In my last ‘Update’, I asked for prayer concerning my trip to Romania on February 9, arriving in Brasov February 10.  I think we all should have been praying ‘harder’.   :))  The trip was a ‘bear’.  From taking off an hour late in a blizzard in Grand Rapids, MI with the runway having to be constantly plowed and sanded/salted, and the plane de-iced – to a four-hour layover in Newark (with a late departure) – to absolutely no sleep on the eight-hour flight to Munich – to another four-hour layover in Munich (with a late departure to Bucharest) – to Ovi’s being 40 minutes late to pick me up due to traffic – to the three-hour trek up to Brasov, — by the time I reached my flat, my brain was mush and I felt like a truck had run over my body.  All in EST, I went from 5:30a, Friday morning to 12:45p on Saturday – nearly 30 hours with no sleep.  The trip took its toll.  We’ll just have to pray more intensely over my next trip – and even more for that wisdom I’m always asking for.  No more flights with two lay-overs!  :)

Love From Above has moved into the 21^st century – we are now on Facebook!  Check out https://www.facebook.com/lovefromaboveministries/  for brief, but more frequent updates on the ministry.  I am excited!  Thanks to my beautiful daughter-in-‘love’, Michele, for making it all happen!

Talked with Alina Tompi a few days ago – and although she is still very weak after her stem cell implant, I could tell by her voice that she was stronger.  She had been out for a short walk that day and was completely exhausted, but she was able to do it!  Praise God!!

November was a busy and full month!  So much praise to begin with –

My beautiful Ioana passed her exam for her medical degree!!  Praise God!!!  She was tested over everything she had learned in her six years of medical school.  She is now D-na Doctor Arbanas (Pirvu) Ioana.  I am so proud of her.  It has been a joy to watch her on this journey – to watch her depend on the Lord – and to give Him the glory and honor for every step.

This following is an update from October –

Praising God that I made it safely from Brasov to Norton on my flight home October 4!  It was a little rough over the Atlantic, but otherwise without incident.

Update from the month of September –

3000 kg. of potatoes were delivered to Barza Mica, along with 700 kg of carrots and 700 kg of onions.

Nineteen boxes of beautiful clothing arrived from some precious ladies at First Romanian Baptist Church of Atlanta – and were warmly received at Albina and Barza Mica Orphanages

It has been a wonderful – fruitful – fruitless, at times – joyful – heart-breaking – interesting past month in my beloved Romania.

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!