We apologize for the lack of posts lately. This past Sunday we had a special memorial service for Magda Cini's mother for the Nazarene church in Tsigmandru. She was buried in the Orthodox cemetery and therefore had to have a Orthodox funeral. Roberta, the pastor, felt that we needed to have a second Nazarene memorial service that focused on the hope that we have in death and eternal life.<
Monday we all went to Targu Mures to apply for our Visas that will allow us to stay for a year. It was an interesting and exhausting experience. It took most of a work day for eight of us to make multiple stops and wait in lines. In the end the adults finished this step of the process, we now have to wait a month, but we were not prepared for the extensive requirements for the boys' visas. Needless to say- we need to get a lot more paperwork to get the boy's Visas.
Now for the great news. Today was the first day for the Mamarte (Ladybugs) Club in the Baragan area of Sighisoara. This is the first new ministry that we, meaning Karen, have started since we arrived. Up until this part we have helped out in pre-existing ministries. The leadership really felt that the church needed to reach out to the Baragon area of the city, where there is only one Orthodox church but where sixty percent of the population live. This club is the first of three that we hope to help begin. Karen, Magda Balaban, and an American student named Abby, who is here for a semester abroad started this new ministry. Karen was nervous when she left today that no children would show up. They used the existing elderly club in Baragon to hand out invitations to their grandchildren and children in their apartment buildings. There was no way to know if anyone would show up, but when she arrived there were already four children outside waiting. In the end seven children showed up and asked if the could bring there friends next week! We are so happy and pray for continued growth and success. We also pray that this will be a spring board to start other groups in Baragon. It is also very important to use to develop these ministries with strong Romanian leadership so that it can be sustained long after we leave. Maurice
Monday we all went to Targu Mures to apply for our Visas that will allow us to stay for a year. It was an interesting and exhausting experience. It took most of a work day for eight of us to make multiple stops and wait in lines. In the end the adults finished this step of the process, we now have to wait a month, but we were not prepared for the extensive requirements for the boys' visas. Needless to say- we need to get a lot more paperwork to get the boy's Visas.
Now for the great news. Today was the first day for the Mamarte (Ladybugs) Club in the Baragan area of Sighisoara. This is the first new ministry that we, meaning Karen, have started since we arrived. Up until this part we have helped out in pre-existing ministries. The leadership really felt that the church needed to reach out to the Baragon area of the city, where there is only one Orthodox church but where sixty percent of the population live. This club is the first of three that we hope to help begin. Karen, Magda Balaban, and an American student named Abby, who is here for a semester abroad started this new ministry. Karen was nervous when she left today that no children would show up. They used the existing elderly club in Baragon to hand out invitations to their grandchildren and children in their apartment buildings. There was no way to know if anyone would show up, but when she arrived there were already four children outside waiting. In the end seven children showed up and asked if the could bring there friends next week! We are so happy and pray for continued growth and success. We also pray that this will be a spring board to start other groups in Baragon. It is also very important to use to develop these ministries with strong Romanian leadership so that it can be sustained long after we leave. Maurice
A little more about Mamarute- It is a club for children 4-8 on Wednesdays from 3-4:30. We do crafts, singing, games, snack, stories, and practice english. We had such a wonderful time with the children today. We worked on the english letter "L" for "Ladybug", played Uno to work on our colors and letters, did the "Hokey Pokey", and made ladybug hats (that is the picture above). We also gave them a scripture verse in both languages about god's creatures. They took this home with them. We also read the Berenstein Bears "The Spooky Old Tree" first in romanian and then english. The older children are very eager to learn english. We are trying also to connect the children's club to the elderly club. Whether this be by making cookies or coming to help once in a while. Please be in prayer for this new group as well as for the connection to the elderly club and church. - Karen
1 comment:
Sounds wonderful -- I can just imagine being down in that area and all of the children and the fun. Keep up the work. Do not be discouraged. kathy
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