Ministry Time...

This week we were able to be involved in almost all of Heart 2 Heart's areas of ministry.  Monday we went to the orphanage to help with the programs there.  Not all of the kids had returned from spring break though so we mainly played games with those that were there.  We spent Monday night at the girls transition house and then worked with them in the yard on Tuesday morning.  That afternoon we went back to the orphanage and helped with the music class.  The rest of the week we went to the baby hospitals to love the babies there.  We were able to help at the old hospital again which was nice even though there are only a handful of kids there.  Saturday was the civil ceremony of marriage for two of the transition house graduates in Rosiori, so most of the staff went there to share in this special time.  The wedding will be in a few weeks but in Romania people need to have the civil ceremony in the town that they are from for their marriage to be official.  

Walking from the maxi-taxi stop to the metro station we had a chance to see some more sights.  This is Arcul de Triumf, a war monument similar to the one in France but not quite as big.  We drive past it on the way to church from the team house but this was one of the first times we were near it on foot.

There are lots of flowers going in all over town.  We enjoy seeing them as they give nice contrast to the tons and tons of concrete that make up the block buildings all around us.  We really enjoy seeing the tulips, we will miss seeing them in Holland this year.   

At the orphanage we let some of the kids try on our glasses, they always want to so we finally gave in.

We are getting to know the babies really well since we've been able to be there so often lately.  This is my girl, since she doesn't have a name and she's so cute we call her Princessa or Pebbles.  She has the biggest smile...

... which I finally caught on camera!  If only adoption were open here!

Rebecca is holding Ryan and Daniella, whom we named after our Canadian interns.

This is Bam Bam, we call him that because he flails around in his crib a lot and is very strong for his age.

This is Ramona...

... and her twin sister Ana-Maria.  They were at the hospital when we started and have stayed in our room the whole time.  

This is Kirsteen, a fellow missionary, with a boy from the other room.  You can see that we really enjoy the baby hospital ministry, what a blessing it is to help these kids in their early development, this time period will have lasting impact on their entire lives.

At the end of the week Rebecca came down with a cold and is still fighting the sore throat and congestion.  Please pray that this goes away quickly.  Please also pray for the planning of summer and fall ministry.  Summer is a busy time with camps and orphanage programs and in the fall we will have a specific ministry focus.