Flip Flop, Flip Flop!

The sound of my flip flops echoing in the halls, like there is a thousand people following me. Flip flop, flip flop, I hear over the thoughts that are so heavy on my mind. I pray that I can keep composure this week as last week I did not do so good. The hall is bare, stark white, so white that if it was dark you could still see. Each door you pass is closed and has a sign to indentify it's contents. We slow down and greet a few workers as they are used to seeing the folks I came with. The greetings like last week are distant and cold but necessary.

Flip flop, flip flop I hear again as we approach the door. As we open the door the smell of a full diaper pale without a lid overtakes the sounds of my flip flops. However, there is no diaper pale, just 5 babies who slowly try to see who is in the room from their cage like cribs. There is one baby who can stand and she stands to here feet hanging on to the rail that the paint has been chewed off, and begins to rock in anticitpation for the musice she knows she will hear. Charlotte and Ron bring a CD player and play music for the children. You forget the stinch of 5 babies lying in dirty diapers as those dark eyes stare you in the face as you look down on them. Eyes that you can still see in your thoughts long after you are gone.

They are big enough to reach for you but they don't reach as they have poor muscle control and don't know that they should. We quickly notice the four from last week, in one room, has become 5 as one more baby has been added since our last visit. She shares the crib, her head, feet and hands are big and her belly protrudes, a sure sign of neglet and malnutrition. As I lift her out of the crib, her body is like a wet noodle, this is a baby who has been laying on her back quite sometime. I choke back the tears and try to think of the good reasons I am there and not think of the terrible conditions she was in. I can tell by looking at her that she is older than she looks, probably 12 months or more. I lay her on the table and and begin to exercise the legs and arms and speak to her, she is motionless and allows me to do all the moving just staring at me with a blank stare. I pray for her under my breath with each movement, and it takes everything I have not to cry out for this little one.

As I lay her back in her crib, the mother and grandmother come in to visit the skinny guy in the bed next to her. She brings two diapers in with her and picks up her baby like every mother would, with great joy. The conditions in her home are poor and she don't want him to be there, as he was born weighing 2 kilos and 7 months later weighs in at about 4 kilos. I am filled with compassion for this mother and the baby and don't really know if I am happy or sad that she does not take him with her. She and the grandmother visit him for 15 minutes and then kiss him and leave. As she leaves the he cries for his mother as if somehow he knows.

Our team of 4 hold each of the 9 babies, change their diapers, walk, excercise, speak with them and then gather them all in one room and corporately pray. The little guy in the walker, Osman, I hear has been there at least 2 years, he can't walk but in his progression and 2 years later is finally getting 2 teeth. The blessings are far and few between but in some way you have to believe that the weekly visists are making a difference.

It is a priviledge the hospital allows us to visit! Ron and Charlotte have developed great relationship with the Nurses and Doctors and have paved the way for me to go. I hope and pray that in the coming months I can go and visit more often than once a week. Imagine how many teeth will grow with a few visits a week! Please pray that I will have favor with the staff to continue to come during the week as I hope to find another National who is willing to go with me to love these babies more often. I will evaluate the needs, diapers, clothes and milk with the staff and see if it is possible to continue to visit.

As we close the door and walk away from our two hour visit, the thoughts in my head and the beating of my heart is louder than the flip flops on my feet. I hear the words in my heart, "Every place your foot shall tread, I have given it to you!" Joshua 1:3.

We are truly changing lives with the love of Christ one step at a time!

Everyday We Can Make A Difference

Two months in Romania and the road does not come without challenges! After 3 rounds of Antibiotics, a trip to Bulgaria, a strong bout of culture shock and another year younger, I am feeling refreshed and renewed! It was an amazing time in Bulgaria and a blessed time with the American and Bulgarian team. The world is so small as I met 3 American Missionaries and some great folks from UK. The opportunity to work with all in the future is a blessing.

I joined the team in Bulgaria for the last four days of their trip. They had already ministered in several Turkish villages and in Istanbul Turkey. They experienced a strong presence of God in every place. Many people received Jesus in their hearts as well as the evidence of speaking in tongues. There were many physical healing as well. After my arrival the team traveled an hour out of Sofia and ministered in a Turkish Church with over 1000 members. The presence of God was there and many came with expectant hearts and left with those expectations filled.

I to came with an expectant heart as well. I wanted to see God move in peoples hearts and see miracles of healing and experienced it first hand and was used by God. As usual, I expected to give but received so much more than I could ever give. After experiencing some difficult things and not feeling well, God used the team in Bulgaria to encourage me.

Thank you so much for you prayers and encouragement! It has allowed me to come through some challenging times here! The needs outweigh the ability and time! The lives here in are so broken, yet so hungry. There are things you see out in the field, things you experience that words can't even begin to express. The day to day of just trying to process the why's, the who's, the what's is a challenge. I wonder is it enough? Am I making a difference? I want to do more but I feel so limited, due to language, time and so many other things. I ask God, "I am doing enough?" I want to do more, I want to go faster and the fact is that it takes time!

Everyday is a new opportunity! Everyday is a chance to make a difference! Everyday we can change someone's life. It don't have to be in Romania! Even if you don't feel like it, and it is hard and it won't be enough, do something nice for someone else...Small is good, don't wait for the big thing do the small first. A kind word, a good deed or just listen! You will see, it changes your life and it makes you want to do more! Everyday is important, don't miss the chance, we are not promised tomorrow. No matter how hard it is!

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5: 3-5