Hot but getting ready for winter

Hot but getting ready for winter.

” But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.” Psalm 13:5

Thought the weather is pretty nice we are getting ready for Christmas here ..how???

Since we coordinate Samaritan's Purse project in our area ,we had to start meetings in order to promote the project and Christmas distribution in the area.

We had a wonderful meeting and were so encouraged to see how people react ..there were about 38 people all together and we all had such a blessed time ..many new ,just heard about the project and want to help in some areas..

Vio had some wonderful seminars about why distributing , how and the follow up .Our prayer is that this year will be the most special Christmas for the kids in our area .

Among the new participants there was a young lady called Cristina .All participants had the freedom to come up with tips ,ideas and a word of encouragement toward others .Cristina said
" Some years ago I received a shoe box .It changed my life ,but then I moved to Spain and couple weeks ago I moved back to Romania .I want to be part of this program ,because I had a benefit from it and now I want to be on the other side of the project ,just to see the joy of others receiving!
Due to number of Christians in the area and the lack of communication among them ,just to see 38 people from all denomination ,smiling and praising the Lord it made us think "at least for this "

Kids in the villages rejoice seeing us ,especially Vio.2 boys from Bughea de Jos (Florin and Mihai-poor and hard working kids)got our attention in a special way .They know we have little Daniel and his brother with us and they want to do something special for them .So every Friday when Vio goes in this village they want to give something for the boys , most of times they bring milk since the kids need milk and we can not afford to buy it .They look after their cow and work hard .Once in a while they will bring a jar of home made jam. What a joy ..not so much of receiving-thought we are so thankful for all things we get from the two boys-especially now when the family is bigger , but just the idea of seeing these poor boys responding to other people's need.

This week we will continue to go to villages-especially Vio and I will continue to prepare for teaching at the preschool course that will take place next week in Sibiu ,where most of CEF workers from Romania will attend ,so all experts….

Crazy times are ahead us from many point of view but our prayer and hope is to trust in His goodness and that will make our hearts full of joy.

Rejoicing in His Mercy

Estera & Vio& Daniel and Andrew

Hello again dear friends !

We believe you have been praying for Daniel and us and we would love to share some updates on all.

1.Daniel is finally a “folder “ that means after so many weeks when DPC ( Department of child Protection) refused to take over his case ,they took our request into consideration .As people we saw no way out ..we still see that way ..Daniel’s dad went from last October and declare he refuses to have this baby or look after him in any way.. but DPC kept saying “we refuse to take him into custody “.

So right now.. our hope is the problem will be solved positive for Daniel –taken either into an orphanage or given toward adoption –even though we have no chance to adopt him (just because we have new regulations about adoptions and we can not adopt a baby from a different county and also we can not see the baby we will adopt .DPC will just give us a baby and we can not complain about it ..So knowing this we refused DPC offer).

Couple of days ago we got a phone call telling us that Daniel has been taken in Moldova by his dad(that is north east of Romania, few hundreds of miles away)..so he has been in 5 families within 10..all strangers to him.

Please pray that his situation will be solved quick ..and we do not mind if he is given to another family , but he needs this to happen fast due to his age and health problems ..

2.Us- looking for answer from the Lord…one of the questions still staying with us is “why took away the chance to hear the Gospel ,grow in a Christian home”

However we are trying to see why Daniel has been in our life ..and one of the things we have been challenged is to start a curriculum for prek children …Daniel had the chance for 2 months to hear God’s word ..we just wished it was more appropriate to his age . .. therefore we are committed to help Romanian kids form age of 2 to 5 to learn about God and right now there is no material available in Romania..

3. Ministry: though things were hard …opportunities were provided to share the Good news with kids in our area after camps ended as it follows:

* 3 days of outreach at the camp property with gypsies kids coming from the gypsy camp not far away from us . There were from 40-60 kids attending each day. They learn Christian songs, heard each day a bible lesson ..and had plenty of fun.

* tent reach out –in the last weeks the tenet from Bucharest was again in our area and Vio could help with kids ministry in Rucar and Dragoslavele .In both places were about 130 kids and they responded extremely well at the Gospel and all activities done for them…

4. Next…prayer * we are trying to prepare a curriculum that will be available for prek ministers all over Romania.Your prayers are appreciated as we can not do it in our strength and wisdom and the need in Romania for this age group is HUGE.

* training for Christmas projects .On Saturday we will start our meetings and training for Operation Christmas Child project .It is our prayer and hope that this year we will be blessed with Samaritean’s purse boxes for kids .

* first week of December we were asked to help training some young people from Dambovita county-our neighbors ,so they could work with children .It is our desire that all we share with them will bless many kids from this county .

Love

Estera & Vio

trials

Most of you heard about our latest trial with Florin..one of the kids attending the camp. ( in the picture first at the bottom on the right)He does not have a father and his mom left him and went to Spain to work.His grandfather looks after him and he allowed Florin to come in our christian camp.There are times you see kids coming with luggage ,sweets and all kids of goodies ,but as far as Florin,his possesion was a pair of sleepers in a plastic bag ..One of the days it was trip day .He was one of the most excited ,since he did not traveled before .He is about 10.I had to stay at camp with little Daniel ..Vio went ahead with the couple helpers we had ..At lunch time they set a blanket to prepare lunch for kids ..within few seconds Florin was not there ..he followed two other kids who told him they found a rabitt .These two had shoes on but perhaps due to his slippers he felt ..and hurt himself .He hit a tree and nobody knows how and where ..within seconds he was on Vio's back traying hard to breath ..He does not remember anything ..Coming back at camp we fix his head -he had a hole in it ,but did not know how bad things were .Next morning Vio called a doctor in Pitesti and suggestion was made that Florin will be take to the Hospital there -just for check .This turned to be one of the hardest days in our ministry so far .In Pitesti,he has been checked ,and the doctors turned pale ...Vio was there with Mihai -one of the helpers from FLorin's town .No money for bribes and lots of things had shaken all our faith in that day .We got an message from Vio- pray he will make it to Bucharest.Two of the doctors in Pitesti checked him did,scanned him and all they could do and the daignostic was clear -he is dieing .Vio tryied his best bribe system so that they will get an helicopter ..and lots of things happen within seconds ..
If Florin died there were couple things that would really change here
-prison for us -since it happened in our camp and a penalty
- no one will trust to have their kids at camp with us
-we will have no right to adopt little Daniel or any other kids
and so on...so we started to make phone calls asking and begging for prayers ...and it worked
After we called and asked for prayers God started to open doors
1) things in the Hosptial in PItesti changed -doctors were so polite ,and trying hard to help
2_an ambulance was sent to Bucharest with Florin and MIhai
3)doctors in Bucharest treated FLorin in a royal manner and they decided to do more cat scans and all of that..withing an hour and a half since prayer started even the scans came out different..In couple hours )which seemed to be half of eternity ,doctors decided to wait and see how Florin's situation changes - they found one of his kidneys crushed ,blood all over around his kidneys ,something wrong with the liver and so on..After two days we got news from hospital-Florin is feeling better .He is no longer in ER,no surgery taken and the blood around his organs were eliminated by urine ..we are just hoping he gets well soon,since we need to pay the hospital bill and it is not insignificant ...
Thanks for all your prayers ..and please keep praying Florin will be healed totally by the the greatest Healer .
Also next days we are trying to make steps regarding Daniel's adoption...if God does not get involved we do not really see a way out with so much birocracy ..
With thankful hearts Estera & Vio &Daniel

traininng others

And the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit you to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also … 2 Timothy 2:2

Passing unto others, enlarging the team of children workers

Since we have been accepted into God’s family ,our desire is to serve Him and the calling is to serve Him among kids ..therefore even thought it is a command ,it is not a burden to us ,what God wishes us to do.

One of the things we are asked to do is to train others how to work with kids and how to reach the Kids . This is what we have done in the last weeks ...

Two weeks ago we were asked to teach in a training course in Brasov .There were about 15 people attending ,and 12 of them “graduated” –meaning they showed enough interest to start ,finish the course and get involved among kids in Brasov area.

We had a full week with teachings and a great deal of interes from students ….of different ages .Had teens and older people .From 17 to 50.All with a great desire to do something for kids around them.

Radita -50 (first in the picture) acted like a sponge during the whole training ,ready to absorb anything. At the end of the week she confessed “ I just noticed I have so much love to offer for kids around me ,just did not know how to do it .Now I know ,and I will tell them first about God’s love ,which will never fail ,and then I will give them my love that comes from the Lord “

Continue to pray for people attending the courses we hold in different parts of Romania ,so that they will put into practice what we share with them..

Right before that went to Switzerland to an European training regarding work among preschoolers . Appreciate all your prayers ,since I ( Estera ) drove all the way there and back ,and Vio was at home running the weekly clubs and do some work in the same time …

After Brasov ,off to go to Drobeta Turnu Severin- an area that God placed so much on our hearts due to poverty there , most of all starting from spiritual poverty which it is linked to their material poverty .Spend some days down there to help the 6 workers in that area how to teach Christian kids about mission ,giving ,prayer and share . we would love to encourage you to pray for Oltenia ,for the needs there ,and of course more workers .Especially pray for the family working at Neemiah’s house (Steenbergen)….to be encouraged by the Lord and continue to do the great work started down there .

In the "brakes"of few hours went to schools ,and villages to teach the lesson on Jesus death and resurrection .

What next…we were asked to teach a course for camp leaders from all over Romania , in Sibiu next week and preparations for summer camps started …we need to come up with ideas , games ,crafts to help teach the life of Esther better …beside prayers coming from you any practical ideas will be appreciated .…and beside that need to run the “regular “ ministry in villages and orphanages.

Thanks for passing unto us so that we can pass unto others and so on…we will see together the end of the “rope” one day - many blessed kids ..

Being part of your team

Estera & Vio

The fact that we are together again it is thanks to your prayers…Vio was busy,busy ,busy doing the weekly bible clubs in the villages ,plus working with the guys from church at the christian camp, and I am back from Switzerland ..in the way back home (had to drive 3 days with stops in Sibiu and Wien ) saw some cruels car accidents .To the one close home ,I had to stop longer and cry out of joy to be God’s protected child .Thank you for all your prayers …

Now we are back to normal?????!!!(wonder what is normal like??!!)

The other day went to the village of Mesteacan to do a bible lesson and craf tin the school. Talked to the principal on the telefon and she seemed very nice and open to have us help her . Getting there we found an interesting story .

Mesteacan –it is a well sized village ,but due to lack of funds and supplies only few kids attend the school .We expected around 200 kids to be in school ,but there were 10 kids in the kindergarten and 20 in the school, grade 1^st to 4^th ,all in one classroom-sort of classroom should I say .The number of teachers in this schools goes up to 2 –the principal and another teacher that travels about 30 miles , no car ,just hoping once in a while some one will stop and give her a ride .Poverty in this Romanian village touched our hearts ,kids from 2 years and a half up to 11 years ,all together hoping to learn something .

Since our Easter is coming(this week-end) we did a lesson on Easter and Jesus’s resurrection . Then we did the craft to remind them this truth and all the way we watched the principal, teacher and kids.

To them it was all a dream.. they were dreaming glue, foam ,scissors and a picture of Jesus on the cross .They have no access to such things there ,that’s why it was everything like a dream.. kids of all ages wanted to touch the glue ,the sticks, the crosses and all the other supplies we brought .

Had to explained the kids the crafts were bought by people that love God and kids of Romania …that made things more interested to them ..just little bit to hard to comprehend love, since their parents work the land so hard ,and have no time to give hugs or to tell their kids “ I love you”

We will go there about once a week ,when we are in the area..

Just thankful for this wonderful opportunity to teach about Jesus in the schools and kindergarten , especially in Mesteacan . We encourage you to pray for us in finding ways to help principal and teacher there to give a better education to kids .

Alina ( the principal-in the picture,)turned to me with the glue and said excited “ the only things we can afford to teach the kids is adding in math and some Romanian language" . We would love to help with some materials in science ,music, drawing, and why now with one or two miraculous computers ,English and of course Bible lessons .People are needed in these areas and therefore we bring this before God’s throne and before your eyes .

Part of their final products...He is Risen foam cross

Helping kids and people to trust Him and improve their lives

Estera & Vio

Rested and ready

Since you did not hear from us ,we are sure you figured out we are in vacation. Great time spent with great friends and a fresh sense of God’s presence in our lives .Now we are just ready for the work ahead .

Vio already started to go in the villages and teach the weekly bible lessons …all kids were excited to see us again ..He was supposed to join me for a training course in Switzerland next week, but needs to be here and handle some issues .So,here it goes a very first challenge after vacation –Vio by himself going to so many places, and to do so many other things ,and me having to drive to Switzerland –driving car is the cheapest way . There were 2 ladies joining me ,one from Tatiana from CEF and Doini from another mission. We give praises to he Lord for

· choosing us to go to the training-there are so many Christians out there all over Romania, but only 3 of us will go .

· choosing you to be great friends .

· giving us strength and wisdom to carry His task

As these week is going to be an extremely busy one ,we need your prayers for

· Vio ,to know what to do and what to left undone

· Estera –as I struggle with the idea of driving through different countries to get to Switzerland , no GPS , just bunch of fear

· Wisdom for both of us in using our time and our time with Him and for Him, as many activities lay ahead – a course we need to teach in Drobeta (teaching mission to kids, learning prayer –TCE 2)

- a camp course that will be held in Sibiu with Christians from all over Romania, we hope to be useful for all of them and give them good ideas and help.

- Weekly bible activities in villages, schools and orphanages

- Preparation for the summer and it’s ministries

Week-end camps

“ But the labors are few!”

We get used with God opening doors here ,changing hearts and now we are getting ready to see Him raising up workers and see them do something for Him ! And since we are the only workers in the area (except 2 more down south the county ) ,it was quite frustrating to see so much work that has to be done and no one willing to get involved .In fact the problem was to get involved since in the very few churches in the area are no youth .

During the years of ministry God prepared the hearth of some kids that are now youth and we believe soon we will have some help in the ministry .Because the kids and teens we work with are so many and 2 of us can not cover all the villages ,schools and orphanages in the area ,we had chosen that beside regular ministry we need to do week-end camps ,to spend more time with some of the kids ,to invest more in others and develop relationship with most of them.

Therefore from the beginning of this year we already had 2 week-end camps and on 5-7 th February we will have another 3 days camp, since the kids will be in vacation then .

The first one was with youth .About half of them were ex-kids we knew years ago ,they started to attend weekly bible classes ,camps and other activities .They were encouraged to bring friends with them .It end up being a great time together .We enjoyed the snow ,Vio enjoyed playing in the snow and I sort of enjoyed cooking for 35 hungry teens.

Sliding ,skiing, making snow men and most of it sliding with plastic bags . After playing so much in the snow and since they have so much energy ,they continued playing inside the camp Of course Vio was right there challenging them ,playing with them ,while I was playing with the carrots ,onion, potatoes and other stuff in the kitchen .

Seeing teens having fun might not be so interesting ,but we were encouraged by their attitude at the Bible studies “Claim your victory “.God used those times to show us He can put the thirst for His Word in young hearts ! We give all the glory to the Lord for all attending ,Christians and non Christians .

The ones that started a relationship with Lord became part of our family in a way and now since they are disciples we spend more time with them and invest in them more .

Among these ones are Anca ,18 .She is already helping on Saturdays at 3 villages .And when the time permits she would help in the week-end camps !(yellow blouse in the picture)

Miri is 16 .She attended the week-end camp for younger teens .She made a decision to follow the Lord last year in the camp and since then she helps with whatever in her village were it is a weekly bible study and after that comes to our place once in a while to ask for more advice and support .She needs prayer as the environment she lives in discourages her so much .Can not say too much about it ,but I had to admit that if I was leaving in such a “family” I would have lost my mind .

One decision was made for the Lord in the first week of week-end camp .Roxana is 17 and all her life she thought God does not need her since she is not a beauty .We believe she is beautiful and our prayer is that her inside beauty will come out and many will see it .Continue to pray for Roxana as she is at the age of many decisions and also pray for us to have wisdom in involving the teens in all kind of programs according their gifts .

Thanks for praying and helping us God lead you in the last years ..as you can see results start to show up.This does not mean it is time to stop ,but it is time to take advantage of this and do a better ministry for the Lord ,so that others will benefit from it as well.

Looking forward for opportunities to serve Him and others

Estera & Vio