Romania April 2009
Our first trip was a real joy to prepare for, it was the first time we did not have to rush to get ready, having Easter just before we left gave us a lot of encouragement, being able to join in the March of Witness on Good Friday then celebrating the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
We left Biggleswade at 3:30 Tuesday afternoon to stay with Mike and Nora again but we did not arrive there until 7:30 due to the M20 being closed because of the French fishermen blockading the ports. After eating the lovely meal Nora had prepared for us David and Mike had a chat about the situation and decided that the best thing for us to do was to forfeit our ferry costs and book the Channel Tunnel. I was definitely not happy about that, I just do not like tunnels especially under water ones! As it turned out it was ok. We Praise God we went then because we understood that the tunnel was going to be blockaded on the Wednesday. Again we were blessed as we got on an earlier train than we had booked and were in France 2 hours earlier than we would have been using the ferry so that gave us the opportunity to drive further the first day making Thursday less of a rush.
The weather forecast was for rain all the way to Romania but we had the most beautiful weather up in the 20c’s all the way.
We stopped as usual at Tesco in Hungary for fresh fruit and vegetables then made good time to Romania only to loose an hour when we were almost in Arad due to trains. We have to cross 3 level crossings and it does not matter which way you go you have to cross them. We managed to get there as several trains were coming through and the crossings are so badly maintained that the trucks really do have to take it slowly so we had to just sit and wait. We finally got to Siria at 7pm unloaded the car sorted ourselves out then had a large bowl of ‘Big Soup’ (instead of going out for a meal as we were tired) we had not tried them before they made a good meal for us.
It was quite an eye opener for me on the Friday when we went into Arad, it was Good Friday and just as in the UK all the shops were open as usual……
We shopped for the few things we needed that we could not get in Tesco because we could not understand what was written there. This trip we took most of our food with us. We had been told that prices had risen so much this year and that the exchange rate was bad, in both cases it was not that much different but it did mean we did not have to spend time shopping.
Just as well really as there was no time once we had picked Mark up from Timisoara on Sunday lunch time.
Before we left UK at our Church Prayer meeting we were told that something special was going to happen on this trip, the first was as we were waiting at the airport for Mark, a young man asked if he could pray for me and as he prayed he cried, I do not know what he prayed (he prayed in Romanian) but God knows and I am in His hands.
We went straight to Petrosani where we stayed for two nights. On Monday we were at Aninoasa by 8:30 for breakfast then started screening at 9 o’clock. Aninoasa is the poverty stricken area we found on our last trip last year. During the winter months a group of young people from Aininoasa had been going down to Petrosani for training so when we were there it was really to give them more skills so as to be more effective, it was just so encouraging. We were told we would be screening at the ‘new Church’……the upstairs is almost ready but that is all. You have to walk up this steep mound to get to the door to get in, thankfully it was a dry day. The toilets are ‘a long drop’ and I thought ‘a new Church great’ how wrong I was again. One young lady took me to her parents apartment which I really appreciated the only problem was it took me ages to get there as her parents apartment was on the 3rd floor all those stairs to climb, stairs and I do not go well together. That aside it was a very encouraging time.
The next morning we said we would have a session at the Joshua centre but they had arranged for the people to come at 11o’clock and we started at 9o’clock. We packed up at 12 and left them to get on with it as they are now very proficient at doing it themselves. It is such a good feeling when you are not needed anymore and can move on, because they have really got the understanding of what they are doing and just get on with it. Praise the Lord.
We stopped and had a meal on the way home then dropped Michelle (from Humanity at Heart) off at Kenneth and Kate’s where she was spending a couple of days looking at their work with the street kids. We then came back to Siria where Mark had a chance to get unpacked.
Wednesday was designated a day off but it turned out busy again.
Thursday we went to Kenneth & Kate’s screening the street kids oh my! It was a good day though.
Friday we were at the old peoples’ home in Arad. We were so pleased to go there this time, we had been there years ago before we started this work, it was not really a very nice place to be but the change now is just wonderful. The staff are just so caring, the place has been cleaned up and pleasantly decorated and the gardens have improved too. While we were there we met a lady from City Hall who we had worked with years ago, she was really happy that we had been to help the old folk
and invited us to join her on Monday evening for a meal.
Saturday was another early start in Cuvin, we always enjoy working with this
Church but imagine our surprise when they told us they had been busyall
winter screening people in their homes. Apparently Laura had been e-mailing
me but the e-mails never reached me. They had seen many people in their own
homes just what we had hoped would eventually happen, they have really
understood all that we had encouraged them to do, they see the value and are
making opportunities to meet people at their point of need.
This photograph shows one of the reasons why we do what we do, a lovely old
lady was wearing them and they were no where near her prescription. Someone
had given them to her, thankfully we were able to help her with the right prescription glasses.
When we arrived back in Siria David and Mark worked on getting all the glasses that needed making up for Cuvin ready before going off to bed early.
We had to be up at 3am Sunday morning to get Mark back to the airport for the early flight home. We went back to bed when we got back to Siria. Sunday was a very strange day then.
Monday we were getting ready to go to the home for the youngsters with AIDS, I was 2/3rds way through doing my hair when the electricity went off, again, so I then had to go out with part set hair and part frizzy. Whoops!
We picked Kate up and spent the day with these young people it was wonderful. The last time we were there it was a little daunting but as with the old folks home the difference here was just really encouraging. The staff are wonderful and there is real affection between the staff and the young people. It was such a pleasure to be there again.
This was the evening we were to go out with Etelca but both David and I were feeling very tired so decided we just could not manage going out for a meal. Kate said she would let Etelca know but before she could ring her Etelca rang Kate to say that she could not make that evening and rearranged for Tuesday evening instead. That was a good move because although we had another busy day at Kenneth and Kate’s we really enjoyed having the evening out and meeting an old friend Ann who we had lost contact with. We went home tired but very happy that evening.
Wednesday was the first time I had to do any washing and cleaning we could not believe how busy we had been, we had planned days off but this time it just did not happen. We did manage to get to see Ovi in his new home and have a meal with him, Nicol and their children.
After returning home we had a quiet late afternoon, the weather had been wonderful since we arrived so being able to sit out until 8 in the evening was really good.
Thursday we were invited to the early May Day Celebrations at the old peoples’ home. A Romanian band that regularly appears on Romanian TV & radio gave a concert free of charge for the residence, did they enjoy it. One little lady was so excited she started waving her arms around in time to the music and shared the orange juice she had in her hand with everyone around her. Again the weather was really hot, we were all trying to sit in the shade of the trees and were covered in BBQ smoke!!!!
It was back to Kenneth’s then for more screening it was supposed to be for children from a couple of children’s homes, only a few turned up but we were really busy, then we heard that one of the street boys was standing out side the Centre and was asking people going by if they wanted their eyes testing free and of course most came in!!!!
We were so tired that evening I did not feel like getting food ready so we went to see our friends at Hotel Olimp and had fast food chicken and chips there.
Friday and we decided we would leave next day so that we could get home and see our Mark before he left for 6 months in Romania doing charity work. So it was another busy day cleaning up preparing for Cyril coming out with us in June and getting the packing done and preparing for a BBQ that evening.
Our first BBQ it was good. All too soon it was time to say goodbye but it is only 6 weeks to when we will be back.
The journey home as good as the journey out, very little traffic. There really are less trucks on the road, the only exception is the car transporters, the financial situation really is affecting the movement of goods.
We arrived back here on Sunday night, Mark came to see us on Monday leaving a case of clothes for us to take out in June, he left on Thursday and as I finished this article we hear he has just arrived in Romania.
Thank you again for your prayer support as I always say we cannot do it without your prayers, may God bless you as He does us.
Beryl & David.
Saturday was another early start in Cuvin, we always enjoy working with this
Church but imagine our surprise when they told us they had been busyall
winter screening people in their homes. Apparently Laura had been e-mailing
me but the e-mails never reached me. They had seen many people in their own
homes just what we had hoped would eventually happen, they have really
understood all that we had encouraged them to do, they see the value and are
making opportunities to meet people at their point of need.
This photograph shows one of the reasons why we do what we do, a lovely old
lady was wearing them and they were no where near her prescription. Someone
had given them to her, thankfully we were able to help her with the right prescription glasses.
When we arrived back in Siria David and Mark worked on getting all the glasses that needed making up for Cuvin ready before going off to bed early.
We had to be up at 3am Sunday morning to get Mark back to the airport for the early flight home. We went back to bed when we got back to Siria. Sunday was a very strange day then.
Monday we were getting ready to go to the home for the youngsters with AIDS, I was 2/3rds way through doing my hair when the electricity went off, again, so I then had to go out with part set hair and part frizzy. Whoops!
We picked Kate up and spent the day with these young people it was wonderful. The last time we were there it was a little daunting but as with the old folks home the difference here was just really encouraging. The staff are wonderful and there is real affection between the staff and the young people. It was such a pleasure to be there again.
This was the evening we were to go out with Etelca but both David and I were feeling very tired so decided we just could not manage going out for a meal. Kate said she would let Etelca know but before she could ring her Etelca rang Kate to say that she could not make that evening and rearranged for Tuesday evening instead. That was a good move because although we had another busy day at Kenneth and Kate’s we really enjoyed having the evening out and meeting an old friend Ann who we had lost contact with. We went home tired but very happy that evening.
Wednesday was the first time I had to do any washing and cleaning we could not believe how busy we had been, we had planned days off but this time it just did not happen. We did manage to get to see Ovi in his new home and have a meal with him, Nicol and their children.
After returning home we had a quiet late afternoon, the weather had been wonderful since we arrived so being able to sit out until 8 in the evening was really good.
Thursday we were invited to the early May Day Celebrations at the old peoples’ home. A Romanian band that regularly appears on Romanian TV & radio gave a concert free of charge for the residence, did they enjoy it. One little lady was so excited she started waving her arms around in time to the music and shared the orange juice she had in her hand with everyone around her. Again the weather was really hot, we were all trying to sit in the shade of the trees and were covered in BBQ smoke!!!!
It was back to Kenneth’s then for more screening it was supposed to be for children from a couple of children’s homes, only a few turned up but we were really busy, then we heard that one of the street boys was standing out side the Centre and was asking people going by if they wanted their eyes testing free and of course most came in!!!!
We were so tired that evening I did not feel like getting food ready so we went to see our friends at Hotel Olimp and had fast food chicken and chips there.
Friday and we decided we would leave next day so that we could get home and see our Mark before he left for 6 months in Romania doing charity work. So it was another busy day cleaning up preparing for Cyril coming out with us in June and getting the packing done and preparing for a BBQ that evening.
Our first BBQ it was good. All too soon it was time to say goodbye but it is only 6 weeks to when we will be back.
The journey home as good as the journey out, very little traffic. There really are less trucks on the road, the only exception is the car transporters, the financial situation really is affecting the movement of goods.
We arrived back here on Sunday night, Mark came to see us on Monday leaving a case of clothes for us to take out in June, he left on Thursday and as I finished this article we hear he has just arrived in Romania.
Thank you again for your prayer support as I always say we cannot do it without your prayers, may God bless you as He does us.
Beryl & David.
