Happy Birthday Zorro!

La multi ani Zorro!

 Sunday was Zorro’s birthday and we celebrate him on Monday, the 7^th of May. He had a wonderful time together with the kids from Ana Nadia house, the teenagers from foster care and apartment, friends, colleagues and ex-employees.  Zorro had a big party because he turned 18, the age he was waiting for so long.  He received some gifts but most of all he wanted money for his birthday so he can save them for future plans.

 Please pray for Zorro for taking good choices, the best choices for his future. Pray that the Lord will help him to continue school and be a great example for the other kids. 

Thank you for all of you who pray for Zorro and support him!

Livada's Strawberry Farm!

One of our goals from our last staff retreat was self-sustenance initiatives that would not only bring in income but that could also be used to teach life skills, business skills, and work ethic skills to some of the LOC kids and other orphan grads. We would again like to thank Stichting Livada for their amazing support.

Dragos Dan and some of the staff have worked tirelessly over the past year to research and then plant this new strawberry farm! All of that hard work is paying off and the first fruits are now coming in. Please pray for our daily labor to produce fruit that will last both literally and spiritually! IF you are interested in helping Livada with this or other self-sustaining initiatives, please contact Bruce Thomas at 972.941.4416.

Livada's New Greenhouse!

Our dear friends from Holland helped one of our long term dreams become a reality. We now have a working greenhouse behind the office (former Casa Rebeca back yard). One of our foster families and LOC kids Madalin, Sergiu, and Fanel helped Dragos, Vio and others to get this built and planted. We are looking forward to our LOC kids learning practical life skills through this endeavor. (agriculture, business, character, patience, etc...) We hope to use some of the produce for the LOC group homes and to be able to sell the rest in the local farmer's markets (Piata)!  Pray that it will produce fruit and fruit that will last!

Happy Birthday Ionas sisters!

Ionas sisters: Krisztina, Eniko & Emese

All three Ionas sisters were born in Spring time. Krisztina and Emese in April and Eniko in May. Krisztina’s birthday was on the 14th of April, right before Easter and she turned 17. Emese turned 16 and her birthday is today, on the 20th of April, but we celebrated her yesterday. They will both go out shopping for some fun, personal gifts for their birthdays. (Thank you sponsors! :)

Happy Birthday Krisztina!

Thank you Marty!

Krisztina had some friends, colleagues and ex-employes over for her birthday while Emese preferred to celebrate only with her „sisters and brothers” from Rebeca house. They both had a nice party and will remain with beautiful memories .

Happy Birthday Emese!

Thank you Marty!

Please join us in prayer for the Ionas sisters as they daily learn to trust God and walk in His ways. Pray that they will always feel the love of Christ alive in their hearts.

Thank you for being a blessing in our precious kids lives!

Celebrating the International „Roma Day” (Gypsy’s Day), in Apalina

The International Roma Day is celebrated in the 8th of April. In Apalina village all of the students from the school celebrated this day. It didn’t matter if they were Romanians, Hungarians or Roma (gypsies), they all had a wonderful time together. From the 1^st grade class to the 8^th grade class they all prepared a song, a story or a skit. 

A big part of the big kids prepared a skit that represents a traditional weeding in their culture. All the kids were dressed up in their traditional clothes and spoke and sang in Roma language. Besides that they also prepared a festival for Easter in which they spoke Romanian.

Skit "Traditional wedding"

Easter celebration

Please pray for these kids and for those who shepherd them daily. 

Thank you!

School project week in Ogra village

Starting from this school year, Romania started a new teaching system in schools which is called “School in a different way”. Once a year, during a week, the students are involved in different practical activities having the chance to learn at another level.

Our team had the opportunity to organize two days, during this special week, where around 200 students attended, of which 80% were Roma origin (gypsy).

Every hour about 30-50 kids attended our program and played games by which they had the chance to learn to work as a team, how to loose and to respect each other. Most importantly we wanted to have fun with them and make it a special time for the whole school. Because we worked under the school’s roof and because the teachers were attending too, we were not allowed to share a Christian message. 

It was a privilege for the kids who usually attend Livada’s weekly program, because they were familiar with the staff and proud to be part of the group. They all had a fabulous time, enjoyed the activities and they hope that we will organize something similar again in the future with all of them.

Considering our future plans to open a Day Center in Ogra village and a possible collaboration with the school, it was a great opportunity to meet some of the teachers.

Please pray for full funding for the multipurpose community “Day Center” and that it will be used for God’s glory. 

Enjoy the pictures!

Happy Birthday Kati!

La multi ani Kati!

Last week, on the 28th of March it was Kati's birthday and she turned 16. She enjoyed having some ex-employes at her party and had a wonderful time with them. Kati wished for a phone for her birthday and she will be able to get it for herself. 

Please pray for Kati as she will grow in faith and in her relationship with our faithful Father!  Pray that she will learn to trust God in good times and in times of sorrow. 

Thank you for your love and care for Kati!