A week of sadness and joy

The past week has been one of our hardest. The youngest son of one of the families we help died, we have been helping them as best we can seeing them every day, going with them when the autopsy was done and bringing them and the baby home. On Saturday we attended the funeral, walking the mile or so to the church with the open coffin on the back of a horse and cart.

we sometimes wish our Romanian language skills were better, but at times like this prayer, hugs and practical support say a lot.

A hard emotional week and also a hard physical one.

We have been out delivering Christmas shoe boxes. when you have moved 700 boxes from store and packed them into the pajero, then offloaded them at a school your muscles know about it. Boxes of different sizes and weights, I could do with bigger hands. Chris has developed an excellent technique to pack the car. Fill the top box first then fill up the car, getting the last few in through an open window.

We have also moved and delivered 2 trailer loads of fire wood (2.5cubic metres).

The parents receiving the firewood were just as happy and excited as the children receiving the shoe boxes.

Today we have been at the Star of Hope Centre to see the children in their Christmas celebration, it is such a joy to see how these children have developed over the past years. Children who a few years ago would not have stood still for a minute now taking part in a Nativity play and then joining with children from the adjacent kindergarten in a traditional dance display.

Next week will be busy as we deliver the rest of the shoe boxes, more firewood and Christmas food parcels.