Special Times

For the whole last week we had the boys from the transition program staying with so that Doru, the leader of the program, could have a little time off. We had a great time with them and they had a great time here with us. We worked a lot in the yard and on the garden to get it ready for planting soon. I also had them work on a big project for us.

In the weeks prior I had designed a fence for the garden and had them prep the materials at the transition house workshop. We have wanted a fence for a long time to keep the dogs out and to protect the plants from stray soccer balls in the summer.

We dug the holes and mounted the steel posts first, measuring as we went and filling the holes with cement. This was a hard days work which resulted in a very sunburned neck for me.

The next day we mounted the boards, which was much easier work.

Dan and Norbert from the Canadian team came to help and we finished up quickly.

We then had a ribbon cutting ceremony with the whole team, the project was a huge success! I am very happy with how the fence turned out and the boys are very proud of their work. For them seeing this kind of accomplishment means a lot.

We also went to the orphanages and played Easter games. We took the opportunity to tell the true reason for Easter.

We had a big celebration with the transition house graduates and the current boys. Aurel found the special golden egg which countless other people had come so close to. There was a cash prize for finding it so I had hidden it really well.

Here we are with the entire Canadian team and many of our staff.

Rebecca and Bekah, one of our interns.

Us with our boys and Dori, our other intern.

Lastly, when I went to take the boys home some of the Canadian team came with so they could see the villiage where the boys live. We went on a walk and naturally stopped in to see our friend Catarina (middle). She invited us in and gave us each a dyed red egg. Tradition holds that when the burial cloth of Jesus was taken from the tomb it was put in a basket that had eggs in it and the blood from the cloth turned the eggs red. Then we hit our eggs together saying Isus a inviat - Adevarat a inviat. This is an easter tradition where the person who wins collects the egg that cracked and the one with the most eggs at the end wins. It is always fun to take part in the celebrations of another culture, and the people in this village are always friendly and eager to share.

Catarina is always so welcoming and told me that I don't need to address her in the formal tense anymore because we are very good friends. She said that we are her best friends. It is so neat to be able to build this kind of relationship with the people around us. It opens up doors for ministry to a whole different group of people than the kids we normally work with. Especially in Catarina's case I think again of James 1:27, which calls true religion caring for orphans and widows. By how excited and happy she is every time we visit I can see how she longs for meaningful relationships, just like our kids. God has called us here for this very purpose.

Please continue praying for strength and wisdom especially as the summer approaches. Also please pray for health, Rebecca has a bad cold and I have had a milder one on and off for the last couple weeks. Now we think we have caught a stomach bug. Please pray for energy and against the attacks of the evil one. Thanks so much!