Canadian Tenderfoot

This past week and a half, we had the opportunity to serve along side a Canadian tenderfoot team. We enjoyed getting to know them, serving with them, and telling some of our story and H2H's story. We did a variety of different activities. One morning we went out to the Girls Transition House to prepare the garden. We also served at the baby hospital, helped at the orphanage and had a special girls day for the graduates. The many hands were much appreciated, they help hold the babies, play with the kids, and help us spread the love of Christ.

Corni and Mark getting pulled around by the rototiller

Debbie giving Mila a summer doggie-do

Janie officiating the arm- wrestling match

Coloring in the heroes class

Music Class

Beam walking

Old friends being reunited (Andrea and I met in 2007)

Ulica goofing off at the Botanical Garden

Eating ice cream, part of the art class's reward

Short term teams are an important part of our ministry, and a great way to see and be a part of the many aspects of H2H. Come be a part of our life changing ministry, impacting the kids and our own hearts for eternity!

Winter 2010

This past week was very full. We went to the orphanage on Monday and Saturday, and had language lessons on Wednesday and Friday. The big holiday team left on Wednesday, now there is a smaller (7 people) team until Sunday. We are beginning to adjust back to our "normal" life of class and studying, and working with the team when our schedule allows.

A wintery view of the orphanage

The team playing games with the kids

Marius is always playing with any sort of gadget he can find (yes, he, don't be fooled by the vest ;)

Rob and Bogdan

Here are some things you can pray with us in 2010

-That the doors would remain open to work in the orphanages and baby hospital. One orphanage director in particular has been making our work difficult. And the baby hospital may be closed again due to the babies having colds.

-Health of the staff, team members, and the kids we work with

-Support raising, for long term staff and for those coming on short term trips (We personally have been doing very well, Thank-you God!)

-For wisdom and direction of how we can best work with the kids

-For 2010 to be a year when Christ our Savior is revealed to our kids, and that they would come to personally know him

-Language learning, it is a long process even after you complete the 6 months of class

Holiday Team Fun

For the past week and a half we have been enjoying working with our first full size team since we've been on staff. We've been off from language and we have spent all of our time with the team which has been a great time. Right away last week the team split in two and we went with the smaller part of the team out of Bucharest to one of the orphanages there. It was a jam packed time, we went to apartments of the orphans there and had Christmas parties at each of them. At the parties we gave Christmas presents, played games, and read a Christmas story. The children were so excited and had a ton of fun!

Our team with the kids from one apartment.

We played a game where the kids had to open a present that was wrapped in lots of layers, and they had to wear oven mits. At this apartment the phone rang and it was for us! Some of the kids we were close to at camp had heard that we were coming but they were with relatives for the holidays so they called to talk to us. It was a nice surprise! The best part was that we could understand most of what they said to us, they said they missed us so hopefully we will be able to see them again soon.

The kids had a ball with the balloon stuffing game!

At the first apartment Mihaela immediately attached to us. Rebecca told her that we were married and she said that she already knew, and we hadn't even met her before! Apparently she and a sister were just dropped off a week before with only their birth certificates and a phone number. She was so affectionate and it was wonderful to hold her tight.

We got to meet again many kids that we knew from summer camp and many of the older ones remembered us. Lili on the left even remembered beating Mark at card games at camp.

We finally got to see Elena again and talk with her in person! We met her at camp and she had one of the biggest impacts on us because of the wonderful relationship we built. We have kept in touch with her through letters until now and we were really looking forward to seeing eachother. She is so kind and soft hearted and caring and we love her so much.

Halfway through the week the teams reunited and we went to the orphanages around Bucharest to play and hand out more gifts. We had fun coloring with Ana are glad to see her making progress since she came to the orphanage. When she came to the orphanage she barely spoke or smiled at all and now she is quite vocal and smiles a lot. She loves to be held and to sit on laps and she is very sweet.

This is Mark's new favorite picture, we love spending time with Alina, she is always beaming and wanting to be held and talks up a storm, she has made a big place for herself in our hearts.

It was also great to have our friend Amanda on the team. We caught up and spent time with her and it was fun working with her. It was wonderful seeing someone from home in person and we thank her so much for coming to check out what we're doing and to help these kids out.

We have had a great time with this team. They have been friendly and hard working and have been a blast to hang out with. We have learned a lot from this about how we can help to serve teams when they come, as this will be one of our main responsibilities here. We look forward to more teams coming and would be especially thrilled if more people we knew came like Amanda did.

Tomorrow we start language classes again as this team is leaving. Please pray that we will be able to get back into learning and our studying rhythm. Please pray that God continues to give us the ability to learn the language as we start the second half of the lessons. Please also pray for safety in travels for the team and for some new people who are coming for a second team. Please pray that this trip has a big impact on the team and that it helps each person to draw closer to God's plan for their lives. Please also continue to pray that God works in the lives of the kids that we work with and all the others who don't have anyone helping them through life. They are what this mission is about, we long for God to change their lives and make them followers of Him. Thanks so much for your part in our mission, prayer and support are what God uses to change lives!