Something New & Exciting...

As many of you know who have visited Targu Mures before, there are not many fun and exciting things to do. This year, we have discovered that TM has their very own basketball team, and we have had a blast taking different teenagers from the Foundation and from State care to see the games. The team is actually very good, and each week the whole stadium is packed with fans.




The kids have really enjoyed having something new to do! The team is made up of American and Romanian players. After the games the kids have even had the opportunity to take pictures with some of the American players! We have had a great time supporting the TM basketball team this season!

Casa Daniel...

Daniel is such a nice boy and he worked hard to make the big step to level 3. In this level, he is given more freedom to make choices and interact with other children and adults. He is doing alright with the school, he tries hard to learn but we still have attention problems. We are working on it. He is doing a lot of things with pleasure, things that he hated at first like cleaning, crafts, cutting after the model.


In January he celebrated his birthday with his brothers Madalin and Sergiu it was one of his best days. This was when we clearly saw the difference between the Daniel we have known and the Daniel in the present.



We have been very pleased that other children and staff from our Foundation are surprised by Daniel's changes. He has a very positive attitude about himself and the world. Level 3 is the last but it is the most important one. At this point we will see how he will handle the new social and emotional skills.

Birthdays

We have the joy of celebrating the birthdays of all our kids throughout the year. It has been fun to watch the transition over the past few years from them not knowing their birthdays or even thinking them a special day... to now knowing when they are coming and approaching them with excitement. They know that people will gather around them to celebrate their life and their special day!




We are so thankful to have the joy of being not only a part of their special day, but of their lives and their family! Thank you for your prayers for our kids!

Our Wonderful Staff...

We have seen so many changes in the children in our care over the past 3 years. God has done an amazing work in many of their lives to heal their hurts and teach them to trust. He has brought them into a family and many of our children are acting as brothers and sisters. What God has done has been through the love, care and hard work of the house mothers, counselors, educators, and many others who invest in these children daily.



You may not know many of their names, but these wonderful Romanians spend day and night training, teaching and loving these children. God is using them daily in the lives of our children and we are blessed to have each of them.




Just one little example of how God uses the staff in the kids lives... This is Mama Gabi from Casa Ana and Simona who lives there. She is the oldest at Casa Ana and has not bonded easily with anyone. Mama Gabi has been making an effort to build a friendship with Simona. She calls her each night even when she is not working to see how her day was and when she is at the house, she is one of the few that Simona trusts to talk about boys or to come outside and hang out with the older girls while they talk. Gabi is just one of many who go the extra mile each day to find ways to reach our hurting children and teens.

Please continue to pray that God will provide what we need to raise the salaries of these dedicated employees who have invested in and created relationships with our children. As the economy of Romania grows and strengthens we must meet the needs not only of our children but of our very valuable staff. Thank you for your prayers and your investment in this ministry.

A Big Thank You to Spinware Solutions of Holland

Today was a fantastic day for all 37 children in the care of Livada. Rudolf Philipse of Spinware Solutions in Holland arrived for the second year in a row to purchase shoes for all of the children and teens in our care. It was such a blessing to have this gift come just as winter is leaving Romania and spring is on its way.


There is a store in town called "Leonardo" that was willing to close for two hours just for us to come shopping. The children were able to pick out two pairs of shoes for the spring and enjoyed being able to pick them out themselves.


It was almost like Christmas when all the shoes were delivered later in the afternoon. All the children were together and were able to say thank you for the shoes. We are so thankful for all those who give and share with us and with the children that we care for daily.



A BIG thank you to Spinware Solutions for our spring shoes!

The Baby Ministry

Currently there are four infants & six preschoolers at the Hospital in Ludus that have been abandoned there. Several have been there for a year or more, while others have only been there a few months.



Several of the toddlers have begun to walk. Even Larisa, who has brain damage and has had trouble focusing or using her hands has begun to sit up and is not holding her hands in front of her face all the time. She is using the walker and making progress.

There are two babies that have come recently to the baby hospital. One was abandoned at two months old and the other was left by a mother who was only 14 years old herself. These two are very different in that one didn't like to be held and seemed frightened when she was picked up. She is now allowing Rodica and a few others to hold her. The other wants to be held all the time and cries when she is put down.



Please continue to pray for these precious ones. Pray that they will be kept safe and healthy. Pray for their development. Pray that they will feel loved.