyes to a
group of people that God loves very much. Until June of 2009, we did not know
about the plight of these precious ones. Now we do, and we must make a
decision. For the last 6 months, we taught Yanadi tribals about their
responsibility as Christians to care for "the least of these" (Matthew
25:31-46). Now, it is our turn to practice what we have preached.
|
Recently, a pastor from Texas preached a sermon here in Braila. Though many of his words have been
forgotten, one phrase has remained... "Are
we not talking about GOD"? The God
who created the universe just by speaking. The God who raises the dead. The God
who measures the ocean's waters. "Are we not
talking about GOD?" (Thanks, Kelvin!) Yes, we are talking about GOD, and
with Him, all things are possible. Broken hearts are mended, broken bodies are
healed, and broken lives are restored. Yes, we are talking about God!
|
We believe that God is calling
us to help these young people. Would you please join with us in earnest prayer
that God would begin to open doors that no man can shut and that these precious
ones would see the incredible hand of God at work on their behalf? We do not
know the exact path that God would have us take, but we know that His word says
that He will light the way one step at a time. To Him be the glory!
|
A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows isGod in His holy habitation. God places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell.
Psalm 68:5, 6a (Amplified)
Walking in faith,
Stephanie and Leslie
|
|
|
|
|
