More Than A Full Day of Fun!

We had a late night last night but were up and running this morning.  We went to the village to pick up the Seeds of Hope kids.  We had so much fun and can't believe how all of these babies have grown!  They were bathed, then fed, and then in for a puppet show and lesson.  Christy and Zoe did an amazing job writing the "script" and Grampy (Mike) and Zoe did a great job doing the puppets.  The kids LOVED it!  We're pretty sure they had never seen puppets before.  They learned a new worship song lead by Christy and Zoe.  So much fun!  Then they got to make bracelets with the help of a lot of adults!  They were so cute and so anxious to get them done to wear them!

After lunch it was time for the Seeds of Hope kids to go home, and time to pick up the older kids from school.  They were all excited to see us and we were excited to see them.  They had their lunch and then it was time for their puppet show and lesson.  The lesson was perfect for the older kids as it related to not fitting in or being judged by looking different by color.  Lola the Llama (Zoe) didn't feel like she fit in anywhere.  She didn't feel like she could do anything.  Sara (Mike) encouraged Lola that God made her just the way that she was and loved her.  She is perfect and created Jesus perfect.  Watching the kids interact as they could relate, we can only pray that they got the point.  They too are Jesus perfect.  It was awesome!

They learned a new worship song and really did a great job picking up the motions and the words.  Then off to their craft and made knot bracelets.  It was so much fun.

Then it was time for the kids to have their afternoon tutoring and they worked really hard.  After that, it was time to play!  It was 60 today and a perfect day to be outside.  Lots of jumping in the trampoline, riding bikes, playing soccer, playing in the dirt and just hanging out being kids.  There were some old kids there too (us) and we got in on the trampoline and soccer action too.

It was time to take the kids back to the village.  They had such a great day and so did we!  We can't wait to see them again.  Tomorrow we will have the second set to the puppet, worship and games.  This is right down Christy's alley!  She's done an amazing job making all of the plans.  In the afternoon we'll be going out to the village to visit with each family and deliver food packages.  It's always so special to meet them in their homes, loving and encouraging them, and praying over and with them.  We can't wait!

So many pictures to share, but couldn't exclude many.  You can tell by the smiles that all were blessed!

FMN has made a huge impact on so many in Tinca.  We have watched the ministry grow from the start up to now, and are in awe of all that God has done through this ministry!  We are having an "unofficial meeting" tonight coming up with names and logos for some new business ventures but with lack of sleep and delirium, we're mostly laughing like crazy!

Christy, Zoe, Mike & Lois
Rachel, Iza, Dave & FMN Team

Special Time With Our Romanian Family

We had such a special time with Paul and Dana and all of their family!  We had a great dinner after arriving yesterday, sarmale (cabbage rolls), our favorite Romanian dish!  We played games and laughed, and had just a great night!  We felt right at home.  The kids have grown so much!

Zoe had a special gift waiting for her on her bed.  Dana said they wanted her to remember her first visit here and wanted it to be special.  It was!  This morning we got up and had a breakfast buffet waiting for us!  We felt like we were at an all inclusive resort!  We went to church and it was very moving.  Of course we didn't understand most of it, but could pick out certain words, and the word that came out was "transform."  That's all we needed to hear.  We all want and need to be transformed, and through Him and only through him, we can!  The worship was awesome!

After church we came back to Paul and Dana's house, we had another buffet waiting for us, but this one was one was a special meal for Mike to celebrate his birthday.  He really didn't know that until Paul brought out this beautiful birthday cake!  So sweet!  Everybody sang happy birthday first in Romanian and then in English.  Mike was really touched.  We spent the afternoon sharing and laughing.  

Paul and Dana have spent time in our home several times when they came for medical/surgical reasons and we are definitely a close "family."  God has really blessed us all!

We got out to the lodge this afternoon and are so happy to be here!  We had a delicious dinner waiting for us (is this trip all about food?) and have had such a fun night sharing with Rachel, Iza and Dave, and getting caught up on the ministry!  We are so excited about this week!  Of course we've spent a lot of time laughing and carrying on!  Iza and Zoe have had so much fun and are so excited about being together again.

Blessed and thankful to be here!

We are here!

Made it right on time today in Budapest.  Paul was there to meet us and we got to catch up on everybody and everything in the four hour drive to Romania.  We had a delicious meal waiting for us.  Zoe blended right in with the kids and we played some card games and spoons.  Fun times!  The four of us are delirious at this point and about ready to call it a night.  The seven hour time difference and very little sleep since we left yesterday has caught up with us.  A good night sleep and we will be ready to go!

We are staying with our friends, Paul and Dana, at Caminul Felix tonight and will be out in Tinca tomorrow afternoon.  So blessed to be here!

Christy, Zoe, Mike & Lois

We're on our way!

In our wildest dreams, we could never imagine being able to have this opportunity for three generations to travel to Romania together!  Zoe is beyond excited and just can't wait to get there.  We have a lot of plans once we get to Romania and can't wait to share this experience with all of you.  We can't wait to see what God has in store!

We have been abundantly blessed by so many with monetary donations, orders and orders and orders of cinnamon rolls (over 200 dozen!), bake sales, and dinners.  We could never do this without all of you!

Keep us in your prayers for travel mercies.  The next flight is the long one, but we'll be that much closer to Romania!  Pray too for our families, to keep them safe and healthy while we're gone.

We'll update the blog every day with lots of pictures and video, so watch for those updates.

Thank you again to all of those who are part of our team!

Christy, Zoe, Mike & Lois

Message from Rachel Ross, Forget Me Not Ministries Founder & Executive Director

We have been so very blessed this season with another amazing trip from the Christmas team. Christ was brought to the forefront of each and every activity, and HIS love was felt throughout Tinca.

It was a time of encouragement, both for our team serving and for our families and children. A time where the families could put down their worries and fears for awhile to hear the message of Christ, receive gifts of love, and enjoy a meal with crafts, plus a family portrait that they will treasure. 

For the Romanian team serving, we were blessed to have such huge needs met for the families as horse carts of winter wood were delivered to each of our 11 families, as well as food packages that were double the size of what we are normally able to give. The need for wood and warmth for our families is a request I have been lifting up to Christ, as this winter is predicted to be one of our coldest in 100 years. We were overjoyed to see the wood delivered to each family!

Another aspect of the Christmas team that I love is how they provide everyone with a time to gather together, love, laugh, and enjoy special fellowship. This time is so crucial, because all of our Roma families are outcasts of society and faced with an overwhelming prejudice each and everyday. They look forward to and cherish this time, knowing that they are welcomed and loved, not only by the FMN staff/volunteers, and amazing Christmas team, but most importantly by Christ...who loves them more than they could ever imagine!

Thank you Kim, Missy, Alan, Lois, and ALL of their churches, friends, and family who supported and contributed to making this Christmas celebration an impactful one. We are beyond grateful for your time and generosity!

Because of Him,  

Rachel Ross

Highlights of Christmas in Romania, 2013

So many were blessed while we were in Romania for Christmas celebrations.  Our team was probably blessed more than anyone!  While we were able to deliver the many blessings, so many of you were part of our team with your generous donations.  We had many children from our area who sacrificed to provide Christmas gifts for other children.  It doesn't get any better than that!

We were able to provide a new outfit and a small toy and/or gift for over 75 children and young adults.  Food, treats and crafts made the Christmas parties more fun.  Eleven families received two horse carts of wood for heat and for baking.  These families also received huge food packages and were overwhelmed with the large amount.  Alex's family needed a new wood stove for heat and for baking, and they will receive their new stove soon.  We also were able to leave money with Rachel/FMN to use as needed.  It's always nice to have extra cash on hand for those unforeseen needs.

Visiting and praying with each family was so moving for all involved.  These families struggle to merely survive, and are so appreciative of all of the "gifts" they receive to help provide for their families.

Making Joy Beadz with the ladies was fun and productive.  It is a special time that the women come together to make the jewelry, have Bible study and just spend time in fellowship with other women.  Plus, through the sale of Joy Beadz, these ladies have received a salary monthly for almost a year which has helped to provide for their family.  It also gives them the sense of pride for the work that they've done.

With this being our sixth Christmas in Romania, the relationships continue to grow much closer with the children and the families.  It's hard to explain unless you've been in the village.  Many people come and go.  Some will say they'll be back but they can't or don't follow through.  Forget Me Not Ministries, their staff and short term mission teams have been a constant and faithful presence in the lives of the children and families, assisting families to care for their families, and helping to build a strong foundation with the children, in an effort to change the cycle of poverty, lack of education, abandonment and abuse.  These families are not enabled, but equipped with the opportunity to provide food for their family assisting in the Garden of Eden Project.  Men are given opportunities to cut wood, help with projects, etc., to help provide for their family.  The women are working with Joy Beadz and are able to have a salary, which is rare for women in the village.  

The Hut A Thon is in full swing, and families are receiving either an extra room or a bathroom with PLUMBING!  This is a huge blessing!  For Mariuta and Adrian's family, Adrian is able to do much of the work himself so they are able to make the money go further on the addition.  Mariuta has been paralyzed for around seven years.  She had her last son, David, and three to four months later lost use of her lower body.  Because Roma are considered outcasts and do not receive medical care, and if they do, it's very minimal.  If this happened here in the states, more than likely it could have been an infection that could have been treated with high doses of antibiotics and could have been treated.  It's so sad to say, that this was not the case for Mariuta.  They are in the process of adding an extra room on to their small hut, and will be a private bedroom for this amazing couple.  Adrian is also working on the bathroom addition.  The hope is that a handicap accessible tub/shower with jets for therapy will be able to be purchased and installed.  Mariuta is a sweet, sweet lady, but struggles with depression because of her inability to care for herself and care for her family.  We want to do whatever we can to help get what is needed to enhance her quality of living.  FMN has a lift and hopes to purchase a larger van, as the FMN family continues to grow, that will also have this lift installed.  This will be such a blessing and for Mariuta, because she can participate in Joy Beadz and other gatherings.  She does not come to the Isaiah Center much because it is such a huge task to get her in and out of the van.

We are so thankful for Rachel and her heart and dedication to the Roma people in Tinca.  Her team is amazing and God has brought each of them to be part of this ministry as each one brings their special gifts and talents.  Together they make up the body of Christ, building relationships and expanding the Kingdom of God.

Blessed!  Kim, Missy, Alan & Lois