Deuteronomy 15:11
There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
As much as yesterday was pretty standard, today was fantastically diverse. Choices for today were fourfold. One was to go to Lacramoira's house to help refurbish a room, second was to to help cut the grass at Casa Albert, the third choice was to move a control panel for a pump at Casa Albert and last but definately not least was to prepare for the activities of the children as they attend the Day Care Centre during the week. Jeff, Stephen and Nathan Squires and I chose option one to join Steve Cooper on the refurbishment project.
Lacramoira is under the Casa Albert Medical Outreach Plan and has been within the radar of Cry in the Dark for quite a few years now. She has been in orphanages and Cry in the Dark got to know about her and her medical condition through their involvement with the hospital in Bacau. Now married and with a five month old baby she lives in a small one storey house with her inlaws. There are eight of them sharing the house which, without trying to be disrespectful to them, is verging on third world standards. Lacramoira, her husband and their bay daughter Gabriella had one room which acted as their total living accomodation, including cooking, sleeping and dining. My living room at home isn't large but this was about as much room as Lacramoira and her family had to live in. The woodwork that supported the sagging asbestos roof was rotting, revealing gapping holes for the weather to intrude upon on them. Last week Steve Cooper had managed to construct some timber framework to create an extension to this room and the task of the four of us was to enclose this framework. I'm happy to report that we successfully completed this task with the outside of this small extension being covered with OSB board and the inside plasterboarded. Although this was an all day task with a few drops of sweat shed along the way, the immense satisfaction and reward all four of us felt at the end of the day was amazing. Although we couldn't speak the lingo, we knew that our efforts were extremely appreciated by the family and their hospitality was second to none. Though they had little to offer we sensed that they would gladly give what they have.
Once we had finished Steve Cooper took us on a small diversion. This took us into a remote rural community where living standards seemed to be even worse. Where as Lacramoira's house was in the vicinity of amenities and slightly more affluent conditions, here the entire village was poverty stricken. Water has to be drawn from either one of two wells and the condition of this water is dubious to say the least. Earlier this year a mission team from Colchester had transformed a room for a family who again are supported by the program at Casa Albert. We viewed this room and stood in total awe at the work and effort that had been achieved by this mission in just one week. Some of these Make Over TV programmes have alot to learn from their achievements. Again what was noticeable was the family who lived in this small mud-hut styled house were tremendously grateful for the work of Cry in the Dark and were so proud of their "new found comfort". It seemed that the entire village came out to greet Steve and it really showed how Cry in the Dark are making a difference to both individuals and communities in North East Romania. Touchingly, as I walked back to the mini-bus I watched as Nathan, surrounded by local kids, sat patiently on a bank chatting and interracting with them. Despite the language difference he too was making a difference.
Back at Casa Lumina the others were having a successful day too. Most of the grass had been cut thanks to Mutley, Elaine and Jane, the control panel had been moved and plans for the entertainment of the children had come together. Surprisingly Mutley was in good spirits despite his overnight capers. Many of the group suffered a bad nights sleep due to the constant yapping of a small dog. At 3 o'clock in the morning he tore off after this dog and managed to reason with it. Fortunately it wasn't part of the barbecue we enjoyed in the evening thanks again to the wonderful hospitality of Beth.
Deutoronomy 15:11 states that "There will always be poor people int he land". Today God has allowed us to be open-handed to the poor and needy.
How fantastic is that?
Why not view the photos at http://www.facebook.com/groups/237913819581952/
Terry Norrington
http://www.cryinthedark.com/
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