ROMANIA UPDATE
The newsletter of Romania Care, registered charity no. 1012759

July 2002

Nursing and Respite Care - The roof is going on!

About 3 years ago we had a 'dream'! It became our millennium project and today it is becoming a reality.

Work is progressing fast. Initial estimates from the contractor suggested they might complete the work planned for this year (the basic shell) by the time the snows started falling at the end of the year. It now looks like the work planned for this year might be completed by the end of the summer - work is already underway building the wooden frame for the roof.

All this gives us an opportunity and a challenge : We have already raised over £80,000. We estimate that we need about another £40,000 to complete the building. If we could raise another £5,000 before October, this would allow us to put all the windows in and make the building secure. Work could then continue inside through the winter as funds become available.

Would your church consider a Harvest or Christmas project to help us finish the "dream"?

We would happily provide any publicity material and a speaker - please contact our office

Letter from Paul & Lenuta in Fintinele

We hope that all is well in England and you are enjoying the lovely summer weather!

In Romania it has been very dry with no rain for a month. The Orthodox Church got all its members to patrol the streets praying for rain and amazingly on the same day it started and poured non-stop for almost a week. Now all the land is wet and this is very good for the people here who were very concerned about their crops.

The last two months have been, and continue to be, busy for me with both Charity and personal work. I have, as usual, been visiting the old lady who lives nearby and getting her food on behalf of a Dutch Charity. She is very poor and unable to walk long distances so she really appreciates the help.

I came back to Fintinele on the 20th May, after my stay in England, to find a very happy, if not larger, Lenuta waiting for me. I traveled back to Romania with Laurence Biggs and this time we thought that we would try out the internal plane from Bucharest to Suceava rather than the usual long and bleak train ride. It was very small, seating only 18 people, but it was comfortable and they even gave sandwiches and a drink. The flight took just one hour and, although more expensive than the train, was good value, and I think I will use it again.

The week Laurence was here was very busy with me acting mostly as a translator. The most important thing we wanted to achieve that week was the purchase of a small house in Ilisesti near the Respite Care Home. This has been a very long process due to the fact that the house owner has a debt with a bank and we were therefore unable to buy the house before he had paid his debt. I could write a book about the house affair but I am hoping that this will be resolved soon.

After Laurence left I was able to spend more time with Lenuta and help her around the house and garden.

The work at Ilisesti has been quickly progressing and they are at present constructing the top floor. They are also busy getting the electricity connected to the building. Six telegraph posts have been put in place with even me helping to mix cement. It has been wonderful to watch the building progressing so quickly and also interesting to see the lack of health and safety on Romanian construction sites. None of the workmen wear hats and there is no scaffolding used. At lunch the workers enjoy some vodka and I am amazed that there have not been any accidents. This is however the Romanian culture and I have to say that their laid back attitude to everything in life is really attractive.

Recently I assisted Pieter, from the Dutch Charity, in translating while he installed computers in Banesti School, the Mayor's office and the Police station. He also held a course for the Mayor's Staff as well as teachers to learn how to use the computers. Even Lenuta came along and has since taken an interest in learning more. I too spent a day with Pieter learning about spreadsheets etc… Pieter's assistance was greatly appreciated in the village and, hopefully, the computers will be of great use.

Finally we both await the birth of our first child and I will make sure you hear as soon as this happens (anytime now.) I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have been praying for Lenuta and ask that you continue to do so.

Take care and God bless,
Paul and Lenuta Clark

Editor's NB's
Joshua Paul Clark born 5th July by Caesarian Section- Mum & baby (and Dad) doing well and at home
The house purchase mentioned by Paul has gone through, at last!

Extract from a letter from Macedonia - from someone who visited our web site

I like this idea of a nursing and respite care home very much and I know that there is a great need, not only in Romania. The Methodist Church provided a social centre in a small town in Macedonia. I am on the board there and we started deliver food "meals on wheels" for old people with disabilities. It's a big need. Involved in this issue, I see how important a home for elderly people would be. They are just left alone. It is certainly worse in Romania.

I am glad that you will have a home like that and sorry for the man I know who probably wont live long enough to have the opportunity - at least - at the end of his miserable life - to die like a human being.

All blessings for your work and many greetings from Strumica, Macedonia
C hristina

Please pray for us as we go to Romania & Moldova this year

Between 26th July and 17th August we have a total of 14 people from this country involved in our work in either Romania or Moldova.

Pray for good health - stomach upsets can be a problem for visitors to Romania and Moldova, please pray that they will not be a problem for the team! Also pray for good relationships (between team members and with locals) especially when people begin to get tired, and an ability to communicate God's love.

Pray for safety in travel for all.

Pray for our relationship with the Orthodox Church - pray for Laurence who will try to have a meeting with the Orthodox Bishop of Suceava.

Pray for the holiday clubs to be held in Romania (in Fintinele& Ilisesti), and in Moldova (in Ricipeni and Valea Marie). Pray for good working relationships with our Romanian friends and that many children would know more, and understand the meaning of God's love for them.

Pray for the building projects (Further work on the hospital and school in Fintinele and work at Ilisesti for the nursing/respite care home and in the new charity house).

News on giving

It is possible to give by cash, cheque, CAF voucher, CharityCard and Give As You Earn.

More details of all these ways of giving can be obtained from the office.

Romania Care
Registered Charity No 1012759
Office: 4 Bury Lane, Codicote, Herts, SG4 8XT
Phone/Fax: 01438 - 822007.
Email: info@RomaniaCare.com