May 10, 2008

Dear Friends,

Easter for the Orthodox in Romania was just two weeks ago, on April 27, five weeks after Easter for the Protestants and Catholics. Last month was taken up with preparing and involving all the youth and children in worshipping during this Holy time.

This year our annual worship servce took place at the children's home, Sperantza, on Palm Sunday. Sperantza means “hope” in Romanian, but sometimes it seems hopeless for some of these children. This was the case when we arrived to set up for our program on Palm Sunday. That afternoon, the police and an ambulance were in front of Sperantza, and they were not letting anyone in. One of the young men had beaten on one of the instructors and broken a window. They literally took him away in a straight jacket. One of the children said, “I guess we will have to cancel our program.” “No way!” I replied. “We need our Easter pageant more than ever.”

The angel at Jesus's tomb tells the women, He is not here.

The children and all guests were organized to sit in tables of twelve. Table leaders were members of our small groups. Members of our young adult group were the coordinators and some of the participants of the program, but many of the children and youth from Sperantza were involved as well. We were actually allowed to come to Sperantza for rehearsals, which was wonderful. We did a reenactment of the four important events during Holy Week—entrance into Jerusalem, the Last Supper and in the garden, the cross and the Resurrection. We ended with a drama at the tomb, witnessing the resurrection. Each section included music and Bible reading and poems about Easter from the children. During the last supper, bread and juice were served, and at the cross, ever child was given a small cross to put around their necks. The program ended with everyone singing “Amazing Grace” and with the invitation for all children to attend the Easter Vigil celebrating the light of Christ coming into the world. There has been a different attitude at Sperantza after this: The trouble-makers are being isolated, and good things are happening for all the others. Please pray for these very disturbed children.

We want to follow up on this momentum and prepare something for Pentecost in a similar fashion.

During spring break there was another big event: We took all the children from Sperantza to the circus. We had planned a big trip to a camp for their spring break, but it rained all week. Then we found out  the circus was coming to town. Dragos, one of our college students, was home on spring break and he organized everything, including a 50 percent discount, so about 50 children and adults went and we had front row seats. When the eight lions came out, you could literally smell them and feel their hot stinking breath. We were a little too close for my comfort: The eight  huge lions were in a portable round cage, the size of the circus ring, but that flimsy fence would have been no match for the lions if they had rebelled. It was very  thrilling.

NOROC’s apartment  for emergency housing for girls and Casa Noastra for boys are now fully occupied, but not with the same people as last month. Dimitru recovered from his injuries and is now living with his brother in a one-room “hut” donated for him to live in. It is not much, but he is happy and will be back to work soon. Mihaela, the girl who was staying in the girl’s apartment, lost her job and suffered a psychological reverse. She was accepted into an intensive rehabilitation program called “Open Hands” in Campina, near Brasov, and we took her there last week. They work with at-risk youth who are over 18. It’s a two- or three-year program and Mihalea needed to get out of town for a fresh start. Pray she adjusts well there.

Currently living in the Casa Noastra (“Our House”) is Vlad, a young man whose parents lost their place to live. They moved out suddenly to stay with his grandmother in another village. But Vlad is in his last month of school and needed a quiet place to stay until he graduates. Vlad is a tremendous help around Casa Noastra because our caretaker, Mihai B., has a new job with strange hours so Vlad is there to help out. His parents are providing his food, which is a big help for us. We have the room, and his is in real social need. Also, in the girl’s apartment, we are providing temporary room for a Peace Corp volunteer until her permanent space is ready. She also will help with our programs with the children.

 This is good as it means we are using our space to capacity.

Ellen Smith, a PC(USA) mission worker from Russia, is visiting me now. She is working with post-orpahange youth in Russia and is interested in what we do here. We are having a wonderful time together.

Grace and Peace

Mary

The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 163