Another birthday - and this time it is Violetta's! We celebrate birthdays at the weekly Bible Study held every Thursday night at the Cetate Church. Pictured are Tinca, Violetta, Vali, Reghina and Coco.
The next two pictures are of game night held every Friday night out in Hapria. Ping pong is always on the menu, along with Carrom and card games. This night also includes a snack and short devotional. Most of these boys are from non-Christian homes. Gabi, Dona and Teo have a good relationship with these boys and try to encourage kindness, fairness and good sportsmanship as we play with them throughout the evening.

Pictured are the ladies of the Hapria Church with some comforts that we completed when the board ladies were here. Julia Graber, who specializes in such things, helped to make this possible!

The last picture is of some of the HOPE girls with their towels. Jane Brubaker embroidered a towel and washcloth for each of the HOPE youth when we were home in November. We included the washcloth in their gift bags at Christmas, but the towels came in a shipment that just arrived last week. As you can see, the girls were very pleased! Thanks Jane!

The board met one morning with the mayor of Hapria to get his perspective on the local economy and discuss the future of agriculture in the village. Pictured from left to right: Daryl, Pete Gingerich, Glen Barnhart, the Mayor, Vernon Kauffman, Leland Miller and Paul Graber.

Each time I have been to the hospital in Alba Iulia there has been an abandoned baby. This one was a twin. His mother took the larger of the two and left this one.

Julia Graber with a young mother and her newborn baby.
While the board was here we took the opportunity to pass out baby bundles. Pictured from left to right: Ariana (Adi's wife) the head nurse (who has been at this hospital for 40 yrs!) Coleen Barnhart, Pauline Gingerich, Sharon Brubaker and in front: Alma Miller and Molly Kauffman. We included the book "God Knows My Size" the story of Silvia Tarniceriu. The staff and the new mothers are very receptive and appreciative. We included some baby blankets for use in the hospital.

Eve and her father

Pictured here is a gypsy girl by the name of Eve, who has been crippled from birth. Her mother had sent word to the Bible Class team who comes to Berhgin and Straja every Friday afternoon, that she would like them to include her daughter and give her the opportunity to get out of the house and spend some time with other children. While she is crippled, she does have some strength in her legs and was able to walk with support from Teo and Gabi.

Please remember in your prayers these young people as they go out weekly to tell Bible stories, sing and share God's love with these children. The team includes Gabi, Dona, Teo and Leland and Thomas.

Spring is around the corner and it is time to pass out seed packages supplied to us by CAM. Leland was in charge of this project and Daryl, Thomas and some from the Hapria church helped to pass them out in Straja and Henig. These packages include corn, cucumbers, bean seed, etc, and also gospel literature. Most people were very appreciative. Over the next few weeks we will be passing them out to several other villages.