I am delighted to be writing this update from ‘the other land that I love’!   I left Boston June 23, and arrived in Brasov (Romania) on the evening of the 24^th.  As usual, Ovi picked me up in Bucharest.  The two and one half hour ride is always one of great conversation, catching up on the past few months.  He had liters upon liters of water already for me in my flat, milk and butter in the fridge, and ‘tons’ of fresh veggies and fruits waiting for me.  He is such a blessing to Love From Above!

Joyous news!   A single donor contributed not only the final third of the funds to finish installing the plumbing for our Gypsy Church, Canaan in the village of Halchiu, but also the entire amount to have the whole heating system installed.  Can you say with me – ‘Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!’?  

Remember ‘my’ little AnaMaria who walks on her tippy toes, couldn’t speak at 3 years old, and who would run and jump into my arms every time she saw me?   And remember I wanted her to speak so badly that if she could, I wanted her first word to be ‘Isus’ (Jesus)? And she DID learn to say ‘Isus’ – and says so much more now after having been moved to a different orphanage.

First of all, I praise God for a safe, uneventful trip back to MA this past Thursday, March 24.  I am happy, too, to let you know that little Karol from Albina Orphanage had his heart operation and at least at this point, it seems very successful.  The workers were having a bit of a time keeping this smiling, bubbly little boy fairly quiet until he completely heals.

What a joy to be writing this update from the ‘other land that I love ‘!  I thank God for an uneventful trip here, for Ovi’s promptness in picking me up at the airport on February 10, and for Ovi’s having checked out my apartment before arriving to make sure everything was working properly.  I’m also grateful that for the first time ever, I had little to no side-effects from jet-lag!

Lord willing, I will be headed back to ‘the other land that I love’ February 9 – returning to the States March 24.  I have much ahead of me to get accomplished while there, and am eager to see what-all the needs are for Love From Above to provide for Albina and Barza Mica Orphanages this time around.

Just a few updates and how the Lord blessed during the month of December.   First of all, I mentioned last month that if all went well, the doors and windows would be installed in Canaan, our church for the Gypsies.  It is with great joy that I can tell you that they have all been installed successfully, and without any problems.   If you want to see pictures of them, go to ‘Projects’ and then click on Halchiu.  I am more excited than you can imagine!  We have so much for which to give our God glory.  HE is the Master Builder of this precious little church.

The past month has been busy and productive for LFA.  We shipped nearly 400 pounds of warm winter clothing and shoes to Barza Mica (orphanage), and the two villages, Halchiu and Bahnea.

We were able to send money to help a young mother who has just contracted Hepatitis B get the meds she needs.  It will not only cover her, but also her unborn baby, and provide the vaccine for her husband who is Ovi’s right-hand man at Canaan, and their little 5 year-old boy.  Please pray over these precious folks.

In the three-plus weeks I have been back in the States, God has been faithfully moving in the ministry. The roof is completed on Canaan, the church in Halchiu! Praise God! And, last month I said that we had ordered the doors and windows for Canaan on faith. Well, a church that has had long-term interest in helping to build this church for the Roma/Gypsies has provided not only enough funds for the doors and windows, but also to begin work on the interior. I am absolutely rejoicing! Can you hear my heart ‘singing’?!

I went for a walk a little after 6:00 this morning back here in Norton (MA), shed some tears thinking of the beautiful snow-capped Carpathian Mts. (Transylvanian Alps) that I had left behind, and my babies and ‘kids’, and dear friends . . . But mostly, I thanked the Lord for all that He had done for us – for our precious ones, the past 3 months in ‘the other land that I love’. God is good! All the time!