The Fence

Seveta (Sarah Legere) in 2001

Sarah Legere in 2008

I have been going to Romania since August of 2000 almost every year and have taken literally thousands of photos! One picture I took last week was more powerful to me then all of those thousands of photos over the years. Last monday I was standing in the "tennis" court at Josef's orphanage as Sarah Legere ran past me, and it hit me...the picture of the fence! I said, hey Sarah, stop right there and stand by that fence!" She looked at me like I was crazy, I said oh just humor your aunt and stand there! She cooperated and off she went to play with the girls! When I came home on Sunday morning the first thing I did was to find the picture of Sarah in 2001. Little did I know in taking that picture in 2001 of that cute orphan with the piercing eyes who she would become. Not in a million years did I think that I would have the privilege of having that little one call me aunt, being named after me and loving her sisters with all my heart! Little did I know that in 2008 Sarah would return to Romania with parents, Bill and Teresa, sister, Dee and the memory of sweet Gracie. Our last day at Josef's we had the 8 girls paint their names on wood letters for their bulletin boards that they were going to hang up in their newly remodeled rooms. When Sarah and Dee came later that morning of course they wanted to paint their names as well. I walked back over to the table after some painting had been done and teared up as I saw that one of them had painted Grace's name! The trip to Romania this year was so different then many others. For myself personally, I know I spent many moments thinking about Grace, Sarah and Dee and their first years of life in Romania. I also rejoiced in the miracle that God performed in allowing them to become Legere's thru adoption! My respect and passion for REMM was renewed and I hope to become more active in their work in years to come. Please pray for REMM (http://www.remm-ministry.org/) and the work that they are doing in Romania. If you would like to become an active participant or learn more about them, don't hesitate to ask me!

Pictures Updated!

I added more pictures this morning to our flickr account...go to

http://www.flickr.com/photos/atmospherechurch/sets/72157606573902314/

Sarah

We are home!

We made it into Boston at 9 PM last night. Got home around 1:30 AM! What a long day/night! I will post some more pictures and blogs the next few days! Thanks for your prayers! Pray for the Legere's as they are still in Romania and will be heading home in a few days! Pray for Pat and Gar as well, they will be heading home today from Boston!

Sarah

Here are a few photos from Budapest!

Last Days...HOT!!

Well we think it is about 110 today! It is HOT!! This morning was market day and then more work at Josef's. It is always so facinating to watch the business of the market! What a different world here, I like it though!
This afternoon we are packing up a few things to get ready to leave tomorrow. I can't believe the week is over. Tonight we get to take the girls out to pizza and ice cream, always a treat!
Every year we come it is always different. This year our job was clear that we had to help out in every way we could at Josef's. We were able to get shelves moved a fence built and 3 storage rooms cleaned out.
This morning we got to help the girls paint their names to be put on their own bulletin boards that we brought for their rooms! It was so fun to just stand there and watch the artists at work! They are such sweet unique girls! Played a fun game of tag as well...and Bill got a nice bloody nose! Ooops...it was an accident!
Pray for our afternoon...like I said it is HOT here!!
Sarah
WE will be heading home on Saturday, leave for Budapest on Friday. Flight gets into Boston at 9 PM!

A busy but good day! By Naomi

Isn't it amazing how the Lord uses the little things in our lives to make us so rich? Today was a day where the Lord's provisions were evident in our every action and deed. He is the Master who makes our hands to be successful and the Giver who strengthens us graciously for the task.

Today was a day that was very different for all of us, even the "old hands" like Sarah and I. Today we brought in two villages worth of kids to the orpahange to do a VBS. I have to admit, I was a little worried. I had visions of anywhere between fifty and ninety kids show up and tearing the place apart. But, the funny thing is, that didn't happen!

The kids were great! They loved the craft projects so much that we actually had to pry them away after an hour to come and play games. You don't see too many kids over the age of 4 in the States who will sit and color a picture or cut and decorate a little foam heart for hours on end. It is an important reminder of how much we take for granted in our pampered lives.

We went to the cabana this evening and had a great time of fellowship. It is still just as beautiful as ever, but it is so sad. These facilities sit empty too often because the organization no longer has the funds to keep them going.

After Cabana, we brought all the sorted bags of clothes over to the Gypsy village in Petreasa (I looked at the sign to make sure I spelled it right). It was so fun to see the families exclaiming in delight over their new treasures. We so often bring things for the kids, but it's not often that the adults get to benefit so fully from our gifts. There was one little girl who probably weighed no more than 30 pounds and she kept running back and forth, lugging great big bags of clothes for her family. The bags were almost bigger than her and she must have done it five times, at least.

Pray for Phil and Lou, the 2 volunteers who were working here these past 2 months. They left for Hungary tonight and will be spending the night in the airport before they fly out tomorrow morning. I'm sure they'll be tired and I know personally that their hearts are hurting right now after saying goodbye to the ones they love so deeply.

Pray also for for the ministry here in Romania, that Peter and Ana will be able to move into the Lord's vision for this next step in their journey with peace and grace. Pray that they will be encouraged by our work and that the Lord might reveal His new vision to them now that other doors are closing with the foster families and adoptions.

Ina

Ina in 2000

Good morning! A lot of you reading this know the story of the little girl Ina. In 2000 I went to Oradea to bring her to Josef's from an abandon baby hospital. Ina had never been taken out of crib in her 3 years of life. I have seen her over the years develop into a functioning young girl. I hadn't seen Ina for 4 years as she has been in foster care and never worked out for me to go there. I knew that I would be seeing her on Weds as the foster kids are coming to Josef's for VBS and for us to give them all the clothes we bought them. Anyway, (sorry, i haven't had my coffee yet so I am bit tired!)...Well I walked into Josef's and she was there yesterday! What a beautiful young lady. We had pictures taken and talked a bit, she knows some English. Pray for her, her foster father (who adored her) died two weeks ago. Her foster mother has her and another special needs boy from the state orphanage. She loves them very much and will continue to care for them. Ok...it is egg/omlet day here for breakfast! :) And TOAST...we bought a toaster for the kitchen today, the one they had had seen better days!
Sarah
Oh...today is VBS at Josef's for 2 villages and then we will be delivering the 200 bags of clothes to the Roma (Gypsy) villages today!

Legere Post and Pictures

Bill is ahead of the rest of us and put some pictures on their blog... go to
http://life-with-grace.blogspot.com/2008/08/few-random-observations-from-romania.html

We are working hard today!! Blisters galore...we always forget the gloves!

Sarah