Blessings in Romania

We are so glad to be able to get on the internet to share with you what is going on in Romania. Rachel still has no internet at her apartment, but she does have it at the center.

Yesterday, Sunday, we went to church and it was an awesome service. It was also baptism Sunday. We witnessed several who gave their life to Christ and were baptized. It was even more a blessing because two of those who were baptized were from Caminul Felix, and we have watched them grow up through the years. There were several kids from CF there and they are always so happy to see us return. It was a blessing. We went back to Rachel's apartment and had lunch, and some much needed rest. Later we sorted and wrapped all the Christmas gifts and shopped for food for families that will be given as gifts along with the presents at the parties later this week. We all had a good night's rest.

This morning we started out early, took Iza to school and headed for Tinca. We picked up Samuel first, and oh how our hearts were taken when he came running with a smile when he saw Rachel! He hopped in the van and just smiled and watched every move we made. We then picked up Simona and Calina. They too were so excited to see Rachel and were ready to come to the Isaiah Center. They were all dirty, and most with runny noses. Calina had just gotten out of the hospital because she has fevers and congestion. They were brought to the center, bathed and then it was play time! We got to love on them and play with them, and soon after the other kids, Florica, Maria and Abel would be picked up from school. You can tell by the pictures we posted that those sweet babies love it at the center and are more blessed than you can imagine. After lunch, the kids took naps and we sorted through clothes that will be given to the adults in the families we are celebrating Christmas with.

It saddens our hearts to look at these sweet kids, watch them play and laugh, eat and love us and each other, and to know that at the end of the day, they all will go home to horrible conditions. This culture is raw, and their life is hard, one of abuse, neglect and incest. They only know what they are taught, and it is our hope and prayer that through the work of FMN, these kids will be a turning point for the next generation for the life that God wants for all of His children. Rachel's heart and vision for FMN is one of faith and hope. We loved watching her doing their daily devotion and listen to them sing and do the motions to them. They sang one in Romanian and This Little Light of Mine.....I'm going to let it shine.......and shine they do when they are with Rachel and at the center.

Tim and Rodica who work at the center are great with the kids too, and help in the daily cooking and cleaning so that the main focus is on the kids. This job too helps them to provide for their own family. The Roma culture (Gypsy)is not accepted in society and they see and feel the love of Christ through each and every team that comes, confirming that God is in the middle of all of this.

We'll update again tomorrow. Thank you for your love and your prayers.

Love,

Rachel, Iza, Kim, Missy & Lois

Pictures of Our First Day At The Isaiah Center

We made it Safe and Sound

Hello Everyone,

I talked to Lois this afternoon around 2:00pm local time and they were at Rachel's. They made every connection on time and got to Romania safe and sound. It was a long haul because both Kim and Lois did not get much sleep during the flights. The reason I am updating the blog for them is because the internet is down at Rachel's and has been for a couple of days. But they wanted everyone to know they had arrived safely. Lois assured me that as soon as the internet gets up and running, they will keep us well informed. Please continue to keep all of them in your prayers.

The Blogger's husband!
Mike Wadsworth

Christmas in Romania - We're On Our Way!

We set out today scrambling around trying to make sure that we have everything ready to get on that plane this afternoon headed for Romania. We also set out today thanking God for all of our blessings, and for allowing us to walk along side Him to show others the love of Christ, and bring others to know Him.

We started out as a team of six and did several group fund raisers. Unfortunately, four of those team members cannot travel this time due to medical and/or surgical problems in their families. We pray for speedy recoveries for each and every one of them. This left only two of us, but we know that God has a plan and we are excited to be part of it! At the last minute, a third team member jumped on board.

We will be staying with, and working with Rachel Ross of Forget Me Not Ministries, at the Isaiah Center in the village of Tinca, Romania with the Roma (Gypsies). We are celebrating Christmas and have new clothes and gifts donated by many of our family and friends. We will be helping Rachel at the Isaiah Center loving on those sweet kids, and helping with different projects. We also plan to spend time with the older teens at Caminul Felix, a Christian orphanage, to do something fun and have bible study with breakout sessions to love them and encourage them.

We ask for your prayers for our health and safe travels, as well as for our families who will be here at home. We ask for your prayers for Rachel Ross in her ministry, and for the work that is being done in Romania. We pray that God will use us to bring His love, and hope, to everyone He puts in our path.

Please follow us along our journey and be part of our team as we will make entries daily with lots of pictures during our stay in Romania.

Because of Him,

Kim Chappelle, Missy Chappelle and Lois Wadsworth

Notes From Rachel Ross and Erin Nish

Talk about BEING BLESSED…..Erin and I have been AMAZED to watch the hand of God at work as He has orchestrated EVERY single detail with the opening of the children’s center. It has been a whirlwind of blessings from the time we found the house until the moment it was ready to be filled with the kids.

We cannot thank Donnie, Kim, Lois, George (Dad), and Sue Linn (Mom) enough for coming over to help us get the center off the ground and running!! We would not have been able to open without their support as well as all of you who have faithfully prayed over this ministry, supported us, and encouraged us along the way.

We are praying daily for Maria, Abel, Florica, Simona, Samuel, and Alex, and for the brighter future we know God is going to provide! We are praising the Lord for these precious munchkins that the Lord has entrusted to us, and we are asking for His guidance, love, and patience. Please join us as we lift up these little lives daily to Him and place them in His hands. For more updates feel free to check http://www.fmnministries.org/.

Thank you again for encouraging us and being a part of this journey!!

Because of Him,

Rachel and Erin

We're home!

We arrived in Louisville on Wednesday night at about 9:30. It was a very long day. God blessed each one of us with two seats each on the long flight home so we were able to stretch out and get some much needed rest. The First Baptist Team from the November trip along with our families and some friends were at the airport waiting for us when we arrived. What a great way to come home!

Sue Linn talked to Rachel late last night. The second day at the center went very well. The kids were all more adjusted and even took a nap all at the same time. It was probably the first time they had ever had a bed all to themselves as in the gypsy community, they may have eight to ten people sharing two beds.

We are so thankful, and privileged, that we were able to be in Romania for the opening of the center. It is a day that we will never forget.

Please don't miss any of the entries on the blog. We were so excited on opening day, January 15th, that we posted four separate entries, one with lots of pictures, one telling about the exciting day, one with three short videos and one about sponsorship needs.

Thank you for all of the prayers, comments on the blog, and for all those who donated items needed for the center. We can't wait to see what God has in store next!

Child Sponsorship Needed!

Forget Me Not Ministries consists of many people. Rachel and Erin are on the field in Romania and many others in the US and Canada are part of the ministry. As Rachel has said many times, she could not do what she is doing without the help of others. It is a team effort. This includes mission teams coming to Romania to do special projects and those who support the ministry financially. There are also those who faithfully cover the ministry in prayer and God has answered many of those prayers this week!

Six kids were blessed today, and will continue to be blessed, through the efforts of FMN and the children's center. Please prayerfully consider sponsoring one of these kids. We can give up something as little as a coke a day, or a trip through the drive through, and instead make a difference in the life of one of these precious children. Sponsorship is $30/month. That is less than it costs an average family to go out to eat one time. More children will be able to be in the center as more sponsors are received.

The ministry is also in need of general support that can be directed to whatever is necessary and can be a one time financial gift or monthly support. We can tell you first hand, that every dollar that is given to FMN is used for the children.

If you would like to become a sponsor or make a monetary donation, mail to the address below. You may write "donation" in the memo line of your check, or send a note stating that you would like to sponsor a child. We have included the six children's pictures on this entry of the blog.

Forget Me Not Ministries
PO Box 142
Sellersburg, IN 47172
www.fmnministries.org
www.myspace.com/fmnministries

God is using FMN in a mighty way and you will be blessed by supporting the ministry. We can tell you this first hand, as our lives will never be the same.

Samuel

Simona

Alex

Abel

Florica

Maria