Julie’s Updates

Library Project & Cultural Training

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

The past few weeks in Romania have been so upbeat! As I prepare to come back to the states in 2 weeks, I am wrapping up exciting things that need to get done before I leave.

First of all I want to thank Christ's Church VBS again for raising $2,000 for a library here at the CTL office. Last week I spent my time going through the books that CTL already has. More than 3/4 of them are in English! So, In the past week we have purchased over a hundred books for the new library in Romanian! We are setting up a reading area with book shelves, a rug and hopefully a couch (I hope to paint the walls too - but we'll see)! We have bought a wide variety of books: cookbooks, bibles, books on relationships, books on crafts, encyclopedias and "How to" books...all in the children's native language. After we visit IKEA and a few more book stores we will be all set to open CTL's new library! If anyone is interested in donating just complete the secure donation form on this website (http://donate.childrentolove.com), or mail a check or money order to PO Box 9575, Bakersfield, CA 93389 with a note that the gift is for the library. We hope and pray that the Lord will continue to increase the tools we have to reach these children in as many ways as we can.

Next we hope to convince the producers of "Veggie Tales" to add Romanian sub-titles. They currently only have Spanish. We are also hoping to buy more Christian CD's in English. The music they listen to here is mostly English anyways, so they will love the music. This project has been keeping many of us busy and hopeful.

Last week Kristina and I went to Timisoara (tea-me-sh-war-uh) for "Cultural Training." I was surprised that the majority of the other Americans/Canadians spoke Romanian fluently and had been here for over a year, some for three! I hadn't expected to be that enlightened, but I was blown away. Through my time here I have had different emotions. Not sadness but being frustrated at not understanding the language or silly things like why people don't smile in public or pretend they didn't see you if they accidentally make eye-contact. These past four months I have been smiling at strangers and it took this training to realize in Bucharest - "That's Weird!" I learned that you always bring something to someone's house when you are invited over, but it is offensive to bring food. If you bring flowers they must be an odd number because an even number of flowers is only used for funerals! We learned about the Revolution and walked in the square where it began. We heard from a man who played a major part in it, whose life was threatened many times. We talked with an Orthodox priest and learned for 6 hours what they believe and why. We learned sitting certain ways is rude. But the biggest lesson that they taught us was to "Not bring Christ along with our culture!" American ways of doing things doesn't mean a more godly way most of the time. Bring Christ and that's it! Woo, we learned a lot!

As I say goodbye, I see so many possibilities for my friends and family to volunteer here. Each gift the Lord has given you can be utilized - from hairdressing to carpentry or feeding disabled children - the Lord can use you!! So if you are interested let me know!

Finally, Thank you all for your faithful prayers and encouraging e-mails! It has been inspiring and propelling. Keep your eyes on Him and your ears and heart open!!

Blessings,

Julie

Camp for Disabled Children

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Buna Ziua!
God has given me opportunities that I never thought would happen. My roommates and I have been praying for an opportunity to have a better relationship with the staff at Rehab and to be able to spend more time with the children. God has given us exactly that.

Three weeks ago on a Tuesday, we were at Rehab. About twenty eight kids were going to leave the next day to a camp 2 hours north of Bucuresti. The director explained that they were understaffed for the trip and asked if we could come! Of course we said yes, (Marilyn, Kristina and I). The next day we left for a 10 day trip to a camp in Buzau.

Camp was incredible. Instead of 2-4 hours a day with the kids, the Lord gave us 24!! We spent our time with them face painting, having music class - Kristina played and sang and I taught the motions. It was such a joy seeing them less medicated and more aware and active. The girls would giggle with each other, and there was a huge playground for the kids to play on. The accommodations were quite nice... all but the "Turkish toilets" or "Squattie Potties." But, you do what you gotta do!

During camp I ate next to a girl named Ioana (E-wanna), she sure can shovel it in! Someone asked her if she new my name, she giggled and said, "No, but she is my friend. We eat together." So cute!

We spent those 10 days blessing the kids by bathing and feeding, but in the end, as always the Lord truly blessed us. Our relationship with the staff is great. We greet them with kisses now when we see them.

We all came back sick. All of us are very well acquainted with Mr. Toilet. We bought toilet paper probably 3 times in one week! My sickness has turned into yet again, another ear infection. I have been faced with a few challenges: Being sick so often is one of them as well as a few financial mishaps. I used a phone card incorrectly for many hours and now have to pay a disgusting amount of money. Which is frustrating. I do have good news though. I am now able to stay until November 6th!! (At which time I will come home for sure).

In October five children from Rehab are having surgery to fix major disabilities. You may remember Maria from one of my other updates. The Surgery she will Lord-willing have, will enable her to sit up, and a few boys will be able to walk straight, instead of "Plunk, drag, plunk, drag." Once again they are understaffed and need people to be Nurses to these children. Kristina and I are so willing to do this. So next month we will spend most of our time in the Hospital. We are also going to Timisoara for a weekend of language and culture training October 11th-13th. So I have a busy month ahead of me before I come home.

May the Lord bless you all!
-Julie

3 Kids at the Rehab Center

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Today I went to Bulgaria, because my 90 days were almost up. I got my passport stamped and came right back to Bucuresti. I was unable to go to Greece because I discovered that I am not allowed to go alone.

I am requesting that my stay in Bucuresti be extended, as you all have been so generously supportive and have raised more that I need. This means I may come back in November instead of October. As soon as my request is approved, I will let you know.

The past three weeks I have spent only at Rehab working with 3 children. Marian is 2 1/2, and can't walk or properly crawl. I have been holding him up and walking him around to strengthen his legs. Everyday I try to take him to a little park. The fresh air is so good for him. He also can't speak, but he grunts a lot. He has a terrible habit of scratching his face. If I put him back in his playpen and come back 10 minutes later, there are fresh scratches. Please pray that God will show me how to encourage him to not do that. Whenever I see him scratching, I grab his hand and kiss it, I don't know what else to do.

David is another boy that I have been working with. He was normal in the womb, but when he was delivered, the doctor was on vacation, and he was damaged in the process. He has so much fluid in his lungs, but not much strength to cough it up. One night I researched his disability and learned how to loosen the fluid in his chest. The next day I worked on his chest and stomach. By lunch time he got rid of so much fluid. I've never been so happy to see someone cough up... stuff. OK, sorry, I'm not trying to gross you out. But it was so great!

Little Maria is such a delight. She is probably 7, but the size of a malnourished 3 year old. She is so happy all the time, she giggles in her crib, all by herself. She is very difficult to feed. As there are so many children to staff is unable to spend the time coaxing her to eat even half of her bottle. My roommates and I prayed one night that Maria would eat her food. The next day Kristina fed her an entire bottle!

Each morning I feed some of the children, who would not otherwise eat much. I walk Marian and move Maria and David's muscles. These are small things, but I love meeting such practical needs.

I have also been taking language lessons three times a week and I am working on using my Romanian more in public. (You really have to slaughter your pride to do this!)

God is stretching me and causing me to grow. This week I have really been missing home. (I am missing a huge family reunion at my house). But the Lord has me here and there is no better place to be than in the center of His will!

Summer Camp & Babies

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Hello Everyone!

Camp was wonderful! The Lord worked so intricately, it was awesome. One night the girls in my group were talking about how they weren't able to forgive people, especially their parents who gave them up. The next night I shared my story and how I was bitter for a long time, but bitterness will destroy you. I encouraged them to forgive. They kept asking questions, and we ended up having a powerful night, sharing God's truth and goodness. They even wanted me to pray with them! We had about 8 girls in our group ages 13-16. One girl told us how her mother killed her dad when she was 2. She is still so hurt from this and closed off from emotions. Continue to lift them up in your prayers, like I know you do. We sang this African style song. One line is "Name of Jesus higher." On the last night at the Romanian style bonfire (14ft. high), an 18 year old named George told me that being at camp really taught him to lift the name of Jesus higher!

Camp preparation and camp itself was so intense, we were given a week off. I am so thankful for that!

Holly, Kristina and I took Monday off. Yesterday we volunteered with ROCK (another ministry) at a baby hospital. From 8am-1pm, we washed the babies, fed them, held and played with them. Because we were there, the staff was able to pay attention to some babies in the ICU. Kristina and I went back today and we're going tomorrow as well. One baby is 3 weeks old and so small! Her mom died in childbirth. Her tiny hands and feet prove God's greatness. Another baby named Anastatia was born with her fingers and toes connected. It looks like her hands are just wrapped in skin. Next month she is going the States to have surgery. Praise the Lord!! She loves touching things, and her smile is contagious!

On Friday we are taking kids with mental disabilities to McDonald's. Besides trips like that they never see beyond the walls of their "facility." They get so excited! Their smiles remind me greatly of God's great love.

I will update soon. I thank God always for your prayers.

Please pray that our ministry will not be hindered because of the weather - It is so hot here!! Its over 100* every day, dusty and humid...

Thanks - Julie

Summer Camp Prep

Wed, 4 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Buna Dimineata!!(Good Morning) From Bucuresti,

These past few weeks have flown by! I am working with a team from Orange County along with the Romanian staff to prepare a week of camp for 60 orphans. The camp is the week of July the 9th. I will be teaching English, and assisting in Arts and Crafts, and Beauty Shop. My group of girls are from 13-16. I am most excited about the evenings when I will be able to truly connect, by chatting and sharing my testimony with the girls. I want to hear their hopes and dreams and pray that they will become a reality.

In the past month I have visited many different orphanages. The most difficult however, has not been rehab (children with disabilities), it has been Sfanta Ana (formerly an all-girls orphanage). Orphanage #10 (an all-boys orphanage) is closing down, so they moved many boys from #10 to Sfanta Ana. I have never seen so many broken hearts swimming in children's eyes. It is intimidating. Some of the orphans are my age. At this orphanage there are only a few little ones. The rest are teens. The only way of life they know is swindling and fighting. They are loud and rough. They scream and hit. They cry and wear clothes that barely cover their bodies, which is by choice on many of the girls' part. These copii (children) are in desperate need of godly examples...of someone to take an interest in them and truly care.

That is what CTL is all about and camp has provided the perfect opportunity for showing exactly that. We now have an opportunity to show the kids what unity looks like and how good caring about others can feel. Our camp motto is: Toti Pentru Unu, si, Unu Pentru Toti! All for one and one for all. Please pray that camp will go well and that we will truly have Inimi Deschise - Open Hearts!

After Camp, I am hoping to teach English at Chitila (Kah-tea-lah), and work more with the copii with mild to sever disabilities at Rehab. I am very excited to see what the Lord will do through me in the next few months.

(And I will try to do my update more often! I am going to buy a calendar. This morning when I came to the ministry center and people were wishing me a happy 4th of July, I had forgotten it was July!!)

The Lord has blessed me with a few relationships that I will always treasure. He has given me incredible roommates that encourage me and let me cook for them. The other friends are Constanta (cone-stahn-tsah) and Ioana (E-wanna).

Constanta, a girl from Chitila (an all girls Orphanage), came over to my apartment. We tried communicating and laughed so hard at our inability to understand each other. She helped me make brownies and lemonade. My dictionary got good use that day. She told me how she came to know God and how she is the only Christian in her orphanage. Yet, she was overflowing with joy. Her eyes smile. She told me that when she was younger she didn't think about the future at all. "I just thought, 'What will I do today?'" But praise the Lord that she is going to a University now, paid for by the government! She still lives at Chitila and is a wonderful witness there. I am exited to be an encouragement to her while I am here.

My other new friend is Ioana. She is 27 and very dear to me. She invited me over to her apartment, but due to some miscommunication, I thought she invited me to her parents house for 4 days. (Long story) She is very gracious, so it ended up that my roomie Katie and I took a 10 hour train ride with Ioana to a Romanian-Hungarian town on the other side of Romania! It is about 20 minutes west of Arad. Her parents don't speak English - which made it all the more fun. We tried to teach her mom how to sing happy birthday, so she walked around saying "Happy You, Happy You." It was a good time to relax, and grow closer together. Working here is very emotionally draining. The Lord blessed us with a wonderfully recuperating time. We spent time in the Mineral pool (the water is Red!!) and her mom fed us Fresh Chicken (We watched her pluck and de-gut it!!) I couldn't understand much of what she said, but she if full of love, and that is the loudest language....

Last night as I tried to finish this update. A family came in for Counseling. While the couple counseled in another room, their 9 year old daughter sat outside by herself. I had an internal conflict - finish my update or befriend the girl...I chose the latter. We colored together and she taught me the words for sun and moon, and corrected me when I spelled things wrong. I taught her how to fold a piece of paper in half and cut out a heart. She was so delighted when she did it herself. Her name is Ana Maria. What a little joy. God has a way of interrupting our "agenda" and showing us His. Frankly, I like His much better : )

Thank you all so much for your e-mails of encouragement, and prayers. Thank you also for choosing to be a part of this mission. The Lord is blessing the children here through CTL in countless ways!

Multumesc foarte Mult!! (Thank you very much!!)
Binecuvanteze, (Blessings)

Julie

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you; He will quiet you with His Love He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

But if I say, "I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name," His Word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9