Risking sounding like a broken record, I am thrilled to be back here in ‘the other land that I love’ once again – that the Lord has allowed me to be His hands and feet, eyes and heart among these people whom He planted in my heart seventeen years ago.  I praise God for a safe and uneventful trip all the way from 19 Berry Street in Norton, MA to Str. Frasinuilui , Nr. 1, Bl. D2, Sc. B, Ap. 6.  In Brasov, Romania.  (How’s that for an address?!)

I am excited to be returning to ‘the other land that I love’ (Romania!) on July 6 – landing in Frankfurt, Germany on the 7^th – and then, to Bucharest – and finally up into the Transylvanian Alps to Brasov.  Lord willing, I will be hands-on in the work until the first week of October.  I can hardly wait.

I am so excited to be headed back to ‘the other land that I love’, Lord willing, on July 6.  I miss my babies!   I miss my kids!   This summer will mark seventeen years in Romania – and I truly feel after all this time that I am their ‘Mama Dawn’.  In a couple of weeks, or so, when it begins to warm up, the big kids at Barza Mica sit on the little rock wall outside the orphanage and stare up into the sky looking for planes.  Every time they see one, they say, “I wonder if this is the one that is bringing ‘Mama Dawn’?  Oh, I can hardly wait to get there – and love and hug them all.  And to be able to minister to our little Severe/Profound ones at Albina!

It has been a busy first month back in the States –

Thirty-nine year old Alina, who has non-Hodgkin’s’ lymphoma for the second time in her face endured days of painful stem-cell removal in preparation for cancer treatment. The doctors couldn’t find enough healthy stem cells to set aside and freeze, so Alina had to have a complete blood-transfusion. Her test results have been sent to a medical center in the States for a second opinion. As of this writing, there is no word from them. Please keep praying over this precious godly woman for God’s best for her and her family.

Six weeks in my beloved Romania passed like a flash before my eyes.  That was a result of being extremely busy at both orphanages, Barza Mica and Albina, and also, without having even one day off.  I arrived in Brasov in February just in time to help with some dire financial needs at Barza.  Praise God for His perfect timing.  More reconstruction needed to be done on the building in order to pass inspection – and only  five days after I arrived!!  We – that’s you and I – were able to provide financially what needed to be done.  And, Barza passed inspection!  We prayed – pleaded with the Lord to give us at least a three-year approval.  We’d worked so diligently towards this for two years.  And then He surprised us, as only He can.  He gave us a five-year approval!  Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!!  Also, I have such respect for the director who never gave up the fight to keep the casa for ‘our’ kids.  She is an amazing lady!

On a personal note, I was so blessed to be able to spend two months in Georgia to be with my 4 beautiful grandchildren there – Isabelle, Noah, Lily and Rowan.  It was the first time that I had felt like a real grandmother, and not just a guest or a visitor.  I love being Mammie!  It was also great getting out of the snow and bitter cold in MA.   I then, spent two weeks with my little grandsons, Liam and Jace, in Michigan.  I am blessed.

I wish I had more information to give you concerning Barza Mica.  Unfortunately, I have no new news from the director.  Will the State take the orphanage away from these young people (my kids) whom I have loved for 16 years?  Will God change the government’s ‘hearts of stone into hearts of flesh’ to have compassion on ‘the fatherless’, ‘the least of these’?  I’ll have to wait until I return to Romania this month to find out.  Please just keep this horrific treatment of ‘our kids’ in prayer!

I wish I had better news for you this month concerning Barza Mica.  The inspections did not bode well for the orphanage.  In what we believe is the government’s motivation to gain the orphanage building for themselves, two weeks ago they demanded truly ridiculous proposals for Barza.  In order for the building to pass inspection, last summer they began demanding an overhaul of the physical structure.  Thinking that that could never be accomplished, we were able to do that.  The director was told that if she didn’t leave, her salary would be cut.  They cut it – and she didn’t leave.  This woman is dedicated to our precious orphans.  They also said they would cut the workers’ salaries.  They did – but the workers didn’t leave.

November was a busy, productive and wonderful month for the ministry.  I wish I had more information to give you concerning the status of Barza Mica (orphanage for ‘my’ big ‘kids’), but the Romanian Government inspection won’t happen until this month.

The ministry is always moving forward.  The Lord’s hand was at work in October in wonderful ways.

Because of your generous giving, we were able to buy enough underwear for all the ‘kids’ at Barza Mica.  Rhonda and I went shopping for this government-required clothing when I returned to the States.  They were sent through the USPS for them to arrive at the orphanage before the government inspection.