Fall 2015

At the end of every month, I say to myself, "How did it get to be March?  How did it get to be July?  How did it get to be November?"  I guess time flies when I'm having fun or just when I'm really busy!  November is almost halfway over and in a little over a week, I fly to the US for my furlough time!  But, the day before that we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with the H2H family...only about 70 people!

The day before I left for my vacation in Israel, H2H had the joy of celebrating with 2 of our families on the birth of their baby girls....born 20 minutes apart....one in Bucharest and one close to London.  Daria Ioana is the daughter of Alex and Ioana Oprea and Abygail is the daughter of Fanel and Andreea Mirea.  Both are healthy, happy and growing.  Maybe someday they will be the best of friends!

Me with Daria

Andrea, Abygail and Fanel

Soon after I returned from vacation, this little cutie started pre-school!  And, Cutie Karla gets to say with Jen and I when mommy goes to work.  This happens about 2-3 days a week!

During the summer, H2H began a pajama project.  So, this fall, we were finishing up buying pajamas and handing them out to the kids!

The big event every fall is the opening of the H2H transition homes.  Every year we have had boys, but for the last couple of years we haven't had girls because we haven't had staff to help take care of them.  This year, we had a couple of girls that really didn't have anywhere to go and we had a few openings in one of the apartments.  So, we are running a modified Girl's Transition House program with these two girls.  Marinela and Flori are both from Rosiori de Vede.  Marinela is taking a baby sitting course and Flori is taking a manicure and pedicure course and just got hired at Pizza Hut.  Both are very excited about the things they are learning from us and I'm excited to see what the Lord is going to do in their lives this year.  We also have 4 boys at the Boy's Transition House.  Another aspect to the transition program this year is that we have two kids that have been very involved in our programs in Rosiori and they are in university.  Estera is at the Baptist Institute majoring in Social Work and Theology.  Dani at one of the universities in Bucharest majoring in Engineering.  H2H is helping them with things that they need and they will be involved in some of our transition house classes, activities and events.

Opening Day of Transition programs at the boy's house

Marinela and Flori with Jen and me 

Marinela, Estera and Flori at their apartment

Daria was dedicated at AlfaOmega.

Ruthie turned 5 years old and she had a Frozen themed party!

Ruthie had been requesting to go to the zoo and Marinela and Flori also expressed an interest in the zoo.  So, one afternoon, we visited the animals!

A week ago Saturday, I took a trip to the mountains with some of the H2H staff.  We visited the Christian bookstore in Brasov, had lunch and then went for a little hike and saw really pretty foliage and waterfalls!

I don't know if you can see it, but, there was water falling to the left of us!

Prayer Requests:

*Wisdom as I guide the transition girls.  Pray that Marinela will find a job.

*Pray for our H2H grandkids that they would learn about our Savior, especially, during the Holiday season.  Pray that they would continue to be healthy and grow into kids that love the Lord.

*Pray for our young families, Alex, Ioana and Daria and Fanel, Andreea and Abygail that just had babies on August 30, 2015.  Pray for wisdom in decisions with their precious little girls.

*Pray as I travel this holiday season; that I would be healthy, see everyone that I need to see and that I’m able to get a little rest and relaxation while I’m home.