livada blog

Livada Blog Change...

2010-02-08T10:54:00.003+02:00

Dear Friends,

The Livada Blog can now be found at http://livadablog1.blogspot.com. The current address will no longer be updated, please see the new address for future updates. Thank you for following the ministry of Livada Orphan Care in Romania through this blog. We hope you will continue!

If you reach the blog through the Livada website, the address has already been updated for you and you will reach the new blog site automatically. Thanks.

Livada Orphan Care

Prevention of Abandonment Ministry

2010-02-02T01:12:00.004+02:00

In November of 2009 Fundatia LOC began a new ministry in the local community, the Prevention of Child Abandonment. The activities take place in Reghin, an area near Targu Mures with almost 2300 gypsies. Our objective is to improve the quality of life for the children and disadvantaged families, prevent school abandonment and prevent the child’s separation from his/her family.

Every week around 80 kids attend our social and educational programs divided in 2 groups by age: 3-8 years old and 9-14 years old. We also offer food, clothing and medical assistance for more families with difficult financial situations.

In December we organized three Christmas parties, two for the kids and one for their mothers. It was a special time enjoying lunch together, playing games, singing carols and opening gifts that brought joy to everyone’s heart.

We want to thank all who have made this ministry possible. Please pray for those who serve the Lord through this ministry and also for all the kids and their families.

Livada welcomes Vio Gaga

2010-01-28T17:34:00.003+02:00

My name is Viorel Gaga, and I was born on January 15th 1961 in Arad, Romania. At the age of nineteen, I received Jesus Christ into my life as Lord and Savior. After high school I attended University and graduated with a degree in Chemistry. It was here that I met my future wife, Daniela, who was a student at the Economics University.

During our student years in Iasi we both were part of a Bible study and prayer group. We were married in 1986 and moved to Targu Mures.

For twelve years I was in charge of the youth program at First Baptist Church in Targu Mures. In the early 90’s I met Bruce Thomas for the first time, and worked with him as a volunteer for Reach Out Ministries in Christian discipleship camps.

In 1991 our family was blessed with our only son, Filip Daniel. In the same year I started my own business, a printing company, but last year, because of the financial crisis I had to close it. In December 2009 I was asked to be the Executive Director for Fundatia LOC. My goal as a director is that the vision of the foundation will be fulfilled in the lives of all our kids and especially that they will meet Jesus Christ as only way for their future.

Please pray for Vio and all of the staff of Livada in Romania as they continue to reach out to the children in our care as well as those God places in their paths from the orphanages and community. Thank you.

Happy Birthday Daniel!

2010-01-24T19:38:00.005+02:00

On January 10, 2010 Daniel Simon celebrated his first birthday in his new foster family. Daniel has been living in foster care with the Iliesu family for almost one year. He feels better, has accommodated well, has made new friends, and even his behavior has improved.

He was also able to spend his birthday with his brothers, Sergiu and Madalin, who went to celebrate with Daniel and his family. They were so happy to be together! They ate cake, spent time talking, and took pictures together. Daniel was very thankful for the gifts that he received, but he was especially thankful that he had the opportunity to spend time with his brothers!

Thank you all so much for your continued investment and prayers in Daniel Simon. We thank God for the changes we have seen in him and that God provided a great family to help Daniel!

A Christmas Party for the Staff...

2010-01-15T22:05:00.004+02:00

After a year full of growth, change and challenges, finally at Christmas the staff of Livada had the chance to get together and celebrate the joy of Christmas together.

We had a good time together playing games and talking with one another. We are grateful to all those who continue to support us and made this possible.

Please continue to pray for the staff of Livada/Fundatia LOC in the New Year!

A Party at Church...

2010-01-13T17:28:00.003+02:00

All the kids gathered together to celebrate Christmas a few days before at our church in town. They were excited to get dressed up, and know that once they walked in the door a fun time awaited them.

They played games, did a white elephant gift exchange with each other, decorated cupcakes, and ended the afternoon with a Christmas movie, popcorn and a coke! They had never done a white elephant exchange.

Some were thrilled with their gifts, like candy bars, soccer balls, or even a little spending money...others looked at their gifts like we were crazy...like 2 double cheeseburgers, granny panties, or a funny hat. They had a great time spending the afternoon all together as they eagerly anticipated Christmas!

Sledding with Casa Ana-Nadia...

2010-01-13T00:58:00.002+02:00

More fun sledding adventures, this time with Casa Ana-Nadia.

We spent the day driving to a hillside filled with lots and lots of snow. However, it was meant for skiers only, so we had to walk about a mile to another hill...but the only place to sled was a road! All was great and the kids were having a ball until the big rig with freshly cuts logs came down the road! Everyone was safe and out of the way, but we learned to watch ahead for traffic on this mostly empty road.

We still managed to get a few runs in between the cars and trucks. Jeff & Jenny McDonnell's little boy, Jack, had a great time too as he laughed and watched the kids come down the hill and just miss each other as they crash landed!

We had a mini snowball fight right before we left. The kids had a wonderful day getting out of the ordinary rhythm of being in town, sledding, and being with their "family."

Mentor & Graduates' Christmas...

2010-01-13T00:48:00.004+02:00

It was a wonderful time once again this year, when staff, mentor teenagers and also graduates came together as a family to celebrate Christmas. It was a busy time getting ready for the holidays that culminated with the Christmas Eve party and cooking contest.

Both boys and girls did a great job, giving the jury a hard time deciding who was the winner. It was a special time together having lunch, playing different games, sharing stories, opening gifts and having fun.

Our annual “money tree” gift came with a contest, so the kids had to figure out how much money we put on the “special tree”. This year Maria was the lucky winner, taking home not only the money but the tree also.

Most of the graduate teenagers missed our wonderful Christmas party this year because they had to work on Christmas Eve, but thanks to our wonderful sponsors we shared a special dinner together as an extended family.

We want to thank all our sponsors that made this blessed time possible. Please continue to pray for all of the young adults in the Mentor Program and also for those who have graduated and are now living and working independently.

La Multi Ani!!!

2010-01-07T18:20:00.002+02:00

La multi ani (Happy New Year) from Romania! So far, every New Year’s Eve has looked a little different for the kids of Livada Orphan Care. As they grow and mature, we have tried to adapt their celebration to be something fun and exciting for them! This year we started out by having a party at one of the houses that all the kids came to. We had music and started our night out by singing, dancing and laughing together. Then, the older kids went into town with Jeff and one of our Romanian educators, Adi. They close the center of town down so no cars can drive through. There is a stage set up, and all night different musical groups from around Romania put on concerts. Right before midnight, there is a big firework show. They spent the night listening to music, walking around town, spending time with each other and school friends, and enjoying the New Year’s atmosphere!

As you can imagine, there is always some jealousy when the big kids head off for a night of excitement and the little kids have to stay behind, but this year, that was not the case. We decided to take the little kids into town for the fireworks as well, but….before we headed into town we had a CRAZY party with them at the houses! We had fun music from camp that they all know dances to, and lots of English songs that we sang to like we were rock stars☺ Then right before we got ready to go to town, we popped open some fake, kid’s champagne that they have here! When making a toast, one of the kids threw their drink on someone else…and then the party really began! We had a full on “champagne”/coke war that was so much fun! The aftermath was not so pretty! After the fun, we headed into town and enjoyed the fireworks along with the big kids.

Once all the kids got back home, we all hung out together again and had a great time. The kids stayed up all night and are still telling stories about the fun they had!

Thank you for your continued investment in Livada Orphan Care as we head into the New Year. May God bless you in the coming year as you continue to be a blessing to us!

Lots of Snow... Lots of Fun!

2010-01-07T18:12:00.001+02:00

For the past few weeks, the kids have had a break from school for winter vacation! Vacation time is always full of lots of fun and exciting activities…and this year has been no exception. Of course, the week before Christmas there was tons of snow, but the kids were still in school. The week of winter break, most of the snow in the area had melted away. However, one night we had a big snowfall, and the next day we took off with the kids and educators from Casa Rebeca to make the most of the snow and went sledding. We drove about an hour and a half from town where it was colder than it is in TM. We enjoyed the day, but we were freezing and could hardly feel our toes and fingers by the time we got home!

The next day, there was still some snow on the ground, and we were able to visit a park in town where they built a manmade sledding hill! We had a blast tubing down the “hill” and were so sad to see the day end! The kids got to go two at a time, make trains, go down on their bellies, and loved every second of it! Their laughter filled the entire park!

The festivities that winter brings have been fun and exciting, but we are ready to get back into the routine of school and normalcy! Please pray for the kids as they adjust back to normal life after a time full of fun, laughter, and lots and lots of activities!

2nd Annual Christmas Cooking Competition...

2010-01-07T17:57:00.004+02:00

On December 29 we held the 2nd Annual Christmas Cooking Competition at our group homes. The kids loved it! A few days before, they were allowed to make a dinner plan with their educators and the cook at the houses. They made a budget, ingredient list and decided what three items they would prepare.

The rules were that the children in each home had to cook everything themselves... they had to make a salad, main dish and dessert and it had to be ready to serve at 7 PM on the 29th. Each house did a fabulous job and were very excited as we all gathered together to enjoy their creations!

The kids were all proud of their meals and the adults took turns observing and tasting as judges; then it was time for all to join in and enjoy this wonderful meal together. As the adults tallied their votes, the kids put on music and danced the night away. After a very close competition, Casa Rebeca won by ONE point!

This is always a fun activity and a great learning experience for the kids in working together and building important life skills for later!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

2009-12-30T19:58:00.001+02:00

This Christmas season was especially special for all of us here at Fundatia LOC who have the privilege of working with the 300+ kids who are still under the care of the state. As most of you know, we have not had the opportunity of seeing these kids at all since our camp program this summer. Normally, we have the chance to see all of these kids on a weekly or biweekly basis, so it has been very difficult to not see them, spend time with them, know how they are doing, and continue sharing God's love with them. However, this Christmas, we were given the opportunity to do a separate party at each location all over Mures County. Praise the Lord!

Thanks to several individuals who sent money and gifts and to Samaritan's Purse who donated shoeboxes full of toys, candy, clothes, toiletries, etc, each child received their own gift at the end of all of our parties. Each party was like a reunion full of laughter, hugs, smiles, and fun. We were extremely blessed by the opportunity to spend time with each of the kids that we, and so many of you, have had the opportunity to invest in over the years.

We are so thankful for your generosity and prayers which helped make each of these parties a possibility. Please continue to pray that our Follow Up and Camp programs that we run throughout the year will be approved so that we can continue to show God's love and ours to each of the orphan children of Mures County who so desperately need love. Thanks for being a part of the biggest Christmas gift that the staff of our Follow Up ministries received this year...seeing, investing in, and loving on these precious kids!!

Merry Christmas from Romania!!!

2009-12-25T17:45:00.003+02:00

After a late night of Christmas caroling to all the moms, educators, friends and more (a Romanian Christmas Eve tradition)... there was a little rest and then it was time for the excitement that every child awaits...

We wish you a Merry Christmas from Romania! It was a joyful Christmas morning of receiving flip flops and bathing suits... an odd winter gift, but a great preview of things to come this summer as the BIG gift for this year was a trip to the beach this summer!!!

There was also a little treat for the winter too... One of the favorite winter past times for all our kids is sledding and each child received their own sled for use in the winter snow!

We are so thankful for all of our child sponsors and friends who gave this Christmas to make not only this day MERRY, but to keep the JOY alive as the kids await their trip to the Black Sea this summer! You are all a blessing to us and we pray that you have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We will be posting another "Christmas Blog" around July or August when the kids enjoy their gift again!

Help us make it a Merry Christmas!

2009-12-15T20:33:00.005+02:00

Will you help to make it a Merry Christmas this year for all of the kids in the care of Livada? No, these pictures don't look like winter fun... but, both of our group homes and all of our apartments have asked for only one thing this year for Christmas... A Family Vacation to the Beach next summer!!!

It has been four years since our last Family Vacation with our kids to the Black Sea. We took them there the first year they were with us to help build a family atmosphere and to give them happy childhood memories to look back on as they came out of their past of abandonment and life in the orphanage. Well, it was a HUGE success then and has been a repeat request each year since then.

This year when we began to talk about needs and wants for Christmas many of the kids said that they would rather only get a stocking on Christmas and make their big gift a trip back to the Sea this summer. The idea spread like wildfire and so this is our request.

If you usually send gifts for the kids at Christmas or if you usually send a monetary gift towards Christmas... This year we ask you to send it to help towards the family beach trip to be held this summer!

You can give through paypal on our website www.livada.org or you can send a check to Livada Orphan Care P.O. Box 1771 Windsor, CA 95492... just mark Christmas in the memo line! Thanks so much for helping us make this Christmas Wish Come True!

Trimming the Trees!

2009-12-12T23:55:00.004+02:00

Beginning on December 1, a holiday here in Romania celebrating their independence, we kicked off the holiday season with the trimming of the tree at Casa Ana-Nadia. Although many in the house were suffering from a virus going around, everyone managed to make it downstairs for this fun time. Ibi, Laura, Janos, Daniela, Fanel & Marga helped the whole time! From tree assembly, to lighting and tinsle, to placing the ornaments just right, they enthusiastically decorated the tree! They were so proud of the finished product and so happy that Christmas time had arrived!

The next night, December 2, we headed over to Casa Rebeca to put up their tree! Sarah, Jeff, Jenny and even baby Jack joined the kids of Casa Rebeca for a full night of assembly, lighting, trimming and carefully putting the ornaments in just the right place according to their color. Eniko headed up the placement of the ornaments, Emese helped make a star for the top of the tree and Bella helped with the lights. Many others gathered around to offer up their part in trimming the tree!

Afterward, we all gathered as a family to eat a delicious meal prepared by Mama Erzsike and lots of laughter was enjoyed throughout the meal. It was a wonderful beginning to this Christmas season!

Christmas Fun Begins...

2009-12-11T23:40:00.005+02:00

Each year the children at Casa Rebeca and Ana-Nadia enjoy preparing for Christmas all through the advent season. This year is no different. The children enjoyed the door decorating challenge this week!

They had one hour, could only talk to their roommates and were given a few supplies including 2 posters, a pair of scissors, a glue stick, a few pieces of construction paper, 8 markers, a little foil, garland and wrapping paper... and off they went!

Most hustled into their rooms, a few stumped for ideas, but by the end of the hour (really an hour and a half) they had very creative posters to hang in honor of the Christmas Holiday!

A great time was had by all and the "winning" room was chosen based on creativity, cooperation with one another and good attitude. The winners enjoyed a festive treat and all will enjoy the door decorations throughout the Christmas season.

Please pray that as the children enjoy fun activities during this holiday season that they will also take time to think about the true meaning of Christmas and accept the most precious gift of all... Jesus Christ!

The McDonnell's... Living Life in Romania

2009-11-26T06:04:00.005+02:00

As you may recall, Jeff & Jenny McDonnell joined our staff in Romania this fall. We wanted to share a little update from them in their own words...

We will soon start our 3rd month here in Romania. It has been a wonderful, crazy, clueless, joyful, getting lost and finding our way kind of month or two! To give you a snapshot of our time here...these are a few of our fondest memories of the past 8 weeks...

5 birthday parties, 3 road trips, 6 soccer games, 13 meals at McDonalds (with the kids of course), 17 language lessons, 1 trip to the zoo, 7 park visits, 14 walks into town, 33 trips to the grocery store or home depot type stores, 22 kids to our house on seperate visits, 2 slumber parties, 3 trips to a doctor, 9 post office visits, 2 baby gates built, and 1 Fall party!

We are thrilled to finally be here. Many days we look at each other and find ourselves saying "we live here!" It is still shocking. As our presence at the houses becomes more permenant and it sinks in with the kids that we aren't just here for a short visit, we feel God's clarity in why we are here even more so than before we left. We are learning how to both be stay at home parents, yet both be full time employed! We are thankful the kids have adjusted so well to living life alongside of us as a family. They have openly embraced Jack and he absolutely loves having 24 older siblings who adore him, in addition to the 17 adults who love to make him laugh and see him walk. What a blessing it is to be apart of the Livada family.

Balance and prayer are the two most common words spoken in our home...as key reminders of how to life life here in Romania. We are learning that the American way of doing things is not always right, nor does it apply here in this foreign land! As we focus on learning the city, the culture, the language, and the kids, as well as raise our own, we pray that at the end of each day we have done something that propels us forward...whether it be giving the kids extra hugs and high-fives, not getting lost:), helping out one of the other staff, and of course taking on those divine moments and be intentional with our conversations to share about God's abundant love. As we are transitioning into our positions here as Directors of Ministry and trying to find our way around, we are just blown away at God's grace and and thankful that He chose us to be a part of these children's lives. Everyday is a gift here.

We pray that all of our kids come to know who they are in Christ and that they are confident in that identity, no matter what the world and their culture tells them. We pray that they let their walls down for us quickly so that we can be effective in walking with them. We pray that we learn the language well and soon so we can communicate one on one with them. We pray that we can build strong relationships with the children, the educators, the house moms and the staff of Livada. We pray that our time with the kids is intentional and that opportunities are not missed to dig deeper. We pray that the kids will be eager to learn more about their heavenly father. We pray for Jack's health, his safety and his heart for the Lord as he grows into toddlerhood. We pray that as a family we can help shephard and guide them into what a life filled of Him looks like. We pray that through us they will see how a family operates with Him at the center and most of all how to love....Him, each other, and others.

The Apartment Girls...

2009-11-08T16:00:00.009+02:00

We asked the mentor for the girl's apartment, Gabi, for an update for the blog and her words and heart for the girls shown through so much we just wanted to share it from her point of view.

Maria has started high school this year. She likes the school she attends, however it has very high expectations and is difficult. Maria is still working hard to adjust from her grade school which did not prepare her well for the challenges of this level of study. She often comes home stressed and worried by all that she has to learn, so I stay with her to talk her through it and encourage her. Although it is difficult, Maria is working very hard and has made it a priority. She often refrains from other activities so that she can study.

Maria is really enjoying being in the apartment. She is very responsible and loves learning to cook. She has friends from school and from our homes and likes to spend time with them. I am thankful to God for Maria. She is such a precious girl who is making mature decisions. Since the time she moved in, she has been a big help and has had no major problems. My big prayer for her is that she will adapt to school, learn well and organize her time well so that she can reach her dreams.

Elis is taking a course right now to qualify her to work in stores like a supermarket. It has been a difficult time for her recently and she has come to understand that she will graduate from the mentor program next year. She felt that those in authority were basically joking with her trying to scare her into getting a job, but is now starting to see the reality of the situation. I have been all around town with her putting in applications, but up until now it has been difficult to find anything.

God is good and now Elis is working for a cleaning company at the Mures Mall. She is working with an official work card and really likes her job, her boss and her co-workers. Her boss has been kind to her and praises her for her hard work. Elis now realizes that she needs to save money for her future and is working hard to have as much saved as possible before she graduates. I am so thankful to God that He has heard my prayers and we have come to a place to see Elis working and understanding her responsibility towards her future. My prayer for Elis is that she will continue to take her job seriously and work hard and also that she will continue to learn and retain the life skills we are working on in the apartment as well. She is the only one of the girls who attends church with me right now and I pray that in God's timing she will come into a personal relationship with Him.

Simona is attending the same course as Elis, but sadly has not found a job yet. Over time she has begun to show an interest in learning to cook and enjoys making all kinds of cakes and desserts. She is keeping a recipe book of all that she is learning and is beginning to accept my help. I have been with her as well to look for a job, but it is difficult as she only wants to work in certain kinds of places, which makes it much more difficult for her to find something. Hopefully, if she hasn't found something by December when she finishes this course, her diploma will help. She has not saved any money and needs to begin to make responsible steps towards her future.

My prayer for Simona is that she would see the importance of having a job and would find a place to work. My other prayer is that she would find good friends who will accept her and with whom she can share. I have tried to be that for her, but without much success. She is learning more independent life skills which is a blessing and I hope to see her in a stable job soon. I know it is difficult, but also know with God it is possible. I want Simona to see herself achieve a goal, to be healthy and to know that my investment in her is from the heart.

We are hoping to begin a Bible Study soon and I hope they will attend and receive the truth, grace and love their Father offers. Pray that we will know how to proceed and that God will bring fruit in their lives.

Please pray for these three girls as well as their precious mentor Gabi as she lives with them and pours her life and heart out for them. Pray that God would give her wisdom, patience, encouragement, joy and time away to be refreshed when she needs it. Thank you.

Highlight... Emese Ionas

2009-10-23T00:29:00.003+03:00

When the first group of kids moved from Ludus and into Casa Rebeca five years ago, Emese was the youngest girl in the house. She was the princess of the house! Over the past year, we have had the privilege of watching Emese grow and mature from a little girl into a beautiful, young woman inside and out.

In Casa Rebeca, Emese has shown many improvements in her behavior. She has become a better listener, is more organized, and has grown to appreciate things and people much more. It has been great to watch her relationships with the other kids and staff in the house develop and deepen. Emese has also become more interested in being involved in the different programs and activities that we do within the house. One of the major issues she struggles in within the house is controlling her frustration. She is often easily provoked and says things that she shouldn’t. Please pray for Emese that she will learn to better control her frustration, anger, and the words she says.

At school, Emese has also shown great improvements in many areas. She has become much more sociable, and has begun making good friends in her class. Her two best friends from school, Raluca and Denisa, have been to visit her at home, and she has also been to visit them. When her educator went to talk to her teachers, her teachers praised her and said that she seems to have developed a greater self-esteem and courage in herself. She has begun to participate much more and is much more active in the classroom. Emese is very dedicated to succeeding in school. One of the most positive and admirable traits Emese has is that she is a very hard worker when it comes to school. What she lacks in scholastic capability, she works extra hard to compensate for because she is very motivated by grades and success. Please pray for Emese that God will reward her for her diligence in school and that He will deepen her relationships that she has developed in her class.

Before the end of the year Emese will have an operation on each of her knees. She will need a great deal of encouragement during this time and during her recovery. It will be an extremely difficult time for her as she will not only need to rebuild her strength in both of her legs, but she will also miss at least six weeks of school. She will need to keep up with her classmates so that she won’t have to repeat the whole year. Please continue to pray for Emese that her issues with her knees will be resolved with these surgeries. Pray that she will finally have relief from the pain and embarrassment she has felt for years because of her knees. Pray that God will provide people in her life to encourage her in this time, and that she will continue to be diligent in her studies so that she will not fall behind!

Thank you so much for your prayers and love for Emese. We are so proud of the young lady she has become, and we appreciate your prayers as she is entering her adolescent years. Pray that we will have wisdom in how to best encourage her and that she will realize how deeply loved she is by the staff at Casa Rebeca and most importantly by her Heavenly Father!

Adi Moves In...

2009-10-20T00:53:00.003+03:00

The boys were glad to finally officially welcome Adi to their apartment this month! It has been a long process of paperwork and approvals, but Adi has now joined the boys in their apartment and has brought with him a new level of excitement and joy!

His mentor says that Adi is full of energy and always wants to do something. He is full of questions and is always wanting to learn something new! Adi gets along great with his new "roommates" Marian and Cornel and they are all helping each other as they learn life skills and move a little closer to independence. Adi seems to be adjusting well to the move and is enjoying this new stage in life.

Please continue to pray for Adi as he is starting high school this year and also making this big transition into the apartment with the boys. Pray that he will form a close relationship with his mentor Marius and learn from him. Pray that he will use this new level of responsibility and freedom in a positive way and grow deeper in character during the coming years as well.

The Mentor Program Builds Unity...

2009-10-20T00:24:00.004+03:00

The teens in the mentor program are blessed to have Maria Baciu leading the program. They are blessed to have mentors like Gabi & Marius and are also thankful for the new addition to the program who will be investing in the teens, building into the mentors and bringing a renewed spiritual focus to the program. The mentor program's fall retreat was a good time for everyone to get to know Dan and to spend time together.

The retreat was held in a beautiful part of Romania. The teens and their leaders traveled to Harghita county where they spent their time together visiting a castle, caves, lakes, dams, gorges, and hiking all around in the nice fall weather.

As you can see, everyone enjoyed this time away right before school began for most and the task of job hunting for others. Please continue to pray for the teens in our mentor program by name. In Marius' apartment: Marian, Cornel & Adi... In Gabi's apartment: Simona, Elis & Maria. Thank you so much!

The Baby Ministry Continues...

2009-10-15T01:08:00.003+03:00

Rodica Maier spent several years investing her time and heart into building relationships and a ministry at the baby hospital. She has been a blessing in the lives of the children and the nurses at the hospital. Rodica moved to England this fall with her husband and will be missed. Alina Mutean and Sarah Meszaros now have the opportunity to continue this ministry with the babies and toddlers. We are so thankful for these two ladies stepping up to continue this meaningful and much needed ministry. Here is the first update from the new team…

Three mornings a week we spend time at the hospital giving love and helping with development and socialization.

During our first month, we focused on getting to know the kids and staff, assessing the needs of the different kids and seeing how we can help most effectively. For the first few weeks we had 5 toddlers. In the baby area there were about 5 babies, now there are 10.

Every child has a different story and reason for being at the hospital. Some families don’t have the conditions to care for their child, and others just choose not to. Some babies were abandoned there at birth or in their first few months, others were brought there because they were sick, and some kids go back and forth between the hospital and home whenever the parents decide.

Sebi is one of the toddlers, and while he is able to speak and communicate, his language is hard to understand at times. He has been at the hospital since he was 5 months old; now he is 2 ½ years old. He is so cute and everyone at the hospital loves him.

Simona is around 4 years old and has been at the hospital for a while as well. She has difficulty speaking, and it is hard to get her to focus or concentrate on anything for any amount of time. Alina has been doing a great job working with Simona to develop some language skills this month. Simona can now say “Mona”, and if she really focuses, she can say her full name.

Daria is younger than Sebi and Simona, and she is such a precious and cute little girl. When we first started going, she was starting to take her first steps. She was persistent, even when she would fall, to get up and keep trying. Daria can now walk alone without help.

This month another girl named Samuela came to the hospital. She is very cute and smart. She understands what you are saying and loves playing with the others, running and doing what the other kids are doing.

There was a little boy named Remus, about 18 months old, who had been at the hospital. He is active and able to connect and focus on you, but he lacks the strength or development to sit up on his own, and he is still eating out of a bottle. We were working with him to develop and gain strength, and using a baby walker he was able to walk. He was so happy and we loved working with him, but recently he was taken by child protective services from the hospital.

Gheorghe is also in the toddler area. While he is 2, he is unable to walk and has some other problems. However, when someone talks to him he connects and smiles and laughs. He is precious, and needs love and affection like all of the kids.

Stefan was recently moved from the baby area to the toddler rooms. He has learned to stand alone without help. Now he is exploring the room, and he loves crawling around just to discover something new.

It is so sad to know that these children are not receiving love from a parent every day. We are blessed with this amazing opportunity to love on each of them and help them with development during our mornings there. Pray that these children would be blessed and that they would experience the love of God.

More Fun Times...

2009-10-14T01:04:00.003+03:00

Last week, we were able to go on a retreat with our house, apartment, and follow up staff to a town about two hours from Targu Mures called Sibiu. During our retreat we went to two different museums and had a group lunch where we discussed the impact and importance of having positive attitudes in the workplace.

The first museum we went to was outdoors on a lake and showcased many different styles of houses from different regions and different time periods. The second museum we went to was an indoor art museum that showcased different paintings and furniture. The art museum was located right in the center of town which had a beautiful square very different to the center in the town in which we live. We had beautiful weather all day, and it was nice to spend time not only seeing different cultural beauty but also being outside together, walking through town, and spending time together.

As we have had several changes in our staff throughout this year, this retreat was a great opportunity for all of us to spend time together, getting to know each other much better. It was a day of fun and bonding, and we all really enjoyed the opportunity to have a day away from our normal routine and to have time to do something new, exciting, and fun together.

A Retreat to Remember...

2009-10-05T04:06:00.002+03:00

The time of year has once again come that we always have our staff retreats. Like last year, we planned to have two separate retreats this year- one for the Directorial and STINT staff and one for our house, apartment, and follow up staff. Throughout the year, we have had many new additions and changes to our staff, so we decided that it would be extremely valuable to spend a major part of our retreats spending time together and getting to know everyone better.

This summer, we had Sarah join our staff as one of the Coordinators for the Baby Ministry and our Follow Up ministries. This fall, we had Emil Moldovan join our staff as an Assistant to the Executive Director and Jeff, Jenny, and Jack join our staff as the Directors of Ministry in Residential Care. With all of these new additions, we realized the value of spending time becoming a unified group of leadership, and we decided to have our retreat all the way in Budapest.

We were able to spend LOTS of time together in the van, eating yummy food, and sightseeing around Budapest, learning more about each other, and learning about the laws of teamwork. It was a time of fun, relaxation, and excitement as we traveled far away to grow as a team while experiencing a country many of our staff had never had the opportunity to visit. We are so excited that God gave us the opportunity to do something special this year as we all really needed the encouragement and a break. It was great to come together, build each other up, and become a team all striving for the same goal- to see lives continue to change all for the glory of God.

We so appreciate your prayers for our leadership and staff as we still face trials and struggles with the kids and with the authorities. Please pray that God will continue to unify us and give us wisdom to make the best decisions.

Thank You Kelly...

2009-09-30T05:17:00.003+03:00

All of you who have visited Romania, sponsored children, read the blog, or shown an interest in Livada Orphan Care have had the opportunity to interact with Kelly Hornsby. Kelly has been an important part of our staff in Romania for five years, and has served in many different aspects of our ministry. Whether she was hosting teams, hanging out with kids, encouraging the staff, updating sponsors, or making decisions, Kelly was always making a difference. She has played such a vital role in Romania, and we are so blessed and thankful that she will continue to serve with Livada in the States. She plans to visit us several times a year, and we are already anxiously awaiting her first visit in November.

It is difficult to express in words our appreciation, love, and respect for Kelly and for the impact she has left on the lives of so many in Romania. She was a continual encouragement and Godly example to all of our staff and children, and her daily presence will be greatly missed. Our hearts are heavy as we say goodbye but at the same time, we are so excited for her as she has the opportunity to return home while continuing to pour into our ministry.

Please pray for Kelly as she adjusts to life back in America after five years away. Pray that God gives her rest, encouragement, and strength as she faces a huge change. Pray for those of us who remain in Romania as we have not only lost a colleague but also a very dear friend. Pray for the kids whose lives have been so deeply impacted by their relationships with Kelly that they too will be able to adjust as they feel her absence.

Thank you, Kelly, for your investment in Romania and for your impact on so many lives. We miss you, and we are counting down the days until we see you here again!

Back to School in Romania...

2009-09-17T05:23:00.006+03:00

It may seem late to many of you in America, but Monday was the first day of school in Romania. As you know it has been a summer of change with the combination of the houses, several older teens moving to mentor apartments and many teams and camps. More than any other year, the children in our homes were ready for school to start this year.

A few starting high school were anxious about the new beginning. A few were anxious to get back and see their friends. Stefan couldn't wait to start at the "sports school." All of our kids were in need of the structure and fresh start that a new school year always brings and they were ready to go on this first morning!

There were three churches in Illinois who raised money for our back to school needs through Change for Change campaigns during their church Vacation Bible Schools this summer. We were able to provide our children with back to school clothes, shoes and supplies. We also received new backpacks and many school supplies from Scotland Trinity Presbyterian Church in the area. We are so blessed to have these churches invest in the children of Livada and help us get this school year started off on the right foot!

Please pray for all of our kids and teens as they begin this new year. Pray that they will make the effort needed to succeed and that they will respect and work well with their teachers and educators from the houses. Pray that they will make good friends outside of the houses in their classes. Pray that they will continue to make progress as they settle into their new homes with the help of a structured schedule and routine. Thank you!

A Shower of Blessing...

2009-09-17T05:10:00.003+03:00

We have been blessed again by Stichting Livada, a Dutch foundation that has been helping us with many of our needs over the past year and a half. Last winter, they provided a computer lab for our children, shoes, eye exams, college tuition and a new van for Casa Rebeca.

This fall they have returned with new clothes and boots for the winter, which were once again loaded into a NEW VAN for Casa Ana-Nadia!

We have been truly blessed over and over by the generosity and love of those involved with Stichting Livada from Holland. We look forward to continuing a partnership with them.

Romania Welcomes the McDonnells!

2009-09-11T19:51:00.004+03:00

After months of waiting, we are very happy to welcome the McDonnell Family to our staff here in Romania! The McDonnell family moved to Romania this week to serve with us for two years as the Directors of Residential Ministry. They will be focusing on the spiritual development of the children in our houses and also working with those in our mentor apartments. We are thankful to have a family that is excited to model a Christian family and home to our children and to be an example to them in this role.

We are also thankful that Jenny will be responsible for sponsorship communication for our child sponsors as Kelly transitions back to America later this month. If you are a child sponsor with us, more information about this is in the mail to you this week.

As you can see the kids were very excited to see not only Jeff & Jenny, but also little Jack, their son who is joining them on this adventure. We are so thankful to have the McDonnells with us! Please pray for them as they adjust to life in Romania, work on learning the language and get to know all the staff and children better. Pray that they would have wisdom in building relationships and pouring into the lives of the children and teens in our care.

Giddy Up...

2009-09-11T19:33:00.006+03:00

If you are from Texas or somewhere out west, this may look familiar, but for most of our kids this was the first time they had spent anytime on a ranch or more than a few minutes on a horse. Our final summer adventure this year was to try something new. Little did we know that just outside of town is a beautiful ranch with horses. From the youngest to the oldest everyone tried out the horseback riding adventure!

A few of the kids were old pros as they had ridden when they were younger at home. Others were fast learners and quickly left the corral for a walk through the forest trails. There were a few that were a little nervous about being on something so big that they weren't sure they could control, but they gave it a shot. A great life lesson.

We went out to the ranch in three different groups and each had a wonderful time riding, playing games, singing and talking at the camp fire, making smores and more. It was a blessing to have this fun, relaxing time together before school begins on Monday.

They are growing up...

2009-09-01T21:32:00.004+03:00

These beautiful ladies and handsome young men are the members of our mentor program. You probably recognize them all, as they have grown up with us in our group homes over the past 4-5 years.

Those who we used to refer to as "kids" in our houses are now our very own adolescents in our two mentor apartments! They are definitely growing up. We are blessed to have Marius as the boy's mentor and Gabi working with the girls in their apartment as a mentor. Cornel & Maria joined the program this summer and we are in the process of getting approval for Adi to move in this fall.

Please pray for those who will be starting school in the coming weeks. Several are making a big transition into high school and are excited and anxious. Others are continuing in school or are finished with the schooling that they are able to do and are going to be looking for jobs this fall. Please pray that they would make the effort to look and be hard workers once they find a job. It is hard for them to adapt to the concept that work is a normal part of life and that it is a natural next step. Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support for these young people.

The NEW Casa Ana Nadia...

2009-08-28T13:15:00.002+03:00

We are enjoying wrapping up summer and getting ready for a new school year with some pictures and here is the new Casa Ana Nadia. This house now has all the children who lived in Casa Nadia as well as Daniel, Catalina and Zorro from Casa Ana.

Again, please pray for each child in Casa Ana Nadia as we continue to adjust to change and begin a new year of school in a few weeks! Thank you to all of you who continue to faithfully sponsor children in our care. If you are interested in sponsoring a child, please contact kelly@livada.org.

The NEW Casa Rebeca...

2009-08-28T12:44:00.003+03:00

In the midst of all our summer ministry... camps, day camps, teams, interns, volunteers, and more... we have also been adjusting to all the changes that have come with combining our three group homes into two. It has not always been easy. Some have struggled with getting used to a new house... others have been adjusting to living with new kids... others with the change in some of the staff... and the list goes on.

As summer is drawing to a close and the start of school is right around the corner we are beginning to see a calm come over the houses again as the children are settling into the changes. We are so thankful for all God has done in bringing us through this transition period. This week we were able to take our new house pictures and our annual pictures for our sponsors. Here are a few of the kids from Casa Rebeca. As you know, the new additions to the former Casa Rebeca are Kati & Claudia from Casa Ana.

Please continue to pray for each child at Casa Rebeca as they move into a new school year and continue to settle into the "new" Casa Rebeca. For all of you who are child sponsors with us... new pictures are coming soon!

Our Final Weeks of Summer...

2009-08-28T11:51:00.008+03:00

Although Camp Vetca was closed a few weeks early, we were so blessed by the opportunities that God opened up for our final two teams. Our team from Neighborhood Alliance Church in Florida was able to reach out to the children and teens from a gypsy village called, Apalina. This group of children participated in a Day Camp with us earlier in the summer and it was a blessing to be able to follow up with them, reinforce the Good News and build relationships. The team made the switch from Camp to Day Camp very graciously and jumped right in to invest in these children!

Our final week of the summer was also filled with Day Camp activities... Jupiter Christian School, also from Florida was here with us and was able to invest in the children from the gypsy village of Petelea. For this group we were able to bring them into Targu Mures and have the camp at a local school. It worked out great and the children enjoyed getting away and having this team build into them!

The afternoons were filled with Sports Camp with the LOC kids. This team of young people, many of them the same age or a little older than our oldest kids did a very good job of relating to them in a real way and sharing their stories... relationship with the Lord, struggles, victories, etc. with them. Our kids responded and really enjoyed this final week of summer visitors.

Please continue to pray for us as we move from summer ministry back into the day to day of working with our local authorities to care for our children as well as invest in the children in state care. We know that after this rough summer, there is some healing and new ways of working together that need to take place. Pray that we will have wisdom as we move forward this fall.

More from Day Camp...

2009-08-05T11:46:00.004+03:00

Here is a little more from the LOC kids Day Camp... ROwrestleMANIA!
Games... crafts... memory verses... crazy skits... and more made for a fun week!

There were special moments in small group time when team members were able to share their stories of what God has done in their lives and the children were able to share as well. There were also moments of crazy laughter and silliness with the messy games that included some "wrestling" events.

The Wedgewood team was a blessing to our kids and the kids were able to thank them at the end with a special party that they planned with the house staff. We pray that they will continue to learn to be thankful for all that they are given and all that God has done. Please continue to pray for our kids during this summer of transition. We are so thankful for you!

The Wrestle Mania Continues...

2009-08-01T00:05:00.006+03:00

This week we were joined by a team from Wedgewood Baptist Church in Texas. They led Day Camp with our LOC kids and had a great time! As you will see... there were games, crafts, best wrestler costume contests, even a campfire cookout.

It has been a great week and the kids have not only had fun, but have learned a lot. We are so thankful for the ongoing ministry to our kids. We pray that God will continue to change their hearts and lives.

More to come from the LOC ROwrestleMANIA day camp...

Blessed Be Your Name...

2009-07-28T22:54:00.005+03:00

It has been a rough summer of trials. It has also been a summer of incredibly flexible teams and of God working in many lives of kids and adults alike. This past week was no different. While we still were unable to take or post any pictures of the children we have had the opportunity to work with, we were moving forward.

Then we received word that Camp Vetca must close for the remainder of the summer after 3 inspectors were sent out in one day. Although we were operating as we have been for the past two and a half summers without problems... after this inspection we found out that they now view the camp under a different classification, which brings a new set of guidelines under which we were required to operate and the camp had to be closed.

We have been heartbroken and frustrated and busily reworking schedules for our remaining summer teams. This Saturday night at our weekly cookout, as the leadership and teams cried out in the midst of all of this... that even when the road is marked with suffering... Blessed Be Your Name. I was struck that this is something to share with everyone... it may not be cute pictures of kids at camp, or stories of lives changed, but it will be a testimony to God's faithfulness and Lordship in the good and the bad, the fun and the sad, the wilderness of the unknown and the days when all seems right.

Let us remember that this is the LORD's ministry and no matter what our circumstances... Blessed Be HIS Name!

Happy Happy Happy Birthday...

2009-07-17T21:30:00.007+03:00

Along with all of our teams, camps, day camps, and other exciting things that go on in the summer... we also have many of our children and teens who have been celebrating birthdays in June & July... It is always special to celebrate them and let them know just how special and loved they are. We are especially thankful for all of our child sponsors who send gifts and help make the day extra special!

Happy Birthday Marian...

Happy Birthday Daniela...

Happy Birthday Zsofia...

Happy Birthday Madalin...

Happy Birthday Ibi...

Thanks again for helping us make these days happy happy happy!

Outings with the LOC Kids...

2009-07-17T21:10:00.006+03:00

Summer is here! While we can't go on a big vacation this summer with all our kids, we are trying to do several fun outings with them nearby during the summer... Here is a look at the first few.

All of the kids were excited to have Becky Kyle, one of our former staff, back for a visit earlier this summer! We were glad that she was able to join the older kids for an outing to Brasov.

Brasov is a mountain city and has a large sign much like the "Hollywood" sign in California. We took a ride up the mountain a ways and hiked over to see the sign and look out over the city.

From salt lakes to a salt mine... Praid & Sovata made a great day trip for the younger kids.

Yes, our friends from the EV Free team from Orland, CA are all licking the wall... totally made of salt from an old mine turned tourist attraction! We enjoyed getting out of the heat and down underground for a while. It was very special to have a few folks from the team share their testimony at the underground chapel and to listen to our kids sing praise songs all together without worrying about what anyone else thought.

All of the kids were able to go together to Sibiu... a town about 2 hours away from us. We went to an outdoor museum of Romanian history and then to the zoo. It was a great day filled with fun outdoor activities... boats, walking, laughing and a little learning as well. We were glad to have our friends from SMU with us for this outing!

The kids love guests, but the bond and relationship that they have with the educators from the houses, who invest in them daily is very special and we are so thankful for them!

Please continue to pray for our kids as they adjust to changes in staff, houses, etc. this summer. Pray that they will continue to settle in and unite as one team. We so appreciate your support and prayers!

We're Back...

2009-07-17T20:59:00.002+03:00

I would like to apologize for the limited postings so far this summer. As you know, usually we are keeping you updated every few days on camps, day camps, events with our kids, etc.

Over the past few weeks we have had some issues with our local authorities pertaining to several of our programs as well as pictures. We currently do not have permission to take any pictures at camp or on visits with the children from the orphanages and state group homes. Thus, we have not been able to post pictures from camp or day camp. We have been trying to be very cautious and respectful of this request and thus have held off on any posts over the past few weeks.

I would like to share that in the midst of the hard times, camp has gone on and the kids are having a great time. Rebecca, Sarah & Michael are doing a great job leading the visiting teams, interns and Romanian summer staff as they minister to the children and teens who are coming to camp each week. Super Summer continues to be Super... pictures or not! The children are building super hero transport, learning about the super gift of power we are all offered through a relationship with the only true super hero and are enjoying all the other fun camp experiences... slip & slide... camp fire... songs and skits, etc.

We are sorry for the lack of pictures, but hope to keep you updated as much as possible going forward.

We can still share pictures of activities with our kids and so here come a few from the past few weeks...

ROwrestleMANIA...

2009-06-30T20:30:00.003+03:00

You all know about Camp Vetca and the theme of Super Summer... but did you know about RO"wrestle"MANIA??? It is the theme of our Day Camps that will take place three weeks this summer.

It has seemed quite fitting over the past 10 days or so that the theme was about "wrestling, " as we have had to wrestle in many meetings and most of all in prayer to finally be allowed to begin Day Camp this week! We have met some resistance from the local Child Protective Services as far as visits and day camps this year. In years past it has been no problem, so this year we have truly been wrestling in prayer to see the Good News go out to these children.

We are still in prayer for the coming weeks. We were finally cleared to begin day camp with the kids from Sincrai this week, but were only allowed to go in the mornings. God again was faithful and had an open door waiting, with children flooding out! The team from Allen Bible Church has been very flexible and when the door opened to spend all afternoon doing Day Camp with about 50 kids from the gypsy village of Petelea, partnering with a local church, they were all for it!

As you can see, there were many more than 50, but that didn't stop the singing, playing, and sharing of God's love creatively through a "wanna be" wrestler named Hi5! Our special guest Hi5 learned along with the kids how to "build yourself up" in the Lord... Jude 20. Take a look at this sweet surprise...

As you can see here, the Allen Bible Church Team jumped right in with the kids and led many large groups of kids in games, memory verse, small group discussion, crafts and more... having prepared for 50 and been greeted by over 200... they didn't skip a beat!

Please continue to pray for Day Camp going on this week in the mornings with the kids from the state group homes in Sincrai and for the afternoons with the kids (& adults) from Petelea. Please also pray that as we continue to work and pray, that God will open the door for day camp next week and for all of our weekend visit opportunities.

Super Hero Transport...

2009-06-29T13:45:00.003+03:00

You may know Batman's Batmobile and Wonderwoman's Invisible Jet... but you haven't seen anything until you've seen the Super Hero Transport from Super Summer 09 at Vetca!

Here are a few of the latest models under construction...

The kids had fun, but also learned about Jesus, who is our Ultimate Super Hero... A great week!

Welcome to Super Summer 09!

2009-06-23T20:09:00.010+03:00

Yes, our Super Summer is underway and it started off with a great first day at the LOC group homes! The interns and volunteers were able to spend a little time playing together and getting to know one another...

and then it was time for the fun to begin! Superman made an appearance... saving many lives and helping many people in need... "she" was so worn out at the "end of the day" that she was looking to recruit some brand new "Super Heros!" and of course our kids volunteered!

Soon, it was time for team Spiderman, Hulk, X-men & Batman to take part in a few friendly competitions... They had to take down "The Joker" with water guns...

See how fast they could put on their super hero costume and fly to the rescue...

Chase down the villain in in hiding...

And get the kryptonite away from their team... while loading the other team up with it...

Needless to say, after all this fun... the kids were fired up and ready to get on the bus to Vetca this morning! Pray for the week ahead, for the kids and leaders as it is predicted to be a rainy week, and for the Holy Spirit to work in "super" ways in the lives of our kids this week!

The Summer Interns...

2009-06-23T11:27:00.008+03:00

Livada has eleven summer interns joining our staff in Romania for the summer. They will help lead the summer camps along with Sarah Meszaros, Rebecca Rasmussen, Ovi Sand, and Alina Muntean. Behind the scenes, Kelly Hornsby will be directing and coordinating millions of details for the summer teams. Marian Ciurariu-Gliga will continue to get the camp facilities in working order and help overcome all of the many obstacles in hosting 120 people per week at our Camp Vetca. Intern Michael Hale will be the camp pastor and STINT Sarah Meszaros will be the camp administrator.

Front Row from left to right: Rebecca Rigell from Florida, Hannah Bottom from Texas, Emily Dick from Kentucky, Daniel Mathewson from Tennessee, Austin Spurlock from Georgia, Michael Hale from North Carolina.
Back Row from left to right: Caitlin Braswell from Alabama, Bruce Thomas, Leah Ronk from Iowa, Kaylea Mattern from Florida, Justin Hendrix from South Carolina, Carrie Lomac from North Carolina

There will be six short term teams joining them for seven weeks of evangelistic orphan camps. The theme for this year is "Super Summer" and walks the kids through the book of Romans as they learn about the "Ultimate Super Hero" we have in Jesus Christ. Please pray for open hearts and that the Lord would give spiritual protection to the campers and leaders as they seek to evangelize the lost and encourage the believers.

The interns helped pack over 750 lbs. of supplies to take to Romania for summer ministry!

Intern orientation was held at the "Hodge Lodge" in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Livada Board President, Bruce Hodge, hosted the intern team at his home as they went through intern orientation.

Livada board member, Bruce Hodge with intern, Daniel Mathewson

Rebecca Rigell shares her life map as the interns get to know one another better during orientation.

Through prayer, team building, cultural preparation, and job training, the interns were made ready for the adventure that awaits them in Romania. Please pray for them as they help run the summer camp for around 400 orphans this summer in Vetca, Romania.

Getting Back to Normal...

2009-06-18T17:36:00.003+03:00

It is nice to see that after a few crazy weeks of transition, things are starting to get back to normal. Kids from all the houses are hanging out together in the courtyard...

The kids are settling into their new rooms and things are getting organized...

A little bit larger family is sharing a meal around the table together...

And kids are joining back in to help out in the kitchen and making themselves "at home" in their new homes...

Thank you for your ongoing prayers for our children and staff.

A Welcome Home Party...

2009-06-18T17:30:00.002+03:00

This week after the move... we had a "Welcome Home Party" for all of our kids. It was a chance to celebrate the changes, spend time together, have a little pizza and a little fun! The kids were able to share the things they liked about the changes and some of the things they were unsure of or didn't like so much.

By the end of the evening, everyone was playing around and having fun. It was a good way to come together to celebrate a new beginning!

Renovation, Repainting & Relocating...

2009-06-17T18:03:00.003+03:00

We have had a busy few weeks at our group homes. As many of you know from our Spring e-letter... we have some older teens moving into mentor apartments and so we are consolidating our three group homes into two. In order to do this, we have added a room in each house and are in the midst of repairing and repainting the houses to make them fresh and new for the transition.

It has been a lot of work and we are so thankful to Marian and his crew for all of their hard work... there is still a little more painting that will be done next week while our kids are at camp and then we will be ready to settle in, in our "new" homes!

Even though all the work is not done, the moving went ahead according to plan this past weekend and finished up on Monday. It was a large undertaking and we are still unpacking and making ourselves at home. It is a blessing that we will be able to use the former Casa Rebeca property as our "Intern House" this summer to house all the young adults that will be serving with us all summer here in Romania! They arrive on Thursday, so we are also working to get their home ready.

Thank you for your prayers for quick and quality work as we finish up the renovation, repairs and relocation!

Manna Relief & Rebirth Visit LOC

2009-06-17T17:19:00.004+03:00

We had some special visitors this week in Targu Mures... Manna Relief & Rebirth has a team of 23 people traveling around Romania right now visiting orphanages, gypsy villages, anywhere that they may find under nourished or delayed children in need of nutritional supplements. We were blessed to have them visit us!

Our children enjoyed meeting new friends and the boys especially liked having some older boys to play a game of soccer with!

This team came spreading more than just nutritional supplements around Romania and our group homes... they came with puppets, songs, skits and a message of hope.

We were also thankful of course to receive lots and lots of wonderful, quality supplements which help with development, building the immune system and more. With the delays that our children have experienced in development due to malnutrition and neglect early in life, supplements like these are a welcomed gift and a great help to us as we continue to work towards helping all of our children develop to their full potential.

Thank you Manna Relief & Rebirth!

Graduating...

2009-06-13T20:46:00.004+03:00

Four of our "kids" graduated from 8th grade this week. It is a big milestone for our kids and they were very proud. Adi, Cornel, Maria & Simona all finished 8th grade and celebrated with a special ceremony. It was extra special for Cornel, Maria & Simona who are brother and sisters and finished eighth grade together. They started school once they entered the orphanage and all began at the same age although they are several years apart.

Please pray for these young people who are looking into which high school's they will attend next year or what further courses they will take. Pray for them as many of them will be looking for their first summer job this year as well. Thank you.

Boys becoming Young Men...

2009-06-13T20:14:00.003+03:00

This week as school was wrapping up our older boys had a little night out. They took in the last soccer match of the season, where CFR Cluj played Gaz Metan Medias. The beloved CFR team lost, but still came in 4th among the Romanian teams.

It was an extra special outing for these boys as Cornel is moving into the mentor apartment with Marian and their mentor this week. Adi will be moving in this fall before school starts, so they are enjoying some bonding time all together.

Please continue to pray for these boys who are searching out their way to becoming men. Pray that they will make good choices, follow the lead of their mentor and other positive influences in their lives and look towards Christ as they navigate their way forward. Pray that these years will be meaningful and will prepare them for life.

Incredible Moments...

2009-06-08T16:23:00.004+03:00

On Sunday, four "brothers and sisters" who have graduated from our mentor program returned to their first church in the town of Ludus where they grew up together in the orphanage there. The Maranatha church in Ludus was the first church who reached out to them when they were young and brought them in. Today it played an important role in Nicu's life once again...

Nicu was baptized Sunday morning in this church, where the pastors asked about many kids by name, and were blessed to baptize Nicu who they had known for so long. It was a special day for Nicu as his former mentor, Dani and his wife, Rodica came to share the day with him and affirm his decision.

Nicu shared that he felt that God wanted him to take this important step in his life now and to commit himself to God and to telling others about him.

All those who attended were blessed to be a part of Nicu showing the church and his friends his commitment.

Please pray for Nicu as he continues to live independently and make his own choices. Pray that he will continue to choose to follow Christ for the rest of his life. Pray that he will be an example to his friends and co-workers. Thank you for continuing to pray and to invest in these kids... sometimes the fruit takes a while... but what a joy when you see it!

The Annual Livada Family Picnic...

2009-05-29T09:44:00.007+03:00

Every year right before summer begins we bring all the staff & kids of Livada together for a big annual family picnic! Everyone enjoys a meal together, the staff enjoys the cooking contest and everyone enjoys the fun prize giveaway! We also take the opportunity of having everyone gathered to update our family photo album...

Casa Rebeca

Casa Ana

Casa Nadia

Our Foster Care families who are caring for Madalin & Daniel were also able to join us for the picnic this year...

With the Mentor Program it is a little harder to tell who are the kids and who are the adults as they are all growing up so much. Kati & Ani from the Mentor Program will graduate the summer and several more of our older teens will be moving up from the houses to the apartments in the months to come.

We are so thankful for our Follow Up Staff who spend so much time investing in the over 400 children & teens that we work with in state care. They do weekly programs with the children, help provide dental care and meet other needs and are currently getting geared up for our summer camps which begin in less than a month!

We are thankful for a new addition to this team... Sarah Meszaros moved to Romania in May and will serve on our follow up staff and as the Camp Administrator for the coming year. Please pray for her time of adjustment as she adapts to a new culture and jumps into camp all at once.

And last, but not least, all those on our administrative staff who help keep the ministry of Livada going here in Romania. We are so thankful for each of them.

Thank you for being a part of this amazing family by partnering with us in prayer and through your giving. We are blessed to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of so many here in Romania.

Life Skills and Fun... all rolled into one!

2009-05-25T17:54:00.004+03:00

Each week the young adults in our mentor program get together on Thursday evening. Sometimes it is just for games or a movie, but other times they have the chance to put what they are learning into action. This past Thursday was one of those nights.

The mentor apartment teens were partnered with the older kids from the houses who are preparing to move into the apartments in the next year. They were given 50 lei, which is a little under $20 and each team had to think through their food needs for a week and purchase all that they thought they would need with the money they were given.

Some thought through each meal and tried to make things that would last for the week. Others were enjoying the freedom of making their own choices and chose some "real" food items and then added soda, ice cream, gum, etc. The teams worked together well and enjoyed their time trying to complete their task.

In the end, a few teams had to put some items back at the register because they hadn't calculated their total ahead of time... others were right on the money and so proud. The kids were able to keep the items they had purchased for their apartments. The only catch was that the winning team received all the groceries purchased by the last place team.

Please continue to pray for the two young ladies, Kati & Ani, who will graduate from the program this summer and for several of our older "kids" who will move into the apartments soon.

The NGO Expo...

2009-05-21T12:27:00.003+03:00

Earlier this month our city of Targu Mures in Romania held their 7th annual NGO Expo! It was two days of booths set up throughout the Center of town, meetings with area leaders and even a parade!

We found out about the Expo only a few days before it was set to take place, so the staff all worked together to prepare a booth filled with pictures, information, new brochures and more. The kids had a great time marching through town in the parade along with other Non-Governmental Organizations who help in the area in all kinds of different ways.

We were thankful for the opportunity to share "Fundatia LOC" with others in our community. Although we are very involved in their community with the orphaned and abandoned children, many had not heard of us and were interested to learn more. There were opportunities for them to volunteer with us and to join us through giving. This is still a growing concept in Romania and we are thankful that the leaders in the community are encouraging awareness of the work of NGO's in our area. We look forward to all that God is going to continue to do through us in Targu Mures and all of Mures County for years to come!

The First Walk Outside!

2009-05-20T18:04:00.005+03:00

Since spring has arrived the hospital staff is allowing me to bring the babies outside in the park. I was amazed by the many different reactions that the babies showed in their time outside.

A few the babies forgot their last experience outside which was last fall. Olimpiu (3 years old), Oliviu (2 years old) and Sebi (18 months) have only experienced cement floor under their little feet so when I brought them to the park they were actually afraid to walk on the grass. The grass was not the only thing that they were afraid of, Oliviu Started crying when a small bird came close to us.

During their time outside the babies (Oliviu in particular) were shocked by the outside sounds of the passing cars and the daily noises and kept trying to understand what was going on. They live all their days in one room and when I left the hospital door with Florin he started crying. After we arrived in the park he settled down but he was so scared of the outside that he did not want to leave my arms, the entire time. Most of the little ones that I took outside fell asleep really fast and they enjoyed a nice nap in my arms.

A new baby girl has been brought to the hospital directly from the maternity ward last week. Her name is Adela and she is a precious four week old baby girl. The reason why she was left at the hospital and not taken home with her mother is that she is sick and needs treatment that the mother cannot provide having a really poor financial situation. I do not know how long she will remain in the hospital or if she will be healthy again or even if her mother can find the help she needs to take her home. All I know is that she needs our prayers and I ask you to join me and pray for Adela and all the other babies abandoned in the Ludus hospital.

One Last Time...

2009-05-17T20:30:00.001+03:00

Most, if not all, of what everyone ever hears and has heard about Ludus is how horrific it was. The abuse, the neglect, and the hurt that took place there have broken our hearts throughout the years. As the doors of Ludus were finally closed last year, everyone rejoiced and praised God that the day had finally come.

Almost everyone, that is. The story many of you probably did not hear is heartbreaking in a very different way. This is the story of the last 30 teenagers to leave Ludus. The majority of these teenagers had lived in Ludus for all of their lives. They endured the abuse and they survived the hurt, and as the doors of Ludus closed, it was a very bittersweet thing for most of them. How could something so great be so hard for those remaining teenagers? To most of them, Ludus was the only home they ever knew; the only “family” they ever had. As dysfunctional as it looked from the outside, that was everything they knew being torn away from them. To them, the only life they ever knew was changing drastically, and change without God and family to walk beside you is something most of us cannot even imagine. Not only was Ludus closing its doors, but they were being separated from each other for the first time. They were sad, angry, and fearful as they stepped into the unknown.

As more than a year has now passed since their move into group homes and apartments, most of them can now see the very positive change that has taken place since they left Ludus. While they can see the good in this change, they still talk about Ludus as if it was their first home and their first family. They discuss their memories, good and bad, openly, and they have grown and matured immensely since this huge change took place in their lives. We have seen big changes in several lives and a strong interest to learn and know more about God. Some of them have started attending church, continue coming to the different programs we have for them, and have shown interest in taking part in a small group where they can continue to learn more about having a personal relationship with God. As the fear of the unknown overwhelmed them, many of them began seeking comfort but didn’t know where to look and what they would find. It has been awesome to watch as, one by one, they are realizing that the love and safety they desire can be found in Christ alone.

As we finished up follow up for the year, we tried to do something special for each group of kids with whom we meet. For this group of teenagers, we decided to take one last trip to Ludus. We piled on buses and took the familiar trip in hopes to bring even more closure for each of them. As we arrived, many had tears in their eyes and many couldn’t stop smiling. They all appreciated the visit, and it was the perfect opportunity to leave the past behind and step away together.

Please pray with us that God will continue to reveal Himself to these teenagers. Pray that in the uncertainty of the future, they will continue to turn to Him, as He is the only One who will never abandon them and will always love them. Praise God with us that HE is changing lives! And please continue to pray for the many who are still lost and fighting change.

Highlight... Geza Musta

2009-05-07T17:56:00.005+03:00

Geza and his brother Bella entered "state care" at a young age. Geza has always been a special boy. He is not extremely social with children his own age, but has always had a gift for interacting with adults and is very open and verbal with them. He especially loves trying out his talent with English with anyone! Geza loves to know how things work and if often found taking things apart and making new things from the parts.

Geza lives in his own world a lot of the time and doesn't like change very much, but one change that he speaks of often as being very good was when he left the orphanage at Ludus and came into the care of Livada. He suffered a lot in the orphanage at the hands of other children and tells the story that he prayed that God would take him from there and of how we came to get him and brought he and his brother to Casa Rebeca which is now his home where they are safe and loved.

Geza is a very talented young man. Through his gifted drawings he is able to express what is inside in an amazing way. Whether he is drawing life experiences, incredibly detailed trucks and cars or other things his talent shines through.

Geza also loves music... listening to music, singing and most recently he has started taking guitar lessons and loves it!

Last, but not least, Geza loves to laugh! He really enjoys funny movies and will re-enact scenes that he loves with amazing attention to details, voices and even actions. He is open hearted, cheerful and full of hope for the future now.

Geza is turning fifteen this fall and is the oldest boy at Casa Rebeca. Pray that he will be a good leader for the other boys and that God will continue to mold him and work in his tender heart. Pray that he will continue to develop his talents in music and drawing and be able to attend the art high school in a few years. Pray that he will continue to overcome his fears and hurts from the past and live the new life God has given him to the fullest.

We Like to Party!

2009-05-03T17:01:00.004+03:00

The time has quickly come for us to wrap up our follow up programs for the year and to begin planning for our 7 weeks of summer camp! Last week and this week are our last two weeks of follow up, and we have been and will continue to have lots of fun parties!

With some of the kids we went bowling, with some we went to the zoo, with others we walked into to town for an ice cream party and with others we went to a pizza restaurant for a pizza party.

Whatever it was that we did with the kids, they have had a great time and have been so thankful! And now, they are anxiously awaiting the arrival of camp!

Please pray for God to continue preparing the hearts of the 400+ kids and teenagers who will be attending our camps this summer as well as the many American and Irish teams, American interns, Romanian volunteers and American and Romanian staff who will be helping to run camp this summer! Also, please pray that the follow up/camp staff will make a smooth transition from daily follow up clubs to camp preparation and that everything will be done before our camps start on June 22!

Friends & Fun Days...

2009-05-02T20:45:00.004+03:00

May first is Labor Day in Romania and all the schools are closed. Each year we take this opportunity to have fun outdoors with a big picnic! We fire up the grill, break out the balls, games and cards and enjoy the day together.

To add to the fun this year, we have had two of our former interns and friends visiting who were able to spend the day with us as well. Sarah & Meggie have both been to Romania several times, but neither have been here since Casa Ana & Nadia opened... it has been an added bonus for them to get to know all of those children better and to participate in the final weeks of Follow Up before the summer!

A Weekend Away...

2009-04-28T16:04:00.004+03:00

The young adults from the mentor apartments along with their mentors went on a little outing this weekend! They have been working together to save money from their budgets so that they could do something fun all together! We left on Friday morning and headed towards the mountains... Upon arrival in Brasov, we found a little festival for "Brasov Days" going on... we took part in the celebration and enjoyed the beautiful day!

Later we arrived at our little cabin in the mountains and the men grilled out as the ladies prepared the other food inside. We had a great meal and time of games and fun together. On Saturday it was off on a big hike through the mountains and we even got snowed on a little! Later in the day we toured Bran Castle, which is always associated with Dracula, but apparently "Vlad Tepes" didn't actually live there.

On Sunday we went to The Castle Peles, where the King of Romania used to live and took a walk through Sibiu before heading back to Targu Mures. It was a great weekend of fun and fellowship... playing games and enjoying time away.

Thank you for your ongoing prayers for these young adults as they learn from their mentors and some work towards completing school while others are getting closer to independence and are working and starting to provide for themselves. It is a blessing to see our two oldest Kati & Ani working hard and making plans for their graduation from the program this summer... looking for apartments, saving money and getting ready to take that next step.

Easter Gets Messy...

2009-04-20T10:05:00.002+03:00

Because the kids who attend the Underground really aren’t kids anymore as they range in age from 15 to 20, we decided to vamp our Easter games up for them. We did messy games once this year, and these teenagers absolutely loved and got so in to these games. So, we decided to add a bit of a messy twist to their Easter party this year.

As is always the case, we have them sign up for games without knowing exactly what game they might end up playing. The signed up to prove they were the hungriest, had the best aim, the biggest mouth, the most precise, the most attentive, the strongest, and the most courageous. In order to be the hungriest, they had to be the first to eat a large chocolate bunny. To have the best aim, they had to throw jellybeans while another member of their team tried to catch them. To prove they had the biggest mouth they participated in a game of “chubby bunny” but filled their mouths with dry crackers instead of marshmallows. To be the most precise they participated in a game of bowling where they had to knock as many soda bottles down as possible using a hardboiled egg. The most attentive teen was the first to remove 10 chocolate candies from a bowl of milk. The strongest had to smash a hardboiled egg against an opponent’s hardboiled without cracking his egg. And finally, the most courageous participated in an old fashioned egg toss.

They also participated in some team games. In one, they had to pass a hardboiled egg from one spoon to another and to be the first team to pass it from one end of their line and back, and in another, they had to race each other while carrying their team’s hardboiled egg by spoon. They also competed in a Bible Easter quiz in which all of the teams answered the majority of the questions correctly! At the end of the party, they searched for different colored hardboiled eggs and for each color of egg they found, they received a different prize. The kids really enjoyed their party and games, and they all went home with smiles on their faces!

Celebrating Easter...

2009-04-18T13:20:00.002+03:00

This year, Easter is coming to Romania one week after you celebrated it in the States. So, we have spent the last week celebrating Easter with parties, games, prizes, snacks, Bible quizzes, and Easter egg hunts. The kids always enjoy having the opportunity to have a week full of fun and special gifts and activities, and this week was no exception. They balanced eggs on spoons, jumped like rabbits, quacked like ducks, and participated in many more Easter themed games in hopes of winning enough points for their team to be the winners. But, they were all winners this week as they searched for eggs full of candy to be able to take home with pride!

It never ceases to amaze me how thankful they are and how much they enjoy playing the simple games we grew up playing and often took for granted. They absolutely LOVE to have fun!!

We will be wrapping up follow up in the next 3 weeks as we begin to start planning full time for Super Summer 09. Please pray that God will continue to prepare their hearts for the summer ahead in our last few meetings together this year! Thank you for your support and prayers which make it possible to continue to do fun programs with all of these special children!

Get Ready for... Super Summer 09!!!

2009-04-15T14:24:00.002+03:00

Each summer Livada Orphan Care has the amazing opportunity to minister to over 400 children and teens through evangelistic summer camps. This is the highlight of the year for most of these children and is the continuation and a building block for the ongoing outreach programs that go on throughout the year in the orphanages and state group homes called "follow up."

During the past two summers at Camp Vetca... Livada's camp ground... we have trained special agents for the amazing life that God has in store for them during "Mission Possible 07"... then we were athletes in training and striving towards the prize of life with Jesus during the "Vetca Olympics 08." Here is a look back at the Olympic summer from last year...

We would like for everyone to start praying now for... SUPER SUMMER 09!

You guessed it... this summer we will all be Super Heros in training! We will learn where our strength comes from... how to be a super hero and not a villian, how to be a Superman or Wonder Woman and more! Many super hero competitions, games, skits and more are on the way... along with small group times designed to allow a little deeper look with team leaders into what God's word says and how God has worked in their lives, as well as time for the campers to share and ask questions.

Please begin praying now for the children and teens who will come to camp this summer. Pray for the college students and young adults who are coming for the whole summer to serve as summer interns with us. Pray for the nine teams we have coming from Northern Ireland and America to serve with us in our Super Summer Camp and in town day camps. Pray for Michael Hale, our camp pastor and leader of the intern team. Pray for Sarah Meszaros, who is joining our Livada staff in Romania for a year and a half and will be camp administrator and work with these kids throughout the year in follow up. Pray for Rebecca Rasmussen, who leads our follow up program and will be working with all of the above to make the summer fun and focused on Christ!

Thank you so much for your prayers... get ready for June, when you will begin receiving updates from our Super Hero Training Facility in Vetca, Romania during SUPER SUMMER 09!

"I CAN SEE!"

2009-04-08T11:55:00.002+03:00

We would like to, once again, thank Stitching Livada and eye doctors George de Jong and Johnny Roem of Stichting Zienderogen for the eye exams they completed on the Livada staff and kids as well as over 300 kids and staff who live and work in State care. About 80 glasses were made and sent for everyone who needed them. From the day the doctors left, the children asked NONSTOP when their glasses would arrive! They waited with much anticipation!

These past two weeks we have had the opportunity to hand out the glasses, and the kids have been thrilled to receive them! One kid ran up to me and said, “I can see!” and another teenage boy made up a little song claiming “I have glasses! na na na na na! I have glasses!” It has been so exciting to watch these children and teenagers faces light up as many of them can truly see well for the first time!

Eye care has been one of our greatest needs over the past few years, but with so many children in need, it seemed impossible to fill this need. Praise God that with Him, nothing is impossible, and that He provided skilled doctors and a generous foundation to not only perform eye exams for everyone we work with, but also to provide beautiful, custom glasses for every need!

Highlight... Claudia Kalanyos

2009-04-03T16:29:00.006+03:00

Take a look at Claudia through the years...

Claudia or "Dita", as she is known by most, is the youngest of her five siblings who are all in the care of Livada. Like all the children in our care, Claudia lived in the orphanage in Ludus before coming into our care. She loves to play almost any kind of game... she loves soccer, basketball, ping pong, phase 10, Remmy, Uno and more! She also loves listening to music. She is full of energy and a great sense of humor.

She does not like school very much and really doesn't like math, specifically multiplication and division. Claudia does enjoy reading, if it is a book that she is allowed to choose. She says that she only studies and learns because she has too and so that the adults in the house will be proud of her!

Claudia loves to have fun and is respectful of adults. She also gets along well with the other children, but does not do well if she is made fun of our told she is too little and will fight back when provoked. Claudia loves animals, especially cats and wishes that she could have one live in her room with her. She really loves her oldest sister Simona and can't wait to grow up and be in an apartment like her.

Claudia does not have a lot of friends at school and so she really feels close to her sponsors and is very thankful to be at Casa Ana with all of her siblings and the other children here. She has really bonded with her sponsor, Jamie, and hopes that she will come to see her soon and bring her soon to be husband.

As you can see, Claudia has grown from a little tom boy into a young lady who is beginning to care about her appearance and is now trying to be more feminine and grown up. Pray that as she continues to grow and mature on the outside that God will continue to grow her and mature her on the inside as well. Pray that she will do her best at school and that she will do her homework without trouble. Pray that she will find a good friend! Thank you for your prayers for Claudia and for all the kids in our care.

Daniel...

2009-04-03T16:18:00.004+03:00

Many of you have been praying for Daniel over the past few years. We watched God work in his life through the special therapy home "Casa Daniel." Many of Daniel's behavioral and emotional issues were much improved in a smaller and more structured environment. He learned to respond correctly to authority, to have self control and to interact well with others.

This was more difficult for Daniel in a group home setting with many other children and influences around. He also struggled with having many different authority figures to listen to. As time has passed we have realized that for Daniel, the group home setting is not the best option. For him and it will be best to be in a family much like his brother Madalin, who is also in our care.

We have found a wonderful set of parents who have experience working with children who have been institutionalized and who have challenges to overcome. These parents are now on our staff and Daniel is living with them in a foster care situation under our care.

Please pray for this transition time for Daniel as he is closely supervised and is adjusting to a new home. Pray for the family to have patience and discipline for him and to love him. Pray that they will find themselves a family before long!

Humanitarian Aide... A helping hand to the hurting

2009-03-24T12:43:00.008+02:00

We wanted to share with you about a little known aspect of our foundation, the ministry of humanitarian aide. On average, there are 10 applicants per month, some are returning and others are passing through the town, or need help once. There are families and individuals, most who were once in the state orphanage system. Most of them have children and very few are able to provide the safety and care that they need.

The program aims to prevent abandonment of the children by their parents in a variety of ways: material aid - clothes, food, basic personal hygiene products and house keeping needs; financial aid - small amounts of money needed to pay the bills, purchase medicine or basic household goods; counseling on the administration of money, couple relationships, finding and keeping a job or a place to live. We try to help them to solve problems better and faster and to learn to manage and live independent lives in connection with the community.

Here are a few of their stories:

Antonia is now 5 years old and she lives with her mother and maternal grandmother in social housing, from City Hall. Her mother has health problems and cannot work, and all three live from her disease pension.
Her biological father is in prison, and legally he is not her father as he did not recognize her as his child. At the beginning of March her brother, Darius, was born.
His father divorced their mother and went abroad, before he was born. Antonia goes to kindergarten, she is obedient and she loves to draw and play outside with children. She loves her brother very much and she wants to keep him in her arms all the time.

Jozsef and Gyöngy grew up in an orphanage and when they decided to get married she already had a child. Their family has a social housing but just for a determined period, because they haven’t paid the minimum costs to live there. Their daughter, Imola, is 3 years old and the parents take her every day to the preschool of a Foundation, and during that time they seek employment. Gyongy also has another daughter, Erika, who is 13 years old and likes school very much, but she goes to school with breaks of several months, depending the family’s living situation.

Levente and Cristina also grew up in foster care in Mures county. Levente doesn’t hear and is very ill with TB which he inherited from parents and because of this he can not work. Cristina has given him moral and financial support when he had operations and was in the hospital for months.
They decided to get married when they found out that they were having a baby. Alexandra came into this world in July 2007. They were happy about this, but they always had trouble with debts which they accumulated trying to pay bills and they were threatened to be thrown out of social housing. Today, Cristina is working in Italy for several months and they only get reports from family to know that she is okay. Alexandra is cared for by her father with the help of friends from the neighborhood and an aunt. There are still many costs that they need help with.

Emese is 28 years old and when she was 14 her mother took her back home from foster care. She says today, she was brought back into the bad story when she could have had a better one in foster care… going to school, being qualified for a job and doing something better with her life. She felt that by coming “home” her story was over. Now she is living with her mother and her two girls in social housing. She was fooled by an employer to sign her resignation, so she would not receive her unemployment benefits.
Her daughter, Renata, is 5 years old. She is going to kindergarten and the father, although he lives only a street away, does not want to know anything about her. Her little sister, Noemi, is 2 years old, and her father will soon come back from Germany, because he didn`t manage to find a stable job.

In April, Cristian will be two years old. His parents met in an orphanage. They got married and they wanted very much to have him. Now, his father is unemployed and his mother, Cristina, will look for a job, while Cristi will go to day care.

With our small humanitarian aide budget each month we are doing what we can to help these families stay together and keep their children. Please pray that we will be able to continue to reach out to those that need help and that they will come to know that God loves them through the love and support that they receive here.

The Love of a Family...

2009-03-21T21:33:00.002+02:00

These simple words hold such huge meaning to the majority of us who will read this blog. Many of us know love because we have been demonstrated love from our parents, our siblings, our grandparents, our aunts and uncles, and our cousins for our whole lives. From the moment we arrived, most of us were held in our parents arms, doted on by our grandparents, and shown unfailing love whether we were smiling or crying, hurting or healthy, succeeding or failing. This love that is so common to us is so unfamiliar to the orphans with whom we have been so blessed to work. They long to be held, supported, and most of all loved. This past week as we had our different follow up clubs, I was overwhelmed by these precious children’s desire to be loved, most of all by a family. We work with many kids who have siblings, many who don’t even live in the same house as one another. I was full of emotions as I sat back and watched some of these siblings interact when they came to our programs.

Petru and Ionel live in the same house together in Tarnaveni. These two boys, so different in appearance, personality, and capability are twins. I have been amazed to watch them interact. Instead of being turned off by their differences, they embrace them. They love each other wholeheartedly and interact as if they are best friends. It is so neat to watch them stick up for each other, protect each other, and most of all love each other with the love of a family that is so unfamiliar to these children.

Bobi and Rodica live in two separate group homes and only meet every other week when they come to club fuel on the same morning. From the moment they arrive, they are inseparable and no one else in the world seems to matter. They don’t care who else is on their team, as long as they are together. It has been so amazing to watch their relationship grow and deepen as they have finally been able to see each other on a more consistent basis. The love of a family is so evident in these two children even though this has been an apparent void throughout their childhood.

Pipi and Tuende are another set of siblings who do not live in the same house. Tuende is still in the care of the state, but Pipi has graduated from state care and lives in a night shelter in town. Tuende also has a twin, Bela, who lives with her in their group home. These siblings fight for each other, protect each other, and defend each other all the time. Pipi has begun to volunteer for Fundatia LOC mostly because he wants the opportunity to be at whatever program his siblings attend. This is another sibling group that consistently demonstrates the love of a family with one another.

As I watched these siblings, and so many more, I realized how thankful we can be that despite the abandonment and pain these children feel, God has given so many of them siblings, whether biological or from the same group home, who have become the family they need. Praise God that He does not lose sight of how important the love of a family is, and that He hasn’t forgotten that with these kids. Praise God that even though most of these kids were never demonstrated love from their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins; He has been faithful in allowing them to develop love for one another.

Livada Kids Get Messy!

2009-03-11T02:06:00.002+02:00

Just as we were able to have a blast playing messy games with all of the kids with whom we do follow up, we were able to play a bunch of really messy games at Bible study with the Livada kids! If you were to ask the kids from Casa Ana, Nadia, and Rebeca what their favorite thing to do is, many of them would say to play messy games! We had two separate nights of the games, one for the big kids and one for the little kids. Each night, we divided the kids in to 2 teams, boys against girls. They had a great time fighting to prove which gender is the best at getting messy!:)

We have really enjoyed sharing the follow up program that we do with all of the kids in state care with the kids in our Livada group homes. The kids talk about Bible study, about the songs they sing, the skits they watch, the discussions we have, and of course the games we play all the time. It has been great for the kids to have the opportunity to get out of the house to learn about God in a fun and exciting way.

Every once in awhile we just let loose and play our little hearts out, and this week was one of those times. The kids not only competed for the title of the messiest, but they also loved laughing, having a fun time, and cheering their teammates on to victory.

Thanks for your prayers for the follow up staff and volunteers as we continue to minister to the kids who remain in the orphan system in Mures County and to the kids in the Livada group homes.

Lots of Birthdays!

2009-03-06T20:30:00.004+02:00

In the last few weeks we have celebrated many birthdays and more to come! Many of our children did not even know when their birthday was when they came into our care, so it has always been a day that we try to make special. All the kids in the house help to decorate and then celebrate all together.

It has been fun to watch our kids continue to make friends outside of the house from school and other places. This year one of our boys, Adi chose to have a bigger party with friends and food rather than to receive gifts. It was a fun time for him and all his friends from school and the houses.

As you can see, it was parties for 10 year old's all the way to 17 year old's in the past few weeks!

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and your loving sponsorship of all our kids!

Highlight... Ani Florea

2009-02-27T12:10:00.003+02:00

We would like to start something new by highlighting one of the children in our care each month, so that you have an opportunity to get to know them better. This month we would like to begin with Ani Florea.

Ani has been part of our Mentor Program for the past three years. She lived at the orphanage at Ludus before coming into our care and this is the earliest picture she had of herself...

Ani is a very sweet and quiet young lady. She finished school last year and is currently in a program studying tourism here in Targu Mures. She works at a shoe store in town called, Leonardo and enjoys working with people. She is very helpful and kind.

Ani became a Christian and was baptized several years ago and continues to enjoy reading her Bible. She says that she likes the New Testament the best. Ani also enjoys spending time with her friends, drawing, and speaking in English. Ani has worked hard to learn English and enjoys using it whenever possible.

Ani is hoping to find a way to spend the summer in America working and earning more money so that she can make a better life here after she graduates from the program this year.

Please pray for Ani as she moves closer to independent life. Pray that her faith would remain strong even as she faces challenges. Pray that she would find good friends and a good job. Pray that God will bless her hardworking and gentle spirit.

The Precious Babies...

2009-02-23T12:30:00.006+02:00

Please allow us to share a report with you about the baby ministry with Livada from the leader of the program, Rodica Maier.

"I began going to the Ludus hospital two years ago and a lot of babies have come and gone and many changes have been made. There are currently three categories in which we find all the babies.

First there are babies who were born in the hospital and abandoned there. These include Stefan (5 months), Calin (6 months) and Larisa (3 years). Stefan and Calin were both premies and struggled to stay alive even though there was no one caring for them. Larisa is a difficult case. She suffers from brain damage and autism and because there is no physical therapy her body is not well developed. However she is also a fighter and is now beginning to walk with someone holding her hands.

Rodica & Calin

Larisa

The second category are the babies who were brought to the hospital because they were sick and then were "forgotten" and left here because there are no suitable conditions at home. This is the case of Sebi (18 months), whose first smile and words occurred here at the hospital. He was brought to the hospital when he was 5 months old and is now a beautiful little boy who longs for the love of a mother and father. His story is a cruel one. His mother had him with another man while her husband was in prison and when he returned he would not accept him and forced the mother to give him up saying that he had a cold.

Sebi

There are others who were brought here due to illness. Anica is a three year old little girl who is blind and has severe muscle atrophy from laying in a bed all the time. There is no physical therapy, so she continues to deteriorate. Oliviu and Marian are brothers. Marian has brain damage, but physically is developing normally. Oliviu is severely underweight.

Anica

Oliviu

The last category of babies are those who continually come to the hospital and then go home in a cycle. This is the case of Tibi (4 years), Olimpiu (3 years), Flaviu (8 months), and Daria (10 months). There is much that could be shared about these children as well, but I will share a little. Olimpiu has just begun to say his first words and of course one of his first was "mama." When he said it to me I was drawn to tears. Every child should have someone to say that to.

Olimpiu

Daria is the last one who was brought to the hospital. Her mother has just caught on to the idea that she can just leave her like baggage in a locker and then take her back when she feels like it. Daria is a cutie and it breaks my heart to see how much see longs for love and attention.

Daria

I want to say that it is a blessing to be a part of this ministry and a great experience to be able to bring a smile to these young faces. The funding provided by a sponsor for diapers each month has been a huge blessing as there is no one else to give these children the comfort of having normal care. One good result of the ministry has been to see some of the nurses try to implement some of the activities and care we have begun to help the children in their development.

Thank you so much for keeping this ministry in your prayers!" - Rodica Maier

The Journey Begins...

2009-02-18T20:19:00.003+02:00

Again our friends from Stichting Livada in Holland have blessed us with something we need and are really looking forward to. They bought us a new van to replace the very old and often unreliable Casa Rebeca van! Marian from our staff went to Holland on Monday to pick up the van and drive it back to Romania...

As you can see, our friends are not only sending a van, but have it packed full of clothes, shoes, toothbrushes, toothpaste and much more! It looks like Marian had a hard time keeping it all in to close the door!

We will post more once Marian arrives back in Romania with the much awaited van. A HUGE thank you to Stichting Livada for this amazing and much needed gift!

Let's Get Messy...

2009-02-11T16:27:00.002+02:00

The follow up clubs have begun again for the spring after a few weeks off for the Christmas and New Year’s holiday. As was the case in the fall, we continue to try to come up with programs that are very straightforward in presenting the gospel to the kids in a new and exciting way every opportunity we have to meet with them. We also LOVE to have fun!

This week we had the opportunity to play messy games with the kids from the three group homes in Tarnaveni where we go every Tuesday night. Every once in awhile, we like to do something unexpected, in hopes of keeping things exciting and fun for them. This week was one of those extra special fun-filled game weeks! Each of the children was able to participate in one or two of the messy challenges in hopes of winning points for their teams.

We had them compete in categories to prove who was the thirstiest, smartest, hungriest, sweetest, cleanest, and messiest. This had them chugging soda, eating doughnuts off of a string, feeding one another yogurt while both being blindfolded, searching through a mound of whipped cream with their mouths to find (and eat) a piece of chocolate which was hidden at the bottom, putting a cut up banana pack together again, and searching for candies in water and flour which made a sticky combination. The kids absolutely loved the opportunity to play some games they had never played and to get their hands dirty (literally!) to prove their commitment to winning as a team!

Please continue to pray for the follow up staff and volunteers to have wisdom in planning the curriculum for this spring that will have a great impact on the lives of all the kids we work with. Also, please pray that God would continue to open the ears, minds, and hearts of each child to hear, understand, and accept the gift He is offering them!

A Day in the Mountains...

2009-02-11T16:18:00.003+02:00

Last week we took the young adults in our mentor program as well as a few graduates and a few of the older kids from the houses on an outing to the mountains near Brasov. The purpose of this outing as you can see was to teach the kids to snowboard. We were very thankful to have along with us Sarah Burgess, who was visiting for the week and is a competitive snowboarder in the States.

Sarah was a great teacher even with the language barrier and by the end of the day, most of the kids were making it down the hill with few falls. It was a great time together learning something new, having good conversations and just enjoying a day away.

Later that evening we were able to meet a couple from Brasov for dinner who shared with these young adults the importance of surrounding yourself with Christians who are a good influence on you and with whom you can grow in your faith. Their lessons of discipleship and how it had impacted their lives and the lives of others around them was a perfect way to end the day!

Encouraging...

2009-02-05T19:45:00.003+02:00

We wanted to share a little story of one of our graduates that is encouraging and ongoing... Jeno was part of the mentor program for several years and had his ups and downs, but always had a way with people and always dreamed of more. A little over a year ago Jeno moved to Cyprus to live and work. He took the chance seriously and has moved up to being a manager of others at the restaurant where he works. Since moving he has helped two other graduates of our program also receive jobs in Cyprus and has taken them under his wing, helping them to get established.

Jeno is back for a visit right now in Targu Mures and will return home to Cyprus with another of our LOC mentor program participants under his wing. Marcel has been in the program for several years. He is a sweet young man, but struggles with choosing the right friends and always making good choices. He has struggled finding a job since finishing school and Jeno has offered to help him get a job at his restaurant. Marcel will be leaving for Cyprus next week and we are hoping to hear more encouraging stories in the coming months.

Please pray for Marcel as he makes this transition. Pray that he will make good choices, work hard and be responsible. Pray that those who have gone before him from our care... Jeno, Andrei and Erno will be good influences on him. Pray for these and all of our other graduates as they make their way and work to become more than so many believed that they could be. Thank you for joining us in having faith in them!

We LOVE our new computer lab!

2009-01-25T21:28:00.005+02:00

Once again we are so thankful for our visitors from Stichting Livada in Holland... Rudolf, Annejet and Julie have been with us this week and have been working for months before hand to raise funds for our needs and those of the children. One of the projects that the kids are overjoyed about is a computer lab for them! This will be used for the ever increasing need for internet access for schoolwork as well as for them to be able to keep in touch with friends.

First, there was a party to celebrate and then the official ribbon cutting and exciting first visit inside!

The children and staff alike are excited about the opportunity to use this new technology and we are very grateful to have it! We are also thankful that having this special location allows the children the access they need and want, while also allowing it to always be supervised to keep them using the internet safely.

A big thank you to our visitors this week and all those back in Holland who contributed to make such an impact on our kids and the kids in state care through the computer lab, the new shoes, visits to the eye doctor and an opportunity for all who need them to have glasses, encouragement for the staff and so much more!

Thank You Stichting Livada for our Shoes...

2009-01-25T21:19:00.003+02:00

The children in the care of Livada were able to go to the big shoe store in town this week and pick out a pair of tennis shoes and a pair of dressy shoes for this spring. It is not spring yet, but our friends from Holland continued to be a blessing this week, by taking the kids shopping.

The kids had a wonderful time looking around and finding the shoes that will take them through the spring and summer. Keeping 34 kids and teens in shoes is not a small expense and we are so blessed to once again this year have this need met by Stichting Livada.

A Visit from the Eye Doctor...

2009-01-23T12:28:00.007+02:00

This week we have had the pleasure of having several visitors from Holland with us here in Romania. These visitors are part of Stichting Livada, a foundation in Holland which is helping with funding and needs of Fundatia LOC in Romania.

Dr. George de Jong and his colleague are providing eye exams for our staff, our kids, and over 300 children and teens that we work with through follow up. They will also be meeting with a ministry of a local church to gypsies. Eye exams are being provided and then anyone who needs glasses will have glasses made and mailed back to us here to distribute. What a blessing!

Many of these children and teens in state care have never had an eye exam and many of them have needed glasses for years. The doctor has spent time with them and helped them to pick the best glasses for them. We are thankful for this service to these young people and the blessing that it is to them to be able to read better, have less headaches and many other blessings that these glasses will provide.

More to come on the other exciting things that our partners from Holland are helping with in the coming days!

A Merry Christmas Video...

2009-01-11T23:15:00.001+02:00

We Wish You A Merry Christmas...

2008-12-27T12:58:00.004+02:00

Each year we attend the Christmas night church service with all our kids. Different groups of children and adults participate in the service and this year the middle group of kids had a message that we thought we would share with you...

You may recognize the tune... but in Romanian the words are "Happy Holidays in Jesus, Happy Holidays in Jesus, Happy Holidays in Jesus and Many More Years with Jesus!" Enjoy as our kids along with others from the church sing this greeting to you!

We do wish hope that your Christmas was Merry and pray that your New Year to come will be blessed with Jesus in moment.

Casa Ana Christmas...

2008-12-27T12:47:00.005+02:00

Last but not least on our little Christmas journey was a stop at Casa Ana... as you can imagine, by the time we arrived there at the very late hour of 8:00 AM, everyone was awake and waiting!

Casa Ana had a great time opening gifts, showing what they received to others and enjoying the morning together! It was extra special to have Elis and Simona back from their mentor apartment to share Christmas Eve & Christmas morning with their Casa Ana family!

As in each house, the list varies for the one thing they each wanted... here at Casa Ana, there was everything from "anything High School Musical" to "anything for soccer" and many things in between!

The kids quickly "made" their beds with their nice new bedding and many took a nap during the afternoon and mentioned how nice and warm and soft it all was!

Thank you so much to all of the sponsors and friends of Livada who helped to make Christmas so special for all of our children and teens this year! It has been a blessed season together as the kids have given... by helping with follow up, visiting the babies, going to share Christmas love and joy with the elderly and more. It has also been a joyous time for them to receive... not only things they want, but things they needed. Thank you for investing with us in their lives!

Casa Nadia Christmas...

2008-12-27T12:36:00.005+02:00

On from Casa Rebeca... the little Christmas Elves proceeded to awaken the kids from Casa Nadia... Once the little sleepyheads were at the top of the stairs, the caroling began again and the excitement of Christmas morning began to build!

Our youngest kids are at Casa Nadia, so there were a few cases of Barbie or stuffed animals replacing the top items on the list... roller blades, cool shoes and more were opened with joy!

Everyone's room is looking very nice and everyone is sleeping nice and cozy with their new bedding!

Again, A big thank you for the gifts towards Christmas and your love and care for our kids all throughout the year!

Casa Rebeca Christmas...

2008-12-27T12:23:00.006+02:00

As is tradition, everyone waited at the top of the stairs and then started singing Christmas carols before being called down for Christmas morning... some were a little sleepy, but woke up quickly once they reached the bottom of the stairs!

This year we decided to do three gifts... just like Jesus... the children each received a Christmas outfit for church, a new set of bedding for their rooms and a new monogramed towel... and one thing that they really wanted... for some it was an mp3 player, for others a name brand pair of shoes, for others remote control cars and the list goes on.

In receiving "less" this year the kids all seemed to appreciate their gifts that much more and many kids said that it was their best Christmas ever!

Thank you so much to all of you who sent donations towards Christmas for the children you sponsor or for our kids in general! Thank you to Scotland Trinity Presbyterian Church for all the wonderful stocking stuffers that you sent. We are so thankful for Christ... the best and truest gift of Christmas!