Notes From Rachel - Christmas, 2011

It's so amazing how such a small team, which stays for a short time, always manages to have such a large impact! Again, Dave, myself, and the rest of the FMN team are so excited at the opportunities, blessings, and witness that this team was able to present, be, and bring to our families in the Roma (Gypsy) village, our children, our staff, and many others.


I was so excited to see our families, who struggle to survive, receive such an abundance of assistance through the team and all that the sponsors had provided to make this winter a little less harsh for them and our children. Each family was able to receive a horse cart full of wood to burn for their small wood stoves in their huts, a large food package that will last them for quite awhile, repairs on their huts to extend and provide a lean to in order to store the wood, plus a beautiful evening together celebrating the birth of Christ and enjoying time with the team, staff, volunteers, and their children.

We work to guide our families, train them, disciple them, live life alongside of them, and love on them. To be able to watch a team work hard to raise money to meet many of our families' needs and then provide more than planned brings such joy to our team.

This year, I was excited to see the team share gifts for our staff children as well. Our staff is so amazing, loving, hard-working, incredible Romanians, and we always want to bless them and their families...encouraging them in all they do for our Roma children and families (ignoring the prejudice and hatred that society has created between these two people groups).

A huge thank you to all of you who were involved on the States-side as well! I know that none of this would have been possible without your generous partnerships with us and the team. Thank you to First Baptist in Jeffersonville, and Northside Christian in New Albany!

You all have made this an unforgettable Christmas for many children and families in Romania who are not used to being shown love and compassion from others. While society may toss them aside...you all cherished them with Christ's love this Christmas.

Have a very blessed Christmas!

Many thanks,

Rachel

Last Night in Tinca

Oh there are so much that we want to share but our time is running out, and fast.  Today was a busy day in the village and then time spent at the Isaiah Center rearranging rooms/furniture.  It's late and we're all packing, cooking a late dinner, and spending our last night with Rachel, Dave and Iza.

Tomorrow morning is church, then we'll meet Paul to take us to Budapest.  We'll spend the night since our plane leaves at 6:20 a.m. on Monday morning.  We tentatively will arrive around 7 or 7:30 Monday night.

Once we get home, we will load a ton of pictures, some video and share our experiences for the last two days, and also share some afterthoughts.

Thanks for your prayers, for your support, and thanks be to God for Forget Me Not Ministries and for being able to be here this week to celebrate Christmas in Romania.

Love, Kim, Missy, Alan, Paula & Lois
Rachel, Iza and Dave
Michelle & Urb
Samuel and Abel

Christmas Parties All A Huge Blessing, For Families & For Us!

Today we finished the last of the Christmas parties, and they were all so much fun!  The families are so grateful, and had a blast!  We're taking some time out to hang out tonight, planning to watch a Christmas movie and chill.  The Christmas tree is up at the lodge and it definitely feels like Christmas!  There was even snow in Oradea this morning!

Tomorrow, we'll be delivering food to the families in the village and will take lots of pictures.  Then we'll go back to the center to rearrange furniture/rooms to make more functional for the needs at the Isaiah Center.  We'll update the blog at that time, and will have tons of pictures from the last couple of days, and hopefully some video, along with some updates from our time in Romania.  Thanks for all who are part of our team, and for those who have prayed for us and those who have been blessed this week.

Love, Kim, Missy, Alan, Paula, Lois, Abel & Samuel
Rachel, Dave & Iza
Michelle and Urb

Fun Times In Romania on Wednesday

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