There was a little girl Maria, beautiful, maybe about two, happy and smiling, half dressed with dried mud all over her legs. Maria has been abandoned by her mother and now is living with another family. She is not really taken care of the way that she should be. It is so hard to understand how she could even smile but this life is all that she knows. Anyone of us would not hesitate to bring her home to love her and take care of her, but that is not possible as international adoptions are closed inRomania. It is hoped that Maria will be able to be placed in the children's center with Florica once the center is opened. There are many, many more children just like Florica, Abell and Maria who have no hope for the future without the children's center. For information about Forget Me Not Ministries and the children's center, visit http://fmnministries.org
We got to the building where we were going to have the Christmas party. We had a line of kids and parents waiting for us outside. We decorated the small building for the Christmas party and we greeted each child and each parent with a party hat and the room was full! The kids were so excited and knew that we were there to celebrate Christmas and that they would get presents! We talked to children and asked them why we celebrate Christmas. We did a drama of the birth of Jesus and it was amazing! The kids watched and listened, and they definitely got the message of why we celebrate Christmas and that we came to have a birthday party for Jesus!
We asked if we could pray with them. As we prayed, being translated inRomanian, we could hear mumbling. We didn't know if it was the kids excited about the presents to come, or if they were praying outloud. Erin took a few pictures during prayer, and we were so moved to see little children holding their fingers on their eyes to keep them closed as they prayed with us.
After the drama, we asked the parents to come forward. We shared with them how much Jesus loves them and that we love them too. People that they may never meet sent the Christmas gifts to show the love of Christ. Jesus came to save us, lived a perfect life and gives us hope for the future here on earth and eternally with Him. Jesus asks us to love Him with all of our hearts, our souls and our minds, and we are to live for Him. We are to go out and tell others about Jesus and what He has done in our life, and we are to bring others to know Him. There were many emotions and tears as we went on to share a gift with the parents.
Katie Wadsworth, 14, did a pencil drawing of Jesus on the Cross when she was only nine years old. We shared with the parents about Katie's print, and why she drew it, and that is because she loves Jesus. We told them that we wanted to share this gift with them to hang in their homes as a reminder that not only did Jesus come to save the world, but that God gave His only son, who died on the cross for our sins. He did this because he loves us so much. This gift would be a constant reminder of the ultimate sacrifice that Christ made for each one of us, and that we should live our lifes forHim. Katie's print is in many homes in Indiana, in many Romanian homes, and now in Christian gypsy homes. Katie, thank you for sharing your gift!
The children received jog suits, socks, hats and gloves and a toy. They were overwhelmed with excitement. We had cookies and drinks and as they left, they were handed a treat bag full of goodies. We are sure they have never been to a birthday party like this, and it was all for Jesus!
What an amazing day! God is sooooooooo good! We had the party to bless the families and children here and we are more blessed than they are to be able to celebrate with them the birth of our Lord and Savior.
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